Anthony V. Raftopol

Leaders in Law endorses Anthony Raftopol as our exclusively recommended Joint Ventures Law expert in The Netherlands. If you wish to get in touch with Anthony please use the contact information provided above.

As Managing Partner in the Ternir Group, Anthony Raftopol is an Amsterdam-based, United States-trained international lawyer focusing for almost 25 years on cross-border transactions for the benefit of corporate and institutional investors into a wide variety of post-conflict/post-transitional emerging markets in the Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe.  

His clients are engaged in a wide variety of fields, including transportation, infrastructure, construction, power generation, healthcare, applied sciences, oil & gas, agriculture, commercial real estate, leisure properties, consumer products, as well as banking and finance. 

Mr. Raftopol is also Senior Legal Counsel and/or a member of the Board of Directors of several private equity funds located in the United States focusing on the healthcare sector, and is actively involved in several transactions that form the center of the U.S. government and private-sector response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  He is also on the Board of Directors of several start-up and pre-IPO medical device and med-tech companies based in the United States.  

Mr. Raftopol’s international contacts are strongest in the Middle East and the Western Balkans, as well as the banking, finance and legal industries located in the US, Europe, the Gulf States, the PRC, Hong Kong and several “off-shore” jurisdictions.  As such, Mr. Raftopol maintains close contacts and formal relationships with numerous law and investment banking firms located in those markets. 

Mr. Raftopol has been a member of the Bar of the State of New York (USA) since 1995, and is also a member of the Bar of Bucharest, Romania (status currently inactive).  He is a graduate of Northwestern University in Chicago, USA as well as the Boston University School of Law. 

In addition to his native English and Romanian, Mr. Raftopol also speaks and/or works in several other European languages.

Firm Description:

We are a network of lawyers, accountants and strategic market experts whose value proposition is to forge well-managed, locally-focused and cost-effective market-entry and operations solutions on behalf of clients doing business in one or more of the countries of EASTERN EUROPE AND THE MENA (MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA) region. Our core strength is to combine internationally-trained and -experienced teams coupled with local talent to forge in-country networks, establish a corporate and operational presence, as well as assist our clients to navigate the vagaries of local bureaucracies and their related decision-making ecosystems. To that end, we are focused on making sure that our clients have the support required to prosper within the context of legal, business and cultural environments that are often quite different from those at home.

Our clients are mostly Far-East Asian-, US- and EU-based businesses involved in a variety of sectors, including commercial real estate, the hospitality sector, oil & gas, healthcare, agriculture, transportation & logistics, banking & finance, commodities, distribution, pharma and private equity investing.

Although our services may be as varied as the backgrounds of the teams we have in place in any particular jurisdiction, our core focus involves the following:

  • Local market corporate establishment and compliance upkeep;
  • In-country team building and market positioning vis-à-vis local businesses and government (including office set-up, hiring and management of personnel, payroll, visas as well as all forms of licensing and permitting);
  • Strategic due diligence with respect to prospective local partners and in-country assets/businesses through in-house professionals and alliances with local firms;
  • Cross-border transaction advice with an emphasis on local laws and procedures;
  • Joint-venture structures and arrangements;
  • Local business marketing and strategic advice to position them for out-of-country strategic alliances, buy-outs, international lending and private equity financing.

Although our clients also include large, multinational companies, we do, in fact, seek to adapt our services to the needs of medium-sized, family-owned and privately-held companies that require qualified teams in place in Eastern Europe and the MENA region without the expense associated with large, cost-heavy consulting practices. We do this by forging alliances with local professionals on a project-by-project basis, avoiding the heavy fees associated with the “New York/London-jet-set” crowd, avoiding centralised or permanent office locations, while relying on both formal and informal relationships in a wide variety of circumstances to get the job done. We also avoid needless costs (from “vanity travel” to entrenched partner pay-outs) to keep our fees to a reasonable level, thus encouraging our clients to outsource as much of the early-stage operational oversight as possible. In this light, the more we take on, the less our clients will need to put up with while forging a strategy for market entry and on-going success.

Our professionals are well-versed and -embedded in and wide variety of locations, and are trained to cover projects throughout the Balkans, the Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, the Central Asian Republics, the Republic of Turkey, the Arab Gulf States, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, the Levant, Pakistan, Afghanistan, North Africa, Mongolia and the People’s Republic of China.

 

Richard May

Leaders in Law endorses Richard May as our exclusively recommended Joint Ventures Law expert in British Virgin Islands. If you wish to get in touch with Richard please use the contact information provided above.

Richard is Managing Partner of Maples and Calder, in the Maples Group’s British Virgin Islands office where he is also head of the Corporate and Finance teams.  He advises on a variety of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, stock exchange listings and corporate reorganisations.  Richard also advises investment managers and private equity houses on the structuring, formation and financing of investment funds and private equity funds.

Background

Richard joined the Maples Group in 2011.  He was previously head of the Corporate and Investment Funds group at an international law firm in the British Virgin Islands and, prior to that, worked for Ashurst in London.  Richard has been featured in Latin Lawyer 250 and recommended in Who’s Who Legal, Chambers Global and Legal 500.  He has been named as a leading lawyer in IFLR1000.

Professional Activities

He is a member of the Securities and Investment Business Advisory committee, the General Legal Council of the British Virgin Islands and a private sector-led focus group advising on corporate and regulatory legislation in the British Virgin Islands.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • 2002 – Admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales (not practising)
  • 2006 – Admitted as a solicitor of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (British Virgin Islands)

Education

  • Bristol University, UK, LLB
  • College of Law, London, UK, Legal Practice; Professional Skills

Firm Description:

With over 50 years’ experience in the financial services industry and expertise in the provision of a wide range of domestic and international services, we have become a global partner to our clients with offices strategically situated to best serve their needs.

We offer a broad range of solutions tailored to the unique requirements of each of our clients, independently providing specialised fiduciary, fund administration, regulatory and compliance, entity formation and management and legal services on the laws of the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Ireland, Jersey and Luxembourg.

Over the course of five decades, the Maples Group has grown from modest beginnings into one of the world’s preeminent professional services firms, with operations in the Americas and Caribbean, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East.

Our clients represent diverse backgrounds and sectors, and include many of the world’s foremost financial institutions, international corporations, asset managers and institutional investors. Given the global nature of doing business, our extensive footprint makes us perfectly positioned to deliver services that are designed to meet the unique requirements of our clients and the demands of the markets in which they operate.

Our practice-proven knowledge of the global marketplace and our willingness to embrace today’s technological advances means that we are able to continually update and evaluate our operational models and tailor solutions to ensure that we are delivering the greatest value to each and every client.

At the Maples Group we are dedicated to helping you foresee, innovate and deliver the results ‒ and value ‒ you deserve.

 

Brian Diamond

Leaders in Law endorses Brian Diamond as our exclusively recommended Joint Ventures Law expert in the USA – New York. If you wish to get in touch with Brian please use the contact information provided above.

Brian Diamond is Co-Chair of the Real Estate Practice Group and a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee. He concentrates his practice in counseling institutional investors, real estate opportunity funds and investment advisers. Over the years, Mr. Diamond has been lead counsel in many of the nation’s most significant and complex real estate transactions. He is a skilled negotiator and draftsman and has assisted his clients in the acquisition, financing and disposition of billions of dollars in real estate transactions nationwide of every asset class, from parking concessions, hotels and senior housing, to super-regional malls. Mr. Diamond counsels investment managers with respect to their advisory duties and advises clients as to the formation of and/or investment in real estate funds and infrastructure funds.

Mr. Diamond regularly represents managers of public and private pension funds in acquisitions, joint ventures, development transactions, financings and dispositions. He is well versed in the tax and ERISA rules that govern the behavior of tax-exempt investors and, for nearly three decades, has successfully been advising fiduciaries with respect to the management of their client’s real estate investments. Mr. Diamond is a seasoned negotiator of joint ventures with developers of every property type and is a significant force in the Firm’s real estate opportunity fund practice.

Mr. Diamond is just as at home representing lenders as he is representing borrowers. He has managed several mortgage and mezzanine lending programs for Firm clients, some of which programs he helped to design. Mr. Diamond has been extremely active in real estate workouts and restructurings. Drawing on Stroock’s significant insolvency and litigation resources, Mr. Diamond has coordinated real estate foreclosures, prepackaged bankruptcies and deed-in-lieu transactions on behalf of his clients. Mr. Diamond is experienced in dealing with “green” real estate and has been a speaker on the “greening” of commercial real estate.

In addition to bringing mature judgment and keen business acumen to the table, Mr. Diamond has over 25 years of front line experience in dealing with the real world issues that affect the performance of real estate assets, including, environmental issues, bankruptcy, tax issues, casualties, condemnation, litigation and land use restrictions.

Mr. Diamond is a member of the Pension Real Estate Association, the Commercial Mortgage Securities Association and the Legal Advisory Board of First American Title Insurance Company of New York. He has spoken on diverse topics including Joint Ventures, ERISA Rules, Sustainable Real Estate, Unrelated Business Taxable Income, Distressed Real Estate and Brokerage Issues.

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP:

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, with more than 300 attorneys in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington, DC, is a law firm providing transactional, regulatory and litigation guidance to leading financial institutions, multinational corporations, investment funds and entrepreneurs in the U.S. and abroad. Our emphasis on excellence and innovation has enabled us to maintain long-term relationships with our clients and made us one of the nation’s leading law firms for almost 140 years.

We are proud to consistently rank among the best firms in leading legal publications such as Chambers USA, Legal 500, Law360, International Financial Law Review, Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers.

Pieter Theunissen

Notius is a dynamic and accessible law firm with an informal but professional approach, not only targeting businesses and entrepreneurs, but also private clients. Our main goal is to offer a wide range of high-quality services in several branches of law, tailored to our clients’ needs and at competitive rates. At Notius you can count on the experience, dedication and commitment of a passionate, ambitious and multidisciplinary team of attorneys and service providers always aiming for the highest professional standards with a practically-oriented and plain no-nonsense approach.

Our senior attorneys have always been active in nationally and internationally renowned firms, allowing them to draw on years of experience within the legal sector.

We are always at your disposal for all your legal questions, so please do not hesitate to make an appointment at one of our offices.

Pieter is an experienced lawyer focusing on corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate governance and commercial contracts.

Pieter has played a leading advisory role in various acquisitions, joint ventures and restructurings, involving multinational enterprises, Belgian owned enterprises as well as SMEs.

Before joining Notius, Pieter practiced in the corporate law department of various leading international law firms.

Pieter’s specialties include corporate law advice, including cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and related transactions, corporate restructurings, corporate governance, and commercial contracts.

 

Highlights include:

– Assistance regarding the setting up of a joint venture between two national railway companies.

– Assistance regarding the setting up of a joint venture between a Belgian and a French caterer.

– Assistance regarding the setting up of joint ventures between construction firms, developers, architects, etc. throughout Belgium.

– Assistance regarding the setting up of a joint venture between several large beverage companies throughout Belgium.

– Assistance regarding numerous share and asset deals, including cross border transactions.

– Assistance regarding the acquisition of various large real estate projects in the hart of Brussels and throughout Belgium (offices, hotels, residential and classified buildings).

– Assistance regarding cross border merger.

 

 

Preeti Mehta

Ms. Preeti Mehta is a Senior Partner of Messrs Kanga & Co., a leading firm of Advocates and Solicitors in Bombay, established in 1890 and having a vast clientele. Ms. Mehta qualified as a Solicitor both from Bombay and England. Ms. Mehta has been practising for over 25 years and has vast experience in matters relating to foreign collaborations, mergers & acquisitions, private equity investments, corporate laws, banking and franchising.

Ms. Mehta has advised various clients in matters relating to foreign investment and joint ventures, corporate laws, mergers and takeovers, foreign collaboration, private equity investments and franchising.

Kanga & Co:

Kanga & Co., established in 1890 is a highly respected and professionally managed Law Firm. Not only is it one of the oldest law firms in the country. It is also one of the largest, with 16 partners. Each with a wealth of experience, who are ably supported by a team op talented associates.

Our spacious office is located in downtown Mumbai in the middle of the business district and within walking distance from the high court of judicature at Mumbai.

We have a varied clientele ranging from Banks, Financial institutions and Mutual Funds to large corporate houses and Property Developers to closely held companies, firms as well as individuals.

We have also established a wide network and good working relationship with a large number of international law and solicitors’ firms over the years, by liaising and interacting with lawyers in several countries. We have gained experience, developed expertise and won recognition in international contracts, acquisitions and finance.

We take pride in providing personalized professional and result-oriented services to our clients, whilst upholding the highest standards of the legal profession.

Michael Carney

Michael handles a wide range of property transactions, including the acquisition and sale of sites, offices and industrial units, the lease of office and retail units, joint investment agreements and joint ventures (incorporated and unincorporated), property-based commercial lending and the property aspects of corporate transactions. Michael acts for public bodies, institutional clients, private companies and banks as well as high net worth individuals. He has a particular interest in windfarms and has acted for investors in a number of windfarm transactions.Michael is also a member of our insolvency department and focuses on property elements of receiverships, examinerships and liquidations. Michael qualified as a solicitor in 1991 having studied law in University College Dublin. He became a partner in the Property Department in 2000.  Michael appears in International legal directories and is recommended as a leading lawyer by Chambers Europe and The Legal500.

Recommendations:

Recommended as a leading lawyer in Real Estate, Chambers Europe – Europe’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2016)

Michael is noted particularly for his work with public bodies, institutional clients, private companies and banks on real estate transactions.

Recommended as a leading lawyer in Real Estate, Chambers Europe – Europe’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2015)

Michael is described by clients as “a strong negotiator, who is very responsive and efficient in managing client matters.” He advises on transactions, leases and property finance.

Recommended as a leading lawyer in Real Estate, Chambers Europe – Europe’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2014)

Michael is described as “efficient and proactive,” and praised for being“matter-of-fact and a very good negotiator. He doesn’t cause unnecessary friction.” He has particular expertise dealing with insolvency-related issues.

Recommended as a leading lawyer in Real Estate, The Legal 500 (2014)

WhitneyMoore’s property department wins praise for providing “solid and insightful advice with expedient turnaround times”.

Recommended as a leading lawyer in Real Estate, Chambers Europe – Europe’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2013)

Michael is recognised for his expertise in developments, leases, planning, insolvency and public procurement mandates.

Recommended as a leading lawyer in Real Estate, The Legal 500 (2013)

WhitneyMoore’s property department wins praise for providing an ‘excellent service’ and, according to one client, ‘the most solid, sensible advice I have had on commercial property matters in Ireland’.

Recommended as a leading lawyer in Real Estate, Chambers Europe – Europe’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2012)

Michael is considered to be “responsive, efficient and excellent at dealing with colleagues – he can bring everyone onto his side”. Sources describe WhitneyMoore’s property department as “confident, capable and responsive. I always feel I have the strongest team on my side”.

Recommended as a leading lawyer in Real Estate, Chambers Europe – Europe’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2011)

Michael is noted for his broad real estate practice covering acquisitions, sales and leases of offices and industrial units, with particular expertise in wind farm transactions.

Recommended as a leading lawyer in Construction, The Legal 500 (2011) Recommended as a leading lawyer in Real Estate, Chambers Europe – Europe’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2010)

“He has an absolutely brilliant legal mind and a good sense of commercial awareness”.

Recommended as a leading lawyer in Real Estate, The Legal 500 (2010)

“Michael Carney is considered an astute real estate lawyer”.

Recommended as a leading lawyer in Construction, The Legal 500 (2010)

“The astute Michael Carney is recommended”.

Recommended as a leading lawyer in Real Estate, European Legal Experts (2010)