Litigation

We are a business law firm focused on assisting clients with their international legal disputes and complex commercial transactions. With offices in major U.S. cities and a team of diverse, multicultural, and multilingual attorneys licensed to practice in law in a variety of jurisdictions, our litigation team has the reach and ability to assist our global clientele with their U.S.-based legal needs.

Our team of legal practitioners is comprised of experienced litigators, veteran trial lawyers, high-stakes transactional attorneys, former prosecutors, and former in-house counsel, all of whom work together to provide first-rate representation to our clients. We strive to be efficient and effective in our practice, identifying specific goals and clearly communicating expectations. We are aggressive and we think outside of the box, as we recognize that many different roads can take our clients to their desired destination.

We represent small, mid-sized, and large businesses, including start-ups, industry leaders, S&P 500 companies, and corporate enterprises focused on emerging technologies. We represent local governments, municipalities, and associations, as well as foreign entities doing business in the United States. And, we represent people, including high-net-worth individuals, professional athletes, entertainers, artists, innovators, investors, and blue-collar workers. Our clients come from every corner of the world and speak different languages. Many are familiar with our judicial system, yet others are unaccustomed to U.S. rules, procedure, and law. Nonetheless, we aim to educate our clients on the process and keep them apprised of the progress of their legal matter. Our goal is to keep our clients connected to their case so that they may make informed, calculated decisions about strategy and potential resolutions.

Fausto Sanchez

Of Counsel
Litigation

Contact info
Phone: +1 305 925-9947
Email: fsanchez@SFL-law.com

BUSINESS DISPUTES

Our complex commercial litigation team represents multimillion-dollar corporations, government entities, mid-sized and small businesses, and individual parties. Our diverse and multilingual team of attorneys assist clients that are both foreign and domestic, including many European and Latin American entities doing business in the United States.

Collectively, we are licensed to practice in several jurisdictions, including Florida, California, New York, and Washington, D.C., and routinely handle matters throughout the country. We handle a wide variety of complex commercial litigation matters, including but not limited to, cases involving:

  • Breach of Contract
  • Fraud
  • Civil Theft
  • Deceptive Trade Practices (FDUTPA)
  • RICO
  • Defamation
  • Real Property Actions
  • Shareholder & Partnership Disputes
  • Securities
  • Construction
  • Class Actions
  • Trust & Estate Litigation
  • Post-Judgment Proceedings
  • Appeals

Our lawyers have been recognized for their achievements in this practice area by popular legal publications, earning awards such as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (2021) and Super Lawyers: Rising Stars (2017-2020).

1782 PROCEEDINGS

We also represent businesses in Section 1782 proceedings, which allows litigants in foreign jurisdictions to utilize the United States District Courts and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to obtain evidence relevant to an action in said foreign jurisdiction. We handle both the defense and prosecution of these discovery requests, which typically seek the production of documents and the presentation of sworn deposition testimony.

INTERNAL CORPORATE INVESTIGATIONS

Our corporate investigations team includes former prosecutors, Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists, former federal and state law enforcement agents, former in-house corporate counsel, and a Board Certified Criminal Trial Specialist. We have extensive experience investigating and prosecuting illegal activity, and we utilize that experience to meet the specific needs of our clients. We conduct confidential internal investigations to root out bad actors and unauthorized activity within privately-held organizations. We prepare thorough investigative reports to be used for insurance claims, regulatory compliance, and in some cases, referrals to law enforcement agencies for criminal prosecution. Our services include:

  • Internal investigations of employee theft, fraud, embezzlement, misuse of corporate assets, money laundering, and other illegal or unauthorized activity
  • Forensic analysis of financial activity
  • Referrals for criminal prosecution

SUBPOENA COMPLIANCE AND RESPONSE

Our lawyers assist businesses and individuals in responding to government-issued subpoenas. Federal and state law enforcement agencies often issue investigative subpoenas and/or subpoenas for testimony in pending criminal or civil investigations or prosecutions. The process routinely involves the diligent collection and comprehensive review of both corporate and personal documents, as well as a detailed debriefing with the subpoenaed party. Our team considers the specific requests in each subpoena and evaluates the rights and remedies available to each particular client. We routinely represent clients served with investigative subpoenas, which often serve as a prelude to the initiation of a criminal, civil or administrative action, and strive to avoid potential fines, penalties, or charges.

Rather than ending up in a foreign country’s court system, international businesses and individuals often turn to arbitration to resolve their disputes. Arbitration clauses are regularly included in contracts for commercial transactions, and therefore, international arbitration proceedings are increasing in both frequency and popularity. Our attorneys have extensive experience representing clients in well-known arbitral tribunals throughout the world.

International arbitration is an alternative dispute resolution proceeding that permits parties – often from different countries – to resolve their legal controversies outside of court. Given the difference between arbitration and the court system, it is important to find counsel who can navigate the intricacies of each tribunal and ensure that a party’s right to arbitrate is upheld. Whether it is assisting a company to draft an arbitration clause or representing a client in a high-stakes commercial dispute, our arbitration team can provide comprehensive legal support every step of the way.

Some examples of our experience include representing:

  • Central American airplane company against a South American airline before the American Arbitration Association’s International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR)
  • Trinidad & Tobago reinsurer against a United Arab Emirates entity in a dispute over a reinsurance treaty before the ARIAS (UK)
  • French artist in a breach of licensing agreement dispute before the ICDR
  • Central American soccer federation in a dispute over marketing rights in an ad hoc arbitration proceeding

DEFENSE OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS

Our White-Collar Defense team of former prosecutors, Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists, former federal and state law enforcement agents, and a Board Certified Criminal Trial Specialist, has defended dozens of high-profile individuals and organizations in federal and state criminal prosecutions, including Politically (PEPs). We have extensive experience investigating and prosecuting illegal activity, and we utilize that experience to better defend our clients. With over a hundred jury trials combined, our criminal defense lawyers possess the skill and experience required for the defense of complex criminal allegations, such as:

  • Fraud
  • Conspiracy
  • Money Laundering
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices (FCPA)
  • Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)

ASSET FORFEITURE

Our lawyers also represent clients whose property has been seized by federal or state law enforcement agencies. Civil forfeiture proceedings may be initiated against individuals accused of a crime, but also against third parties that may be accused of possessing property that derived from an illegal act. Our White-Collar Defense represents individuals and entities in such disputes against the government.

ECONOMIC SANCTIONS

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions against targeted foreign countries, entities, and individuals. Pursuant to Presidential Executive Order, OFAC controls transactions and freezes assets within the jurisdiction of the United States of entities and individuals designated on certain “blacklists,” such as the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List). The sanctions affect not only the listed individual or entity, but also any U.S. individual or entity that engages in commerce with the party designated or listed for sanctions. Secondary sanctions may be imposed on the non-listed individuals or entities, which could result in economic consequences for the offending party.

Our White-Collar Defense team has represented listed individuals and entities, as well as parties engaged in commerce with listed individuals and entities. We have successfully worked to de-list individuals and have represented parties and financial institutions in winding-down existing commercial relationships with listed individuals or entities. Our lawyers also work with financial institutions and private commercial entities to ensure OFAC compliance and avoid the potential for secondary sanctions.