Julio serves as a trusted advisor to companies seeking a pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach to business law matters. Clients value his depth of knowledge and unfaltering commitment to their business goals.
Having been in private practice now for more than 30 years, Julio has vast experience representing buyers and sellers in M&A transactions in a wide range of industries. While he prides himself in handling complex transactions and has represented strategic and financial buyers, he finds it especially gratifying to work on sell-side engagements for entrepreneurs that have poured their heart and energy into building their companies from the ground up. Though Julio has been involved with middle-market transactions, he has also handled sophisticated, international transactions in excess of $2.2 billion.
Having started his career in Washington, D.C. working for the Division of Corporation Finance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Julio also is an experienced securities lawyer. He represents various public companies, as well as private companies and investors in private securities transactions. He also has experience assisting with investment advisor and investment company issues.
Julio likes to say that the third leg of his legal stool is “general corporate work.” Many of his clients rely on Julio as their outside general counsel, calling on him for all of their needs. If Julio can directly handle the issue, such as the review of financing/loan agreements, franchise documents, and general contract reviews, he will tend to them himself. Otherwise, he ensures that the right attorney at Shumaker is brought into the assignment (while he continues to oversee the project to ensure that client expectations and needs are met).
In January, 2018, Julio finished a six-year term on Shumaker’s Management Committee (MC), which is the committee that oversees the entire firm. Born in Mexico City, Esquivel became the Shumaker Tampa office’s first Hispanic managing partner. The experience of serving on the MC and running an Am Law 200 firm, with more than 260 lawyers, has made Julio a better business lawyer, allowing him to provide greater practical advice to clients. He continues to serve on other firm governance committees.
Julio and his wife, Betsy, are passionate about their community. He serves on the boards of the Tampa Museum of Art, the Tampa Theatre, the Gasparilla Musical Festival Foundation, and the Public Art Alliance.
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