International law firm McDermott Will & Emery today announced that it has named Effie D. Silva as a partner in its Trial Practice Group, based in Miami.
Ms. Silva focuses her practice on complex international commercial litigation and arbitration matters. She has represented foreign and domestic clients in various industries throughout the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia in a wide range of federal, state and international arbitration matters involving commercial disputes, business fraud, corporate governance, real estate, corporate dissolutions, enforcement of foreign judgments and injunctions, internal investigations, Foreign Corruption Practices Act (FCPA) matters, media, insurance coverage disputes, employment, products liability and mass tort litigation. She also represents major health care providers, hospitals and health care systems, physician groups and other providers in complex, high-stakes business litigation and arbitration matters, including contractual and shareholder disputes, physician non-compete litigation and related emergency judicial relief actions. Ms. Silva joins McDermott from another global AmLaw 100 firm, where she spent the past eight years.
“Effie’s broad range of trial experience representing national and international clients adds to the Firm’s dynamic list of capabilities,” said Lazar P. Raynal, Firm-wide head of McDermott’s Trial Practice Group. “Her appointment strengthens our Trial practice in Miami, enabling us to expand the Firm’s presence and better serve our clients in an important market.”
Ms. Silva’s move is part of a larger McDermott strategy to expand its Trial practice with attorneys who have distinguished themselves in both the public and private sectors. Another recent addition to the Firm’s Miami office is Marcos D. Jiménez, who served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Nationally-ranked litigation partner Anthony (Tony) Upshaw is also based in McDermott’s Miami office.
“It is great to have Effie onboard as we continue to expand our capabilities and grow our talented group of attorneys who deliver top-notch client service,” said Ira J. Coleman, partner-in-charge of McDermott’s Miami office.
Ms. Silva serves on the Board of Directors of The American Inns of Court, Spellman-Hoeveler Chapter, Dade County Bar Association and Legal Services of Greater Miami. She was recently appointed by the Florida Bar International Law Section as the Vice Chair of Programming of the 2014 International Litigation and Arbitration Conference (ILAC) and serves as the Vice Chair of the American Bar Association Latin America and Caribbean Committee, as well as the Steering Group for the International Litigation and Arbitration Committees of the American Bar Association.
She has been consistently recognized by Super Lawyers as a Top Lawyer in business litigation and alternative dispute resolution, and has been ranked among Florida’s Legal Elite by Florida Trend. Ms. Silva holds the highest rating of “AV Preeminent” from Martindale-Hubbell for her legal ability and ethical standards, and was recognized by The Daily Business Review as the “Most Effective Lawyer 2012 in Pro Bono.”
Ms. Silva is admitted to practice in Florida and the District of Columbia, and is a member of the Florida Bar Association, Dade County Bar Association, American Bar Association, Hispanic National Bar Association and Cuban American Bar Association. She is fluent in Spanish.
Clients turn to the trial lawyers of McDermott to manage their toughest challenges. The Firm takes on, and consistently wins, the most demanding cases for clients. McDermott’s skilled trial lawyers have a deep understanding of substantive areas of the law. This knowledge combines with our breadth of courtroom experience to position our lawyers for trial or to resolve matters short of trial if that is more advantageous. McDermott’s Trial Practice Group includes several members of the American College of Trial Lawyers, former Assistant U.S. Attorneys and Department of Justice lawyers, as well as former members of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Department of the Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Department of Commerce. More than 50 McDermott lawyers have previously served as judicial law clerks.
