Described as one of South Florida's "Legal Elite" and a "Most Effective Lawyer" by Miami's Daily Business Review, Luis has two decades of experience battling for individuals and companies facing crisis. Whether it’s negotiating a complex financial restructuring, litigating bet-the-company disputes, or defending against government investigations, he is known for his deep, strategic thinking and tenacious approach. Chambers and Partners, the premier attorney rating service, describes Luis as someone who "brings legal acumen and practical business experience to the table."
He has led the Chapter 11 reorganization efforts of numerous well-known companies in a variety of industrial sectors with combined assets in the billions. His clients have included: Gerald Stevens (retail), Fine Air and Arrow Air (aviation), Xpedior (professional services), and First Foliage (agriculture). More recently, he successfully confirmed SystemOne Technologies’ Chapter 11 prepackaged plan, allowing the company to conclude its bankruptcy in 35 days. In addition, Luis has successfully conducted out-of-court restructuring, work-outs and financial negotiations.
A seasoned trial attorney, Luis has tried more than 100 discrete matters in federal and state courts throughout the country, on behalf of plaintiffs, defendants, debtors, and creditors in a variety of actions. During the on-going real estate crisis, Luis represented major financial institutions and borrowers in commercial real estate foreclosures at the trial and appellate level. He is responsible for bringing the first constitutional challenge to the rent-capture provisions of the Florida Condo Act.
His representation of troubled internet companies during the dotcom era led Luis to draft and propose The Privacy Policy Enforcement in Bankruptcy Act of 2001, which prohibits bankrupt companies from misusing consumers' private information. The Act also is the first law to require the appointment of a Consumer Privacy Ombudsman to protect the privacy rights of consumers. Luis has since been appointed by the Department of Justice as Consumer Privacy Ombudsman in numerous bankruptcy cases, such as Tweeter Audio, Foxtons, ViCorp, and North General Hospital.
Luis is widely recognized as a leading attorney, and has been selected "Best of the Bar" by the South Florida Business Journal in 2003, a Legal Elite by Florida Trend Magazine in 2004, 2005, 2010 and 2014, listed in Florida Super Lawyers Magazine from 2006--2016, listed in The Best Lawyers in America©, 2007-2017 editions, and was selected for listing by Chambers & Partners USA Guide, 2007-2016 editions, as well as a "Leading Restructuring and Insolvency Lawyer" by PLC Cross-Border Handbook in 2008-2012. In 2014, he was named a "Most Effective Lawyer" for Bankruptcy by the Daily Business Review and was named a "Top Lawyer" in the South Florida Legal Guide. He is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale Hubble, and has a 97% Avvo rate.
Luis also is proud to lead a Corporate Bankruptcy Team that was awarded multiple distinctions, including 2010’s Insolvency & Restructuring Firm of the Year, USA by Finance Monthly Magazine, was recognized by U.S. News and World Report/Best Lawyers as one of the top bankruptcy reorganization and litigation practices in Florida, USA Restructuring Law Firm of the Year (2011) by Acquisition International Magazine, and the M&A Advisor’s Distressed Deal of the Year for 2011.
Luis is a Krav Maga and a MovNat fanatic, and the founder of South Florida's End-of-the-World-as-We-Know-It Film Festival.
