McDermott Will & Emery logo displayed in the reception area of their offices in Washington, D.C. March 26, 2019. (Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM)

McDermott Will & Emery has brought on tax lawyer Manuel Rajunov from Greenberg Traurig to help clients with deals in Latin America.

Rajunov joined McDermott's tax practice group as a partner on Jan. 15. He is based in the U.S. — in the firm's Dallas office — but said he will spend about 60% of his time working in Miami, or on location in Latin American countries, including Mexico, Colombia and Peru.

"It depends on where the deals are," said Rajunov, adding that he could not pass up the opportunity to join McDermott's "world-renowned" tax group, and help expand its Latin America business.

"Manuel brings a whole new capability for us to service Latin American tax issues in Mexico and also more broadly. We've been working to expand our international footprint," said Timothy Shuman, a partner in Washington, D.C., who heads McDermott's U.S. and international tax practice.

The firm does not have any offices in Latin America, but Rajunov will be able to service the region from Dallas, Shuman said, adding that McDermott has a number of multinational clients that are investing in Latin America.

Rajunov said most of his clients are privately held companies, including gaming companies, real estate development funds and U.S. real estate investment trusts. He has worked in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Chile. He said he also represents Brazilian companies in the United States, and a number of Israeli defense, security and cybersecurity companies doing business in the region, primarily in Mexico, Brazil and Chile.

Rajunov declined to identify clients. He was on the Greenberg Traurig team that represented Viakable S.A. de C.V., the cable division of Mexico's Xignux, in a proposed joint venture in 2016.

In a written statement, Joseph Coniglio, managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig's Dallas office, said the firm appreciates Rajunov's contributions and wishes him well.

Greenberg Traurig has seen multiple defections from its Miami-based Latin America practice group in the past year, including some high-level departures. Morrison & Foerster launched a Latin America practice in June and poached nine lawyers, including four partners, from Greenberg Traurig's Latin America group. Since then, Greenberg has added several lawyers to its Latin America practice.

Prior to his stint at Greenberg Traurig, Rajunov worked at DLA Piper, Thompson & Knight and Jackson Walker.

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