27th Annual Conference of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy: Two CLE Programs; "Foreign Investment in Cuba: Law, Policy, and Practicalities" and "Coordinating U.S. and Cuban Legal Principles to Resolve Property and Damage Claims"

The 27th Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy will take place in Miami, Florida 27-29 July 2017. The three-day conference, around the theme Cuba: Navigating a Turbulent World, will focus on evaluating the state of the Cuban economy taking into consideration the impending changes in Cuba’s relations with the United States. I will post the final program when it is ready. Those of you in Miami at the end of July might consider participating.

For the first time this year

ASCE’s 2017 Annual Conference includes two CLE-qualifying law sessions organized by Crowell & Moring LLP. Licensed attorneys who register for our conference can receive 1.5 Florida Bar CLE credits for each of the sessions described below, for a total of 3 CLE credit hours. If you need CLE from another jurisdiction, you will receive a Uniform Certificate of Attendance for submission to other states. These sessions will cover the following:

Pedro A. Freyre, Partner; Chair, International Practice, Akerman LLP; and Rolando Anillo, Corporate Counsel, Florida Crystals Corp., and President, Cuban Claims Owners Association will offer a session entitled, "Coordinating U.S. and Cuban Legal Principles to Resolve Property and Damage Claims." I will be offering a session "Foreign Investment in Cuba: Law, Policy, and Practicalities."

More information follows:

ASCE’s 2017 Annual Conference includes two CLE-qualifying law sessions organized by Crowell & Moring LLP. Licensed attorneys who register for our conference can receive 1.5 Florida Bar CLE credits for each of the sessions described below, for a total of 3 CLE credit hours. If you need CLE from another jurisdiction, you will receive a Uniform Certificate of Attendance for submission to other states. These sessions will cover the following:

Foreign Investment in Cuba: Law, Policy, and Practicalities
Presenter: Larry Catá Backer, W. Richard and Mary Eshelman Faculty Scholar; Professor of Law and International Affairs, Penn State Law

Cuba’s 2014 Foreign Investment Law and the dissemination of its annual Portfolio of Opportunities for Foreign Investment are signals that Cuba is open to foreign direct investment. While Cuba has secured a number of deals, progress on all sides remains slow due to the complexities and uncertainties surrounding legal, policy, liability, and other issues. This session will offer a detailed look at Cuban law relevant to foreign investment, bilateral and other agreements with Cuba, transaction formation pitfalls and best practices, and how to steer clear of liability and policy traps so that all parties can seal the deal.

Coordinating U.S. and Cuban Legal Principles to Resolve Property and Damage Claims
Presenters: Pedro A. Freyre, Partner; Chair, International Practice, Akerman LLP; Rolando Anillo, Corporate Counsel, Florida Crystals Corp., and President, Cuban Claims Owners Association

Full restoration of ties between the U.S. and Cuba requires, among other things, the resolution of outstanding property and other claims lodged by each country against the other. This in-depth session will look at Cuba’s expropriation of U.S. and other properties, U.S. certified claims and default judgments against Cuba, and country-to-country debts. We will also explore Cuba’s asserted claims for damages caused by the U.S. embargo and our operations in Cuba. The presenters will then discuss relevant U.S. law (e.g., OFAC regulations, Helms-Burton) and applicable Cuban law (including required changes depending on alternate resolution scenarios). Finally, the speakers will look at potential legal remedies and solutions, as well as possible next steps under the new U.S. administration.

To register for the conference: http://www.ascecuba.org/conferences/2017-asce-conference/

Additional benefits include keynote speaker: Marc Frank, Reuters, Havana. Presentation title, “The Strategic Retreat: What’s Driving and Slowing Change in Cuba and U.S.-Cuban Relations”