Miami Attorneys Named Top Dealmakers of the Year by Daily Business Review

MIAMI – May 7, 2012 – Holland & Knight is proud to announce that three of the firm’s attorneys in Miami were awarded the Daily Business Review’s “Top Dealmaker of the Year” award in the category of Distressed Real Estate.

The Top Dealmakers are selected by the Review's editorial staff from hundreds of nominations. According to the publication, the editors strive to "focus on the people who made the biggest, most significant and complex deals happen" throughout the year. Finalists are recognized in the Review's special Top Dealmakers issue and at their annual luncheon, where the winners are announced.

Holland & Knight partners Roberto Pupo and Alberto Hernandez and senior counsel David Sofge were recognized for their role in representing FirstBank Puerto Rico in the sale of a $516.7 million loan portfolio to a joint venture created by Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Caribbean Property Group.

With the sale, FirstBank was able to reduce its classified assets and non-performing loans by $410.3 million and $254.3 million, respectively. The deal closed on February 16, 2010. FirstBank Puerto Rico is a state-chartered commercial bank with operations in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Florida.