Leyza F. Blanco

Bio

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Shareholder

Phone: 305-372-8282, Ext. 300
Email: lblanco@sequorlaw.com

Leyza F. Blanco, a shareholder at Sequor Law, focuses her practice on a wide range of litigation and insolvency matters, including debt restructuring and representation of creditors, with special emphasis on complex business bankruptcy and commercial litigation matters.

Prior to joining Sequor Law, Leyza was a shareholder at an Am Law 200 firm. Additionally, she was appointed receiver, custodian, trustee and special master in cases in both federal and state courts throughout the state of Florida and has served as a neutral arbiter in an arbitration proceeding. Leyza is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Civil Mediator.

Her case experience includes acting as lead U.S. counsel to various court-appointed fiduciaries named in multiple jurisdictions throughout the Caribbean for British American Insurance Co., Ltd., in Chapter 15 proceedings, district court proceedings, and pending state court proceedings throughout the state of Florida.

Leyza currently serves as the Secretary of The Florida Bar’s Business Law Section, and as the Finance Director of the International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation. She is past chair of the Bankruptcy/UCC and Diversity Committees of The Florida Bar’s Business Law Section, and a past president of the Bankruptcy Bar of the Southern District of Florida. Leyza launched a bankruptcy clinical program at Florida International University College of Law, where she served as lead adjunct professor. She is a published author and sought-after leader who is regularly invited to present on topics related to her practice.

Leyza has been recognized by Florida Super Lawyers (2010-2018); Florida Trend, Legal Elite (2008-2016, 2018); South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyer (2009-2018), and has received multiple other recognitions of note.

Leyza is admitted to all Florida state courts, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States District Courts for the Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida.

Favorite Quote:

“Do or Do Not, There is No Try.” – Yoda

Languages:

English
Spanish

Practice Areas

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Leyza F. Blanco

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As of 2019, Leyza F. Blanco is Board Certified in International Litigation and Arbitration by the Florida Bar.

Desde 2019, Leyza F. Blanco está certificado pela Ordem dos Advogados da Flórida como especialista em Litígio e Arbitragem Internacionais.

Education / Admissions

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Leyza F. Blanco

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Education

University of Miami School of Law, J.D. (magna cum laude, 1996)
- Inter-American Law Review, Articles and Comments Editor
- Order of the Coif
University of Miami College of Arts & Sciences, B.A. (1992)

Admissions

Florida, 1997
U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, 1999
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida, 1997
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 1997
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 1997
U.S. District of Court, Colorado, 2020

Professional Associations & Memberships

Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy, Class XXXII, 2021
The Florida Bar Business Law Section, Past Chair, 2019
International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC), Immediate Past Chair, 2022
Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida, Past President, 2006-2007
Florida Supreme Court Certified Civil Mediator
American Bankruptcy Institute, Asset Sales Committee, Co-Chair, 2022
Dade County Bar Association, Member
American Bar Association, Member
Hispanic National Bar Association, Member
Cuban American Bar Association, Member
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Fellow, 2014
International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
University of Miami Law Alumni Association
- Board of Directors, 2014-2016
- Dean’s Circle Committee
Leadership Florida, Class XXXII

Honors / Achievements

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Leyza F. Blanco

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Honors / Achievements

Leyza has received myriad recognitions throughout her career, including:

Chambers & Partners, 2022 Bankruptcy Litigation, Florida – Tier 1
Chambers USA, Bankruptcy/Restructuring & Bankruptcy Litigation, 2011-2022
AV Preeminent™ rated by Martindale-Hubbell
2019 IWIRC Melnik Award for Exceptional Contributions by an IWIRC Member
2018 Hall of Fame, IWIRC Florida Network Excellence Award
The Florida Bar Business Law Section, Outstanding Member of the Year, 2014
2020 Lawdragon: 500 Leading Global Restructuring & Insolvency Lawyers
2021 Best Lawyers in America in Insolvency & Restructuring and Commercial Litigation
South Florida Legal Guide, “Top Lawyers,” 2009-2020, and “Up and Comer”, 2004-2008
Florida Super Lawyers, 2010-2020, and “Rising Star,” 2009
Top 50 Women Florida Super Lawyers, 2013-2020
Top 100 Florida Super Lawyers, 2013-2020
Florida Trend, Legal Elite, 2008-2020, and “Up and Comer”, 2007
Cuban American Bar Association, Member of the Year, 2013
South Florida Business Journal, Key Partner Award, 2012
Business Leader magazine, Women Extraordinaire Award, 2011
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Outstanding Lawyers of Miami-Dade County, “40 Under 40,” 2010

Publications / Presentations

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Leyza F. Blanco

Shareholder

Publications

Co-Author, “Euromepa and Gorsoan, oh my! The evolving standard to obtain §1782 assistance in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and beyond” – Global Restructuring Review Asset Recovery Column, October 2020
Co-Author, “The UN’s Latest Assist to International Insolvency Practitioners,” Global Restructuring Review Asset Recovery Column, August, 2020
Co-Author, “COVID-19 and Cross-Border Insolvencies” – Daily Business Review, April 17, 2020
Co-Author, “The UN’s Latest Assist to International Insolvency Practitioners” – Global Restructuring Review Asset Recovery Column, April 2020
Co-Author, “Emerging Minority View on Delivery of Subpoenas Under FRCP 45” – Global Restructuring Review Asset Recovery Column, March 2020
Co-Author, “The Mechanics of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Enterprise Group Insolvency” – Global Restructuring Review Asset Recovery Column, November 2019
Co-Author, “Globalization Catches up to U.S. Insolvency Courts” – Global Restructuring Review Asset Recovery Column, August 2019
Co-Author, “Florida Leads the Way of Chapter 15 Jurisprudence” – Knect 365 Asset Recovery Magazine, July 2019
Recognition of an Individual Debtor’s Insolvency Proceeding – Beware of the Perils, Global Restructuring Review Asset Recovery Column, March 6, 2019
Co-Author, “Liquidating Liquor License in Bankruptcy.” Asset Sales Committee Newsletter November 2017
“The Power of Women Working Together,” The Woman Advocate, American Bar Association, June 12, 2015
“Challenging Aspects and Issues of Cross Border Chapter 15 Filings,” Chapter 15 Bankruptcy Strategies, Thomson Reuters/Aspatore, 2012
“Women Take the Lead and Lean In,” guest commentary, Daily Business Review, August 21, 2013
Co-Author, International Insolvency Proceedings and Emerging Trends Under Chapter 15 Under the United States Bankruptcy Code,” The Florida Bar Business Law Journal, Case Law Update 2011

Presentations

US Bankruptcy – Chapter 15, Comparative Law Program, Brazil, November 17, 2020
Segunda Oportunidad en los Concursos, Instituto Iberoamericano Conference, October 21, 2020
When in Rome: A Comparative Look at Fiduciaries Around the Globe, IWIRC Insolvency 2020, October 14, 2020
Navigating the Islands and Wake Up and Smell the Coffee, FIRE Americas and Offshore Event, September 22,2020
Cross Border Disputes Panel, Virtual World Litigation Forum, Virtual, September 9, 2020
Cross Border Insolvency; Mechanisms of Cooperation, IWIRC Brazil Second Annual Conference, Rio de Janeiro, March 12-13, 2020
Tracing Assets Arising Out of Contentious Cross Border Insolvencies, C5, March 5-6, 2020
Insolvency—Pandora’s Box, or A Key Litigation Advantage, Asset Recovery America, New York, September 18-20, 2019
International Perspectives on Asset Recovery, IWIRC Brazil and Tribunal de Justiça do Estado de Minas Gerais, June 6, 2019
Conferencia Sobre Soborne Internacional, Investigación Financiera, Insolvencia y Herramientas Para Recuperación de Activos, Superintendencia de Sociedades, Bogotá, Colombia, May 8, 2019
When the Money is Gone, Asset Recovery Americas, Knect365 LatAm Conference, Brazil, June 4, 2019
Chapter 15 and Cross-Border Insolvency, IBAJUD Conference, Brazil, April 29, 2019
Recognizing Foreign Proceedings and Enforcing Against Assets, Asset Recovery International, Knect 365 Conference, Ireland, March 2, 2019
What Lawyers and FA’s Must Know to Represent Secured Creditors Successfully, American Bankruptcy Institute, Annual Spring Meeting, April 22, 2017
Cross-Border Insolvencies and Chapter 15 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, Hispanic National Bar Association Corporate Counsel Conference, March 31, 2017
Jevic’s Potential Effects on Asset Sales & Plan Confirmation, American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) Webinar, August 18, 2016
Whatever Happened to Pre-Packs/Structured Dismissal? Staying Out of Bankruptcy Court: How to Negotiate a Workout Agreement; Pros and Cons of ABC’s and In & Out Quick, 40th Annual Alexander L. Paskay Memorial Bankruptcy Seminar, March 31-April 2, 2016
State of Diversity in the Legal Profession, 5th Annual Bench & Bar Conference, Dade County Bar Association (DCBA), February 26, 2016
The Intersection of Cross-Border Insolvency Proceedings, Receiverships and U.S. Bankruptcy Proceedings, 2016 Caribbean Insolvency Symposium, American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI), February 4-6, 2016
Vaccinations! Helping Clients Enhance Rights and Minimize Risk During the Bankruptcy Lull, 89th Annual Meeting, National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges’ (NCBJ) Commercial Law League of America (CLLA), August 5, 2015
Receiverships and Bankruptcy: Between Scylla and Charybdis, 20th Annual Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop, American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI), July 2015
Getting Paid: Alternative Fee Structures, 2015 DCBA Bench & Bar Conference, February 20, 2015
Receivership Basics, Professional Fiduciary: Responsibilities and Duties, The Florida Bar Business Law section, May 2, 2014
Chapter 15 Update, Caribbean Insolvency Symposium, American Bankruptcy Institute, February 2014
Overcoming Gender Bias: Getting into the Courtroom and Succeeding There, Florida Association of Women Lawyers, October 2013

Notes

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Leyza F. Blanco

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Representative Experience

U.S. counsel to various court-appointed fiduciaries named in various jurisdictions throughout the Caribbean, United Kingdom and Brazil.
Counsel to Arbitration Award Plaintiff seeking to confirm and enforce multi-million dollar international arbitration award.
Counsel to institutional lenders in bankruptcy cases, assignment for the benefit of creditors and in pending foreclosure cases of commercial property and undeveloped land.

Reported Cases

In re Viacao Itapemirim, S.A. 608 B.R. 268 (Bankr. S.D. Fla 2019)
In re Viacao Itapemirim, S.A. 607 B.R. 761 (Bankr. S.D. Fla 2019)
In re Quantum Foods, LLC, 558 B.R. 111 (Bankr. D. Del 2016)
In re: British American Insurance Co. Ltd., 425 B.R. 884 (Bankr. S.D. Fla. 2010)
In re: British American Isle of Venice (BVI) Ltd., 441 B.R. 713 (Bankr. S.D. Fla. 2010)
Bombart v. The Family Center at Sunrise, LLC, 520 B.R. 300 (S.D. Fla 2014)
In re: Jaffe, 235 BR. 490 (Bankr. S.D. Fla. 1999)