Ruben Diaz is a partner and business lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP. Ruben is the managing partner of the Miami office, where he is a member of the firm’s Transactions Practice Group.
Ruben has decades of experience advising companies on international transactions, with a particular emphasis on Latin American markets. His practice is focused on cross-border investments, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate finance, and international arbitration and dispute resolution.
Ruben has worked across key industries, including banking and finance, agribusiness, food and beverage, energy, health care, real estate, and technology. He additionally has a significant background in international private wealth and tax planning.
Ruben previously served as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel of a privately held Central American group with businesses in major sectors and as Head of the Latin America Legal Practice at Ernst & Young.
Representative Experience*
- Lead legal advisor to the shareholders of BAC Florida Bank, controlled by Grupo Pellas, in the sale of the Coral Gables-based bank to Brazil’s Banco Bradesco.
- Represented Ticofrut S.A., part of Grupo Pellas, in a tort action in federal court.
- Lead counsel on numerous mergers and acquisitions including the largest dollar value M&A transaction to date in Central America.
- Structured international joint ventures and restructured multinational groups.
- Representation of both creditors and debtors in cross-border financings.
- Representation of foreign companies regarding the establishment of U.S. entities and the acquisition of U.S. corporations, partnerships, and business assets.
*Matters handled prior to joining Foley.
Awards and Recognition
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® – Corporate Law (2024)
- Lead attorney on transaction named “Financial Services Deal of the Year” at The Deal Awards (2021)
- Recognized in Latin Lawyer 250 for his work in Latin America (2020)
Affiliations
- Presidential Advisory Board Member, INCAE Business School (2017 – present)
- Advisory Board Member, American Nicaraguan Foundation (2004 – present)
- Advisory Board Member, APROQUEN (2004 – present)
Thought Leadership
- Co-chaired panel at the International Bar Association (IBA) Biennial Latin American Regional Forum Conference, “Compliance: Beyond Lava Jato and the Panama Papers,” March 14-16, 2018