Raul J. Valdes-Fauli
Raul J. Valdes-Fauli is an Investor/Partner and Counsel to the Company. He is a prominent and internationally well known Miami Attorney. He is the managing partner of Fowler Rodriquez, Valdes-Fauli LLP (www.frvf-law.com). Mr. Valdes-Fauli is focused in the areas of corporate law, securities and finance, banking and domestic and international litigation and arbitration. He has worked in private practice since 1971, most recently as a partner at the law firms of Steel Hector & Davis LLP and Gunster, Yoakley, Valdes-Fauli & Stewart. A graduate of Harvard University Law School (JD 1968), he is a member of the Florida Bar and the New York Bar and is active in several professional, trade and civic groups. Throughout a career spanning 35 years he has held several elective offices including Mayor of the City of Coral Gables. His corporate governance experience includes board positions with BBU Bank where he is currently Chairman of the Board and as a board member of Foamex International and Chairman of the Board of Eastern National Bank, and Plaza Bank.
Experience• Joined Fowler Rodriguez, Valdes-Fauli in August, 2005
• Partner, Steel Hector & Davis LLP, Miami, Florida, 2000 - 2005
• Partner, Gunster, Yoakley, Valdes-Fauli & Stewart, P.A., Miami, Florida,
1995 - 2000 and predecessor firm from 1979 - 2000
• Private Practice, Coral Gables and Miami, Florida, 1971-1979
• Senior Tax Attorney, Creole Petroleum Corporation, Caracas, Venezuela, 1969 -1971
• Tax Counsel, Standard Oil Company, New Jersey, 1968 - 1969
Corporate Experience• Chairman of the Board, BBU Bank, 2006 – present
• Board member, Foamex International Inc., 2003 – present
Chairman, Nominating and Governance Committee, 2004 – present
• Chairman of the Board, Eastern National Bank, 1999 – 2005
Elective Offices• Mayor, City of Coral Gables, Florida, 1993 – 2001
• Vice Mayor, City of Coral Gables, Florida, 1987 – 1988
• City Commissioner, City of Coral Gables, Florida, 1985 – 1989
Education Bar and Court AdmissionsHarvard University Law School, J.D., 1968 Florida, 1971
Tulane University, B.A. with honors, 1965 New York, 1969
Government Appointments• Republican Mayors Conference of Florida, Co-Chairman, 1999-2001
• South Florida Everglades Restoration Task Force, Board of Directors, 1999
• Metropolitan Planning Organization, Miami-Dade County, Florida, 1994-2000
• State of Florida Columbus Hemispheric Commission, 1988-1989
• Florida Board of Medicine, 1979-1984, Chairman, 1983-1984
Civic Activities & Honors• Encomienda de la Orden del Merito Civil, Spain, 1985
• Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Miami, Founder
Director, 1979-1989; President, 1979-1981, 1985-1987, 1999-2002
• French Florida Foundation for the Arts, President, 2005-present
• Caribbean Central American Action (CCAA), Trustee, 2003 – present
• Cuban American National Council, Director, 2003-present
• Harvard Law School Association of Florida, President, 1985-present
• Latin American Law Institute at Tulane Law School, Board of Directors Member, 2003-present
• USMBA – United States Mexican Bar Association, Director, 2005-present
• U.S.-Argentina Council, Co-Founder and Director, 2003-present
• Honorary Chair of the 2003 Miami-Dade County Arthritis Walk, Arthritis Foundation, 2003
• The Dante Alighieri Award, Italy, 2001
• Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, France, 2000
• Honorary Consul, Republic of El Salvador, 1998-present
• Ufficiale nel’Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana, 1995
• Orden del Libertador San Martin, Gran Oficial, Argentina, 1994
• Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors, 1985-1989, Executive Committee, 1987-1988
• University of Miami, Board of Trustees, 1985-1986
• University of Miami, Citizens Board, 1980-present
President, 1984-1985
• The Florida Bar, International Law Committee, 1971-present
Chairman, 1979-1981
• Doctors Hospital Coral Gables, Board of Directors, 1987-1993
• Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, Board of Directors, 1991-1993
Executive Committee, 1993
• Lawyer of the Americas Award, University of Miami Law School, 1991
• Venezuelan-American Association of the United States, Founder, 1989
Chairman, Miami Chapter, 1989-1992
• Ransom Everglades School, Board of Trustees, 1983-1989, 2003-present
• President, 1989-1989
• International Lawyers Exchange Program, Florida Bar, 1976-1978
Chairman, 1978; Vice Chairman, 1977
• Friends of Art of the Lowe Art Museum, 1972-1979
President, 1979
• Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Board of Governors, 1974-1976
