Dario Oscos, Senior Partner, Oscos Abogados

Vitro, the Mexican-based glass manufacturer, defaulted on $1.5bn of debt in 2009 – but before so doing ensured its subsidiaries were its major creditors, allowing the company to control its own reorganisation proceedings. Its bankruptcy plan is preliminarily valid in Mexico but in the US it has been rejected: Dario Oscos explains the significance of this decision, its implications for cross-border trade, and the timeframe for a final verdict.

Antonio Giacomini Jr, Partner, Andrioli e Giacomini Advogados

With the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016, Brazil is making huge investments in infrastructure. At the same time, the government is reforming many of its tax laws to attract more international investment partners. Antonio Giacomini explains the strategy behind these reforms, and the ways that Andrioli e Giacomini Advogados assists its international clients through Brazil’s complex system of tax and business legislation.

Gregory P Joseph, Partner, Gregory P Joseph Law Offices

Gregory P Joseph has had an outstanding career in commercial law – litigating highly complex disputes with considerable stakes. In practice since 1975, he has seen significant changes in the way the US judiciary handles commercial cases, and won considerable victories along the way. He discusses the emerging trends in commercial litigation and a recent $268m judgement he secured for City Bank against Morgan Stanley.

Ammar Shata, Executive Director and CEO, AlKhabeer Capital

Financial markets in the Gulf region have enjoyed strong growth, helped by healthy fiscal and current account surpluses. However, the GCC’s dependence on oil as a source of income also makes volatility high and forecasting difficult. Ammar Shata explains how AlKhabeer Capital has gained a competitive advantage in investment banking, focusing on a female client-base, gaining their trust by co-investing, and helping them find the right opportunities in real assets.

Nadim Kassar, Chairman, Fransa Invest Bank

On the back of the unprecedented events of the Arab Spring, Lebanon’s economic activity has slowed dramatically in 2012, with growth falling far below that of previous years. However, Nadim Kassar of Fransa Invest Bank suggests the country is well-positioned to grow its economy on stable and sustainable grounds, and to develop an investment environment.

Sulaiman Al-Qimlas, CEO, Bayt Al Mal Investment

Kuwait is the world’s 10th largest oil exporter, and has been enjoying the windfall of rising oil prices. But a lot of this growth is being reinvested in the oil sector, leaving Kuwait’s other industries undeveloped and its economy unbalanced. Sulaiman Al-Qimlas reveals the other sectors currently attracting outside investment, thanks to Kuwait’s $120bn five year development plan; and explains Bayt Al Mal Investment’s new focus on Awqaf, the Islamic equivalent of endowment.