Director of Investigations. Investigations across 8+ global regions. Supported $1.65B award enforcement. Triggered Pentagon IG and FBI probes William T. Nichols Director of Investigations wnichols@sequorlaw.com (+1) 305-372-8282 vCard Practice Areas Investigations William T. Nichols Director of Investigations wnichols@sequorlaw.com (+1) 305-372-8282 vCard Education George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs, M.A. (2015) Middle East Studies, professional specialization in International Security Studies Emory University, B.A. (2009) Major: International Studies Minor: Arabic Languages English Arabic Location Miami Favorite Quote: “There are two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group. There is less competition there. ” – Indira Gandhi Bio Media William T. Nichols, Director of Investigations at Sequor Law, has managed numerous cross-border asset recovery investigations in Latin America, the Middle East, Russia/CIS, South Asia, East Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Europe, and the US. Prior to joining the firm, he helped lead a London, UK-based disputes-only investigations boutique’s US business development efforts and managed a multi-jurisdictional asset trace to support enforcement of a USD 1.65 billion arbitral award. His experience also includes managing sanctions defense, adversarial campaign, and internal investigations for governments, multinational corporations, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. His work as lead investigator on a corporate intelligence case concerning improprieties associated with a USD 10 billion defense contract helped precipitate extensive media coverage and subsequent investigations by the Pentagon’s Inspector General, the FBI’s Public Corruption Squad, and the US Senate. He began his investigative career conducting mobile surveillance for matrimonial disputes and insurance fraud cases in the Washington, DC metro area. He received his Master of Arts in Middle East Studies with a professional specialization in International Security Studies from the George Washington Elliott School of International Affairs in Washington, D.C. He graduated from Emory University in Atlanta, GA, where he majored in International Studies and minored in Arabic. Sequor Law Strengthens Leadership Team with Appointment of William Nichols as Director of Investigations Legal Prowess. Global Impact.

Led by our founding partner, recognized by Chambers & Partners (Band 1, Asset Tracing & Recovery, Global-Wide). ICC FraudNet member. Pursuing and recovering assets worldwide Asset Recovery Sequor Law is recognized worldwide for its leadership in the practice area. We not only recover assets for victims of fraud and corruption, but also seek to hold aiders and abettors, conspirators, and facilitators liable through third-party actions. From Investigation to Repossession: A Full-Spectrum Recovery Practice Sequor Law is uniquely focused on pursuing and recovering client assets and value for the client at every phase of the dispute, from investigation and strategic case development through litigation, arbitration, pre-judgment remedies, and enforcement. Every day, we rise to meet the increasingly sophisticated methods used to conceal, transfer, or launder assets across jurisdictions. Sequor Law pioneered the concept of “value recovery,” advancing beyond the traditional model of Asset Recovery limited to freezing and recovering tangible assets. Our focus is not solely on the assets themselves, but on maximizing total recoverable value. This includes pursuing claims against aiders and abettors, conspirators, and facilitators through direct third-party actions. Drawing on extensive experience in complex Asset Recovery matters, the firm has successfully recovered value in a wide range of scenarios, including claims arising from contracts procured through fraud or corruption, the exercise of restitution rights in criminal proceedings, the reopening of matrimonial settlements, and the enforcement of Judgments previously considered uncollectible. Fraudsters and corrupt actors frequently employ layered corporate structures, offshore vehicles, and multi-jurisdictional transfers to obscure beneficial ownership and move assets rapidly beyond reach. Addressing these schemes requires technical sophistication, deep knowledge of multiple legal systems, and sustained strategic execution. Sequor Law brings all three. Our team operates seamlessly across common law and civil law jurisdictions, allowing us to act quickly and effectively in complex cross-border environments. The firm’s Asset Recovery practice is focused on penetrating the inner circle of the wrongdoer and dismantling the structures used to shield assets. We deploy a full suite of legal tools, including asset freeze orders, pre-judgment remedies, advanced evidence-gathering mechanisms, insolvency proceedings, and direct claims against both wrongdoers and third-party facilitators. Piercing Complex Structures to Reach the Wrongdoer's Inner Circle Recognized Global Leaders Who Shaped an Entire Practice Area Sequor Law’s attorneys were instrumental in developing Asset Recovery as a globally recognized legal practice and continue to lead its evolution as new technologies and increasingly complex schemes emerge. The firm is consistently ranked among the leading practices worldwide in Asset Tracing & Recovery by Chambers & Partners and the Lexology Index. Sequor Law has also been recognized as Asset Recovery Firm of the Year, reflecting its sustained leadership in the field. Founding Shareholder Edward H. Davis, Jr. has been consistently ranked Band 1 globally by Chambers & Partners for Asset Tracing & Recovery, including most recently in 2025. He was also named Asset Recovery Lawyer of the Year by Who’s Who Legal in multiple consecutive years, underscoring the firm’s leadership at the highest level of the practice. There is no one-size-fits-all solution in Asset Recovery. Each matter requires a tailored strategy based on the facts, the jurisdictions involved, and the client’s objectives. Sequor Law is committed to identifying that strategy and executing it with precision, persistence, and a relentless global focus on securing results. Representative Representative Cases One of the Largest Ponzi Schemes in History Sequor Law represents the Joint Liquidators for Stanford International Bank, Ltd. (“SIB”) (in Liquidation). SIB, a bank located in Antigua that primarily sold certificates of deposit, played a central role in a worldwide Ponzi scheme, the second largest in history, perpetrated by Robert Allen Stanford, with losses to depositors estimated to exceed US$4.4 billion. Since May 12, 2011, when Marcus Wide and Hugh Dickson of Grant Thornton were appointed Joint Liquidators of the SIB estate in Antigua, Sequor Law has acted as co-general counsel with Caribbean counsel in global Asset Recovery efforts that have included recovering US$3.2 million from Panama, US$20 million from the United Kingdom, freezing assets in Antigua & Barbuda valued at US$212 million, launching a formal claims process, pursuing claims related to approximately US$330 million in frozen assets in Canada, Switzerland, and the U.K., filing damages claims valued at approximately US$5 billion against a Canadian bank, and initiating recovery efforts in Colombia against law firms and financial institutions. Sequor Law also initiated a Chapter 15 recognition proceeding in Dallas, Texas, and later helped the U.S. Judicial Administrator, the SEC, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Joint Liquidators, and others reach a global agreement and cross-border protocol. Recognition and Enforcement of UK Worldwide Freezing Order Sequor Law represents Novoship (UK) Limited and affiliated entities in a Judgment domestication and enforcement matter in Florida. After Novoship obtained approximately US$98 million in Judgments from the English High Court of Justice against a Venezuelan national and his companies for fraudulent acts relating to charter party contracts, and after the debtors breached a US$40 million settlement, Sequor Law obtained recognition of the English freezing injunction in Florida within 24 hours. The firm froze assets, commenced discovery before full recognition of the English Judgments, and uncovered nearly US$3.5 million in local bank funds and approximately US$1.5 million in Florida real estate. Coordinated proceedings in Florida, Switzerland, and London resulted in payment of the full settlement amount. Judgment Enforcement Against Sovereign in Bond Default Case Since 2008, Sequor Law has represented two major creditors of the Republic of Argentina in pursuing collection of more than US$1 billion in Judgments in Florida arising from Argentina’s 2001 bond default. Working with New York counsel, the firm pursued collection from assets located in Florida, including assets at the Miami office of Banco de la Nación Argentina, a bank wholly owned by the Argentine government. Representation of a Class of More Than 2,000 Victims of Caribbean Fraud Sequor Law represented a class of 2,232 victims of the Leadenhall Bank & Trust and Cash-4-Titles fraud in the British Virgin Islands and The Bahamas and recovered US$14.4 million. After Leadenhall entered liquidation and was sued in the U.S. District Court in Miami, the class obtained a final money Judgment of US$313 million in September 2007. Enforcement of that Judgment resulted in the US$14.4 million recovery, with approximately US$7 million more to be distributed thereafter. Proceedings Supplementary in Aid of Judgment Enforcement Sequor Law represented Robert J. Lodge and Robert K. Orr against SunTrust Bank. After obtaining an order for proceedings supplementary in aid of execution and conducting extensive discovery and depositions, the matter concluded in a favorable settlement in which significant funds were recovered by the Judgment creditor’s successor-in-interest. Deployment of International Treaties and U.S. Legal Claims Sequor Law represented a multinational Colombian food products company in recovering substantial losses for products obtained through fraud and deception. By deploying international treaties and U.S. domestic claims, the firm identified the products, prosecuted the defendants in the United States, and achieved a successful settlement. Representation of Peru in Kleptocracy Case Against Former Head of State Sequor Law represented the Government of Peru in litigation in Miami, Florida, where the plaintiff sought to attach the aircraft in which the President of Peru would travel to the United States. While asserting defenses under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, including insufficient service of process, lack of personal jurisdiction, and failure to state a claim, the firm also argued that Peru was immune from attachment and suit. The court held that the aircraft was “military hardware” and therefore not subject to attachment. Representation of an Instrumentality of the French Government in Asset Recovery Matter Sequor Law represented Creances, S.A.S. (“CDR”), successor to Societe de Banque Occidentale (“SDBO”) and an instrumentality of the Republic of France, in a matter involving a nearly US$100 million fraudulent loan transaction that led to the sale of the collateral land without repayment. Sequor Law helped develop the strategy that ultimately led to the recovery of millions of dollars in real estate. Representation of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in Bid-Rigging and Corruption Case Sequor Law represents the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in related fraud and corruption proceedings in Florida, Liechtenstein, The Bahamas, Panama, and Switzerland. The matters involved coordination with governmental authorities, assistance with MLAT requests, and support for extradition proceedings. The work resulted in the freezing, recovery, and repatriation of more than US$5 million, settlements exceeding US$5 million, and savings of more than US$30 million through the invalidation of a fraudulent contract. Representation of Caribbean Central Bank in Insurance Industry Fraud Sequor Law represented the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in designing the legal strategy for the recovery of assets for the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago in the CLICO insurance company corruption scandal. Corruption-Related Asset Recovery on Behalf of Antigua and Barbuda Sequor Law represented the Government of Antigua and Barbuda in a corruption matter spanning Florida, Bermuda, Hong Kong, Switzerland, the Isle of Man, and Cayman. The civil case resulted in the freezing, recovery, and repatriation of stolen assets, the repatriation of US$12 million to the client, and the cancellation of a fraudulent contract that saved the government more than US$20 million in future expenditures. Kleptocracy Case for the Republic of Haiti Sequor Law participated as part of a global team in advising the Republic of Haiti on aspects of Asset Recovery against the Duvalier regime. Advice to the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala Sequor Law participated as part of a global team in advising CICIG in connection with corruption claims and other wrongdoing involving the former president and administration in Guatemala. First Chapter 15 Cross-Border Insolvency Case in Florida Involving Central American Banking Group Sequor Law represents Bancafe International Bank (in Liquidation) (“BIB”). After the failure of Banco Cafeteros de Guatemala, BIB, a Barbados entity with extensive operations in Guatemala and assets in the United States, entered bankruptcy in Barbados. Acting for the custodian, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sequor Law filed the first Chapter 15 case in Florida and obtained recognition of the Barbados liquidation as the main foreign proceeding. The matter has included extensive discovery in the United States and recoveries that include more than US$54 million from a REFCO bankruptcy claim and approximately US$1 million from a New York account. Chapter 15 Case Stemming from One of the Largest Banking Failures in Brazilian History Sequor Law represents the judicial administrator of Banco Santos, S.A. (in Liquidation). After an investigation revealed a theft of more than US$1 billion through a multi-country scheme, Sequor Law initiated a Chapter 15 proceeding. The corresponding recognition helped secure valuable evidence in the United States and elsewhere and supported the recovery of artwork valued in the millions, along with additional multi-million-dollar recoveries through a confidential ancillary settlement. Brazilian Cross-Border Insolvency Case with More Than 300 Related Debtors Sequor Law represents Petroforte Brasileiro de Petroleo Ltda. (“Petroforte”) (in Liquidation). After Petroforte entered insolvency proceedings in Brazil and the bankruptcy was extended to more than 300 entities and individuals, Sequor Law obtained deposition testimony and documentary evidence in the United States and pursued analogous proceedings in the Caribbean and Central America. The evidence supported the Judicial Administrator’s efforts in Brazil and may support additional recovery litigation, including through Chapter 15. Leading Appellate and Section 1782 Decisions Sequor Law prevailed before the Eleventh Circuit in Talal Qais Abdulmunem Al Zawawi v. Diss (In re Talal Qais Abdulmunem Al Zawawi), 97 F.4th 1244 (11th Cir. 2024), reinforcing the importance of Chapter 15 in cross-border cooperation. The firm has also helped shape the law under 28 U.S.C. § 1782, including In Application of Consorcio Ecuatoriano de Telecomunicaciones S.A. v. JAS Forwarding (USA), Inc., 747 F.3d 1262 (11th Cir. 2014), and Novalpina Cap. Partners I GP S.A.R.L. v. Read, 149 F.4th 1092 (9th Cir. 2025). Open Edward H. Davis, Jr. Founding Shareholder edavis@sequorlaw.com (+1) 305-372-8282, Ext. 228 Open Arnoldo B. Lacayo Shareholder alacayo@sequorlaw.com (+1) 305-372-8282, Ext. 230 Open Leyza B. Florin Shareholder lflorin@sequorlaw.com (+1) 305-372-8282, Ext. 300 Open Open Key contacts Key Contacts

Sequor Law promotes Juan J. Mendoza to Counsel, recognizing his expertise in asset recovery, cross-border insolvency, and complex international litigation across multiple jurisdictions. Sequor Law Promotes Attorney Juan J. Mendoza to Counsel Open Firm News Open September 12, 2023 2 minutes read Sequor Law September 12, 2023, Miami, Florida- Sequor Law, a distinguished Miami-based law firm specializing in asset recovery, financial fraud, insolvency, and financial services litigation, both domestically and cross-border, proudly announces the promotion of Attorney Juan J. Mendoza to the position of Counsel, effective immediately. “We are excited to recognize Juan’s hard work, dedication, and significant contributions to the firm by promoting him to Counsel,” says Founding Shareholder Edward H. Davis, Jr. “Juan’s expertise in asset recovery, cross-border insolvency and complex litigation across multiple jurisdictions has been an indispensable asset to the firm and our clients. This promotion is well-deserved and exemplifies Sequor Law’s commitment to nurturing and rewarding top-tier talent.” Juan Mendoza, who joined the firm several years ago, has excelled in cases involving international litigation, cross-border insolvency, fraud and asset recovery, and has been instrumental in the firm’s successes in a variety of fora. His commendable experience and skill in navigating legal issues in multiple jurisdictions have helped secure outstanding results for the firm’s clients. “Juan’s commitment to delivering exceptional service, paired with his ability to adapt and excel in fast-paced, complex legal environments, is truly exemplary,” remarks Founding Shareholder Gregory Grossman . “He consistently exhibits high levels of professionalism and legal acumen, qualities that not only benefit our clients but also contribute positively to our firm’s reputation as a leader in international legal services.” Juan’s background and qualifications are a testament to his aptitude and dedication to the field. Juan is an alumnus of the NCBJ 2022 NextGen Program, the Fellowship program of the Florida Bar Business Law section and currently serves as the Membership Committee Chair. He is an active member of AIJA, contributing his efforts through the Insolvency and Litigation Commissions. Prior to joining Sequor Law, Juan served as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert L. Jones, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Texas. Juan received his JD from Emory University School of Law and is admitted to the State Bar of Florida, Georgia and Texas. The promotion of Juan Mendoza to Counsel underscores Sequor Law’s ongoing commitment to professional development and excellence. His work ethic, combined with his legal talent, will continue to be an invaluable asset to the firm and its esteemed clientele. ****** Sequor Law is a Miami-based international law firm representing financial institutions, sovereign governments and state-owned enterprises, public and non-public companies, insolvency practitioners and individual clients in the areas of asset recovery, financial Fraud, Insolvency and financial services litigation. More information is available at www.sequorlaw.com . Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Firm News Jun 23, 2026 3 minutes Sequor Law Welcomes Attorney Carolina M. Rosso to Its Expanding International Litigation and Asset Recovery Team Sequor Law is pleased to announce that Carolina M. Rosso has joined the firm as an Attorney. Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit...

Sequor Law Founding Shareholder Gregory Grossman spoke at IBRA – Instituto Brasileiro de Rastreamento de Ativos, addressing asset tracing and recovery professionals. Gregory Grossman Spoke at Ibra- Instituto Brasileiro de Rastreamento de Ativos Open Events & Speaking Open November 30, 2021 1 minute read Sequor Law Sequor Law Founding Shareholder Gregory Grossman spoke at IBRA-Instituto Brasilerio de Rastreamento de Ativos on Friday, November 26th. Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Firm News Jun 23, 2026 3 minutes Sequor Law Welcomes Attorney Carolina M. Rosso to Its Expanding International Litigation and Asset Recovery Team Sequor Law is pleased to announce that Carolina M. Rosso has joined the firm as an Attorney. Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit...

Sequor Law expands its Washington, D.C. office with David Short, bolstering the firm's cross-border litigation, asset recovery, and financial fraud practice. Sequor Law Expands Washington, D.C. Office with Addition of David Short Open Firm News Open January 13, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, May 21, 2025 – Sequor Law is pleased to announce the expansion of its Washington, D.C. office with the addition of David Short . This strategic hire reflects the firm’s ongoing growth and commitment to serving clients in complex cross-border litigation, asset recovery, and financial fraud matters across key jurisdictions. David brings deep experience in complex commercial litigation, appellate advocacy, and government-related disputes. He has represented institutional clients in high stakes matters involving financial fraud, contract disputes, and internal investigations. His background includes extensive work across federal trial and appellate courts. “David’s sharp legal acumen and breadth of experience in both litigation and investigations make him a valuable addition as we continue building our presence in Washington,” said Tara Plochocki, Partner and Head of Sequor Law’s D.C. office. “His arrival strengthens our ability to serve clients engaged in sophisticated, multi-jurisdictional disputes.” David has advised clients in matters involving sensitive information—enhancing the firm’s ability to manage complex and confidential matters. He also brings insight from clerkship and fellowship roles within the U.S. federal court system, contributing to his nuanced understanding of federal procedure and strategy. He earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he served as Article Development Editor of the Virginia Environmental Law Journal and competed in the Lile Moot Court. David received his B.S. from the College of William and Mary, where he was a James Monroe Scholar. He is admitted to practice in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and New York. Sequor Law’s D.C. office continues to grow in response to increasing demand for international enforcement and asset recovery expertise. The firm’s expansion aligns with its long-term strategy to serve clients across borders through highly focused and experienced legal teams. “We’re proud to be expanding in Washington with top-tier talent like David,” said Gregory S. Grossman, Founding Shareholder of Sequor Law. “His addition supports our mission to provide seamless legal solutions in complex, multi-jurisdictional matters and enhances the strength of our national litigation platform.” For more information, visit: www.sequorlaw.com *** Headquartered in Miami and with an office in Washington, D.C., Sequor Law is an international law firm focusing on representing victims of financial fraud, including sovereign governments and state-owned enterprises, public and non-public companies, insolvency practitioners, and all manner of clients in the areas of asset recovery, financial fraud, cross-border insolvency, and international litigation and arbitration. www.sequorlaw.com . Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Firm News Jun 23, 2026 3 minutes Sequor Law Welcomes Attorney Carolina M. Rosso to Its Expanding International Litigation and Asset Recovery Team Sequor Law is pleased to announce that Carolina M. Rosso has joined the firm as an Attorney. Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit...

Sequor Law celebrates National Pet Day by making a charitable donation to PAWS4you Rescue, a Miami nonprofit dedicated to saving abandoned animals across South Florida. Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Donation to PAWS4you Rescue Open Firm News Open April 9, 2025 2 minutes read Sequor Law Miami, Florida— In honor of National Pet Day, Sequor Law has made a charitable contribution to PAWS4you Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the lives of abandoned and at-risk animals across South Florida. Founded in 2007, PAWS4you provides critical medical care, shelter, and adoption services to dogs in need. The organization relies on community support to carry out its mission of rescue, rehabilitation, and responsible pet ownership. “At Sequor Law, we believe pets are more than companions—they’re family. We’re proud to support PAWS4you’s tireless efforts to rescue and rehome animals in our community,” said Gregory S. Grossman, Founding Shareholder, Sequor Law. Mirta Segredo, Community Outreach Director at PAWS4you, expressed her appreciation: “We depend on the generosity of our donors to continue our mission. This donation from Sequor Law will help us save more lives.” This initiative is part of Sequor Law’s broader commitment to community engagement and philanthropy. The firm invites others to celebrate National Pet Day by adopting, donating, or volunteering. To learn more about PAWS4you or to get involved, visit www.paws4you.org . For a behind-the-scenes look at the furry friends who inspire us daily, visit our Pets of Sequor Law page, https://www.sequorlaw.com/pets . *** Sequor Law is an international law firm focusing on representing victims of financial fraud, including sovereign governments and state-owned enterprises, public and non-public companies, insolvency practitioners, and all manner of clients in the areas of asset recovery, financial fraud, cross-border insolvency, and international litigation and arbitration. www.sequorlaw.com . *** PAWS4you Rescue, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit, volunteer and donor-subsidized animal rescue organization based in Miami, Florida. Founded in 2007, we are a 100% no-kill shelter serving the community by rescuing abandoned and neglected animals, nurturing these animals back to health through love and state-of-the art care, and promoting healthy and enriching relationships between pet owners and their pets. PAWS4you visualizes a world where pets are safe from the threat of euthanasia and live fully in the comfort of loving homes, enhancing the lives of those around them. www.paws4you.org Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Firm News Jun 23, 2026 3 minutes Sequor Law Welcomes Attorney Carolina M. Rosso to Its Expanding International Litigation and Asset Recovery Team Sequor Law is pleased to announce that Carolina M. Rosso has joined the firm as an Attorney. Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit...

Forbes quoted Sequor Law’s Tara J. Plochocki on the 2016 South China Sea ruling and why enforcing international arbitration awards against sovereigns is hard. China’s Defiance Over South China Sea Shows Limits of International Courts Open In the News Open July 12, 2016 2 minutes read Sequor Law The Philippines left The Hague in July 2016 with a sweeping win. A tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration found that China had broken international law by building artificial islands to push its territorial claims hundreds of miles into the South China Sea. China's answer was just as blunt. It would not abide by the ruling, it had refused to take part in the proceedings, and it denied that the tribunal held any authority over what it called a territorial dispute. Forbes asked the obvious follow-up: what is a paper victory worth when the losing side refuses to recognize it? Tara J. Plochocki — today a Partner at Sequor Law and head of the Washington D.C. office — was quoted throughout the piece. The absence of China's consent, she noted, had been visible "from 14 years away": Beijing had signed a 2002 framework to resolve these disputes through negotiation, and it never agreed to let a tribunal decide questions of sovereignty. The whole story hinges on consent. Nations routinely agree to international arbitration in commercial matters and must live by the outcome. They are reluctant to agree to such arbitration when a dispute touches sovereignty. As the article notes, the United States has done the same thing China did, brushing off the International Court of Justice in the 1980s over Nicaragua and again in the 2000s in a death-penalty case involving a foreign national. Beijing is not the only sovereign to refuse to honor an unfavorable ruling. For businesses, Plochocki drew a practical line rather than a political one. China, she said, "is not an unreasonable place to do business — you can sign a contract there and have it enforced." Her caveat travels well beyond this case: companies contracting with state-owned enterprises should decide in advance on a dispute-resolution forum those enterprises have actually honored before. A favorable award means little if it lands somewhere the other side can ignore. Her closing observation captured the distance between winning and collecting. The Hague, she said, often serves as the court of international opinion; enforcing its judgments is a separate fight. The full Forbes article is here: "China's Defiance Over South China Sea Shows Limits Of International Courts." That distance is the center of Plochocki's work today. At Sequor Law she concentrates on international arbitration and on enforcing arbitral awards and foreign judgments, including against sovereigns and state-owned enterprises that would rather not pay. The South China Sea ruling is the dramatic version of a problem her clients face in quieter forms every day: a judgment is only as good as your ability to enforce it. Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Firm News Jun 23, 2026 3 minutes Sequor Law Welcomes Attorney Carolina M. Rosso to Its Expanding International Litigation and Asset Recovery Team Sequor Law is pleased to announce that Carolina M. Rosso has joined the firm as an Attorney. Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit...

Who's Who Legal recognizes Sequor Law's Edward H. Davis Jr. as one of the foremost asset recovery lawyers, praised for identifying key issues and strategic thinking in complex financial disputes. Thought Leaders Global Elite – Asset Recovery (GIR 2019) Open Awards & Recognition Open September 5, 2019 1 minute read Sequor Law Who’s Who Legal says: Edward Davis Jr is one of the foremost lawyers in our research this year. Sources note, “He is particularly strong at identifying key issues and strategizing in ways that take those key issues into consideration.” Read the full article below or click here Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Firm News Jun 23, 2026 3 minutes Sequor Law Welcomes Attorney Carolina M. Rosso to Its Expanding International Litigation and Asset Recovery Team Sequor Law is pleased to announce that Carolina M. Rosso has joined the firm as an Attorney. Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit...

Judge David Jones takes under advisement motions to convert MatlinPatterson Chapter 11 cases to Chapter 7, examining whether the debtors' wind-down constitutes a species of rehabilitation. Court Takes Under Advisement Motions to Convert MatlinPatterson Cases to Chapter 7, Says Decision Turns on Whether Wind-Down of Debtors’ Businesses Counts as ‘Species of Rehabilitation’ Open In the News Open April 8, 2022 3 minutes read Sequor Law At a hearing today in the MatlinPatterson Global Opportunities Fund debtors’ chapter 11 cases, Judge David Jones took under advisement the chapter 7 conversion motions filed by the foreign representative in the chapter 15 case of Varig Logistica SA, or VarigLog, and litigation plaintiff Gol Linhas Aéreas SA, referred to by its predecessor name, VRG. Judge Jones informed the parties that he would issue a decision on the conversion motions in the near term. HJDK Aerospacial S/A, which has asserted a $17.5 million claim against the debtors for failure of a portfolio company to repay certain loans in Brazilian civil courts, had also filed a statement in support of the conversion motion. Debtors’ counsel disputed the amount of HJDK’s claim at today’s hearing, saying that HJDK has only a $4.5 million claim. Judge Jones opened the hearing by informing the parties that his primary focus in considering the motions was whether the debtors had a “reasonable likelihood of rehabilitation” under the relevant provision of the Bankruptcy Code. Given the nature of the debtors’ business as investment vehicles for private equity investors, Judge Jones questioned whether using chapter 11 to wind down the investment vehicles by “clearing” the foreign litigation claims order to make payouts to investors and otherwise implement their business model was a “species of rehabilitation.” Judge Jones also said he would take into consideration whether staying in chapter 11 would result in a “substantial or continuing loss to or diminution” of the debtors’ estates. Judge Jones commented that it was “hard to see” how the administrative burn rate in the cases did not constitute some form of diminution, given the absence of revenues coming into the estates. Gregory Grossman of Sequor Law, counsel for the VarigLog foreign representative, said that the chapter 11 cases amounted to a “preplanned dissolution” of the debtors, and although that might be part of the debtors’ business model, this could not constitute a “rehabilitation” under the Bankruptcy Code. Grossman argued that treating such a preplanned dissolution as a rehabilitation under the Code would lead to “mischief” because companies could, prior to filing for chapter 11, modify their corporate governance documents to require dissolution by a date certain in order to pre-emptively defeat chapter 7 conversion motions. Tyler Robinson of Simpson Thacher, counsel for the debtors, argued that the rehabilitative purpose of filing the chapter 11 cases is to carry out the “intended purpose” of the debtors’ businesses, which “first and foremost” is to return capital to their investors. Robinson explained that the foreign litigation claimants had frustrated those efforts, ultimately causing the debtors to file the chapter 11 cases. Robinson said that in order to maximize the value of the estates, the debtors needed a “centralized process” for determining which parties held valid claims in order to ratably distribute estate assets. Robinson warned that it would be a “dangerous proposition” for the court to find that private equity funds and hedge funds should not be able to use chapter 11 to wind down their affairs. Robinson also argued that U.S. Supreme Court precedent supports the proposition that liquidation is an appropriate use of the chapter 11 process and that other courts have found a confirmable liquidating plan to be sufficiently rehabilitative to defeat a motion to convert. Arthur Steinberg of King & Spalding, counsel for VRG, argued that the debtors’ prepetition conduct justified conversion. Steinberg alleged that the debtors had covertly collateralized all their assets in favor of a nondebtor insider and transferred assets out of the estates prior to filing. Steinberg added that the debtors had no assets to liquidate, no revenue, no employees and “no public interest to protect.” According to Steinberg, the estates needed an estate fiduciary who is not “fronting for equity in the case” and that installing a chapter 7 trustee would cure the issue of “faithless fiduciaries” and satisfy the need for an independent investigator. Ralph E. Preite of Koutsoudakis & Iakovou, counsel to HJDK, told the court that after a decision by a Brazilian appellate court entered on Nov. 19, 2021, the appeals process had been exhausted and that the claim was therefore “final.” Elizabeth Curran of Schulte Roth & Zabel, conflicts counsel for the debtors, disagreed with Preite’s view that the litigation was over. According to Curran, the November 2021 decision related to a jurisdictional argument, and an appeal of the “full merits” of the matter is still pending. Curran added that there were still at least two additional levels of appeals available to the debtors in the Brazilian courts. To read the original article click here . Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Firm News Jun 23, 2026 3 minutes Sequor Law Welcomes Attorney Carolina M. Rosso to Its Expanding International Litigation and Asset Recovery Team Sequor Law is pleased to announce that Carolina M. Rosso has joined the firm as an Attorney. Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit...

Get to know Sequor Law's David Short, an anti-corruption and anti-fraud attorney who shares his path into international law, his commitment to making the world better, and his practice approach. Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know David Short Open Attorney Spotlight Open October 9, 2025 2 minutes read Sequor Law 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I don’t think that it was a matter of inspiration, but of choice – I wanted a career that would allow me to make the world a better place, and law was one of the ways that I thought I might do so. 2. Why did you choose the areas of law that you practice? Like many lawyers, it wasn’t entirely purposeful. I started as a generalist and focused on opportunities that were both challenging and rewarding. This naturally led to anti-corruption and anti-fraud work, in part because of the firms I came to and the people I worked with. 3. What skills do you draw upon when it comes to your specific practice areas? Writing, more than anything. Being able to clearly communicate ideas and principles in an organized, digestible way that is tailored to the recipient or recipients – whether a client, opposing counsel, colleague, or a particular judge – is invaluable. But a key part of that is rewriting – being able to adapt and refine someone else’s writing while trying to preserve their voice as much as possible. 4. What is the most rewarding part about your job? There is a quietly and deeply satisfying feeling at the realization that something I thought about and wrote has become part of the common law in some way. This happens in winning, of course, at least if the judge both rules in your favor and does it for the reasons that you proposed. But it can happen even on a loss – you can at least guide the court away from adopting a particularly bad interpretation of a law, even if the outcome is not what you hoped for. 5. Tell us about a mentor who made an impact on your career. Janice Platt, a senior staff attorney at the sixth circuit, was relentless in helping me improve my writing skills. Endless, continuous, and tailored feedback to make me as effective in different styles as possible. That was the foundation I needed to find my own voice as a lawyer, and it made me much better at understanding why courts use certain words or phrases. 6. If you weren’t practicing law, what would you be doing? Likely scientific research. It was graduate school or law school, but law school presented better career opportunities for me. 7. What might people be surprised to learn about you? I used to create mods for video games. Only one set of mods really took off, and that was for a relatively niche game, but I poured a couple thousand hours into that hobby over several years between learning the relevant modding commands, researching the underlying ideas I wanted to implement, working on pixel art, and then implementing and testing my ideas until they were ready for release. 8. What is a good book or article you read recently? I’m currently working my way through The Wind’s Twelve Quarters, by Ursula LeGuin. She’s a wonderful writer. A common theme through the short stories is how culture informs perception – even when a narrator isn’t unreliable, they still might misapprehend something because a difference that someone else might find important doesn’t matter (or doesn’t even exist) from the primary narrator’s point of view. Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Firm News Jun 23, 2026 3 minutes Sequor Law Welcomes Attorney Carolina M. Rosso to Its Expanding International Litigation and Asset Recovery Team Sequor Law is pleased to announce that Carolina M. Rosso has joined the firm as an Attorney. Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit...

Sequor Law's Leyza B. Florin, Andrew Dawson, and Greg Grossman examine how Florida's bankruptcy courts have become leaders in Chapter 15 asset recovery, published in Asset Recovery Magazine. Asset Recovery Magazine – Florida Leads the Way in Development of Chapter 15 Jurisprudence Open Legal Insights Open August 30, 2019 9 minutes read Sequor Law By Leyza B. Florin , Andrew B. Dawson and Greg S. Grossman Chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code has become a powerful asset recovery tool, and the Florida bankruptcy courts have been leading the way in this development. The Southern District of Florida has seen more Chapter 15 lings than any court other than the Southern District of New York, and many of these Florida Chapter 15 cases have been focused on assisting foreign trustees and liquidators track down and recover assets in the United States. Our team at Sequor Law in Miami has alone led over forty chapter 15 cases. While Chapter 15 is not a new tool—it is approaching its fourteenth birthday—it is, like many a teenager, under-appreciated and at times misunderstood. This is in part because Chapter 15 is not really “bankruptcy” in the sense that it does not create a bankruptcy estate or appoint a trustee. Instead, Chapter 15 provides a procedure to assist trustees administer foreign insolvency cases whose cross- border estates reach into the United States. The underappreciation also stems in part because Chapter 15’s substantive contours remain unknown, as it is primarily a procedural vehicle with minimal substantive constraints. Finally, because Chapter 15 requires U.S. bankruptcy courts to interface with foreign insolvency proceedings, there has been a great deal of uncertainty as to how open courts would be to cooperating with foreign insolvency proceedings, particularly when those foreign proceedings involve insolvency laws that are importantly different from U.S. bankruptcy law in substance and process. One common concern when Chapter 15 was rst enacted in 2008 was that U.S. bankruptcy courts might be reluctant to cooperate with foreign proceedings—or that they would cooperate inconsistently—in the face of foreign insolvency laws. Florida bankruptcy courts have in recent years played a key role in the development of Chapter 15. It is perhaps no surprise that courts here have been leaders in this arena, particularly as to cross-border insolvencies originating from Latin and South America. These courts have played important roles in establishing precedent for inter- American cooperation and assistance in this still-developing area of law. This article will discuss three recent decisions that highlight developments that may be of particular interest in asset recovery efforts. Chapter 15: A Bankruptcy without a Bankruptcy Estate Chapter 15 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code provides a powerful tool kit for bankruptcy trustees and liquidators, but it is not itself a “bankruptcy” case. It does not open a full bankruptcy proceeding or create an estate, as would happen in a typical corporate bankruptcy case. Instead, Chapter 15 creates a process to assist the representative of a foreign proceeding, whether that be a debtor- in-possession, trustee, monitor, or other official. Chapter 15 permits that foreign representative to open a case in the bankruptcy court in order to seek assistance within the United States, with that assistance ranging from discovery orders to asset turnover orders. The bankruptcy court’s threshold function is to determine whether to recognize foreign proceeding, either a foreign main proceeding (i.e., one led where the debtor has its “center of main interests”) or foreign nonmain proceeding (i.e., one led where the debtor has an establishment). The court then has discretion to fashion assistance. Thus, there is no actual “debtor” in the Chapter 15 case and no estate is created. Whereas a traditional bankruptcy case can be a cost-intensive and disruptive endeavor—trustees are appointed, claims must be processed, assets liquidated and distributed, etc. —Chapter 15, in contrast, is not a traditional bankruptcy case. Rather, it is an ancillary case in aid of the foreign bankruptcy proceeding. It is thus more exible and less onerous than a traditional bankruptcy case. The main questions in these ancillary cases concern what aid is available to the trustees of the foreign insolvency cases. Chapter 15 provides some very speci c procedures designed to facilitate that cross-border assistance, e.g., authorizing judge-to-judge communications, and it provides a non-exclusive list of relief the U.S. bankruptcy court can grant to the foreign representative. As with any relatively new legislation, there is a lot of uncertainty as to the extent of that relief and to the standards for granting that relief. The uncertainty in Chapter 15 has an additional complicating factor due to its cross-border nature: would U.S. bankruptcy courts extend relief to foreign bankruptcy proceedings that differ from U.S. bankruptcy law and procedures? Three Florida cases brought by Sequor Law on behalf of foreign representatives, illustrate these issues and show how the Florida bankruptcy courts have helped fashion answers and standards. Who is the Foreign “Debtor”: In re Petroforte The first case is by now well known in the cross-border insolvency world so will receive only a cursory treatment; however, it would be remiss to exclude the case altogether as it has had important rami cations throughout the Chapter 15 jurisprudence. Petroforte was one of Brazil’s largest gas and ethanol distributors before entering bankruptcy. That liquidation had uncovered evidence of fraudulent transfers made to several entities, which provided the basis for the Brazilian court to enter ex parte an order extending the bankruptcy case to include the transferees. The Brazilian trustees commenced a Chapter 15 proceeding in the Southern District of Florida to seek discovery to assist the Brazilian liquidation. Some of these discovery targets objected on two main grounds: first, the argued that the Chapter 15 court should refuse to recognize the Brazilian extension order on public policy grounds; second, they argued that the foreign representative could not use Chapter 15 to order discovery against the transferees because they were not “debtors”. In what is now a widely-cited case (In re Petroforte Brasileiro de Petroleo Ltda. , 542 B.R. 899 (Bankr. S.D. Fla. 2015)), Judge Robert Mark rejected the first argument. He noted that U.S. courts grant a similar type of relief under the equitable remedy of substantive consolidation, and thus the Brazilian extension order was not substantively offensive as a matter of public policy. As to the ex parte nature of the proceedings, he acknowledged that this differs from U.S. procedure, which would have provided the remedy of substantive consolidation only upon an open hearing; however, he noted that the parties had the opportunity to be heard at the appellate level in Brazil. Consequently, the Brazilian proceeding did not offend U.S. public policy. As to the scope of discovery assistance under Chapter 15, the court had to interpret the scope of “debtor” under section 1521(a)(4), which provides that a court may authorize the “the examination of witnesses, the taking of evidence or the delivery of information concerning the debtor’s assets, affairs, rights, obligations or liabilities.” Judge Mark held that the entities that were subject to the Brazilian extension order were “debtors” subject to section 1521’s discovery powers. As to third parties who were not subject to the Brazilian extension order, the bankruptcy court in Petroforte held the trustee may be entitled to broad discovery to the extent the debtor is a majority stockholder in the non-debtor discovery target. Such broad discovery “allows the Trustee to determine whether the stock, which is an asset of the estate, has sufficient value to induce the Trustee to take control of the entity, and attempt to derive value by selling or liquidating the entity.” Broad Discovery Relief: In re SAM Industrias, S.A. In re SAM Industrias, S.A ., 2019 WL 1012790 (Bankr. S.D. Fla. March 1, 2019), built upon the foundation laid in Petroforte. In Petroforte, Judge Mark also suggested an alternative basis for ordering broad investigation into third party transactions in situations in which the third parties were actually involved in the fraudulent transfer or had otherwise engaged in wrongdoing: “The Trustee’s Supplemental Response failed to establish any actual involvement in the Plant Transaction or any wrongdoing by any of the Third Party Targets.” The court, though, did not further discuss this alternative ground. The issue arose in SAM Industrias when the foreign representative of the Brazilian liquidation led a Chapter 15 in the Southern District of Florida to investigate potential fraudulent transferees identified by the Brazilian courts. The Brazilian courts had found that the debtor had undisclosed interests in certain corporate entities, which he had concealed by transferring to family members. The foreign representative, accordingly, sought the Chapter 15 court’s assistance in examining these family members, who were not themselves debtors in Brazil, and in examining certain non-debtor corporate entities. The debtor objected to this assistance, arguing that the requested discovery assistance falls outside the scope of Chapter 15’s relief because the discovery targets were not debtors in Brazil. As to the family members, the Chapter 15 court examined the Brazilian court record carefully and concluded that discovery was appropriate as to those family members identified as transferees of the debtor’s property. The foreign representative, accordingly, was entitled to discover information related to the transferees’ corporate and financial affairs. As to the non-debtor corporate entities, the foreign representative was entitled to broad discovery not only as to those entities in which the debtor had a majority interest but also in those entities found to have participated in the debtor’s asset concealment scheme. Again, in defining the scope of relief available to the foreign representative, the Chapter 15 court examined the findings of the Brazilian courts. The Brazilian courts had found that the debtor had concealed assets through certain corporate pass- throughs owned and controlled by the debtor. The foreign representative was thus entitled to discovery related to these corporate pass-throughs. The foreign representative, though, was not entitled to discovery related to the non-debtor entities whose connections to the debtor had not yet been established in the Brazilian courts. Accordingly, the court concluded that the foreign representative is not entitled to “carte-blanche in his inquiries of non-debtors,” but that he is entitled to obtain information narrowly tailored “to discover ‘the legal entities created in purely fictional form’ which are part of a ‘complex corporate structure’ obscuring” the debtor’s ownership of corporate assets. The Foreign Revenue Rule: In re Dixon In re Dixon (Case No. 16-bk-02453, M.D. Fla. March 23, 2016) illustrates Chapter 15’s exibility, as it required the court to consider a novel application of the Foreign Revenue Rule to a Canadian trustee’s request for assistance. The Canadian debtors commenced proceedings in Canada under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. The foreign representative subsequently led a Chapter 15 proceeding in the Middle District of Florida, seeking discovery assistance related to the debtor’s assets in the United States. When the foreign representative sought authorization to sell the debtors’ U.S. property in aid of the Canadian liquidation, the debtors led their own bankruptcy case under Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code and later sought to dismiss the Chapter 15 proceedings. They argued that the Chapter 15 petition would violate the Foreign Revenue Rule. The Foreign Revenue Rule is “a long- standing common law rule that prevents the courts of one sovereign from enforcing or adjudicating tax claims from another sovereign.” Here, the debtors’ principal obligations were unpaid tax debts owed in Canada. Republic of Honduras vs. Philip Morris Companies, Inc., 341 F.3d 1253, 1260 (11th Cir. 2003). The issue, as urged by the debtors, was whether a Chapter 15 court could order to liquidate U.S. property for the purpose of satisfying Canadian tax claims. Judge Caryl Delano noted that the application of the Foreign Revenue Rule in the Chapter 15 context was a matter of first impression. Traditionally, in non- chapter 15 contexts, courts would refuse to permit a U.S. proceeding (whether in bankruptcy or not) to adjudicate tax claims under foreign laws. Section 1513(b)(2)(A) states that the language in subsection (a) and paragraph (1) “do not change or codify present law as to the allowability of foreign revenue claims or other foreign public law claims in a proceeding under this title.” Section 1513(b)(2)(B) goes on to say “[a]llowance and priority as to a foreign tax claim or other foreign public law shall be governed by any applicable tax treaty of the United States, under the conditions and circumstances specified therein.” The bankruptcy court ruled that the Revenue Rule did not apply because it was not being asked to “adjudicate or rule upon the validity or priority of the Canadian taxing authorities’ claims.” That matter, the court noted, would have to be decided in the Canadian proceeding. Second, the court noted that as a general matter, Chapter 15 courts are not in the business of adjudicating the validity of foreign claims. Finally, the court held that the case did not touch on any fundamental U.S. public policies, as it was simply a dispute as between the debtors and the foreign representative. In fact, the court found that it was promoting the public policies underlying not only Chapter 15 but the U.S.-Canada tax treaty. As an aside, the court noted that, to the extent the Canadian case involved more than just tax claims, that would further support its conclusion that the Foreign Revenue Rule does not apply. Conclusion These three Florida case descriptions illustrate how Chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code has elements of both bankruptcy law and more traditional asset recovery tools. When considering whether Chapter 15’s toolbox could help in the asset recovery effort, it appears the sun is shining in Florida’s bankruptcy courts. Click here to read the full article. Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Firm News Jun 23, 2026 3 minutes Sequor Law Welcomes Attorney Carolina M. Rosso to Its Expanding International Litigation and Asset Recovery Team Sequor Law is pleased to announce that Carolina M. Rosso has joined the firm as an Attorney. Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit...

Sequor Law's Leyza B. Florin, Chair of the Florida Bar's Business Law Section, leads an update to the Section's Pro Bono Best Practices Guide, highlighting attorneys' responsibility to serve. Business Law Section Updates Pro Bono Guide Open In the News Open August 7, 2020 4 minutes read Sequor Law If Spider-Man can do it, then so can the Business Law Section and other Florida lawyers. That’s the logic of section Chair Leyza B. Florin , explaining the section’s long-standing web of support for pro bono activities, just reinforced with the new revision of its Pro Bono Best Practices Guide. “It goes back to the Peter Parker principle, ‘with great power comes great responsibility,’” Florin said. But there are also hard numbers and practical reasons. The section’s mission is “to promote business-friendly initiatives” and pro bono falls squarely into that mission, she said, because studies have shown each dollar of civil legal services provided to low-income clients yields $7.19 of economic benefits. Carlos Sardi, chair of the section’s Pro Bono Committee, said the new guide covers the Supreme Court’s 2017 approval of Bar Rule 4-6.6, which addresses conflicts of interest affecting short-term pro bono representations. The Pro Bono Best Practices Guide has been posted for free on the Florida Business Law website . “One of the things that we’re trying to instill not only in our members but to all of our colleagues is there are tools out there that can help” in providing pro bono, Sardi said. “It’s a starting point for such efforts or to retool and rethink their pro bono policy to encourage their colleagues to do the right thing and provide pro bono services to the most-needy members of our community. “This tool provides the mechanisms all the way from intake to representation, even if it’s on a short term based on the safe harbor in Rule 4-6.6.” The updating is the first freshening of the guide since 2014, Sardi said, and was prompted in part by the Supreme Court’s adoption in 2017 of Bar Rule 4-6.6. “It provides a safe harbor for those who provide short-term, limited legal services [such as at a legal clinic]…for them to be able to provide services on a short term without being on the hook for representing a client,” he said. “We included that new rule into our guide basically for our members to be aware of the impact it has on your internal checking and intake mechanism that you use to run conflict searches.” According to a November 15, 2017, Bar News column by Assistant Ethics Counsel Hey-Yen Cam Bailey the rule “applies to lawyers who provide short-term limited legal services through a program sponsored by a nonprofit organization, court, government agency, bar association, or ABA-accredited law school. Although attorney-client relationships are still established through these programs, neither the lawyer nor client expect the relationship to last beyond that short-term representation. Under the rule, a lawyer participating in these programs will only be subject to Rules 4-1.7 and 4-1.9(a), conflict of interest rules regarding current and former clients, if the lawyer knows that the representation involves a conflict of interest.” The guide addresses intake, initial interviews, engagement letters, opening a file, deciding what is pro bono, the safe harbor in Rule 4-6.6, how pro bono credit is determined, using nonlawyer employees for pro bono cases, determining if costs will be charged, and dividing fees, costs, and awards that may come from a pro bono case. Also covered are having law firm staff dedicated to pro bono work to satisfy the guidelines in Rule 4-6.1(c) and getting such plans approved by circuit pro bono committees. Aside from presenting the considerations in outline form, there is also extensive commentary on important points and issues. Working with legal aid offices and pro bono circuit committees is important, Sardi said, because “you can always be more sensitive to the immediate pro bono needs in your community. “The pro bono needs may be completely different in northern Florida than in the southern part of our state. Obviously that connectivity with the local area is very important in setting your pro bono firm-wide policy.” Support for pro bono is in the DNA of the section, as shown by the handbook and other efforts. “I’ve been an active member of the Business Law Section since 2006. I don’t remember a time where the Pro Bono Committee was not present and pro bono services were not promoted,” Sardi said. “One of the missions of the Pro Bono Committee is to achieve 100% participation of our members. Last year, when we took on the task of reviewing how well we are doing, well over 60% of our members in one way or another provided pro bono services. It’s a work in progress but it’s a fantastic achievement by our members. We continue to promote our pro bono heroes and services.” Members may also take to heart Florin’s point that effective pro bono is good for the business community. She cited a 2016 study, Economic Impacts of Civil Legal Aid Organization in Florida conducted by The Resource for Great Programs, which found that in 2015 civil legal aid had garnered for Floridians $120.6 million in Social Security benefits, $70.7 million in Medicare and Medicaid payments, and $2.7 million in veterans benefits. That in turn boosted business income by $274.8 million, created 2,243 jobs and avoided $2.9 million in emergency shelter costs, $50.6 million in foreclosure costs, and $6.9 million in domestic violence costs. “Pro bono work provides a benefit to the Florida legal community that may not otherwise be available,” Florin said. “The members of our section have skills that are in short supply and in great need.” Click here to read the original article . Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open Firm News Jun 23, 2026 3 minutes Sequor Law Welcomes Attorney Carolina M. Rosso to Its Expanding International Litigation and Asset Recovery Team Sequor Law is pleased to announce that Carolina M. Rosso has joined the firm as an Attorney. Attorney Spotlight May 19, 2026 1 minute read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Noah Rosenblum 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was drawn to law because I've always enjoyed solving complicated problems and thinking.. Attorney Spotlight May 9, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Michael Hanlon 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was less drawn to law in the abstract and more.. Firm News Apr 11, 2026 2 minutes read Sequor Law Celebrates National Pet Day with Continued Support of Paws4You Rescue In recognition of National Pet Day, Sequor Law is proud to continue its support of Paws4You Rescue, a Miami-based nonprofit...