Hogan & Hartson
mawiss@hhlaw.com

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Marcia A. Wiss
Partner, Washington, D.C.

Marcia Wiss' practice concentrates on international project finance and business transactions, with a particular focus on the financial structuring of international projects in emerging markets. She is also Co-chair of the firm's India practice.

Marcia has been in the private practice of law for the past 25 years and prior to that was the deputy to the Assistant General Counsel for Finance at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). She has been the lead counsel on numerous projects financed by the U.S. Export Import Bank, OPIC, and the International Finance Corporation, as well as commercial banks and the capital markets. Her financing experience includes aircraft, power plants, hotels, telecommunications systems, mines, agribusiness, and processing, manufacturing, and environmental facilities. She has represented clients in international business transactions on the Indian Subcontinent, Latin America, the Far East, the Caribbean, Africa, Eastern and Central Europe, and the Middle East.

Marcia has authored numerous publications and lectured on finance, investment, commercial and economic policy issues, political risk analysis, banking, foreign investment, public/private cooperation, and international finance, especially project finance, trade policy issues, trade with developing countries, privatization, and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (of the World Bank). She also has taught a course on international project finance and investment at Georgetown University Law Center for the past 20 years, and is currently teaching a class on international investment law at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

In law school, Marcia served as an editor of Law & Policy in International Business.


Representative Experience
Represented Indian information technology firm in its ADR offering and NYSE listing, international aspects of the company's initial public offering, and the largest venture capital financing in the IT sector in India.
 
Representation of the borrower in the 10 aircraft acquisition financing and securitization transaction in India awarded the "Deal of the Year 2001" by Trade Finance Magazine.
 
Represented borrower in financing of electric generation plants in Israel using U.S. capital markets and U.S. Export Import Bank guarantees.
 
Represented owners of Marriott-managed hotels in a privatization in Yerevan, Armenia, and in financing and franchising in Lima, Peru.
 


Published Works
05.01.2007 "Public-Private Partnerships in Latin America: Governmental Salvation or Deception?" Business Law International, International Bar Association

PRACTICES/INDUSTRIES
Corporate, Finance, and Tax
India
Capital Markets
International Business Transactions
Latin America
Mergers and Acquisitions
Project and International Finance
Middle East
AREAS OF FOCUS
  • Emerging Markets Transactions
  • International Investment
  • Privatization
  • India
EDUCATION
J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1972 B.S.F.S., Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service, 1969
MEMBERSHIPS
  • Former Vice President, American Society of International Law
  • Former President, Washington Foreign Law Society
  • Member, Board of Governors, Georgetown University Alumni Association
  • Member, Board of Advisers and Board of Editors, Procedural Aspects of International Law
  • Member, Section of International Law and Practice, American Bar Association
  • Former General Counsel, Washington Chapter, Society of International Development
  • General Counsel, Association for Women's Rights in Development 
AWARDS/RANKINGS
  • Chambers Asia, Overseas Experts: Corporate and Finance (India), 2008
  • IFLR Expert Guide to the World's Leading Project Finance Lawyers, 2006, 2007
  • John Carroll Award, Georgetown University, 2005
  • Georgetown University Vicennial Medal, 2004
  • Prominent Woman in International Law Award, American Society of International Law, 2002 
  • Charles Fahy Distinguished Adjunct Professor Award, Georgetown University Law Center, 2000-2001
  • Annual Alumnae Achievement Award, Georgetown University Law Center, 2001
  • Certificate of Appreciation in Recognition of Dedication and Continued Service to the Foreign Lawyers of Georgetown, Georgetown University Law Center, 1999
  • Award for Service, Association for Women's Rights in Development, 1996
  • Annual Community Service Award, International Section, D.C. Bar Association, 1995
BAR ADMISSIONS District of Columbia
LANGUAGES German