Holland & Knight Hires Miami-Based International Tax and Trust Attorney for Growing Latin America Private Wealth Business

Holland & Knight’s sizable private wealth services group has recruited a renowned international tax attorney in Miami to advise Latin American families pouring ever-more capital into South Florida amid political shifts left in their home countries.

Attorney and certified public accountant Eduardo “Ed” Arista brings more than 20 years of experience providing tax, corporate and estate planning for domestic and international private clients and closely held businesses—mostly as a principal at his own firm, Arista Law & Tax.

“Ed has an excellent reputation as a trusted advisor to high-net-worth individuals and families,”  Christopher Boyett, co-chair of Holland & Knight’s national private wealth services practice, said in a statement, “His practice is well suited for our firm and his clients will benefit from having access to our real estate, corporate and litigation services when they need it.”

Practice co-chair David Scott Sloan said the incorporation of Arista, with his in-depth experience and contacts in Latin America, is “an important strategic addition” to the private wealth group as it seeks to grow its international tax practice.

Miami is a key hub for the $129 billion U.S. Offshore wealth market, with the majority of that capital coming from wealthy residents of Latin America.

Holland & Knight has in the past few months hired quite a few other lawyers to bolster its Latin America expertise. In June, it brought on Gustavo Pardo Ardil in Bogotá—a tax partner who merged his practice into the firm. In July it hired Miami-based tax partner Logan Gans from Shutts & Bowen. And in August it hired four more lawyers in Colombia.

Earlier this year—in February—the firm also hired another Colombian partner, Camilo Gantiva Hidalgo, from Spanish firm Garrigues. And in March, it brought on a four-lawyer team in Mexico City from DLA Piper.

Increasingly, multi-generational families from the region have multiple citizenships and tax-reporting requirements. Also, as capital streams into the U.S. for safekeeping, a growing number of wealthy Latin Americans are planting more permanent roots in South Florida—investing in real estate, starting businesses and establishing residency.

“Moving my long-standing practice to a larger firm was a big decision for me. I quickly realized that Holland & Knight was the best firm for my clients and my own professional development,” said Arista. “The firm’s expansive resources and Latin American footprint will give me the additional tools I need to meet my clients’ growing demands while continuing to provide them with exceptional legal counsel.”

With more than 100 lawyers, Holland & Knight describes its private wealth services group as “the largest estate planning group of any law firm in the U.S. that is focused almost exclusively on the needs of high-net-worth individuals and multigenerational families.”