Rick Puente has tried cases on behalf of major financial institutions and global corporate entities in federal and state courts and before international arbitration tribunals. Many of Rick's matters have involved parallel proceedings in civil and common law jurisdictions in the United States, Latin America, and Europe.
Rick's notable representations include: defending in federal court Helms-Burton Act lawsuits involving property confiscated in Cuba; advising a world leading agricultural provider in the sale of a $4.1 billion mining interest in Chile in connection with antitrust claims; lead counsel for an investment bank in a $60 million structured products arbitration; lead counsel for a 49% shareholder in federal and appellate court proceedings in Texas in cases involving the RICO Act (prevailed on all substantive motions), Hague Convention, and a $500 million ICC arbitration in New York relating to a nutrition company with operations on three continents; lead counsel for a lawyer and businessman from Latin America in a money laundering investigation by the United States government, which culminated in the return of millions of dollars; and representation of a Spanish artist involved in a cross-border shareholder dispute.
Rick has served as guest lecturer and moderator 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) and is the president of the Florida Chapter of Club Español del Arbitraje (CEA), a leading international arbitration organization based in Madrid, Spain.
Experience
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).
Speaking Engagements
- 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
- Loyola University (J.D. and Certificate in International Legal Studies 1996); Florida International University (B.B.A. with a concentration in Finance 1993)
- Florida; U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits; U.S. District Courts for the Middle, Southern, and Northern Districts of Florida and Western District of Texas; and U.S. Tax Court
Recognized in Florida Super Lawyers (2013, 2015-2019) and in Florida Trend's "Legal Elite" (2011) in the categories of business and commercial litigation
Recognized in The Legal 500 Latin America (2017) for international arbitration
Recognized in The Best Lawyers of America (2019-2020) for international arbitration — commercial
- Spanish