Luis A.Velez

Partner

Miami + 1.305.714.9708

Connect:

Share

Luis Velez advises public and private companies on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and corporate reorganizations in the United States and Latin America. Luis is recognized by Chambers and Best Lawyers, and clients praise him for being "flexible enough for [them] to set sophisticated structures" and being "client-oriented and show[ing] interest in the person behind the business."

He represents clients from a range of industries, including hospitality, energy, telecommunications, manufacturing, and infrastructure. His recent representations include: Acciona, COPASA, and Hitachi Rail with their bid for the California high-speed rail; TotalEnergies' Strategic Alliance & Investment Agreement with Sunix Petroleum and Tropigas in the Dominican Republic; Hard Rock's $1 billion acquisition of The Mirage Las Vegas Hotel and Casino; Hard Rock's acquisition of the Jack Cincinnati Casino; and VSE's acquisitions of Global Parts Group and HAECO Special Services.

He also has represented clients such as PGT with the acquisition of Eco Windows, OPDE Energy and Jinko Power with the divestiture of renewable energy assets in Mexico, Hyatt with transactions in Central America and Brazil, Alantra and Magnum Private Equity with their investment in ROQ US, CIRCOR International with the sale of Pibiviesse S.p.A. in Italy, and Millicom with the sale of its cell phone tower portfolio in El Salvador and Paraguay.

Luis served a secondment at Sempra, where he assisted the in-house legal team with the potential acquisition of a majority stake in a gas pipeline in Peru. Prior to joining Jones Day, Luis was an associate corporate counsel at HEICO Corporation, an aerospace, industrial, defense, and electronics company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Experience

  • AGS Agunsa invests in Omni Transloading & Logistics and Omni Bulk ServicesJones Day advised AGS Agunsa, the North American arm of Agunsa and a key player within the Empresas Navieras Group, in the acquisition of a significant equity interest in Omni Transloading & Logistics and Omni Bulk Services.
  • VSE Corporation sells Federal and Defense Services operating assetsJones Day advised VSE Corporation in the sale of substantially all of its Federal and Defense Services operating assets.
  • AGS invests in A.R. SAVAGE COMPANYJones Day advised AGS Agunsa, the North American arm of Agunsa and a key player within the Empresas Navieras Group, in the acquisition of a significant equity acquisition in AR SAVAGE COMPANY LLC, along with its associated companies and subsidiaries.
  • VSE acquires assets and license from HoneywellJones Day advised VSE Corporation in the $105 million asset purchase and perpetual license agreement to manufacture and support certain of Honeywell International’s fuel control systems on four key engine platforms.
  • Lennox obtains $350 million incremental increase to its existing credit facility with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.Jones Day represented Lennox International Inc., a leading global provider of climate control solutions, in connection with an incremental increase of its unsecured credit facilities led by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the bank syndicate, which provides for total revolving credit commitments of $1.1 billion.
  • Hard Rock International acquires The Mirage Las Vegas Hotel and CasinoJones Day represented Hard Rock International (Hard Rock) on the acquisition of The Mirage Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas from MGM Resorts International.
  • Riverside portfolio company acquires BloodHubJones Day represented The Riverside Company in connection with the acquisition and financing by portfolio company InVita Healthcare Technologies of BloodHub, a leading software provider of blood and biologics supply chain automation solutions.
  • TotalEnergies enters into Strategic Alliance and Investment Agreement with Sunix and Tropigas in the Dominican RepublicJones Day advised TotalEnergies in the strategic alliance and investment agreement with Omaha Beach Investment Corp., Sunix Petroleum, S.R.L. and Tropigas Dominicana, S.R.L. in the Dominican Republic.
  • Engage PEO acquires Innovative Employer SolutionsJones Day advised Engage PEO in the acquisition of Innovative Employer Solutions, a Florida-based professional employer organization.
  • LarraínVial acquires 33% stake in Black Salmon and TSG Holding CompanyJones Day advised LarraínVial in its 33% acquisition in the holding companies of Black Salmon, a Miami-based, national commercial real estate investment firm and TSG Holding Company, a South Florida diversified real estate development and investment company.
  • JourneyCare acquired by Addus HomeCareJones Day advised JourneyCare, Inc. in the $85 million sale of the Company to Addus HomeCare Corporation.
  • VSE Corporation acquires Global Parts GroupJones Day advised VSE Corporation in the acquisition of Global Parts Group, Inc. in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $38 million.
  • Multi-service national corporation seeks counsel on security clearance issues in connection with acquisitionJones Day advised a multi-service national corporation with respect to facility security clearance (FCL) issues, including executing a tailored agreement with the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) regarding termination of a Special Security Agreement (SSA) for an acquired subsidiary firm.
  • VSE Corporation acquires HAECO Special ServicesJones Day advised VSE Corporation, a leading provider of aftermarket distribution and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for land, sea and air transportation assets for government and commercial markets, in its acquisition of HAECO Special Services, LLC from HAECO Airframe Services, LLC, a division of HAECO Americas, in an all cash transaction.
  • SpeedETab sells company to Wix.comJones Day advised SpeedETab, Inc., a restaurant ordering and payment technology provider, in its sale to Wix.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: WIX), a global leader in software development, cloud-based services, e-commerce, and other online services.
  • PGT Innovations acquires 75% ownership stake in Eco Window Systems for $108 millionJones Day advised PGT Innovations, Inc. in its $108 million acquisition of a 75% ownership stake in Eco Window Systems and its related companies, which are leading manufacturers and installers of aluminum, impact-resistant windows and doors serving the South Florida region, as well as PGTI's related $60 million Rule 144A and Regulation S add-on offering of 6.75% Senior Notes due 2026.
  • Opdenergy divests majority stake in two solar photovoltaic plants in Mexico totaling 144MWp and forms Vera RenovablesJones Day represented Otras Producciones de Energía Photovoltaica, S.L. ("OPDE"), a member of the OPDE Group, in connection with the sale of 80% of its equity interests in two photovoltaic power plants, and associated electrical substations and interconnection lines, located in the Mexican states of Aguascalientes (34.2 MW) and Coahuila (82.5 MW) to an affiliate of Riverstone Holdings, an energy and power-focused private investment firm.
  • JinkoSolar sold two solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Mexico to White River RenewablesJones Day advised JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., one of the world's largest and most innovative solar panel manufacturers, in the sale of two solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Mexico to White River Renewables.
  • Central American conglomerate acquires significant strategic real estate holding in HondurasJones Day represented a Central American conglomerate in the acquisition of a significant strategic real estate holding in Honduras.
  • Alantra and Magnum form joint venture between ROQ and Ryonet to serve as distributor of ROQ's products in U.S. marketJones Day advised Alantra Capital Privado SGEIC, S.A.U. and Magnum Capital Industrial Partners, S.L. in establishing a joint venture with Ryonet Corporation to serve as the distributor of ROQ's products in the U.S. market.
    • View All

    September 2020 Reprint

    Mapping the Territory: Navigating Bankruptcy Sales in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico (The Latin American Lawyer)

    Additional Publications

    • August 17, 2021
      Chambers USA Guide 2021 Ranked in: Corporate/M&A & Private Equity
    • August 24, 2020
      The Best Lawyers in America™ 2021 Best Lawyers Ones' to Watch - Mergers and Acquisitions Law

    March 11-13, 2024 Speaking Engagements

    Jones Day lawyers to attend IJ LATAM 2024

    Before sending, please note:

    Information on www.jonesday.com is for general use and is not legal advice. The mailing of this email is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Anything that you send to anyone at our Firm will not be confidential or privileged unless we have agreed to represent you. If you send this email, you confirm that you have read and understand this notice.