December 2006

Ben Wolkov (JD’00) knew he wanted to practice law in a cross-border context and the international opportunities of Miami drew him in. “Naturally, Miami’s undisputed place as the “capital of Latin America” appealed to me.”  Now a transactional attorney at McDermott Will & Emery in Miami, Ben currently works on a variety of cross-border transactions focusing on Latin America and more specifically on Mexico. “I am a senior associate. As such, I am responsible for running or serving as second chair on a variety of corporate transactions.” Ben has worked with issuers in Brazil and Mexico to raise financing in the U.S and European markets pursuant to Rule 144A (Private Resales of Securities to Institutions) and Regulation S issuances.  He has also provided general corporate representation of companies in Latin America with respect to their operations in the US. “I enjoy putting different clients together to investigate and hopefully to create business synergies.”

Ben has represented major independent power producers and financial institutions in connection with the development and financing of infrastructure projects in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Nicaragua. Ben also represented a major Mexican conglomerate in its purchase of a major U.S. clothing company. Ben is currently helping Tyco International implement its corporate restructuring plan in Mexico.

In addition to his experience at McDermott Will & Emery, Ben was an associate at three prominent international law firms in Miami, New York and Mexico City. “In Mexico City I served as a foreign associate for a prominent Mexican corporate law firm and my job was to advise our Mexican clients on U.S. legal issues and to help shepherd the firm's U.S. clients through various Mexican law issues.” In New York City, Ben worked for a prominent international law firm assisting the firm's Global Project's Group with respect to infrastructure transactions in Latin America.

Growing up in Copenhagen, Denmark and London, England, Ben moved to the U.S. when he was 15 years old. He started his undergraduate studies at Boston University but graduated from New College of Florida with a B.A.  in International Relations. “At Boston University I worked as a radio disc jockey for the University’s radio station.  At New College, I was a resident assistant, an admission intern and was involved in many other on-campus activities.” While at UM, Ben was a Dean’s Fellow for Property and Elements, was the Writing and Research Editor for the University of Miami Law Review, a member of the Moot Court Board, and was a Student Ambassador. Ben won the Daniel Gaubatz Law Review Memorial Award and the Kurt Marmor Moot Court Board Award.

Ben enjoyed Professor Lili Levy’s “Defamation” class, Professor Fajer’s “Housing Discrimination” class, Professor Gaubatz’s “Elements” class and Professor Freshman’s “Alternative Dispute Resolution Class.”  “I still refer to the course materials from Professor Rosenn’s ‘Doing Business in Latin America’ and ‘Comparative Law’ classes and Professors Swan’s ‘International Business Transactions’ class from time to time.” Ben worked as a research assistant for Professor Keith Rosenn and as a judicial intern for the Honorable Ursula Ungaro-Benages, District Court Judge. While staying busy with work and many other activities, Ben still managed to graduate magna cum laude.