DRA.COM.VE - Key Persons
Alejandro advises major corporations on labor law matters. Alejandro has vast experience in collective contract negotiations, conflict management with labor unions, sensitive terminations of top-level employees, litigation and employment issues in connection with business transactions.
Alejandro became partner at D'Empaire in 1991. He studied law at Universidad Catolica Andres Bello (J.D., 1984), and received a master's degree in procedural law from the same university (1989).
Arianna Urribarrí is an associate in D'Empaire's Private Clients practice. She received a J.D. from Universidad Catolica Andres Bello in 2011 and a specialization in the corporate law program from Universidad Metropolitana in 2015. Arianna has significant experience in representing high net-worth individuals and families in tax planning matters.
Arianna speaks English and Spanish.
Arnoldo specializes in corporate law, aviation law, telecommunications law and mergers and acquisitions, representing both multinational and Venezuelan companies. Before becoming a partner at D'Empaire in 1996, Arnoldo worked as an intern at the Austin offices of Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody in 1991. He has also acted at the board of directors of Banco Republica (1995-1998) and Corporacion Digitel (2000-2006). He received a J.D. cum laude from Universidad Catolica Andres Bello in 1988, an M.C.J. from the University of Texas in 1991 and a master's degree from Universidad Catolica Andres Bello in tax law in 1994.
His representations include:
Lumen Technologies as Venezuelan counsel in the sale of its Latin American business to US private equity company Stonepeak for US$2.7 billion
Pirelli in the sale of its Venezuelan subsidiary
Global Crossing in the acquisition of Impsat for US$336 million
Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) in the sale of its shares in Corporación Digitel to Telvenco, S.A. for US$425 million
Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) in its acquisition of a controlling interest in Corporacion Digitel
Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) in its purchase of the remaining minority shareholdings of Corporacion Digitel
Associated British Foods (ABF) in its acquisition of Venezuelan assets from Burns Philp
The Carlyle Group, as Venezuelan counsel in connection with the purchase of the Engineered Products Division of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company for US$1.4 billion
Arnoldo is currently ranked as "Band 2" by Chambers & Partners (2019 Venezuela Corporate/M&A Rankings) and described as a "respected partner [with] long-standing experience working in this field". He has been continuously recognized as an experienced top corporate lawyer in Venezuela.
He is fluent in Spanish, English and Italian.
Biba Arciniegas is a partner in D'Empaire's Labor and Employment practice. She received a J.D. from Universidad Central de Venezuela in 2009 and a Master of Laws in International and European Labor Law from the University of Amsterdam in 2014. She is member of the advisory committee in legal matters of the employer association Fedecamaras.
Biba advises national and international clients in all matters of employment law, including employee benefits and executive compensation aspects of corporate transactions. Biba has extensive experience in the preparation, negotiation and termination of employment, severance and equity incentive agreements.
Biba is currently ranked as a "Rising Star" by The Legal 500 and has been ranked as "Next Generation Lawyer" for two consecutive years (2017 and 2018).
Biba is fluent in English and Spanish.
Carolina is an associate in the Banking, Finance and Restructuring, Corporate and M&A and Sovereign Debt practices at D'Empaire. She received a J.D. from Universidad Metropolitana in 2018. Carolina advises Venezuelan and international clients on a broad range of domestic and cross-border transactional matters, including mergers, stock and asset acquisitions. Her practice covers a wide variety of industries, including the financial services, energy and manufacturing.
Carolina speaks English, French and Spanish.
Daniel is an associate in D'Empaire's Arbitration, Communications and Technology, Antitrust/Competition and Public Law practices. He received a J.D. from Universidad Catolica Andres Bello in 2013 and a Diploma in Hydrocarbons Law from Universidad Metropolitana in 2015.
Daniel has experience representing domestic and international clients in arbitrations involving the energy, infrastructure and oil and gas sectors under the ICSID, UNCITRAL and ICC rules. He has represented clients in all stages of disputes, including administrative appeals and litigation before Venezuelan courts, across a wide variety of industries that include pharmaceutical, telecommunications and energy, involving antitrust, commercial and intellectual property matters. Daniel also advises clients in matters related to copyright, trademarks, patents, data protection and privacy and other issues related to Internet law and e-commerce agreements.
Job Titles:
- Associate in D'Empaire 's Tax Practice Group
Eduardo is an associate in D'Empaire's Tax practice group. He received his J.D. from Universidad Central de Venezuela in 1995, a Master in Fundamental Rights from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid in 2000, a Master in Advanced Studies in Human Rights in 2010 and a Ph.D. from the same university in 2013. Eduardo teaches at the Ph.D program of the Universidad Central de Venezuela.
Eduardo advises clients on a broad range of tax matters involving domestic and international transactions across a wide variety of industries, including manufacturing, energy, renewable energy, retail and financial services. He has extensive experience representing clients in all stages of tax disputes, including tax audits, administrative appeals and tax litigation before Venezuelan courts. Eduardo also advises clients on an array of issues including international tax planning, restructurings, cross-border transactions and transfer pricing.
Job Titles:
- Associate in the Labor and Employment Practice Group at D'Empaire
Ingrid is an associate in the Labor and Employment practice group at D'Empaire. She received her J.D. from Universidad Central de Venezuela in 2018. Ingrid has experience representing clients in all stages of labor disputes, including administrative appeals and litigation before Venezuelan courts.
Ingrid is fluent in English and Spanish.
José Humberto is currently ranked as "Band 3" by Chambers & Partners (2019 Venezuela Dispute Resolution Rankings) and as a "Leading Lawyer" by The Legal 500 (2018 Venezuela Dispute Resolution Rankings). He has also been consistently top ranked by Chambers as one of the best antitrust and public law lawyers in Venezuela.
He is fluent in Spanish and English.
José advises major corporations on a broad range of tax matters. He also counsels Venezuelan families and individuals on tax and estate planning matters. Before joining D'Empaire in 2012 (he became partner in 2018), José worked as an associate at Deloitte from 2008 to 2012. He received a J.D. from Universidad Metropolitana in 2007 and an LL.M. in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center in 2014.
Job Titles:
- Associate in D'Empaire 's Corporate
Michelle is an associate in D'Empaire's Corporate and M&A practice group. She received her J.D. degree, summa cum laude, from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (UCAB) in 2021, where she obtained the second highest grade point average in her class, and was awarded the Magis Scholarship for graduate studies in Commercial Law.
Michelle advises clients on a broad range of corporate and transactional matters, including M&A and domestic real estate transactions. She has assisted with representing clients in the consumer, retail, technology, FinTech, and financial services industries.
Michelle is fluent in English and Spanish.
Pedro specializes in civil, commercial, IP and constitutional litigation. Pedro joined D'Empaire in 1983 and became partner in 1990. He studied law at Universidad Católica Andres Bello (J.D., 1983) and received a master's degree in procedural law from the same university in 1989.
His representations include:
Centro de Diagnostico Docente Las Mercedes in an arbitration proceeding under the rules of the Center of Arbitration of the Venezuelan-American Chamber of Commerce (CEDCA)
Alimentos Arcos Dorados (McDonald's) in a rei vindicato proceeding initiated by a third party, and in a dispute concerning the termination of a franchise agreement
Seguros La Seguridad in several insurance recovery proceedings
Corporacion Andina de Fomento (CAF) in the winding up of Sudamtex y Venepal
Beal Bank and Inarco International (subsidiary of Citibank) in the winding up of Sudamtex
Alcatel de Venezuela (formerly Lucent Technologies) in a dispute arising from a gas pipe explosion
Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) in several legal proceedings against the minority shareholders of Corporacion Digitel
The AES Corporation in several legal proceedings related to its takeover of La Electricidad de Caracas and Corporacion EDC
Ace American Insurance Company in a legal dispute
Cerveceria Polar in a commercial dispute
MD Helicopters INC in a legal dispute
Instituto Pediatrico La Florida in an annulment of a shareholders meeting proceeding
Inmobiliaria Memojual in a possessory action proceeding
Alimentos Polar in a termination of a distribution contract and damages proceeding
Makro Comercializadora in a foreclosure proceeding
Republic International Bank N.V. (formerly Banco Caracas N.V.) in a foreclosure proceeding
Laboratorios Sparchim in an extrajudicial debt recovery
Envacar del Caribe y Rones y Licores in an arbitration proceeding under the rules of the Center of Arbitration of the Caracas Chamber of Commerce (CACC)
Kias Muebles in a real estate lease dispute proceeding
MMC Automotriz in two ad hoc arbitration proceedings
CNPC Services de Venezuela in a legal dispute arising from a car accident
Carbones Del Guasare in a legal dispute concerning the recovery of damages
Müller Martini Mexico Sucursal Venezuela in an extrajudicial debt recovery
Valores Educativos Television (Vale TV) in a legal dispute concerning the enforcement of a contract
United Airlines INC Branch in a real estate lease dispute
Caprosica, Cabiperca and Perfrica in a real estate lease dispute
Pedro is currently ranked as "Band 3" by Chambers & Partners (2019 Venezuela Dispute Resolution Rankings) and as a "Leading Lawyer" by The Legal 500 (2018 Venezuela Dispute Resolution Rankings).
Roberto's practice focuses on general corporate law matters, oil and gas matters, mergers and acquisitions, foreign currency exchange control regulations and real estate related transactions. He also advises Venezuelan private companies and high-net-worth individuals on corporate restructurings and tax planning matters. He received a J.D. from Universidad Catolica Andres Bello in 2000. Before joining D'Empaire in 2012 (he became partner in 2014), Roberto worked as a senior associate at Romero-Muci & Asociados (a member firm of Deloitte) from 2002 to 2012, and junior associate at Andersen Legal from 2000 to 2002.
His representations include:
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA in its acquisition of Grace Venezuela from GCP Applied Technologies
A major European oil and gas company in the negotiation of a multi-million dollar drilling contract with a Venezuelan state-owned company
Maurel & Prom in its acquisition of a 40 percent equity participation in Petroregional del Lago from Shell
Bayer, as Venezuelan counsel providing ongoing legal advice on corporate law matters
A US private equity firm in the acquisition of an office building in Caracas and several residential properties
Pirelli in the sale of its Venezuelan subsidiary
Rosneft on several matters concerning its oil and gas projects in Venezuela
Sojitz Corporation in the sale of its promissory notes issued by Venezuela in connection with the acquisition of Corporación Venezolana de Guayana (CVG) by the Government of Venezuela
Chevron in several matters concerning its oil and gas projects in Venezuela
Weatherford in its reorganization and capitalization plan for its Venezuelan subsidiaries
Marubeni Corporation in the partial implementation of a crude oil sale agreement with PDVSA
Sojitz Corporation in matters concerning the collection of amounts due under certain promissory notes issued by Venezuela in connection with the acquisition of CVG
A Venezuelan private investor in the sale of a real estate property to the Russian Federation's Embassy in Caracas
A Venezuelan private investor in a joint venture for the potential development of one of Caracas largest shopping center
Seguros Mercantil in its acquisition of Seguros Orinoco
Roberto is currently ranked as a "Next Generation Lawyer" by The Legal 500 (2018 Venezuela Corporate/M&A Rankings).
He is fluent in Spanish and English.
Roland joined D'Empaire as a partner in 2019, focusing on Corporate Finance, Financing Transactions, Insolvency and Debt Restructuring, M&A and Oil & Gas. He holds a law degree from the Universidad Catolica Andres Bello (2006), a Diploma in Finance from the University of California - Berkeley (International Diploma Program, Extension), and a postgraduate degree in International Business from the Universidad Metropolitana.
Roland also holds a certificate of the Mediating Disputes Program at Harvard Negotiation Institute. He is the Director/Academic Coordinator of the Negotiation Program of the Centro de Investigacion y Estudios para la Resolucion de Controversias (CIERC) at Universidad Monteavila. He has published a series of academic works and has participated as speaker on different events and discussions on the topic of Venezuela's sovereign debt restructuring and the insolvency of PDVSA. Roland is currently the only Venezuelan member at the International Insolvency Institute and INSOL International.