The Client Conference: "Latin America 2010: Proactive Strategies for Doing Business in a Changing Landscape", was held at The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables (Miami), Florida, on Wednesday, March 17, 2010.
Baker & McKenzie sees the Latin America region as a land of emerging economies that offers vast development opportunities. But the legal landscape is changing fast and requires that corporations and investors constantly manage to integrate the latest legal developments into their strategy.
The meeting addressed real issues and challenges confronted by businesses on a day-to-day basis and its mixed format of panels and breakout sessions allowed broad interaction between the speakers and the audience.
Please access the materials below:
Opportunities in structuring/re-structuring investments and business relationships
- Opportunities and threats across the region
- Legal stability mechanisms
- Taking advantage of investment treaties
- Renegotiation of commercial relationships
- Capital flows and financing
The increasing impact of US and LA regulations on your business
- Corporate compliance and management responsibility
- FCPA & related anti-bribery laws
- Antitrust and competition
- Customs and trade enforcement/agreements
Latin America and the Caribbean: The road ahead
Breakout Session 1
MODULE I: Brazil takes off
- Growth of Brazilian market and opportunities for new investment
- Opportunities generated by the Olympic Games and Soccer World Cup: services, hotels, tourism, housing and infrastructures
- Opportunities related to real estate, mining and bio-fuels
- Other developments (pre-salt and São Paulo Stock Exchange included)
MODULE II: Managing workforce in Latin America with particular emphasis on:
- Employee whistleblowers & workplace investigations
- Avoiding employment pitfalls of non-compliance
- Dealing with expatriate issues
Breakout Session 2
MODULE I: Managing payments from and to Latin America: Reducing your company's tax burden
- Practical recommendations regarding high withholding tax exposures
- US benefits of utilizing a flow-through entity
- Use of tax treaty network to reduce your tax burden
- Creditability issues in the US
- Proper contract drafting
MODULE II: Launching New Products in Latin America: Key Challenges
- Product certification requirements
- Packaging, labeling and language requirements
- Import and customs issues
- Warranty and consumer protection issues
- Use of refurbished parts and products
- Recycling issues.