Sequor Law's Arnoldo Lacayo represents the administrator of bankrupt Brazilian magazine publisher Minuano in a Chapter 15 filing in Florida to uncover assets hidden in the US by its former owners. Brazilian magazine group enters Chapter 15 in Florida Open In the News Open October 7, 2019 2 minutes read Sequor Law By Declan Bush The administrator of a bankrupt Brazilian magazine publishing company has filed for Chapter 15 protection to search for assets its old owners may have stashed in the US. Four entities – Minuano Comunicações e Produções Editorias, Diário de São Paulo Comunicações, Editora Fontana and Cereja Serviços de Midia Digital – filed a slew of documents before the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida dated 25 September. Arnoldo Lacayo , a partner at Sequor Law specialising in financial fraud and asset recovery cases, is the debtors’ counsel in Miami. In a declaration to the US court filed on 1 October, Brazilian administrator Joice Ruiz Bernier , of São Paulo firm AJ Ruiz Consultaria Empresarial, said the Minuano companies were part of a publishing group owned by Spanish businessman Mario Florencio Cuesta and his ex-wife Giane Viana Cuesta. The Cuestas divorced in 2012. Minuano was a big magazine publisher started in Brazil in 2004, which grew to include assets including longstanding newspaper Diario de São Paulo. The first of Minuano companies went bankrupt in São Paulo in April 2017 after a creditors’ petition seven months before, the court was told. The other debtors were added to the Brazilian proceeding in January 2018 when it emerged they were run out of the same office and had commingled funds. The debtors appealed the extension of the bankruptcy, but the Brazilian Court of Appeals in São Paulo affirmed it in June 2018. As further entities and individuals were brought into the bankruptcy proceedings, the court made an order freezing the Cuesta’s assets, and those of five others and four of their companies on 8 October 2018. By that stage, Bernier had already seized assets including a helicopter owned by the newspaper for the bankruptcy estate. Bernier said her investigations had revealed the Cuestas were the debtors’ ultimate beneficial owners and had instructed the group’s directors on how to proceed, despite not being identified as shareholders. “The Cuestas financed a lavish lifestyle through the use of the debtors’ assets, monetary and physical,” Bernier has told the US court in her declaration. “Investigations into the Debtors suggest that assets were diverted overseas to banks in Miami and New York.” She says she intends to investigate the nature and extent of any of the debtors’ activities and assets in the US, as well as any assets bought with their funds. A hearing has been set for 13 November. In the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida Minuano Comunicações e Produções Editorias, Diário de São Paulo Comunicações, Editora Fontana and Cereja Serviços de Midia Digital, case 19-23184-LMI Judge Laurel Isicoff Counsel to Minuano Sequor Law Partner Arnoldo Lacayo and attorney Bruno de Camargo in Miami In the Second Bankruptcy Court for the State of São Paulo Judge Marcelo Barbosa Sacramone Administrator to Minuano AJ Ruiz Consultoria Empresarial* Partner Joice Ruiz Bernier in São Paulo *Formerly Satiro e Ruiz Advogados Associados To view 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 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... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

Sequor Law's Gregory Grossman and Bruno de Camargo counsel the foreign representative of Brazilian mining group Brasagro as it files Chapter 15 in Miami to probe questionable transactions. Brazilian mining group seeks recognition in Miami Open In the News Open October 18, 2019 2 minutes read Sequor Law By Benjamin Clarke The foreign representative of a Brazilian limestone mining group has applied for Chapter 15 recognition of its liquidation in Miami, after finding it had entered several “questionable” transactions and agreements. Brazilian lawyer Reinaldo Camargo do Nascimento, the foreign representative of Brasagro Fertilizantes Minerais and Petrocal Industria e Comercio De Cal, filed the petition in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District on 15 October, with counsel from Gregory Grossman and Bruno de Camargo of Sequor Law. Camargo, who was appointed judicial administrator of the debtors three years ago, told the US court he needed recognition to investigate the extent of any activities undertaken in the US that might be related to the debtors and their assets. “Investigations into the debtors have highlighted a number of questionable transactions and agreements,” he revealed in a declaration. “[I]t appears that after petitioning for judicial reorganisation, the insolvent Brasagro entered into an agreement with its parent company… to pay any bills the parent company was unable to pay up to US$15,000 a month,” he said. “There appears to be no additional considerations for this agreement.” “It is believed that there are more such agreements and transactions involving the debtors which may lead to information of diversion of assets abroad, particularly with insiders or affiliates,” he added. Brasagro and Petrocal filed reorganisation proceedings in Belo Horizonte in May 2014. But the proceedings were later moved to Rondonópolis in Mato Grosso, where the companies operate. The Rondonópolis court appointed Camargo as judicial administrator, and his subsequent report into the companies’ activities prompted the court to find there was no possibility of them successfully reorganising their debts. It converted the proceedings into a liquidation in January 2017. Camargo said that prior to the bankruptcy order, the companies’ debts totalled about 129 million reais (US$31.2 million), but this number had since increased. “I intend to investigate the nature and extent of any activities undertaken in the United States that may be related to the debtors and their assets,” he told the court. “[A]s well as any assets in the United States that may have been acquired using funds belonging to or traceable from the debtors.” He said he has also been given the responsibility of filing proceedings and asserting propriety claims against any third parties in the US that may owe the companies money. Such actions will give creditors of the companies further recovery opportunities, he said. Judge Jay Cristol has not yet set a recognition hearing date. In the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division Judge Jay Cristol Counsel to the foreign representative Sequor Law Shareholder Gregory Grossman and attorney Bruno de Camargo in Miami In the Fourth Civil Court of Mato Grosso, Rondonópolis Judge Renan Calos Leão do Nascimento Pereira Judicial administrator Reinaldo Camargo do Nascimento in Mato Grosso To view 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 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... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

Sequor Law partner Tara Plochocki joined Archipel at Paris Arbitration Week to discuss enforcing arbitral awards against sovereigns, treaty interpretation, and creditor coordination. Sequor Law at Paris Arbitration Week: Enforcing Arbitral Awards Against Sovereigns Open Events & Speaking Open April 18, 2025 1 minute read Sequor Law Sequor Law Partner Tara Plochocki was honored to join Jacques-Alexandre Genet and the team at Archipel during Paris Arbitration Week for a panel discussion on the enforcement of arbitral awards against sovereigns. The conversation explored the gap between legal obligations and state conduct, and how that divide might be narrowed. Panelists emphasized the importance of consistent interpretation of treaties and statutes by the courts—highlighted by recent decisions from the D.C. Circuit recognizing intra-EU ECT awards against Spain and Zhongshan’s free trade zone-related award against Nigeria. Thomas Eymond-Laritaz underscored the vital role of political pressure, particularly in light of potential shifts in the U.S. administration’s approach to proceedings against foreign sovereigns. Yasmin Mohammad offered valuable insight into the risks posed by EU laws that prohibit enforcement, while Paul H. shed light on the complexities and benefits of creditor coordination. Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open 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... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

The Southern District of Florida bankruptcy court adopted the Judicial Insolvency Network’s guidelines to foster court-to-court communication and cooperation in cross-border insolvency cases, a move welcomed by Sequor Law’s Gregory Grossman. Florida Bankruptcy Court Adopts JIN Guidelines Open In the News Open February 5, 2018 2 minutes read Sequor Law By Dominic Lawson The Chief Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of Florida has ordered the adoption of the Judicial Insolvency Network’s (JIN) Guidelines on court-to-court communication and cooperation – making Florida the third US state to sign up to them. Judge Laurel Myerson Isicoff made the administrative order on 1 February. Effective immediately, the order adopts 14 guidelines on communication and cooperation between courts in cross-border insolvency matters drafted by the JIN , a group of international judges who met for the first time in Singapore in October 2016. The guidelines are designed to improve coordination and cooperation between courts presiding over international insolvency cases in a bid to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. Gregory Grossman , a founding shareholder at Miami-based firm Sequor Law, which has filed more than two dozen Chapter 15 cases, tells GRR that the Southern District of Florida has the third most Chapter 15 filings in the United States, which “makes sense given Miami’s status as a gateway to Latin America and its significant ties to the Caribbean.” “These guidelines should foster the continued cooperation between US Bankruptcy Courts and the insolvency courts of the rest of the world by adding a framework for even more direct communications,” Grossman says, adding that his firm welcomes their adoption. The guidelines allow courts to communicate directly with each other and to give notice of proceedings to parties in other jurisdictions. They also state that courts should encourage cooperation between administrators of parallel proceedings on all aspects of a case. The JIN Guidelines received the “most important overall development” award at the GRR Charity Awards in June. On 1 February 2017, Singapore and the District of Delaware became the first jurisdictions to adopt the JIN guidelines. The Southern District of New York adopted the guidelines on 17 February and was followed by Bermuda in March. England and Wales adopted the guidelines in May , as did the BVI. New South Wales followed suit in September . Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open 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... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

Sequor Law's Edward H. Davis Jr. and Cristina Vicens Beard discuss COVID-19-related fraud risks and litigation support strategies, featured in Chambers 2020 Litigation Support Guide. Chambers 2020 Litigation Support Guide Open Legal Insights Open September 22, 2020 10 minutes read Sequor Law Recovering our greatest asset: our creativity! by Edward H. Davis, Jr. and Cristina Vicens Beard Although the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic continues to cause major disruptions and volatility in global markets, economies, and businesses, at least one group of individuals carries on undeterred: fraudsters, con artists, Ponzi schemers, and their ilk. Indeed, these bad actors are exploiting ever-increasing opportunities at a time when millions of people are seeking unemployment benefits, awaiting government financial aid, and desperately seeking to adapt or reinvent themselves in the face of this quickly evolving landscape. When the 2008 financial crisis exploded, it helped expose some of the largest and most infamous fraud schemes in world history, to wit: Madoff and Stanford. Now, as the tide precipitously recedes, many are predicting that it is a pre-cursor to a tsunami of newly discovered frauds, which will allow even more illicit conduct in the aftermath of this tragedy. While this means that asset recovery practitioners are likely to benefit from an influx of business due to newly dis-covered fraudulent schemes and an increase in related reorganization and liquidation proceedings, these new matters will not come without their challenges. This article seeks to provide an overview of the developments, hurdles, and trends in asset tracing and recovery in light of the coronavirus. This comes with a warning, however: as our current situation is so unprecedented and dynamic, it seems inevitable that any attempt to make predictions and identify trends carries with it the simultaneous risk of overstatement and understatement. On the one hand, when one is in the middle of a storm—regardless of its size—it is difficult for one to calculate the magnitude of the storm without a point of reference, or without being able to see the edges of the storm. As well, many of us want to understate the enormity of the changes we are facing as a coping mechanism—that is well within the range of normal human reactions to a crisis—but it should be consciously discount-ed as we attempt to make credible predictions and identify enduring trends. What is unique about this situation is that it is global and, even if you live in an area that is relatively untouched, it affects you due to travel, economic, and social restrictions that did not exist a few short months ago. Cross-border asset recovery practitioners are usually called to arms when (i) there is a high-value fraud or claim where the proceeds of the fraud may be on the move, and which claim has likely not yet resulted in a judgment or arbitral award (although the issues are just as alive in a post-judgment or post-award setting), (ii) the fraudster (or debtor) or its affiliates have an international footprint, but their assets do not appear to be readily collectible where the fraud was committed and/or where the judgment or award would be rendered, and (iii) there is a concern that the debtor will not have sufficient (or any) assets to satisfy the judgment or award, either in the situs of the fraud or in other jurisdictions where the proceeds may have been secreted. In other instances, cross-border asset recovery practitioners may get involved when (i) a foreign company or individual has entered reorganization or liquidation proceedings, (ii) the debtor’s insolvency was a result of a fraudulent scheme (i.e. corruption, embezzlement, or Ponzi schemes), and (iii) the debtor has assets (including third-party liability claims) in other jurisdictions. Oftentimes, the asset recovery team gets involved before litigation is commenced, or while litigation (sometimes horribly misguided litigation) is ongoing to ensure that, as they identify the path to victory for the victims/creditors, trial counsel also consider a viable post-judgment enforcement strategy. In reality, asset recovery practitioners – whether they be investigators, lawyers, or forensic accountants – are pathfinders, and those paths almost always take us into legal thickets that require legal, investigative, and forensic machetes. One of the first post-COVID-19 challenges we will face as asset recovery practitioners is non-existent or seriously limited personal contact with our clients, colleagues, witnesses, and the actual targets of our investigations and legal proceedings. In actual practice, asset recovery lawyers usually represent individuals or businesses that have been directly victimized by fraudsters, or court-appointed officers (such as trustees, liquidators, or judicial administrators) who are tasked with unraveling a fraud scheme and recovering value for the victims of their estates. Naturally, these clients are keen on avoiding being re-victimized by opportunistic service providers and, as a result, are more reluctant to trust, and ultimately engage, an experienced and vetted asset recovery team. In pre-COVID times, lawyers and other asset recovery professionals would travel across the globe to participate in scoping and tasking meetings with potential clients (including groups of victims, creditors’ committees, and corporate general counsel) to build relationships face to face and establish trust with the potential clients, who are already wary of having been victimized once. Being in the same room makes it easier to gauge a person’s body language, interpret social cues, and build the human capital that enables the asset recovery team to establish a trusting relationship with clients. This is just as true with witnesses, whistle-blowers, and even the suspects themselves who may feel bolder to tell half-truths, obfuscate, and outright lie as they hide behind technology and distance. Face-to-face meetings also enable the asset recovery team to more effectively “whiteboard” the case, engage in the creative brainstorming sessions, and devise a concrete action plan that will lead to meaningful value recovery for fraud victims and creditors. Today, when travel restrictions are mostly still in place and many of us are still working from home, it may be a challenge to develop a trusting relationship with the client, convey your expertise, and even land the case. Although many practitioners have embraced virtual solutions such as Zoom, WebEx, and other such technology, the reality is that nothing can truly substitute for an in-person meeting, especially when you are trying to convince a person who has been victimized by a fraudster that he or she should invest their resources and place their trust in you and your team to pursue their claim, enforce their judgment or otherwise recover the value stolen. Though asset recovery practitioners should accept, use, and master new technologies that enable them to participate in virtual meetings with potential clients, the most successful practitioners will be those who, pre-Cov-id, were able to establish and develop strong cross-border networks of experienced and resourceful asset recovery professionals, who, in turn, will be able to act as connectors and vouch for their colleagues’ reputation and expertise. For example, being a member of ICC FraudNet (recognized by Chambers as the world’s leading asset recovery legal net-work with more than 75 members in over 64 countries) has enabled the writers to quickly deploy an experienced team of financial fraud and asset recovery practitioners where the potential clients are located or, if at a later stage of the case, in almost any jurisdiction where assets may have been secreted. It is critical that the members of any such network be thoroughly vetted for their expertise and their ability to work in a team, which will lessen the need for face-to-face meetings. This aspect of Covid-19 also presents another upside. Courts are becoming more nimble and accessible as they move to technology-driven hearings and solutions. This will lessen response times, as obtaining a hearing date and coordinating schedules is less complicated when everyone’s feet are nailed to the floor. More accessible and responsive courts also mean that the cost of asset recovery will go down, as practitioners can focus more on the case and less on travel, which adds to the cost and stress of these heavily front-loaded and time-intensive cases. As well, fraudsters, Ponzi schemers, and confidence tricksters (con artists) are going to adapt, as they too will be limited in their interpersonal contacts due to the pandemic. So we should assume that more and more of this type of fraud will be internet-based, or at least rely heavily on non-personal con-tact based attempts to build affinity with their victims. This requires asset recovery practitioners to become more adept at computer-based forensics. We will also have to lead the charge to make changes to the legal environment that allows a level of anonymity on the internet, which protects, but also exposes, users. Legal regimes will have to evolve to a more balanced state that can protect privacy, but also recognize exceptions when there is sufficient cause to bring down the “wall” to retrieve evidence of fraud and corruption. Today, electronic communications are capable of being embedded with a level of confidentiality that far exceeds that which is available for the otherwise written word. The coronavirus has also impacted the gathering of intelligence and evidence. In reality, investigations have always, even in pre-COVID times, incorporated a mixture of in-person tactics and electronic data gathering techniques. The current (and future) shutdowns are less impactful when investigators are able to use sophisticated databases. Indeed, investigators continue to make use of personal, financial, real estate, and business-related databases to assess the viability of enforcement strategies. In fact, most clients are now more likely to request comprehensive preliminary asset investigations before deciding whether to commence legal proceedings against a target. After all, without a plan built around value recovery, a plan (or even a judgment for that matter) is just a piece of paper. This situation will hopefully lead to more comprehensive databases now that the economics will favor their creation and upkeep, and will force investigators to use them more creatively to look for intelligence and evidence that assists the goal of the asset recovery plan. Nevertheless, electronic research alone rarely cracks any case by itself but is most effective when combined with intelligence gathered in person, via interviews, surveillance, and conversations with industry leaders. Before, asset recovery practitioners in a cross-border fraud case would likely have had to travel to multiple countries to interview fact witnesses and experts in person. Now, with travel restrictions in place, most fact-gathering interviews have shifted almost seamlessly to virtual spaces and are progressing as strongly as before (at least with respect to non-adversarial witnesses). Surveillance, however, is trickier. Because the circumstances of the pandemic have forced many to self-isolate at home, in some respects, some targets are easy to locate and surveil. Others, after stealing millions of dollars from their victims, are able to hide behind gates, robust security systems, or in off-the-grid remote getaways. Just recently, a fugitive art dealer, who is alleged to have defrauded numerous art collectors in a form of a Ponzi scheme, was arrested on the Pacific island of Vanuatu! One has to believe that he was limited in his escape route options due to the pandemic and, once “stuck” in Vanuatu, literally had nowhere else to run. Therefore, one positive aspect may be that, with less opportunity to travel freely, many fraudsters and targets of investigations are leaving behind a discover-able digital footprint that will later assist the investigators and asset recovery teams in their enforcement and recovery efforts, as well as to locate the fraudster. T he process of gathering evidence, as opposed to intelligence, is also going to have to be streamlined to allow the leveling of the playing field between victim and fraudster. Typically, victims are disadvantaged by a monstrous information deficit. The fraudster knows exactly what happened and where everything (including the evidence) is located. On the other hand, the victims feel as if they have been run over by a truck and then thrown into a dark room, and have first to find the light switch before they can even begin to “get the license plate” of that truck! That has to change, and courts and governments are going to have to lower the bar to obtain information once the appropriate showing is made of the victim’s status and injuries. One example of how evidence gathering has been stream-lined in the United States to assist offshore litigation (this is especially true in asset recovery cases) involves the device colloquially referred to as “Section 1782,” which is codified at 28 U.S.C. § 1782. Section 1782 allows interested parties to request judicial assistance from US federal courts to obtain US-style discovery for use in foreign proceedings. As well, the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency (“Model Law”), as codified in Chapter 15 of the US Bankruptcy Code, is another powerful tool for use by victims and of-fice holders who are representing them. The Model Law is very useful in all jurisdictions in which it has been adopted and fully enacted—not just the United States. Among other things, Chapter 15 allows a foreign liquidator or trustee to seek recognition as such in the United States, which enables the liquidator to realize and administer the debtor’s assets in the United States and to take broad discovery relating to the debtor. Both of these devices allow victims and officeholders to obtain documentary and testimonial evidence in furtherance of their asset tracking and recovery efforts and, sometimes, those efforts can be sealed and gagged when circumstances permit, to allow stealthy stalking of the fraudster and the proceeds of the fraud. Asset recovery law-yers are still regularly deploying these evidence-gathering tools, and the effectiveness of those tools has not been diminished by the consequences of the pandemic. To the contrary, because most civil courts have closed for in-person business, judges are deciding Section 1782 and Chapter 15 petitions “on the papers,” and hearings, if and when necessary, are conducted virtually, which translates into reduced fees and costs for the clients as well as demonstrably faster action. Subsequently, when courts authorize the issuance of subpoenas, third-party witnesses, such as banks and other professional associations, have put in place systems to receive alternative service (via mail, for example), which further streamlines the discovery process. In the short term, courts have been able to adapt and continue delivering justice to their constituencies, but the physical closure of courts for most in-person business also presents obstacles, particularly when it comes to enforcement of domestic or international orders or judgments. For example, except in criminal cases, most state authorities and the US Marshal’s office stopped carrying out seizure orders and, when they start reopening, they expect to have large backlogs. This may present serious difficulties in cases where urgent relief is needed because there is evidence of the dissipation of assets or other circumstances. On the other hand, a slow-down of the courts’ docket may be the perfect opportunity for savvy asset recovery practitioners to take a step back, reassess the objectives, identify new opportunities and targets, and collaborate with investigators, forensic accountants, insolvency practitioners, and others to achieve a full recovery for their clients. Although uncertainty abounds in the era of the coronavirus, at least one thing is clear: lawyers, forensic accountants, investigators, litigation funders, insolvency practitioners, and other professionals in the asset tracing and recovery field are more likely to achieve substantial recoveries for their clients when they have access to a robust cadre of cross-border professionals and when they (and their clients) are willing to employ tremendous creativity, flexibility, and relentless resolve. While the coronavirus pandemic looks like it is here to stay, and will have an impact on all of our personal and professional lives, we can find solutions, collectively, to limit how fraudsters benefit from the current circumstances, and we can develop new tools to make recoveries more attainable if we creatively apply ourselves as a unified community with an open-minded exchange of ideas. Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open 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... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

Get to know Sequor Law Attorney Joseph Rome, an asset recovery and commercial litigator who shares insights on his practice, career path, and his approach to complex fraud and insolvency matters. Attorney Spotlight: Joseph Rome Open Attorney Spotlight Open June 6, 2023 2 minutes read Sequor Law What inspired you to pursue a law career? I don’t come from a family with many lawyers. As I started meeting friends of friends that were lawyers, and I realized we were on the same intellectual wave length, which made me want to be part of their community. Only later did I start to develop a deep understanding and enjoyment of the work that lawyers do day to day. What skills do you draw upon when it comes to your specific practice areas? I am lucky to be able to apply a lot of skills as an asset recovery and commercial litigator, but the one that has been the most important is curiosity. And yes, curiosity is a skill—it takes practice to consider what pieces of the puzzle are missing, to see beyond the surface of what someone might be telling you, and to ask those follow up questions and investigate further until you really, deeply understand an issue. Why did you choose those areas of law? They allow me to apply so many of the skills that I’ve spent so much time cultivating—my cases are frequently international and cross-cultural, I get to employ my language skills, I get to test myself arguing in court, I get to write persuasive briefs, I get to meet (and occasionally cross-examine) interesting people, and I get to learn and explain interesting, complex business practices. What is the most rewarding part about your job? Even in situations where I may not be able to promise to deliver the legal result that a client might wish for, it’s incredibly rewarding to be able to help a client understand what the law says and for them to feel like their case has been fully presented in the strongest possible way. Tell us about a mentor who made an impact on your career. When I was working as a prosecutor, I had a mentor that pulled me onto one of her cases for a discrete task, but then proceeded to make sure that I truly understood everything that was happening on the case. She was incredibly open to explaining why she was doing everything that she was doing and tried hard to find ways to involve me in the process, which ended up being a great way for me to develop as an attorney. If you weren’t practicing law, what would you be doing? I have a master’s in East Asian History, so I would probably have done a PHD and become a professor teaching Chinese or Japanese history and art history. What might people be surprised to learn about you? I run-commute to the office. It’s a fantastic way to clear my head at the start and end of the workday. What is a good book you read recently? Hands down, the Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante. I guess that’s technically four books, but they were apparently written as a single story. They describe a world that is both exotic and familiar, both specific and universal, and I couldn’t stop thinking about them for weeks after I finished. Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open 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... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

An investigative report on how a US church, offshore shell companies, and rapper Flo Rida became entangled in a web of offshore banking schemes revealed in the #29Leaks investigation. A church, its shell companies and a plan to have rapper Flo Rida plug high-end bubbly Open In the News Open December 20, 2019 11 minutes read Sequor Law By Kevin G. Hall and Shirsho Dasgupta The middleman was ecstatic. An American archbishop was not only looking to move some money offshore, he was looking to move his finances abroad. “He says he feels he can swing his council or synod to establishing his whole banking empire as he envisions it and he wants to set up also an insurance company, various offshore companies,” wrote Michael O’Mara in a Sept. 8. 2015, email to a London-based offshore services provider. “I am trying also to sell him some of the recent companies you sent me with bank accounts to act as his holding companies.” It’s not every day that a church, enjoying tax-exempt status in the United States, is seen as a viable candidate to buy offshore shell companies with their own bank accounts, which can give the appearance of a longstanding business. The COO of one of those church-affiliated offshore businesses at one time had reached out to none other thanFlo Rida, the Miami-born rap artist, trying to swing a deal to have him invest in a brand of high-end champagne calledBillionaires Row. Flo Rida’s lawyer said no and the plan fizzled. But more on that in a bit. The emailabout the archbishop’s offshore shell companiesis part of a giant leak of more than a million documents from Formations House, a London-based financial services firm with clients across the globe, including some in the United States. Other leaked documents show that Archbishop Timothy Paul, the senior pastor of the Christian Cathedral in Springfield, Mass., purchased an official-looking insurance company, a Swedish investment trust and even a faux bank — one in name only — in Gambia. In interviews, he acknowledged spending tens of thousands ofchurch dollars on offshore companies — but says he never used the shell companies. Emails show O’Mara, who works out of an English seaside hotel room on behalf of Mediterranean Corporate Services, tried to sell the archbishop on religious-sounding names for his offshore entities — names like Alliance Parish Banking Ltd. or Alliance Congregational Bank & Trust Co. But the archbishop settled on Dominion Global Investment Capital Trust, serving as its president and taking the name, he said, from the book of Genesis. Dominion Global had a COO, William Benson, a brash New Yorker with a love of the limelight and a trail of unhappy business associates. They describe Benson as a frequent name-dropper, who boasted of his relationship with an archbishop, with Flo Rida and with the socialite Paris Hilton. Dominion Global wasn’t a bank of the conventional sort, with checking accounts, tellers and the like. Nor did it grant commercial loans to real-estate developers. When McClatchy and the Miami Herald called to check its operational hours, the call was put through to a man with a thick New York accent who said it wasn’t “that kind of bank.” Anyways, he said, the bank itself is in London. When a reporter visited the bank’s listed address in lower Manhattan, in a swank high-rise glass tower at 17 State Street, Suite 4000, on the Hudson River, that suite wasn’t an actual bank either. The guard there pulled out clipped-together paperwork listing hundreds of companies that together share the suite’s office space under a flat monthly fee. Two young women answer the phones, the guard offered, but there isn’t anyone else there. It was a virtual office, a fancy address that gives the aura of a real brick-and-mortar company. PIERCING THE VEIL The archbishop’s offshore business was among the intriguing narratives found in 10 years worth of Formations House records obtained by the anti-secrecy group Distributed Denial of Secrets and shared with investigative journalists, including those at McClatchy and the Miami Herald. Journalists collaborated for months and on Dec. 4 began publishing under the #29Leaks hashtag, a reference to Formation House’s tony address at 29 Harley Street in London. Reporters found Iranian oil companies dodging sanctions, a Miami resident busted in a DEA sting and a plan for industrial-scale cannabis farming in Cameroon. Formations House chief Charlotte Pawar said in emailed responses to questions that the leaked records were stolen and that she was subjected to extortion but did not provide evidence of that. The leak, combined with the recent Panama Papers and Paradise Papers leaks, gives added momentum to legislation now in the U.S. Senate that would end anonymity by requiring greater disclosure of the true ownership of shell companies in the United States. “99.99 percent of Americans don’t own offshore companies but the few that do try to tell you how legitimate it is,” said Edward H. Davis Jr ., an asset-recovery lawyer with Sequor Law in Miami. “The reality is the entire offshore system is designed to avoid detection of the existence and movement of wealth.” The Formations House leak adds a new wrinkle to the global debate, in part because it was based in London, not Panama or the faraway Seychelles, another haven for companies seeking tax avoidance. And it went beyond offering shell companies, but also faux banks that mimicked financial institutions butweren’t regulated or required to have a minimum amount of cash on hand. These bank-named shells can issue loans, mortgages to their members and even credit cards as if they were a normal bank, according to promotional materials. The Formations House documents provide insight into how these financial instruments are used. One email referenced a giant global gemstone wholesaler “sitting on a huge pile”, who sought three “banks” for internal operations, insisting on the humorous names Tightwad International Bank Ltd., Tightwad Bank International Co. Ltd. and Tightwad Global Bank Ltd. SHELL COMPANIES FOR GOD Archbishop Paul is not an archbishop in the Roman Catholic Church or the Anglican Church, the common associations with that rank of clergy. Paul said that 20 years ago he adopted the name of St. Paul when he was consecrated as an archbishop. He leads a freestanding Christian denomination that voted him archbishop and patriarch of the International Holy Communion of Churches , which he said involves roughly 700 churches that together count 4.6 million followers. Like the Russian or Greek orthodox churches, he said, the denomination follows the original interpretations of the early apostles. “We brought orthodoxy to African Americans,” he explained. Until recently, Paul was also president of Epiphany Development Corp., which converted a historic Springfield building into a Holiday Inn Express. Paul, 53, insisted there was nothing untoward about his church having offshore companies. “We wanted to fund missions and do things,” he said, noting he hoped to expand the reach of his church. “They sell offshore banks, so we thought this was a legitimate means to have an offshore bank for our ministries that we were going to be project-funding for.” The interest in going offshore began with an email solicitation, he said, and eventually the representative from Mediterranean Corporate Services came across the Atlantic to see him. Paul said he has foreign outreach in Gambia, India, Kenya and Zambia. His church website makes no mention of this. Asked about specific projects, he offered that the Swedish investment trust was established for that purpose but has yet to invest in projects. “That would be for the real-estate projects we’re going to do,” he said, suggesting they were raising capital to build a foreign supermarket. “It’s almost like a real-estate trust.” The Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter, a #29Leaks partner, reported that Russian middlemen and Swedish offshore services providers had discovered and exploited a loophole in Sweden’s banking laws that gave the appearance that bank-named trusts were regulated when in fact those belonging to non-Swedes are not. Swedish documents shared with McClatchy and the Miami Herald show Paul signing the trust registration on Feb. 20, 2017. He said he used another consultant called Global Money Consultants to create that company. Paul also purchased a “bank” in Gambia, the smallest country on the African mainland but one with a large corruption problem, for years run by dictator Yahya Jammeh. Formations House chief Charlotte Pawar’s late father, Nadeem Khan, had convinced Jammeh to create an enterprise zone, which allowed the London firm to fashion a line of business registering offshore companies there. In an email to #29Leaks partners, O’Mara said he’d created more than 150 such banks in the Gambian offshore zone since 2013 for “wealthy families who want to handle their own finances.” The church doesn’t fit that description but O’Mara declined to discuss Paul’s offshore entities. Even though the Gambian enterprise zone was never fully authorized by the legislature there, banks sold for about $33,000 apiece today’s exchange rates, a price Paul didn’t dispute. Archbishop Paul created Global Dominion, but insisted the related “bank,” Dominion Bank & Trust Company Ltd., was never used. “We haven’t even operated from the Mediterranean Gambian license,” he said. “We paid a lot of money for it, but it was not something we used.” He later established Dominion Bank and Trust Company in the tax haven of the Comoros Islands in the Indian Ocean between Mozambique and Madagascar. It too hasn’t been used, he said . Paul purchased from Formations House a pre-existing shell company called Global Mortgages Ltd. British corporate registration documents show Paul as the main shareholder in 2017 but in 2018 and 2019 the company was threatened with dissolution. Global Mortgages Ltd. was going to be used as a vehicle to purchase real estate in Africa, he said, but the shell company was abandoned. “It was an idea that was kicked around” but never got off the ground, Paul said. Also registered under Paul’s name in Gambia was Dominion International Insurance Company. The idea, he said, was to create a captive insurer ⁠— an insurance company controlled by the insured. For larger companies, these are used to reduce costs by self-insuring a project while enjoying some tax breaks. But the IRS last year warned taxpayers about so-called micro-captive structures, popular with wealth planners and offshore services providers that “lack many of the attributes of genuine insurance.” Paul said his insurance company, referenced in the Swedish trust documents that he signed, was also never put into function. “Since we didn’t use the bank, we didn’t need that,” he said. BOLD CLAIMS Paul’s public profile isn’t — or wasn’t — completely accurate. In a LinkedIn page, he claims to have a Ph.D in education from American University. The school has no record of that. “My Ph.D is in street-ology,” he quipped when asked about the degree. Why was it on his LinkedIn profile? Someone else did the page for him, he said, “when you become the patriarch, things like that happen.” The LinkedIn references to a Ph.D in education and American University were subsequently removed. On his relationship with William Benson, Paul said he tapped Benson for his expertise and insight, well after the efforts had begun to expand church operations abroad. They were introduced through a friend working on a project involving Liberia, he said. Benson, 34, runs Billionaires Row, a champagne company that touts the high life. A seemingly strange bedfellow for an archbishop, Benson marketed a playboy image, boasted of his friendship with Hilton and associates say he claimed to have worked for Goldman Sachs. The investment bank hasno record of Benson having worked there. “We don’t have any involvement. I want to make that very clear. We don’t engage in any of those secular or non-humanitarian projects,” Paul said during a first interview together with Benson. Speaking of Benson, Paul added, “His primary role with the trust was to offer his expertise and help us obtain the necessary funding.” Funding that apparently did not happen, for use in offshore vehicles that were never actually used. In a subsequent interview without Benson, Paul acknowledged that he was aware of complaints against Benson. “We found that he didn’t work for Goldman Sachs. We found [that] he did not have the knowledge that he professed,” Paul said, adding that “we were the cleanest vehicle for him to attach himself.” ENTER FLO RIDA Flo Rida attorney Reginald Mathis confirmed that in November 2014 Benson and his Billionaires Row offered a deal. An ex-business associate familiar with the deal said it involved Flo Rida mentioning the imported champagne in a song and doing a promotional tour. “Things just never seemed to check out,” said Mathis, adding that, “he tried to put something together in 2015 with the Super Bowl, which never materialized. Flo advised that he was given product at some point, but he hasn’t had contact with Benson in years.” In an interview, Benson denied ever having extended a contract offer to Flo Rida or any other celebrity. “We don’t need any artist to do a song. We have many celebrities that promote the brand for free,” he said, adding that no celebrity “has invested a dime in the company.” The archbishop said he’d never heard of Flo Rida, whose real name is Tramar Lacel Dillard. The pitch to Flo Rida came before Benson got involved with Dominion. Paul said that he was unaware of Benson’s actions or his alleged outside sales pitches on behalf of Dominion to would-be investors. But on July 17, the website www.bankdominion.com issued a warning that Benson had no authority to “represent or bind” Dominion Bank and Trust, Ltd. “William Benson does not have authority to enter into contracts that bind the Dominion Bank and Trust, Ltd or create obligations on the part of the Dominion Bank and Trust, Ltd. without final approval of our compliance department,” read a notice on the home page. That page today is password protected. Benson said in the interview that it was he who ended ties with Paul after first getting offered the job of CEO of Dominion Bank. “I saw things that I didn’t want to be part of, so I stepped back,” he said, noting he broke with the archbishop last April or May. He declined to discuss what he saw that was worrisome and added he worked with Paul just for eight months and after the offshore entities were created. He also denied saying he worked at Goldman Sachs, noting he had worked at a division that was purchased by the giant bank. Several people claim Benson ripped them off. “He took $15,000 from me promising he could provide a lot of funding,” said Joseph Clarke, a real-estate investor and entrepreneur in Louisville, Kentucky, who hoped to develop a beachfront project in Honduras and mostly got a website and press release out of the effort. That money, which he said disappeared in 2014, was part of a wrongful death settlement after the death of his son, Clarke said. “It really left a bad taste in my mouth,” he said, adding, “I really wanted to see him fry.” Benson denied anything improper, saying that “I sent him an invoice and he paid it. I don’t work for free.” Jeremiah Patterson was stationed at Patrick Air Force Base near Cocoa Beach, Florida, when he was approached by Benson in 2013, who offered to invest in his prototype touch-screen technology. “He made it sound like he was a big tycoon,” said Patterson, noting that “he did mention offshore accounting and how he was looking to be part of an international banking corporation.” Patterson gave him a stake in the company, Taptl , in exchange for marketing and fundraising, and gave him a corporate American Express card. Soon afterward, Benson ran up the bills, he said, failing to even pay the card’s initiation fee. “I didn’t end up losing as much money as some other folks but it did set my business back by a year and a half,” said Patterson, now stationed in Georgia. “Keep in mind, I am a psychological specialist for the Air Force. I put him through the ringers and he had me convinced. That’s not an easy thing to do.” Benson denied running up credit card bills and provided an October 2014 Ohio court injunction against Patterson that prevented further disparagement. Patterson said his start-up couldn’t afford to appeal. A South Florida man who fell out with Benson shared a 15-page application for a corporate account with Bank Dominion and an unsigned letter of credit from Dominion Global, with its London address, promising $1.5 million with a lending rate of 4 percent . The man recalled briefly being introduced by phone to the archbishop in the middle of 2018, something Paul steadfastly denied. “He hopped on one call, said ‘hi’ for a moment,’ he said. “When they said archbishop, I assumed they meant the Catholic Church.” Emails viewed by McClatchy and the Herald show a New York FBI agent was made aware last summer of several complaints about Benson. An FBI spokesman in New York City declined to comment. Told about that, Benson provided what he said was a video of a recently videotaped conversation with former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley at the United Nations, and said it showed he was not under a legal cloud. To view 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 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... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

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 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... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

Sequor Law's Nyana Abreu Miller presents a Portuguese-language comparison of US Bankruptcy Code Chapters 11 and 15 to Brazilian insolvency experts at the Center for Women in Business Restructuring. Chapter 11 – Procedimento, Requisitos E Benefícios Open Events & Speaking Open July 22, 2020 1 minute read Sequor Law Sequor Law attorney Nyana Abreu Miller shared a presentation, in Portuguese, comparing chapters 11 and 15 of the US Bankruptcy Code on an all-star panel of Brazilian insolvency experts for the Center for Women in Business Restructuring (CMR Empresarial). Click here to view the webinar . Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open 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... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

Sequor Law's Arnoldo Lacayo and Cristina Vicens win an Eleventh Circuit affirmation of Section 1782 orders, securing key discovery for a client in a foreign marital asset proceeding. 11th Circuit Court Of Appeals Affirms Sequor Law Section 1782 Orders Open Case Results Open November 17, 2020 1 minute read Sequor Law Sequor Law, led by Arnoldo B. Lacayo and Cristina Vicens , secured a favorable ruling from the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirming the district court’s orders holding that Sequor Law’s client was entitled to receive judicial assistance under 28 U.S.C. § 1782. In In re Application of Rigail Pons , Sequor Law represents an ex-wife in a foreign proceeding where the foreign court is charged with conducting an inventory of marital assets. Based on indicia that the ex-husband did not completely and accurately disclose his marital assets, Sequor Law was able to deploy Section 1782 successfully to obtain documents and testimony from financial institutions and other discovery targets that had documents and information about marital assets that the ex-husband should have, but did not, disclose before the foreign court. The Eleventh Circuit agreed with the district court, that the evidence sought would be “for use” in the foreign proceeding where the ex-wife would have the opportunity to use the evidence to request that the foreign court carry out a supplemental inventory of marital assets, including assets that were not disclosed during the original inventory proceeding. This decision in favor of Sequor Law’s client is the second significant Section 1782 decision obtained by the firm at the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals following the 2014 decision in In re Application of Consorcio Ecuatoriano de Telecomunicaciones S.A. Click here to read the full opinion. Open Back to all Entries Share this article Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Copy link Latest News & Insights Open Open 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... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

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 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... Attorney Spotlight Jan 29, 2026 2 minutes read Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Alain M. Acanda 1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? I was inspired to pursue a career in the law after having negative experiences with the law as.

Sequor Law's Amanda E. Finley examines how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) affects document discovery obligations in US litigation and insolvency proceedings. The Effect of the General Data Protection Regulation on Discovery in the United States Open Legal Insights Open December 8, 2020 4 minutes read Sequor Law By Amanda E. Finley , Miami The European Union implemented the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and it became effective on 25 May 2018. 1 The GDPR enforces privacy requirements to protect EU citizens. 2 “The GDPR applies to the processing of ‘personal data,’ which is defined as any information related to an ‘identified or identifiable natural person,’” who can be directly or indirectly identified by the data produced. 3 The GDPR purports to have extraterritorial effect by applying “regardless whether the processing takes place in the EU or elsewhere.” 4 The GDPR allows imposition of penalties and sanctions that “significantly increase[d] the maximum fine to €20 million, or 4% of annual worldwide turnover, whichever is greater.” 5 Further, “[t]he GDPR provides an individual with access to the courts to seek a judicial remedy” in addition to any administrative remedy. 6 Essentially, any production of documents that contain information about EU citizens could cause serious consequences and large fines for a GDPR violation. The early cases in the United States suggest that the GDPR may have a profound impact on discovery in the United States. The GDPR may provide for targets subject to the jurisdiction of courts in the United States to object to discovery with the purpose (or possibly under the guise) of protecting EU citizens’ privacy. Defendants may object to production as a whole, request significant redaction of the discovery, request a strict confidentiality agreement, request to produce anonymized data that does not identify any EU citizen, or any combination thereof. There is limited case law on the implications of the GDPR on U.S. discovery because it is a relatively new regulation. So far, U.S. courts have taken divergent approaches on how to address and resolve objections to discovery based on the GDPR. Overall, it appears that most courts are allowing production of the discovery in some form, over a defendant’s GDPR objection. U.S. Courts’ Historical Response to Discovery Objections Based on Foreign Privacy Statutes or Secrecy Laws Historically, U.S. courts have been unwilling to allow a foreign privacy statute to preclude the production of responsive documents that were otherwise discoverable in U.S. litigation. As the Supreme Court stated, “[i]t is well settled that such statutes do not deprive an American court of the power to order a party subject to its jurisdiction to produce evidence even though the act of production may violate that statute.” 7 The Court further noted that the French “blocking statute” was “originally ‘inspired to impede enforcement of United States antitrust laws,’ and that it did not appear to have been strictly enforced in France,” which further undercut U.S. courts’ interest in enforcing that foreign privacy statute over the American interest of full disclosure in discovery. 8 Prior and subsequent courts similarly ruled that foreign privacy statutes are not dispositive on production of discovery in U.S. cases, although the statutes may be relevant to the issue of whether sanctions should be imposed for failure to comply with U.S. discovery orders. 9 Likewise, U.S. courts deemed foreign bank secrecy laws insufficient to preclude discovery in U.S. litigation. 10 Therefore, generally, courts in the United States overwhelmingly have held that full disclosure in discovery outweighs any interest in enforcing foreign privacy or secrecy laws. A Chronological Review of U.S. Courts’ Approaches to GDPR Discovery Disputes and Other Foreign Privacy Statutes On 5 October 2018, the first published ruling on GDPR in U.S. litigation involved a defendant, Microsoft, raising a GDPR objection to discovery based on the undue burden and cost of producing the discovery due to “the alleged tension with GDPR.” 11 The court did not significantly analyze the GDPR issue, but stated that “the court [wa]s not persuaded by Microsoft’s arguments concerning undue burden” and required the production of documents. 12 On 17 December 2018, the first substantive ruling by a U.S. court to address an objection to discovery based on GDPR was in the context of a 28 U.S.C. § 1782 application to obtain discovery for use in a foreign proceeding. 13 The court “grant[ed] the application with respect to documents held by foreign custodians only to the extent that the Applicants (1) assume the costs of the document production, including the costs of compliance with the GDPR or other applicable European data privacy laws and (2) indemnify Respondents against any potential breaches of European data privacy laws.” 14 Although the court granted production of the documents over the GDPR objection, this ruling has serious adverse consequences for parties seeking discovery in U.S. litigation if the GDPR is implicated because it required unknown and potentially multimillion-dollar indemnification liability on the party receiving the documents. The approach in Hansainvest of requiring indemnification of the discovery target “against any potential breaches of European data privacy laws” is a serious deterrent to any party seeking discovery. 15 It would be unusual and highly unlikely that any party would knowingly accept such an open-ended and potentially large financial risk given the large fines for a GDPR violation. If courts routinely adopted this approach, it would have a significant chilling effect on U.S. discovery when the GDPR is implicated. Hansainvest is the only U.S. court, thus far, to rule that indemnification of any GDPR liability is a condition precedent to production of the documents. In later rulings, U.S. courts have taken less drastic approaches to GDPR objections to discovery. Click here to read the full article in the Spring 2020 International Law Quarterly (page 16) and the Business Law Section. 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