Holland & Knight has hired international tax lawyer Eduardo Arista to grow its private wealth services team in Florida.

Arista joins as a partner in the firm’s Miami office where his practice will focus on tax, corporate and estate planning for domestic and international private clients. He brings more than two decades of experience, including cross-border work advising Spanish-speaking clients in Latin America on how to reduce their tax burden and protect their assets and businesses from legal risks.

Before joining Holland & Knight, Arista led his own tax practice – Arista Law & Tax – which he founded in 2002. He was also previously a senior international tax consultant at EY and spent 16 years teaching the graduate tax programme at Florida International University.

He said it had been a “big decision” to move his practice to Holland & Knight but that the firm's “resources and Latin American footprint will give me the additional tools I need to meet my clients' growing demands” as well as furthering his own professional development.

Christopher Boyett, co-chair of Holland & Knight’s national private wealth services practice, said: “Holland & Knight’s international tax practice is well-known in South Florida and Ed’s arrival further strengthens our leading position. Ed has an excellent reputation as a trusted advisor to high-net-worth individuals and families. His practice is well suited for our firm and his clients will benefit from having access to our real estate, corporate and litigation services when they need it.”

David Scott Sloan, co-chair of Holland & Knight’s global private wealth practice, added: “We continue to grow our international tax practice and Ed’s direct experience in Latin America is an important strategic addition to our group.”

Arista’s arrival follows the hiring of Miami-based tax partner Logan Gans in July from Shutts & Bowen. In June, it also hired veteran tax partner Gustavo Pardo Ardila in Bogotá, who incorporated his independent practice into the firm. 

The hires are part of a broader push in Latin America this year, which has seen the firm add a number of lawyers, including another Colombian partner – Camilo Gantiva Hidalgo – who joined from Spanish firm Garrigues in February to head up its capital markets and financial services regulation practices. In March, it also expanded in Mexico City with the arrival of a six-strong capital markets team from DLA Piper.

In May, Winston & Strawn and Kirkland & Ellis both opened offices in Miami, with Winston focusing on commercial litigation, private equity, infrastructure and crypto and Kirkland focusing on broader corporate law.