RENE MURAI

Partner

  CONTACT

rmurai@avilalaw.com
Tel: 786.260.0458
Fax: 305.779.3561

Assistant: Ilene Lopez
ilopez@avilalaw.com
Tel: 305.779.3568

vCard

Rene V. Murai received his B.A. degree from Brown University and his law degree cum laude from Columbia University Law School, where he served as managing editor of the Columbia Law Review.

Rene started private practice with the New York law firm of Willkie, Farr & Gallagher, where he was a member of the corporate department. He concentrates his practice in banking, corporate and commercial real estate matters. He has handled acquisitions or sales of businesses with assets in the hundreds of millions of dollars, as well as those of smaller enterprises. He has been general counsel to a number of businesses. For 10 years he served on the Board of Directors of PanAmerican Bank until its sale and served as its Acting Chairman of the Board for the last five of those years. He has been active in numerous civic activities and served from 2004 – 2008 as Chairman of the Board of Miami Children’s Hospital. He has chaired the board of other organizations such as the Florida Bar Foundation, the University of Miami Citizens Board, Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc., Mesa Redonda, and the Miami City Club.  Rene has received an “AV” rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory and has been recognized by many legal publications, including The Best Lawyers in America – Banking and Real Estate Law, Florida’s Super Lawyers, Florida Trend’s Legal Elite and South Florida Legal Guide to Top Lawyers.

BAR ADMISSIONS

Admitted to bar (Florida and New York).

EDUCATION

Brown University (A.B.).
Columbia University (J.D., cum laude).

LANGUAGES

English
Spanish

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

  • Has served as an expert witness in a number of litigation matters.
  • Represented Banco de Sabadell in its acquisition of TransAtlantic Bank, a ransaction valued at $175 Million.
  • Represented Republic Bank Holding Corp. in its merger with Union Planters Bank, a transaction valued at over $400 Million.
  • Represented PanAmerican Bank in the sale of the Bank to SunAmerica Bank.
  • Represented the Shareholders of Arellano Construction Company in the sale of the Company to Obrascon Huarte Lain, S.A., a Spanish public company
  • Represented the Shareholders of Tallard Technologies, Inc., a $100 Million revenue company engaged in the distribution of computer and communications products  and services throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, in the sale of the Company to Itautec S.A. – Grupo Itautec, a Brazilian company.
  • Acted as Florida Counsel in the acquisition of Equitrac Corporation.
  • Represented the owners of the Ivy and Mint Condominium in the closing of an aggregate of $320 Million in construction loans.
  • Represented the purchasers in connection with the acquisition of the Eden Roc Hotel, Miami Beach, and the development of the limited partnership agreement for the owner entity.
  • Represented the owners of the South Beach Marriott Hotel, Miami Beach, in connection with the land acquisition, development, management agreement for and financing of the hotel.
  • Acted as counsel to the Organizers of Premier American Bank in connection with the organization and start up of the Bank
  • Represented the purchasers of a Mitsubishi dealership in Miami.

AWARDS & INVOLVEMENT

  • Managing Editor, Columbia Law Review.
  • Vice Chairman of the Board and Secretary, Premier American Bank, 2002-2010.
  • Acting Chairman of the Board (1996-2001) and Director (1992-2001), Premier American Bank.
  • Member, Orange Bowl Committee, 2000- (Director 2004-2008).
  • Director, Riviera Country Club, 2005-2008.
  • Chairman of the Board, Miami Children’s Hospital, 2004-2008 (Director 2000-2008).
  • Chairman of the Board, Mesa Redonda, 2000.
  • President, Florida Bar Foundation, 1999-2000 (Director, 1991-2000).
  • President, Citizens Board, University of Miami, 1994-1995.
  • Director, United Way, 1989-1995.
  • Director, The Dade Community Foundation, 1988-1993.
  • Director, American Red Cross of Greater Miami, 1985-1991.
  • Director, Mercy Hospital Foundation, 1985-1991.
  • President, Cuban American Bar Association, 1985-1986.
  • President, Facts about Cuban Exiles, 1989-1990.
  • President, Legal Services Program of Greater Miami, Inc. 1986-1988.
  • Member, Charter Review Commission of Coral Gables, 1990.
  • Member, Coral Gables Board of Adjustment, 1987-1989.
  • Member, The Florida Bar and Cuban-American Bar Association