VioletaLongino
Counsel
Corporate
vlongino@seyfarth.com
With a business-minded approach, Violeta helps clients execute complex mergers, acquisitions, financings, restructurings, and strategic transactions globally.
More About Violeta
Violeta helps clients, including public and private companies, navigate complex cross-border corporate transactions with practical, business-oriented legal guidance informed by more than two decades of experience.. Admitted in Florida and Mexico, she advises on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic investments, and other corporate transactions across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. She regularly coordinates deal teams across disciplines, jurisdictions, and legal systems to execute transactions efficiently and effectively.
Violeta’s practice spans a broad range of industries, including hospitality, manufacturing, and renewable energy. She has significant legal experience in the hospitality sector, including hotel management, franchise and licensing agreements, and agreements related to the acquisition, development, financing, management, operation, and disposition of hotels and hospitality assets. Her transaction experience includes advising on acquisitions and divestitures, joint ventures, commercial contracts, corporate restructurings, and strategic business initiatives involving multiple markets and stakeholders.
Violeta brings a distinctive in-house perspective to her client work, having served as chief legal officer, general counsel, and senior in-house counsel for multinational public and private companies in the hospitality, travel, and leisure sectors. As a former in-house counsel, she understands firsthand the pressures in-house legal teams face in balancing legal risk, business objectives, stakeholder expectations, tight timelines, competing priorities, and limited resources. Clients value her practical judgment, business-oriented approach, fluency in English and Spanish, and ability to help legal and business teams navigate complex, mission-critical transactions in fast-moving international environments.
Violeta earned her juris doctor, cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law and her licenciado en derecho, JD equivalent, with high honors, from Universidad La Salle in Mexico City. She is certified for corporate board service by the Latino Corporate Directors Education Foundation.
Violeta has received numerous recognitions, including the Chambers and Partners’ US Chambers Award for “Female In-House Lawyer of the Year” (2016); inclusion in The Legal 500 GC Powerlist US and Miami in 2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026 (Legalese Ltd.); and Hotel Management magazine’s Influential Women in Hospitality award (Questex) (2019).
Violeta’s practice spans a broad range of industries, including hospitality, manufacturing, and renewable energy. She has significant legal experience in the hospitality sector, including hotel management, franchise and licensing agreements, and agreements related to the acquisition, development, financing, management, operation, and disposition of hotels and hospitality assets. Her transaction experience includes advising on acquisitions and divestitures, joint ventures, commercial contracts, corporate restructurings, and strategic business initiatives involving multiple markets and stakeholders.
Violeta brings a distinctive in-house perspective to her client work, having served as chief legal officer, general counsel, and senior in-house counsel for multinational public and private companies in the hospitality, travel, and leisure sectors. As a former in-house counsel, she understands firsthand the pressures in-house legal teams face in balancing legal risk, business objectives, stakeholder expectations, tight timelines, competing priorities, and limited resources. Clients value her practical judgment, business-oriented approach, fluency in English and Spanish, and ability to help legal and business teams navigate complex, mission-critical transactions in fast-moving international environments.
Violeta earned her juris doctor, cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law and her licenciado en derecho, JD equivalent, with high honors, from Universidad La Salle in Mexico City. She is certified for corporate board service by the Latino Corporate Directors Education Foundation.
Violeta has received numerous recognitions, including the Chambers and Partners’ US Chambers Award for “Female In-House Lawyer of the Year” (2016); inclusion in The Legal 500 GC Powerlist US and Miami in 2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026 (Legalese Ltd.); and Hotel Management magazine’s Influential Women in Hospitality award (Questex) (2019).
- JD, University of Miami School of Law
- Florida
- Mexico
International Corporate Transactions
- Advised on Series B financing transactions, including a $43 million financing round for a renewable energy technology company.
- Led and closed the negotiation of a $20 million secured syndicated loan involving two banks and collateral in two jurisdictions.
- Led negotiations to obtain multiple credit facilities totaling $8 million.
- Advised on a strategic co-investment in a $60 million Series C financing for a hospitality technology company.
- Completed the privatization of a public company, including deregistration with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and a reverse stock split of its common stock.
- Secured multiple credit facilities totaling $20 million.
- Secured a $12 million extension of a syndicated loan facility.
- Closed the pledge of parent company assets located in the United States and Latin America.
- Secured a $150 million syndicated bank loan consisting of a multijurisdictional, multicurrency credit facility involving a consortium of 10 local and international banks.
- Secured a $30 million bank loan in Venezuela involving two local banks.
- Negotiated and closed the expansion of an existing manufacturing plant in Virginia and the development of a new manufacturing plant in Arizona.
- Represented an international supplier of medical equipment in the sale of legal entities and assets located in eight jurisdictions throughout the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
- Represented Latin American financial institutions in the sale of a Colombian consumer finance company to a leading US publicly traded international insurance company.
- Represented a leading cigar manufacturer in the sale of assets located in the United States, Nicaragua, and Honduras to a major European cigar manufacturer.
- Represented a group of companies located in four jurisdictions in Latin America and the Caribbean in a complex restructuring, sale, and acquisition of a transportation business.
- Represented a consortium of investors in a $700 million acquisition of the business and assets of approximately 1,600 restaurants located throughout 18 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Advised an international bank on the opening of a branch office in Mexico.
Hospitality
- Led legal analysis to establish a new corporate entity structure supporting a hotel business unit.
- Advised on a $2.9 billion acquisition of the parent company of several global luxury hotel brands.
- Led the regional legal integration following a major hospitality company acquisition.
- Led the merger and restructuring of US entities following a major hospitality-sector acquisition.
- Advised on the separation of a global hospitality company into two divisions, separating operating and franchising businesses to support regional profitability.
- Led the divestment of a hospitality subsidiary in the Dominican Republic and the transfer of three hotels.
Renewable Energy & Communications Infrastructure
- Drafted and negotiated Energy-as-a-Service and build-to-suit agreements with a European mobile telecommunications provider operating in Central America.
- Drafted and negotiated country-specific Energy-as-a-Service agreements with a Caribbean mobile network operator active across multiple jurisdictions in the region.
- Negotiated an Energy-as-a-Service agreement with a US wireless network operator.
- Listed in The Legal 500 GC Powerlist Miami by The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2022, 2024-2026)
- Listed in “Influential Women in Hospitality” by Hotel Management Magazine (Questex) (2019)
- Selected as “The Legal 500 GC Powerlist US: Latin America Specialist” by The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2018)
- Selected as “Role Model in Promoting Gender Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession,” by Chambers Women in Law Awards USA (2017)
- Recipient “Legal Department of the Year Award, Diversity” by Daily Business Review (ALM) (2017)
- Shortlisted “Social Responsibility Award” by Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (ALM Media Properties LLC) (2016)
- Selected as “Gender Diversity Lawyer of the Year 2016” by Chambers Diversity Awards USA (2016)
- Shortlisted “Litigation Management Award” by Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (ALM Media Properties LLC) (2014)
- Selected “Top In-House Women,” by Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (ALM Media Properties LLC) (2014)
- Selected “Mexicanas en Florida, Talento y Reconocimiento,” by Mexico Vibra Magazine (2012)
- Selected “Hispanos Exitosos,” by Hispanic Target Magazine (2011)
- Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA), member
- Association of Corporate Counsel, member
- Latin American Corporate Counsel Association, member
- Hispanic National Bar Association, member
- South Florida Women In-House Counsel Group, member
- Juncadella Corporate Counsel Group (formerly known as South Florida Group of Regional Counsel), member
- Speaker, “One Region, Many Rules: Risk Management Strategies in LatAm Markets,” iLaw 2026 Conference (2026)
- Speaker, “Mastering Latin America's Evolving Legal Landscape,” Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (2025)
- Speaker, “Foreign Counsel and In-House Perspectives on US Anti-Corruption Efforts,” iLaw 2025 Conference (2025)
- Speaker, “Leadership Across Generations,” Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (2024)
- Speaker, “Drafting Arbitration Provisions for Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness,” Florida International University (2024)
- Speaker, “Miami: New Dispute Capital?” Interlaw Day (2024)
- Speaker, “The Do’s and Don’ts of Doing Business in Latin America,” The Florida Bar International Law Section, iLaw 2024 Conference (2024)
- Speaker, “Counsels Criteria for Selecting Dispute Resolution Providers and Arbitrators,” Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) (2022)
- Speaker, “Disputes Strategy,” The Legal 500 (2022)
- Speaker, “Crisis Management in Times of Uncertainty,” Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (2014)
- Speaker, “The Legal Counsel Perspective,” Spain-Americas Arbitration Forum (2019)
- Moderator, “Effective Compliance and Ethics Program in the Era of the Whistleblower,” Juncadella Corporate Counsel Group (2017)
- Moderator, “International Arbitration for the In-House Counsel,” International In-House Counsel Group (2016)
- Speaker, "Roundtable of Corporate Counsel of Multinationals Responsible for Latin America and the Caribbean," 2016 Americas Forum, American Bar Association, International Law Section (2016)
- Moderator, "The Use of International Arbitration from the View of In-House Counsel," The Florida Bar, International Litigation, Arbitration, and Transactions Conference (2016)
- Moderator, “Regional Counsel’s Role in Managing Change and Innovation,” South Florida Group of Regional Counsel Conference (2015)
- Moderator, “Cutting-Edge Tools for In-House Counsel Doing Business in Latin America,” South Florida Group of Regional Counsel Conference (2013)
- Speaker, “Emerging Business and Trade Opportunities in Latin America,” The Florida Bar, International Business Transactions Conference (2013)
- Speaker, “Latest Developments in Anti-Bribery Compliance in Latin America,” Chambers and Partners, General Counsel Seminar (2012)
- Speaker, “How to Set Goals for Your Team,” Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (2012)
- Speaker, “The Challenges of Transnational Practice in the Current Economic Scenario,” University of Miami School of Law (2009)
- Speaker, “Conflicts of Law and Dispute Resolution for Real Estate Transactions,” Undertaking Real Estate Transactions in Mexico, Miami, Florida (2005)
- Moderator, “Strategies for Trade & Investment in Mexico - Commercial Dispute Resolution in Mexico,” United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, New York City, (2005)
- Featured, “Get the C-Suite to Buy-In to Better Avoid Risks,” Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (ALM Media Properties LLC) (2023)
- Featured, “Tackling Diversity Challenges in the Hospitality Sector with Violeta Longino,” Diversity Chambers and Partners (2017)
- Featured, “Inspirational Insights from Leading Female Lawyers to Celebrate International Women’s Day,” Diversity Chambers and Partners (2017)
- Featured, “Violeta Longino, Directrice Juridique Adjointe d’AccorHotels à Miami, nommée Directrice Juridique de l’année par Chambers USA,” Le Monde du Droit France (2016)
- Featured, “Accor launches Miami office with new GC,” Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (ALM Media Properties LLC) (2015)
- Mentioned, “Scandinavian Tobacco Takes Factories in Latin America,” Latin Lawyer Magazine (Centellic) (2009)
- Featured, “Global Positioning,” Latin Lawyer Magazine (Centellic) (2008)
- Mentioned, “AIG Acquires Colombian Lender,” Latin Lawyer Magazine (Centellic) (2008)
- Mentioned, “Securing the Golden Arches,” Latin Lawyer Magazine (Centellic) (2007)
- Featured, “Suplemento Miami - Entrar con el Pie Derecho,” Mundo Ejecutivo Magazine (Grupo Mundo Ejecutivo) (2004)
Languages
English & Spanish (fluent)
Portuguese (working proficiency)
French (elementary proficiency)
With a business-minded approach, Violeta helps clients execute complex mergers, acquisitions, financings, restructurings, and strategic transactions globally.
More About Violeta
Violeta helps clients, including public and private companies, navigate complex cross-border corporate transactions with practical, business-oriented legal guidance informed by more than two decades of experience.. Admitted in Florida and Mexico, she advises on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic investments, and other corporate transactions across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. She regularly coordinates deal teams across disciplines, jurisdictions, and legal systems to execute transactions efficiently and effectively.
Violeta’s practice spans a broad range of industries, including hospitality, manufacturing, and renewable energy. She has significant legal experience in the hospitality sector, including hotel management, franchise and licensing agreements, and agreements related to the acquisition, development, financing, management, operation, and disposition of hotels and hospitality assets. Her transaction experience includes advising on acquisitions and divestitures, joint ventures, commercial contracts, corporate restructurings, and strategic business initiatives involving multiple markets and stakeholders.
Violeta brings a distinctive in-house perspective to her client work, having served as chief legal officer, general counsel, and senior in-house counsel for multinational public and private companies in the hospitality, travel, and leisure sectors. As a former in-house counsel, she understands firsthand the pressures in-house legal teams face in balancing legal risk, business objectives, stakeholder expectations, tight timelines, competing priorities, and limited resources. Clients value her practical judgment, business-oriented approach, fluency in English and Spanish, and ability to help legal and business teams navigate complex, mission-critical transactions in fast-moving international environments.
Violeta earned her juris doctor, cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law and her licenciado en derecho, JD equivalent, with high honors, from Universidad La Salle in Mexico City. She is certified for corporate board service by the Latino Corporate Directors Education Foundation.
Violeta has received numerous recognitions, including the Chambers and Partners’ US Chambers Award for “Female In-House Lawyer of the Year” (2016); inclusion in The Legal 500 GC Powerlist US and Miami in 2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026 (Legalese Ltd.); and Hotel Management magazine’s Influential Women in Hospitality award (Questex) (2019).
Violeta’s practice spans a broad range of industries, including hospitality, manufacturing, and renewable energy. She has significant legal experience in the hospitality sector, including hotel management, franchise and licensing agreements, and agreements related to the acquisition, development, financing, management, operation, and disposition of hotels and hospitality assets. Her transaction experience includes advising on acquisitions and divestitures, joint ventures, commercial contracts, corporate restructurings, and strategic business initiatives involving multiple markets and stakeholders.
Violeta brings a distinctive in-house perspective to her client work, having served as chief legal officer, general counsel, and senior in-house counsel for multinational public and private companies in the hospitality, travel, and leisure sectors. As a former in-house counsel, she understands firsthand the pressures in-house legal teams face in balancing legal risk, business objectives, stakeholder expectations, tight timelines, competing priorities, and limited resources. Clients value her practical judgment, business-oriented approach, fluency in English and Spanish, and ability to help legal and business teams navigate complex, mission-critical transactions in fast-moving international environments.
Violeta earned her juris doctor, cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law and her licenciado en derecho, JD equivalent, with high honors, from Universidad La Salle in Mexico City. She is certified for corporate board service by the Latino Corporate Directors Education Foundation.
Violeta has received numerous recognitions, including the Chambers and Partners’ US Chambers Award for “Female In-House Lawyer of the Year” (2016); inclusion in The Legal 500 GC Powerlist US and Miami in 2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026 (Legalese Ltd.); and Hotel Management magazine’s Influential Women in Hospitality award (Questex) (2019).
- JD, University of Miami School of Law
- Florida
- Mexico
International Corporate Transactions
- Advised on Series B financing transactions, including a $43 million financing round for a renewable energy technology company.
- Led and closed the negotiation of a $20 million secured syndicated loan involving two banks and collateral in two jurisdictions.
- Led negotiations to obtain multiple credit facilities totaling $8 million.
- Advised on a strategic co-investment in a $60 million Series C financing for a hospitality technology company.
- Completed the privatization of a public company, including deregistration with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and a reverse stock split of its common stock.
- Secured multiple credit facilities totaling $20 million.
- Secured a $12 million extension of a syndicated loan facility.
- Closed the pledge of parent company assets located in the United States and Latin America.
- Secured a $150 million syndicated bank loan consisting of a multijurisdictional, multicurrency credit facility involving a consortium of 10 local and international banks.
- Secured a $30 million bank loan in Venezuela involving two local banks.
- Negotiated and closed the expansion of an existing manufacturing plant in Virginia and the development of a new manufacturing plant in Arizona.
- Represented an international supplier of medical equipment in the sale of legal entities and assets located in eight jurisdictions throughout the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
- Represented Latin American financial institutions in the sale of a Colombian consumer finance company to a leading US publicly traded international insurance company.
- Represented a leading cigar manufacturer in the sale of assets located in the United States, Nicaragua, and Honduras to a major European cigar manufacturer.
- Represented a group of companies located in four jurisdictions in Latin America and the Caribbean in a complex restructuring, sale, and acquisition of a transportation business.
- Represented a consortium of investors in a $700 million acquisition of the business and assets of approximately 1,600 restaurants located throughout 18 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Advised an international bank on the opening of a branch office in Mexico.
Hospitality
- Led legal analysis to establish a new corporate entity structure supporting a hotel business unit.
- Advised on a $2.9 billion acquisition of the parent company of several global luxury hotel brands.
- Led the regional legal integration following a major hospitality company acquisition.
- Led the merger and restructuring of US entities following a major hospitality-sector acquisition.
- Advised on the separation of a global hospitality company into two divisions, separating operating and franchising businesses to support regional profitability.
- Led the divestment of a hospitality subsidiary in the Dominican Republic and the transfer of three hotels.
Renewable Energy & Communications Infrastructure
- Drafted and negotiated Energy-as-a-Service and build-to-suit agreements with a European mobile telecommunications provider operating in Central America.
- Drafted and negotiated country-specific Energy-as-a-Service agreements with a Caribbean mobile network operator active across multiple jurisdictions in the region.
- Negotiated an Energy-as-a-Service agreement with a US wireless network operator.
- Listed in The Legal 500 GC Powerlist Miami by The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2022, 2024-2026)
- Listed in “Influential Women in Hospitality” by Hotel Management Magazine (Questex) (2019)
- Selected as “The Legal 500 GC Powerlist US: Latin America Specialist” by The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2018)
- Selected as “Role Model in Promoting Gender Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession,” by Chambers Women in Law Awards USA (2017)
- Recipient “Legal Department of the Year Award, Diversity” by Daily Business Review (ALM) (2017)
- Shortlisted “Social Responsibility Award” by Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (ALM Media Properties LLC) (2016)
- Selected as “Gender Diversity Lawyer of the Year 2016” by Chambers Diversity Awards USA (2016)
- Shortlisted “Litigation Management Award” by Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (ALM Media Properties LLC) (2014)
- Selected “Top In-House Women,” by Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (ALM Media Properties LLC) (2014)
- Selected “Mexicanas en Florida, Talento y Reconocimiento,” by Mexico Vibra Magazine (2012)
- Selected “Hispanos Exitosos,” by Hispanic Target Magazine (2011)
- Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA), member
- Association of Corporate Counsel, member
- Latin American Corporate Counsel Association, member
- Hispanic National Bar Association, member
- South Florida Women In-House Counsel Group, member
- Juncadella Corporate Counsel Group (formerly known as South Florida Group of Regional Counsel), member
- Speaker, “One Region, Many Rules: Risk Management Strategies in LatAm Markets,” iLaw 2026 Conference (2026)
- Speaker, “Mastering Latin America's Evolving Legal Landscape,” Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (2025)
- Speaker, “Foreign Counsel and In-House Perspectives on US Anti-Corruption Efforts,” iLaw 2025 Conference (2025)
- Speaker, “Leadership Across Generations,” Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (2024)
- Speaker, “Drafting Arbitration Provisions for Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness,” Florida International University (2024)
- Speaker, “Miami: New Dispute Capital?” Interlaw Day (2024)
- Speaker, “The Do’s and Don’ts of Doing Business in Latin America,” The Florida Bar International Law Section, iLaw 2024 Conference (2024)
- Speaker, “Counsels Criteria for Selecting Dispute Resolution Providers and Arbitrators,” Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) (2022)
- Speaker, “Disputes Strategy,” The Legal 500 (2022)
- Speaker, “Crisis Management in Times of Uncertainty,” Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (2014)
- Speaker, “The Legal Counsel Perspective,” Spain-Americas Arbitration Forum (2019)
- Moderator, “Effective Compliance and Ethics Program in the Era of the Whistleblower,” Juncadella Corporate Counsel Group (2017)
- Moderator, “International Arbitration for the In-House Counsel,” International In-House Counsel Group (2016)
- Speaker, "Roundtable of Corporate Counsel of Multinationals Responsible for Latin America and the Caribbean," 2016 Americas Forum, American Bar Association, International Law Section (2016)
- Moderator, "The Use of International Arbitration from the View of In-House Counsel," The Florida Bar, International Litigation, Arbitration, and Transactions Conference (2016)
- Moderator, “Regional Counsel’s Role in Managing Change and Innovation,” South Florida Group of Regional Counsel Conference (2015)
- Moderator, “Cutting-Edge Tools for In-House Counsel Doing Business in Latin America,” South Florida Group of Regional Counsel Conference (2013)
- Speaker, “Emerging Business and Trade Opportunities in Latin America,” The Florida Bar, International Business Transactions Conference (2013)
- Speaker, “Latest Developments in Anti-Bribery Compliance in Latin America,” Chambers and Partners, General Counsel Seminar (2012)
- Speaker, “How to Set Goals for Your Team,” Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (2012)
- Speaker, “The Challenges of Transnational Practice in the Current Economic Scenario,” University of Miami School of Law (2009)
- Speaker, “Conflicts of Law and Dispute Resolution for Real Estate Transactions,” Undertaking Real Estate Transactions in Mexico, Miami, Florida (2005)
- Moderator, “Strategies for Trade & Investment in Mexico - Commercial Dispute Resolution in Mexico,” United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, New York City, (2005)
- Featured, “Get the C-Suite to Buy-In to Better Avoid Risks,” Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (ALM Media Properties LLC) (2023)
- Featured, “Tackling Diversity Challenges in the Hospitality Sector with Violeta Longino,” Diversity Chambers and Partners (2017)
- Featured, “Inspirational Insights from Leading Female Lawyers to Celebrate International Women’s Day,” Diversity Chambers and Partners (2017)
- Featured, “Violeta Longino, Directrice Juridique Adjointe d’AccorHotels à Miami, nommée Directrice Juridique de l’année par Chambers USA,” Le Monde du Droit France (2016)
- Featured, “Accor launches Miami office with new GC,” Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (ALM Media Properties LLC) (2015)
- Mentioned, “Scandinavian Tobacco Takes Factories in Latin America,” Latin Lawyer Magazine (Centellic) (2009)
- Featured, “Global Positioning,” Latin Lawyer Magazine (Centellic) (2008)
- Mentioned, “AIG Acquires Colombian Lender,” Latin Lawyer Magazine (Centellic) (2008)
- Mentioned, “Securing the Golden Arches,” Latin Lawyer Magazine (Centellic) (2007)
- Featured, “Suplemento Miami - Entrar con el Pie Derecho,” Mundo Ejecutivo Magazine (Grupo Mundo Ejecutivo) (2004)
Languages
English & Spanish (fluent)
Portuguese (working proficiency)
French (elementary proficiency)