David da Silva Cornell

Attorney at Law
Download vCard

David da Silva Cornell is a partner who focuses his practice on corporate law, international and domestic business transactions, and nonprofit law.

Mr. Cornell has extensive experience with and is familiar with thelegal systems, cultures, and business practices of Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, and East Asia (particularly Greater China). He also regularly represents both foreign and U.S. clients with respect to their U.S. activities. Mr. Cornell provides domestic and cross-border advice regarding entity formation, shareholder and board fiduciary duties, the structure of business operations, mergers and acquisitions, and the negotiation and preparation of purchase, international joint venture, distributorship, franchise, strategic partnering, licensing, financing, and other transactional agreements among domestic and/or foreign businesses.

Mr. Cornell also has unique legal expertise with respect to the formation, governance, and operations of nonprofit organizations, gained through serving on nonprofit boards of directors, working as the director of development for a major community foundation, and rendering pro bono counsel to nonprofits.

AREAS OF EXPERIENCE

  • Corporate
  • International business transactions outbound to and inbound
    from Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, and East Asia
  • Domestic business transactions
  • International trade regulation and policy
  • Representation of clients in a wide range of industries,
    including:
    • Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Internet-Based Businesses
    • Luxury Goods
    • Healthcare
    • Alcoholic Beverages
    • Duty Free
    • Construction
    • Telecommunications
  • Nonprofit organizations: formation, governance, and operations

PRACTICE AREAS

  • Corporate
  • International and domestic business transactions
  • International trade policy
  • Nonprofit organizations

SIGNIFICANT REPRESENTATIONS

  • Served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of a U.S. subsidiary of a major Latin American entertainment company. Oversaw all legal aspects of the construction, development, and operation of a $40 million theme park, including settlement of a complex transnational licensing and unfair trade practices dispute.
  • Represented a U.S.-based multinational real estate developer in its negotiation and agreement with a major Chinese stateowned international construction company for the construction of a large hotel and office complex in a Caribbean nation.
  • For a U.S. assisted living company, structured a consulting arrangement with a major Portuguese business group relating to the establishment and operation of senior care facilities in Portugal.
  • Represented a U.S.-based public company in the healthcare industry in a wide range of international legal matters, including the restructuring of operations in Latin America and the establishment of a Spanish-language joint B2B and public education healthcare-related website.
  • Represented a major French alcoholic beverages distributor in its purchase of its U.S. broker/importer.
  • Represented a U.S.-based dot-com operating an Internet portal serving Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking women in the United States, Latin America, and Iberia, with respect to all legal affairs.
  • Represented the U.S. partner of a U.S.-Brazilian joint venture in licensing the U.S. partner's technology and trademarks within Brazil.
  • For a U.S. investment firm retained by a major Latin American commodity producers' association, prepared the offering memorandum for an exclusive concession for the supply of the commodity and related products in the Greater China region.
  • Represented a U.S. software developer in standardizing its reseller contracts and arrangements in six Asian and three Latin American jurisdictions.
  • Represented a U.S.-based Latin America-oriented financial information online service in connection with a content provision arrangement with a major Brazilian Internet service provider, including negotiation of Portuguese-language contract.
  • For a worldwide airline reservations network spun off from another company, oversaw local counsel in twenty countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean in analyzing all legal issues related to the transfer of local employees to employment by the new company.
  • Represented a Switzerland-based major multinational biotechnology company in connection with a joint venture in Taiwan proposed by a Taiwan state agency, including negotiation of Chinese-language agreement.
  • Advised a major U.S.-based multinational machinery manufacturer regarding its strategy and legal options in connection with a major dispute with its local joint venture partner in China and a Chinese third party.
  • For a major U.S.-based rum producer, analyzed legislative proposals to extend trade benefits to Caribbean nations and advised on legislative strategy.
  • As the Director of Development of Dade Community Foundation, negotiated the establishment of component funds and other public benefit arrangements with a range of government agencies, private foundations, and other donors.

BAR AND COURT ADMISSIONS

  • Florida
  • District of Columbia
  • New York
  • Massachusetts
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Court of International Trade

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

  • The Florida Bar (Business Law Section and International Law Section), Member
  • The District of Columbia Bar (Corporation, Finance and Securities Law Section and International Law Section), Member
  • Planned Giving Council of Miami-Dade, Former Board Member
  • Florida-China Chamber of Commerce, Former General Counsel and Board Member
  • The Task Force Foundation, Board Member
  • Equality Florida Action PAC, Former Board Member
  • The Victory Fund, Former Board Member
  • The Miami Recognition Dinner, Former Steering Committee Member
  • St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Coconut Grove, Lector

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

  • Senior Editor, Law and Policy in International Business, the International Law Journal of Georgetown University Law Center
  • Ford Foundation Fellowship in Public International Law
  • Karl F. Landegger Honors Program in International Business Diplomacy, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service
  • Weintal Scholarship, Institute for the Study of Diplomacy
  • Dean's Award for Academic Excellence, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service
  • University Fellowship in East Asian Languages and Literatures, Yale University Graduate School
  • Yale Fellowship in East Asian Studies, Yale University Graduate School

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

  • "Diaspora Philanthropy," presentation to Planned Giving Council of Miami-Dade County, Nov. 11, 2008.
  • SouthFloridaCEO Future Forum: "What does the future have in store for international trade in Miami?," panelist, Feb. 28, 2006.
  • "Recent Developments in U.S. Trade Law -- Stumbling Forward: Brazil, the United States, and the FTAA," 13 TEXAS TRANSNAT'L L.Q., July 1997, at 108.
  • "A Slow Boat to Chile: The Prospects for Chilean Accession to the NAFTA," 25 INT'L L. NEWS, Winter 1996, at 1 (ABA Section of International Law and Practice) (co-authored with John R. Magnus).
  • "Maybe You Can Take It With You, After All: Subsidies and www.tewlaw.com | All rights reserved Privatization Under U.S. Countervailing Duty Law," 25 LAW & POL'Y INT'L BUS. 1309 (1994).
  • "The Legal Structure of Martial Law in Beijing," 7 CHINA L. REP. 129 (1993).
  • "Transferring the 'People's Livelihood' to the People: An Evaluation of Taiwan's Privatization Drive," 24 LAW & POL'Y INT'L BUS. 943 (1993).