Cuba Trade Group – The Art of the Cuban Business Deal

President Obama’s recent announcement to pursue normalization of relations with Cuba creates unprecedented short and long-term business opportunities for many US companies. Gerstman Schwartz & Malito has long anticipated this shift in United States foreign policy towards Cuba. In expectation of this moment, we have enlisted the help of skilled professionals with experience in Latin American trade law, and deep knowledge about Cuban economics, politics and government, to help our clients better understand and navigate the complex, unfolding process, that will eventually present many opportunities in Cuba.

Gerstman Schwartz & Malito is tracking important legal developments related to the various, existing statutory and regulatory challenges to doing business in Cuba, such as issues surrounding Cuban assets that are subject to seizure on American soil, pending civil claims against Cuba and its quest for sovereign immunity, as well as gathering essential information on Cuban business, politics and the arts. Gerstman Schwartz & Malito is a source of information, counsel and strategic advice for US companies seeking to do business in Cuba now (under the limitations of present US laws and regulations), or in the future.

Gerstman Schwartz & Malito is moving quickly and aggressively to become a leader in this practice area. We are monitoring the fast-moving developments that could give your business or organization a competitive advantage in pursuing opportunities in this fascinating nation that is eager for responsible development.

In order to better serve client needs, Gerstman Schwartz & Malito has partnered with Latin-American trade affairs specialist Antonio C. Martinez Esq., an attorney with extensive political and business ties to Cuba. With a legal and business career that has extended into much of Latin America, including well over 30 trips to Cuba (the most recent being March 2015), Mr. Martinez has earned the respect of many important Cuban and US officials over the years, as an indispensable go-between on a number of high profile issues affecting US-Cuban business and humanitarian relations. Working with Mr. Martinez, GSM has the added skills and expertise to help your business succeed.

Gerstman Schwartz & Malito’s Cuba trade group offers the following services:

• Monitoring legal, political and business developments affecting US-Cuban trade and diplomatic relations;
• Strategic advice on pursuing possible business opportunities in Cuba now, subject to existing US laws and regulations;
• Legal advice on statutory and regulatory issues affecting US-Cuban trade and diplomatic relations in the future;
• Lobbying to change federal laws and regulations that presently limit US-Cuban trade and diplomatic relations;
• Assisting individuals, businesses and other trade associations develop and forge relationships with key US and Cuban officials and policymakers.

Gerstman Schwartz & Malito is committed to assisting US companies and organizations pursue business and humanitarian opportunities that will benefit both the American and Cuban peoples, while respecting the differences in the American and Cuban economic and political systems.

If you would like to find out more about how GSM can help you and your company explore opportunities in Cuba, please contact GSM Partner Brad Gerstman at (516) 880-8170

**Update: May 2015: Gerstman Schwartz Malito’s Brad Gerstman and Antonio Martinez II discuss their recent trip to Cuba and GSM’s Cuba / Latin America Trade Group: