Overview

Cristián Francos is dual-qualified in Argentina and the United States. He has over two decades of experience in both civil and common law jurisdictions. He practices in the areas of international disputes, complex financial matters and white-collar defense, as well as compliance and investigations.

Mr. Francos focuses extensively on matters relating to individuals and corporations in Latin America. He has helped clients navigate the U.S. legal system in complex cases, acting as their trusted advisor in the day-to-day handling of those matters.

Currently, Mr. Francos is assisting Latin American clients with respect to U.S. DOJ criminal investigations, SEC whistleblower complaints and the recovery of assets from corruption. He is also coordinating the representation of a prominent Latin American family in multijurisdictional litigation related to a massive international fraud.

Recently, Mr. Francos successfully concluded a seven-year representation of a Latin American individual in parallel Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) investigations by the SEC and DOJ related to one of the largest cases in the history of FCPA enforcement. He has provided advice to numerous individuals and corporations in this area through the years.

In the past, Mr. Francos headed the firm’s Buenos Aires office, spent six years with the largest law firm in Argentina, acted as the chief of staff to a head member of the Legislature of the City of Buenos Aires, and practiced as a foreign attorney with another prestigious U.S. law firm. He has been recognized by Who’s Who Legal as a Global Leader in the area of Investigations.

Professional Affiliations

  • Colegio de Abogados de la Capital Federal (Buenos Aires Bar)
  • International Bar Association — Co-Chair, Business Crime Committee
  • New York State Bar Association
  • Argentine Lawyers Association of New York (D.C. Chapter)

Experience

  • White & Case LLP, Washington D.C., Foreign Associate
  • Chief of Staff for Representative Martín Borrelli, City of Buenos Aires Legislature
  • Marval, O'Farrell & Mairal, Buenos Aires, Associate

Representative Matters

  • Advised a Latin American bank in a comprehensive review of its financial crimes compliance program required by a U.S. correspondent bank
  • Advised a Latin American individual on issues relating to international arbitration and U.S. OFAC sanctions
  • Advised a Latin American business conglomerate in the creation of its pre-IPO comprehensive anticorruption compliance program
  • Represented Latin American clients in 28 U.S.C. § 1782 applications for discovery in aid of foreign litigation
  • Represented a U.S. individual in a multimillion-dollar asset recovery case in Central America
  • Represented a Latin American corporation in a breach-of-contract action related to a technology transfer agreement in a Delaware court
  • Represented approximately three hundred Latin American investors against an important international financial company in an effort to recover funds diverted in relation to the Madoff fraud
  • Advised one of the largest Latin American public banks in the recovery of funds from the Lehman Brothers liquidation
  • Advised one of the most significant Latin American business conglomerates in a dispute with a hedge fund arising from the Madoff fraud
  • Represented of one of the largest international airport operators in international arbitration

Publications & Events

In the News

Education

  • Georgetown University Law Center (LL.M., with distinction, Dean’s list, 2015)
  • American University (International Arbitration, 2006)
  • Universidad Torcuato Di Tella (International Relations, 2003)
  • Universidad de Buenos Aires (Juris Doctor, 2000)

Bar Admissions

  • Buenos Aires
  • New York
  • District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Courts for the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit