José Rafael advises local and multinational companies on tax matters and international business, with emphasis on mergers, acquisitions and company reorganizations. He has extensive experience in engineering, procurement and construction contracts for the oil, petrochemical, power generation and mass consumption sectors. He speaks French and has been fluent in English from an early age. Lawyer graduated from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (UCAB) and postgraduate studies in Tax Law at Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV). Master’s degree from the University of León (Spain). Professor at the Law School of Universidad Monteávila. Former professor in the Specialization in Tax Law at UCV and in the Specialization in Financial Law at UCAB. He was guest professor in the Master of Administration and in the Specialization in Finance at the Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administración (IESA).
José Rafael has worked on some of the most high-profile transactions in Venezuela, including the unsolicited tender offer of AES Corporation for C.A. La Electricidad de Caracas (EDC), the representation of The Coca-Cola Company in the purchase of five bottling plants, and the deal whereby 18 Pepsi bottling plants were transferred to a joint venture formed by Grupo Cisneros and The Coca-Cola Company.
Represented Pfizer Inc. in its purchases of the Venezuelan subsidiaries of Pharmacia, Wyeth and Warner Lambert. Advised an international engineering and construction company in the sale of its subsidiaries and contracts in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and the US. Has provided services to law firms in the United States and the United Kingdom in lawsuits related to Venezuela and in international arbitrations, especially in highly complex contractual and evidentiary matters.
He has acted as arbitrator in arbitrations in Venezuela and as an expert witness on Venezuelan law before foreign courts. He was a member of the Venezuelan team that negotiated the agreement to avoid double taxation between the United States and Venezuela (1998), and participated in the commissions of the Ministry of Finance responsible for the elaboration of financial and tax legislation between 1992 and 1994.
