James D. Whisenand
MANAGING PARTNER
Mr. Whisenand has been providing international business and legal advisory services since 1978. His approach to Client representation is non-traditional, personal, and tailored to timely achieving the needs of the Client and the Client's objectives. In addition to participate in the strategic direction of the Firm, he devotes a substantial part of his time to a "project practice" with a results orientation. He travels extensively in Europe and Latin America each month.
His advisory practice is focused in the areas of transactions, structuring, finance, technology, investments, and finance with a focus on Clients entering and developing or exiting markets, opportunities, or problems other than their home country or market and in the United States market. He has substantial "in country" operating experience in Western Europe, Easter/Central Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean with an emphasis on Cuba.
Background
1978-Present
Work Activities
Jim has historically focused his activities on the "Triangular Connectivity" of business activities between the United States, Europe, and Latin America. Since commencing private practice in Miami in 1978, he has advised on: numerous acquisitions of banks by non-U.S. groups including structuring the first bank-to-bank acquisition of a Florida bank by a foreign bank, which at the time such transactions were prohibited by existing law; the entry of numerous European and Latin American banks into the United States and non-United States markets and related bank regulatory issues; assisting Miami's efforts to accelerate its role as an emerging capital markets/merchant bank center for Latin America; cross-border multi-jurisdictional corporate transactions up to US$ 1 billion; government tenders in other countries; public offerings and private placements; structuring of off-shore business transactions; off-shore trusts; establishing off-shore funds; asset protection planning; debt conversions and domestic and international corporate finance activities.
1975-1978
Experience
In 1975 [at the age of 27] and until 1978, he was appointed Deputy Attorney General of Florida which is the second highest legal office in Florida. In the absence of the Attorney General, he acted in the stead of the Attorney General. In that capacity at the age of 27, he directly supervised the legal work and management of a staff of approximately 100 lawyers, handled legislative and Congressional matters for the Attorney General and personally advised the Florida Governor, Cabinet and Florida Supreme Court on a day-to-day basis. He has appeared before many Florida and Federal trial and appellate courts including lead counsel in a successful multi-week impeachment trial in the Florida Senate. Jim has assisted the Florida Governor, Secretary of State, Florida Comptroller (Banking Commissioner), and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce in organizing official visits to several countries. He has traveled with various governmental officials on economic development efforts and, in specific, to attract foreign banks and foreign investors.
1970-1973
Education & Honors
In 1970, he obtained a university degree in Marketing cum laude. He received his M.B.A. (Masters in Business) degree and his J.D. degree cum laude in 1973. He is a member of the Florida and District of Colombia bars. In 1972, he was one of approximately 50 law students selected to work for the summer at the Attorney General, United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
