In a move that broadens its reach in Florida and bolsters its services to clients with international interests, Fox Rothschild LLP welcomes partner Raul J. Valdes-Fauli, who will spearhead the opening of a Coral Gables location for the firm.
A former mayor of Coral Gables, Valdes-Fauli is a long-time leader in the South Florida business community, particularly in the banking industry.
“With his extensive ties to the local business community as well as his international connections, Raul is the prime individual to help us realize our goal of expansion in South Florida,” Fox firmwide managing partner Mark L. Silow said.
Valdes-Fauli possesses in-depth experience in corporate and banking matters. In practice for more than four decades, he is a dedicated advocate to many professional, trade and civic groups and has spent significant time in elected government positions throughout his career. He served as Mayor of the City of Coral Gables from 1993 to 2001, as well as Vice Mayor (1987-1988) and City Commissioner (1985-1989). Valdes-Fauli has also served as senior tax counsel for Creole Petroleum Corporation in Caracas, Venezuela, and as tax counsel for Standard Oil Company in New Jersey.
Extensively involved in the community, Valdes-Faulicurrently serves as treasurer of the Spain-Florida 500 Years Foundation. He is chairman of the France Florida Foundation for the Arts and sits on the Board of Directors of the Dante Alighieri Society Centro Cultural Español. He also serves as Honorary Consul for the Republic of El Salvador. Additionally, he was a board member and chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee of Foamex International Inc; chairman of the board of Eastern National Bank; and chairman of the board of Plaza Bank.
Throughout his career, Valdes-Fauli has been deeply committed to serving many constituencies. Among the numerous appointments and memberships he had held, he served as founder and director of the U.S.-Argentina Council; trustee of the Caribbean Central American Action (CCAA); co-chairman of the Republican Mayors Conference of Florida; member of the board of directors of the South Florida Everglades Restoration Task Force; member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization in Miami-Dade County; member of the State of Florida Columbus Hemispheric Commission; chairman of the Florida Board of Medicine; board of directors and executive committee of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce; president of the University of Miami Citizens Board; founder, director and president of the Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Miami; chairman of the International Law Section of The Florida Bar; board of directors of the Doctors Hospital Coral Gables; board of directors and executive committee of the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra; founder and chairman of the Miami Chapter of the Venezuelan-American Association of the United States; president of the board of trustees of the Ransom Everglades School; board of trustees of the University of Miami; chairman of the Florida Bar International Lawyers Exchange Program; president of the Friends of Art of the Lowe Art Museum; and board of governors of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.
Valdes-Fauli is the recipient of The Dante Alighieri Award, Italy; Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, France; Ufficiale nell’Ordine Al Merito della Repubblica Italiana; Orden del Libertador San Martin, Gran Oficial, Argentina; Lawyer of the Americas Award, University of Miami Law School; and Encomienda de la Orden del Merito Civil, Spain.
Valdes-Fauli earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1968 and his B.A., with honors, from Tulane Univeristy in 1965.
Fox has had a presence in Florida since 2005, when it opened its West Palm Beach office primarily to serve clients’ tax and estate needs in the region. In recent years, that office has added attorneys practicing in litigation, intellectual property, labor and employment, real estate, bankruptcy and family law.
