Daily Business Review recognizes Jones Day in three 2023 Florida Legal Awards categories
The Firm was recognized across three categories in the Daily Business Review's 2023 Florida Legal Awards, including two lawyer recognitions in the Firm's Miami Office. The three recognitions included:
- Cross-Border Disputes
- Distinguished Leaders: Antonio (Tony) Dias
- Diversity and Inclusion – Individual: Cristina Pérez Soto
Cross-Border Disputes
Jones Day was named among only three law firms that used 'creative problem-solving techniques and bold strategies' to deliver for their clients in a high-stakes case or collection of cases that present a range of unique and complex problems. Among the Firm's highlights was a win in a high-stakes lawsuit involving the first Helms-Burton Act case concerning the aviation sector, representing American Airlines in a three-year litigation relating to its airplanes’ arrivals at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, Cuba. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida dismissed a lawsuit alleging that American Airlines unlawfully used a Cuban airport confiscated by the Castro government following the 1959 Cuban Revolution. The case presented novel issues of law and fact, which—while the case remained at issue—were the subject of fact and expert witness testimony concerning Cuban law, aviation, airport valuation, political and banking historical records going back to the Batista regime, and claims of public corruption. The Jones Day team for American Airlines included Ricardo (Rick) H. Puente, Andrew (Drew) J. Turnier, Michelle Hogan, and Sarah E. Morgado.
Distinguished Leaders: Antonio F. Dias (Tony)
Mr. Dias is Partner-in-Charge (PIC) of the Miami Office and Practice Leader for the Firm's State Attorney General Litigation, Enforcement & Investigations Practice. Since his appointment as PIC in 2018, he has focused on growing the Firm's presence in Miami, and has spearheaded efforts to build an on-the-ground team of world-class lawyers focused on delivering legal services to clients in this international business hub. Jones Day's Miami Office is a leading full-service and multidisciplinary location, housing dozens of lawyers across ten practice groups as the Firm celebrates its 10-year anniversary in Miami later this year. Mr. Dias has substantial experience in leading the defense of companies and industries facing government scrutiny and related private litigation, including federal and state attorney general multistate investigations and the defense of concurrent investigations by the Department of Justice, Congress, the Federal Trade Commission, and other federal agencies.
Diversity and Inclusion – Individual: Cristina Pérez Soto
A leader in the promotion of diversity and inclusion in the South Florida community, Ms. Pérez Soto leads litigation practices in the Miami Office and is a partner in the Firm's Investigations & White Collar Defense Practice. She is the founder and co-leader of Jones Day's Firmwide Hispanic Lawyer’s Group, where she and others create community for Hispanic lawyers across the Firm's numerous offices and practices. As the former Hiring Partner of the Miami Office, she was instrumental in successfully recruiting talented lawyers from all backgrounds, including lawyers of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community. A former federal prosecutor and longtime voice for women in the law, she is a former Board Member of the Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers (2018-2020), and has been named "Leader in the Law" by Florida Association for Women Lawyers (2017), among the "Most Effective Lawyers" (2017) and a "Distinguished Leader" Honoree (2018) by Daily Business Review, and among the "Latin America Rising Stars" by Latinvex (2018).
