Trends and Developments: USA – Florida
White Collar Defense and Investigations attorneys Wifredo Ferrer, Barbara Martinez and Marcelo Ovejero and Corporate Services attorney Oscar Quiroz-Chávez authored a contribution to the Chambers & Partners: White-Collar Crime 2025 guide. They analyze legal trends and developments specific to Florida, in particular how intensified U.S. enforcement against Mexican cartels is reshaping corporate risk and compliance. The piece explains the sweeping implications of new designations and related U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) priorities, detailing exposure under Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions and the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996's (AEDPA) material support provisions – often on a strict or constructive knowledge basis – and the resulting stakes for companies with ties to Mexico and Latin America. The authors also outline practical steps for in-house teams, from enhanced risk assessments and third‑party diligence to ongoing monitoring and rapid internal investigations, emphasizing proactive, cross-border compliance as essential to mitigate penalties and maintain operations.