Shutts & Bowen LLP partner Olga M. Pina was quoted in the article, “Lawyers Wary of Helms-Burton Litigation After Favorable Rulings, More Lawsuits,” published by the Daily Business Review. The article focused on the uncertain viability of legal action against businesses that trafficked in property seized by the Cuban government following the island’s communist revolution.
Referencing a provision of the Act that was allowed to take effect on May 2, the article stated that lawyers are “remaining cautious of taking on Helms-Burton cases even as orders begin to trickle in and more lawsuits are filed.” The author claims that many attorneys are skeptical of such lawsuits’ viability, even though these cases have the effect of establishing precedent in previously uncharted territory.
Olga, a partner in the Tampa office and a member of the firm’s Cuba Task Force, was quoted as saying she had previously regarded Helms-Burton as a means of discouraging investments in Cuba rather than “a serious legal tool” unto itself. Olga noted that these lawsuits may open doors for plaintiffs who had refrained from filing suits due to concerns over how the court would regard their claims to Cuban-situated property.
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About Olga M. Pina
Olga M. Pina is a partner in the Tampa office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, where she is a member of the Corporate Practice Group. Olga practices in the areas of corporate, securities, international business transactions and export compliance, including compliance with U.S. Treasury (OFAC) regulations relating to embargoed countries and customs seizures. She has extensive experience in corporate transactions, including cross-border joint ventures and securities issues in Latin America. Olga is Martindale-Hubbell AV® rated attorney and has been named one of the Best Lawyers in America® since 2009 in corporate law. Olga serves as a member of the firm’s Cuba Task Force. She is the founder of the Tampa Chapter of the Organization of Women in International Trade (TBOWIT), having served several terms as its president, and is instrumental in bringing in international speakers to Tampa and coordinating events for TBOWIT’s members and potential members. Olga has written and presented to various groups on legal issues in international transactions.