PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Francisco was partner from 1983 until his statutory retirement as Senior Partner and member of the Board of Directors of LEĜA, and now he is a consultant for the firm. Prior to joining the firm, he was Records and Control Director, Legal Counsel and Superintendent of Foreign Investments.
“Francisco Castillo-Garcia continues to be a reference point in the firm for banking matters. With 40 years of experience, he is highly regarded as a banking expert”
Chambers Latin America 2018
Chambers Latin America 2018
AREAS OF PRACTICE & INDUSTRIES
♦ Corporate / Mergers and Acquisitions
♦ Tax
♦ Banking and Finance
♦ Technology
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
- Group Dynamics Specialist. Universidad Central de Venezuela, Venezuela, 1976.
- Law Degree. Universidad Catolica Andres Bello, Venezuela, 1972.
MEMBERSHIPS
- Bar Association of the Capital District and State of Miranda
- International Bar Association
- Venezuelan-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Member of the Board of Directors for 9 consecutive years.
LANGUAGES
- Spanish
- English
- French
EXPERIENCE
- Representation in the negotiation and in the preparation of contracts and advising on regulatory and tax matters concerning mergers and acquisitions in diverse industries.
- Assisted an important Spanish bank in the acquisition of controlling interest of a local bank; and also assisted a Canadian bank in the purchase of shares in the country.
- Assisted a foreign company in the acquisition of controlling interest in one of the main concrete conglomerates in Venezuela
- Legal counsel and member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Representatives and Foreign Banks in Venezuela.
- During his representation of the firm in Lex Mundi, he was Regional Vice-Chair of the Tax Practice Group from 2008 to 2012, and Regional Vice-Chair of the Labor Benefits and Pensions Practice Group from 2005 to 2007
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- Francisco Castillo regularly speaks in conferences about foreign investments, technology transfer, foreign exchange control, mergers and acquisitions, and he is the author of several pieces on these topics. He has participated in diverse conferences of the IBA (International Bar Association), and others organized in the United States, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina. His command of the tax area has allowed him to share his expertise in this area in several conferences where he has been speaker and moderator.
RECOGNITIONS
- Francisco has been ranked in Corporate, Mergers and Acquisitions by Chambers Global and Chambers Latin America, he is also one of the leading lawyers in Banking and Tax. He has been ranked as Leading Individual in the same areas by The Legal 500. Locally, he received the Francisco de Miranda Award in 1995, which is one of the highest awards given in the country; and the Distinguished Service Award; both in the highest class.
PUBLICATIONS
- Francisco has authored several articles for the International Bar Association in connection with foreign investments, international taxation and foreign exchange control. He also co-authored the following books: “Director’s Liability and Indemnification: A Global Guide,” “La observancia de los acuerdos de arbitraje en America Latina” [Observance of Arbitration Agreements in Latin America]. Editorial Kluwer Law International. 1999. And, “Comercio Internacional – Evitar riesgos Penales” [International Trade – Avoiding Criminal Risks]. Editorial Juridica Butterworth. 1991.