When U.S. President Barack Obama recently announced a normalization of ties with communist Cuba, a neighboring country the U,S, has shunned since 1961, at least one law firm was already celebrating.
Miami’s Harper Meyer, which is known for its experience in U.S.-Cuba legal issues, called it the dawn of a new day.
The firm immediately issued a press release expressing “elation” and “satisfaction” with the release of American Alan Gross from a Cuban prison the catalyst for President Obama’s historic announcement.
Gross, a consultant for U.S. Aid, had served five years on charges of engaging in activities aimed at destabilizing the Cuban government.
The firm’s George Harper commented, “Mr. Gross is now back with his family, where he belongs. His release ushers in a new era in U.S.-Cuba commercial relations, resulting ultimately in the restoration of diplomatic ties and the relaxation of restrictions against business travel and other such economic sanctions.”
Partner James Meyer added: “In our nearly 45 years of advising U.S. and multi-national clients who are contemplating or pursuing business prospects in Cuba, we have never seen the window of opportunity open as wide as it has been opened by the release of Mr. Gross.”
The firm cautioned, however, that potential investors be mindful not to violate those U.S. laws and regulations which remain firmly in place despite the warming relationship between the two countries.
“We do expect that the Cuban Assets Control Regulations will be relaxed to an as yet unknown degree; nevertheless the Cuban embargo and the economic restrictions embodied in the Cuban Democracy Act and the Helms-Burton Act, are still very much alive, and no one contemplating doing business in Cuba should do so without proper legal advice as to permissible activities there,” Harper warned.
