Ricardo H. Puente | Lawyers

Rick Puente is a Board Certified International Litigation and Arbitration lawyer with first chair experience in commercial, tort, and investment disputes before federal and state courts and arbitral tribunals. Rick has experience leading cross-border disputes teams in parallel proceedings in the United States, Latin America, and Europe.

Rick's notable cases include successfully defending a major airline in federal court cases in Florida and Texas filed under the Helms-Burton Act related to the Havana Airport and hotels in Varadero, Cuba; representing a renewable energy company on cases tied to the Helms-Burton Act; representing an oil company in U.S. fraud proceedings related to its Latin America operations; representing a Chilean national in multijurisdictional asset recovery relating to a cross-border Ponzi scheme; representing a Canadian company in a $4.1 billion mining dispute in Chile; securing a favorable settlement for an investment bank in a $60 million securities FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) arbitration; representing a philanthropist in a Hague Convention federal trial and civil RICO lawsuit and in a $500 million ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) arbitration seated in New York involving a multibillion dollar company; and representing a Latin American lawyer and businessman whose funds were frozen by the United States government (secured return of millions of dollars).

Rick has lectured and moderated on international arbitration and litigation topics at universities and in conferences in the United States, Europe, and Latin America. He served as chairman of a Florida Bar Judicial Grievance Committee (2011), is a member of the board of directors of the Miami International Arbitration Society and served as President of the Club Español e Iberoamericano del Arbitraje (Florida, 2012-2024).

Experience

Global energy company responds to claims relating to the Helms-Burton ActJones Day is representing a global energy company in connection with claims related to Title III of the Helms-Burton Act.

American Airlines wins dismissal of Helms-Burton Act lawsuit alleging unlawful use of Havana's international airportJones Day successfully defended American Airlines against a "trafficking" claim brought under the Helms-Burton Act.

Major U.S. airline obtains dismissal with prejudice of "trafficking" claim under the Helms-Burton Act related to partnership involving hotels in CubaJones Day obtained a ruling of first impression in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, which dismissed for lack of Article III standing a Helms-Burton Act lawsuit alleging that American Airlines "trafficked" in property confiscated by the Castro government following the 1959 Cuban Revolution.

Investor recovers significant portion of investment after being victimized by cross-border Ponzi schemeJones Day represents a major investor that was the victim of a cross-border Ponzi scheme of a Chilean national.

Businessman and lawyer found to be entitled to return of money seized in investigationJones Day represented a prominent Latin American business man and lawyer in connection with the return of millions of dollars seized by the U.S. government.

Financial institution resolves dispute over allegations of unauthorized tradesJones Day represented a financial institution in a FINRA arbitration involving cross border discovery issues in connection with the sale of structured products to a private investment company.

Alleged promoter of investment fund navigates SEC investigationJones Day represented a client before the SEC involving promotion of a LatAm ponzi scheme.

Businesswoman arbitrates breach of shareholder's agreement claims at ICCJones Day represented a businesswoman and philanthropist seeking injunctive and monetary relief through arbitration before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) related to the breach of the shareholder's agreement for a company with operations in 17 countries in Latin America.

Speedpay defends putative class action lawsuit over processing feesJones Day represented Speedpay, Inc. in a putative class action lawsuit in which plaintiffs alleged that Speedpay violated the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act by adding surcharges to utility payments the company collected through its telephone payment system on behalf of an electrical utility company.

The following represents experience acquired prior to joining Jones Day.

Represented a group of Latin American partners in a joint venture involving energy investment contracts, resulting in a seven figure final judgment and award of attorney's fees in their favor.

Represented an investor at an evidentiary hearing in federal bankruptcy court and successfully argued that a corporate bankruptcy stay did not preclude the investor's state court case against a managing member of the corporate entity for fraud and FDUTPA.

Represented lawyers in ethics investigation by the Florida Bar involving retaliatory allegations by adversary of misconduct during litigation.

Represented a plaintiff against a financial institution involving misleading representations in commodities investment.

Represented plaintiffs in a financial fraud case against a regional commercial bank involving fraudulent wire transfers originating from Venezuela.

Represented a foreign private investment company and high net worth individual against a large international bank and its broker dealer subsidiary for FDUTPA, breaches of fiduciary duty, and fraud.

Represented an executive in defamation, fraud, and tortious interference lawsuit against a global freight forwarding company.

Represented an investment trust against a broker-dealer involving unauthorized trades in a nondiscretionary account.

Represented a financial institution, personal representative of estate, and individual co-trustee in a trust litigation matter involving allegations of breach of contract by the trustees relating to multimillion dollar jewelry.

Represented a film company in a corporate dissolution and prelitigation negotiations against a former managing member involving allegations of copyright infringement, tortious interference, and libel.

Represented plaintiffs in a state circuit court up through final jury verdict in a negligence case against a national corporation.

Defended Florida's auditor general's office in federal court litigation involving allegations of employment discrimination and retaliation and obtained summary judgment and award of costs against the plaintiff.

Defended Edge Act Bank in federal court in a wire fraud case involving a Grand Cayman private trust account.

Defended the general contractor of a luxury hotel/condo and obtained summary judgment in favor of contractor.

Defended a securities broker dealer, clearing house, and stockbroker in FINRA arbitration involving allegations of fraud and churning.

Represented investors against a private bank for the sale of unregistered securities (case settled following certification of class).

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AUGUST 2024 Alert

Chile's Proposed Constitutional Changes to Natural Resources Rights Could Have Devastating Effects on Foreign Investors: How Can International Law Protect Them?

July 2022 Alert

Additional Publications

March 2024
What is a Foreign or International Tribunal? A Review of U.S. Jurisprudence Concerning the Country's Powerful Assistance Discovery Tool.

March 11-13, 2024 Speaking Engagements

Jones Day lawyers to attend IJ LATAM 2024

Additional Speaking Engagements

May 30, 2024
"The Increasing Use of Guerilla Tactics in International Arbitration," Club Español e Iberoamericano del Arbitraje
August 24, 2021
Speaker at the XV Congress of the Peruvian Institute of Arbitration on the topic "Cross-Examination in International Arbitration"
November 11, 2020
Moderator at the Club Español del Arbitraje webinar on the topic of Tendencies in International Litigation & Arbitration in the United States, including a discussion on key differences between NAFTA & USMCA and U.S. intervention in international disputes
November 4, 2020
Speaker at the Instituto Peruano de Arbitraje's XIV Congress on the topic of Adverse Inferences in International Arbitration, Lima, Peru
February 11, 2020
Moderator and presenter at "Choice of Law and International Arbitration: a Global Tour" on the topic of the hallmarks of the most commonly chosen governing laws in major projects agreements
April 2, 2019
Speaker at the Florida International Bankers Association seminar on the topic “A Reinvigorated Helms-Burton: Coming Storm or Sunshower?” and the Implications of Implementing Title III of the Helms–Burton Act
March 1, 2019
Moderator at the Florida International University "The World of Arbitration and Mediation in Latin America and the Caribbean Today" on the topic of Recognizing and Enforcing Foreign and Domestic Arbitral Awards and Settlement Agreements (Part 2)
February 9, 2019
Speaker at the University of Miami Law Review Symposium "Sin Límites Law & Business at the Gateway to the Americas" on the topic of International Disputes
September 19, 2018
Lecturer and invited speaker on U.S. Anti-Money Laundering Laws & International Arbitration before the Association of Resorts, Hotels, & Tourism in the Dominican Republic (ASONAHORES)
13 junio, 2018
Arbitraje y litigios transnacionales en las nuevas tecnologías: Blockchain y Criptomoneda
April 27, 2018
XII Congress of International Arbitration "In Memoriam Estuardo Mata Palmieri" moderator and speaker on the topics of iura novit curia and damages in international arbitration
December 15, 2017
Guest lecturer at Florida International University Law School International Law Program on the topic 'Best Practices in handling a Complex Commercial Global Disputes Case.'
November 3, 2017
Guest lecturer at Florida International University Law School on the topic 'International Judicial Cooperation for Gathering Evidence and Related Discovery.'
21 de junio, 2017
Disputas Globales: Arbitraje y litigios trasnacionales desde las perspectivas estadounidense y española
June 21, 2017
Global Disputes: Cross Border Arbitration and Litigation from the Spanish and American Perspectives
April 26, 2017
Moderator of Club Español del Arbitraje seminar on Corruption in International Investment Arbitration.
June 19-22, 2016
International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) - Conferencia Latino Americana (CLA) 2016 - Invited speaker and moderator on the following topics: Non-Signatories' Participation in International Arbitration: The Role of Unanticipated and Anticipated Third Parties in International arbitration; Handling Difficult Witnesses and Recalcitrant Experts.
February 26, 2016
International Litigation, Arbitration & Transaction Conference (ILAT), Florida Bar's International Law Section, invited speaker on the topic "Civil RICO's Extraterritorial Application"
June 12, 2015
CIAMEN, Universidad de San Pablo, Title 28 U.S.C. Section 1782, and its application to international commercial arbitration

Ricardo H. Puente (Rick)

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Experience

D.C. Circuit Allows Challenge to Counsel's Authority to Enforce International Arbitration Award

U.S. District Court Upholds Two Arbitral Awards Against Lima

EU Blocking Statute Does Not Shield Spanish Company From Defending Helms-Burton Act Lawsuit

Chile's Proposed Constitutional Changes to Natural Resources Rights Could Have Devastating Effects on Foreign Investors: How Can International Law Protect Them?

Jones Day Wins Dismissal of Helms-Burton Act Lawsuit Alleging Unlawful Use of Havana's International Airport

Supreme Court Restricts 28 U.S.C. § 1782 Discovery in Aid of Arbitration

Peru's Struggle to Balance Foreign Investors' Rights and Local Communities' Demands

Second Circuit—Once Again—Overturns on Comity Grounds Multi-Million Dollar Price-Fixing Judgment

American Airlines Successfully Defends Helms-Burton Act Win

Second Circuit Confirms 28 U.S.C. § 1782 Discovery for Investor-State Arbitration

Additional Publications

Jones Day lawyers to attend IJ LATAM 2024

Additional Speaking Engagements

Ricardo H. Puente (Rick)

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