Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A. has expanded its Miami office Litigation Practice and Corporate Practice with the addition of attorneys Humberto H. Ocariz and Jennifer D. Newton. Ocariz who joins the firm as a litigation shareholder, was formerly a partner at Shook, Hardy & Bacon. Most recently, Newton served as Director of Consumer Financial Services Compliance at Kaufman Rossin & Co. P.A.

With more than 30 years’ experience, Ocariz is trial-tested, having served as first-chair litigation counsel in complex state and federal cases. Ocariz has deep experience representing clients across numerous industries on a range of matters, including complex commercial litigation, class actions, products liability, contractual disputes, securities claims, legal malpractice, fraud and business torts, intellectual property, and international disputes and arbitrations. His current and former clients include American Airlines, Boeing, Nortel Networks, DuPont, Motorola, and MAN Engine.

Ocariz also has worked closely with foreign counsel in connection with a variety of foreign matters, including international arbitrations. In addition, he has been selected to serve as an arbitrator for the International Chamber of Commerce International Court of Arbitration, and recently completed service on the Florida Bar’s 11th Circuit Grievance Committee, which he chaired for the last six months of his term.

“Greenberg Traurig offers an unparalleled global platform to expand my practice, particularly in the growing area of international arbitration,” Ocariz said. “With offices in all the major arbitration sites worldwide, the firm is well-positioned to serve clients wherever they do business.”

Ocariz received his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Miami.

Newton, who has served as legal counsel to the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office of Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity, joins the firm as a practice group attorney in the Corporate Practice, as well as the Financial Regulatory & Compliance Practice and the Banking & Financial Services Practice. She advises banking and financial institutions on risk management and compliance matters relating to federal and state consumer protection laws and regulations. Most recently, she served as Director of Consumer Financial Services Compliance at Kaufman Rossin & Co. P.A.

Additionally, Newton works with a variety of clients on privacy and financial technology (fintech) matters involving data security, data breach, open banking, and payment system issues under the Global Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR), the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA), and various federal and state privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Gramm Leach Bliley Act (GLBA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and the Florida Information Protection Act (FIPA).

“I am very pleased to join Greenberg Traurig, where I look forward to assisting clients navigate the increasingly complex regulatory environment affecting the banking and financial services industry,” Newton said. “As financial services regulation and the industry’s technology issues continue to grow in complexity, I am certain that my combined legal, regulatory, and risk management experience will help clients successfully manage these rapidly changing areas of the law.”

Newton received her J.D. from the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, and a B.S. from Florida State University. She has been an adjunct professor of law at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law since 2016 and is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

In addition, Newton chairs the American Bar Association’s Consumer Financial Services Pro Bono Subcommittee, and co-chairs the CLE Seminar Subcommittee of the Florida Bar Consumer Protection Law Standing Committee. She has served on the AAA Scholarship Fund Bank Advisory Board, and is a member of the Opa Locka Community Development Corporation Board of Directors. In addition, Newton serves on the Community Justice Project’s Board of Directors and Catalyst Miami’s Board of Directors.

“We welcome Bert and Jennifer to the firm and look forward to working closely with them as they add their talent to our robust litigation and corporate practices,” said Jaret L. Davis, co-managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Miami office. “We will continue to strategically expand our Miami attorney team, which is already one of the strongest in South Florida and maintain our relentless focus on providing our clients with the top-quality legal services.”

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2100 attorneys in 41 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. Web: www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.