Hughes Hubbard Adds New Co-Chair to Latin America Practice

Miami, Fl., September 6, 2016 – Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP announced today that Ruben Diaz will join the firm as partner in its Miami office. He will co-chair the firm’s Latin America practice.

Prior to joining Hughes Hubbard, Diaz was General Counsel of Grupo Pellas, a conglomerate of financial, industrial and commercial companies based primarily in Central America. As the principal legal officer for the organization, he also served as director of BAC Florida Bank, General Business Machines Corp., Greytown Advisors, the American Nicaraguan Foundation, and several other companies that comprised Grupo Pellas. 

“Ruben is no stranger to the firm, having started his career here as an associate,” said Candace K. Beinecke, Chair of Hughes Hubbard. “We are very excited to welcome him back to the team, this time as partner and practice co-chair. His cross-border corporate experience in Latin America is an ideal complement to our practice and his legal and business insights will be tremendously valuable for our clients.”

At Hughes Hubbard, Diaz will focus on expanding the firm’s platform and capabilities for serving clients doing business in Latin America. Diaz has significant experience advising on cross-border investment, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and corporate finance, as well as international arbitration and dispute resolution. He has worked in key industries including banking and finance, agribusiness, liquor, energy, health care, real estate and information technology.  

“We are thrilled to welcome Ruben to the team,” said Federico Goudie, co-chair of the Latin America practice group. “We have worked with him for many years as a client, and know him to be an extraordinary lawyer whose experience handling sophisticated legal matters related to and in Latin America will bring tremendous benefit to our clients and our group.”

Diaz joins Hughes Hubbard as the firm is strategically expanding its practice in Latin America. Earlier this year, the firm bolstered its ability to serve its Brazilian clients and its clients with needs in Brazil through a strategic cooperation agreement with Saud Advogados, a Brazilian law firm based in Rio de Janeiro. And in Miami, the firm recently renewed its lease and modernized its space at the downtown Miami Center to continue to provide best-in-class accessibility and service to clients.

“As someone who started his legal career at Hughes Hubbard, and has also been a client of the firm, I have seen the team’s dedication to clients and their relentless pursuit of excellence in legal practice,” said Diaz. “I am excited to return home to Hughes Hubbard, and I look forward to supporting the firm’s clients, particularly in Miami and Latin America.”

About Ruben Diaz
Diaz began his career on Wall Street as an associate with Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP. He later moved to Miami and joined Steel Hector & Davis, becoming a partner and also serving on that firm’s International Executive Committee. Diaz then joined Ernst & Young as a partner in 1997. He led the firm’s International Tax Latin American Business Center between 2000 and 2002, and later became the partner-in-charge of Ernst & Young’s regional Latin American legal practice. In 2004, Diaz joined Grupo Pellas as General Counsel.