Attorney Alfonso Cabanas

Alfonso Cabañas, the founding criminal defense lawyer of Cabañas Law Firm, practices criminal defense in the United States. His trial experience includes a variety of federal white-collar, drug, and state criminal defense cases. Complementing his United States practice is Mr. Cabañas' international criminal defense and international business cases. With a focus in Mexico and Latin America, Mr. Cabañas has become a highly-skilled attorney sought after by many international clients. His practice combines the attention to detail and insight of a business lawyer with the aggressive courtroom presence of an experienced criminal defense attorney in San Antonio. As a bilingual lawyer, he is prepared to represent English- and Spanish-speaking clients in both the U.S. and Mexico. Call today for a case consultation!

Awards

2023 Best San Antonio Lawyers, Criminal Defense and International Law, Scene in SA Magazine

2023 Super Lawyers

2022 Top Criminal Defense Attorneys, Scene in SA Magazine

2022 Best San Antonio Lawyers, Scene in SA Magazine

Top 40 Under 40 National Trial Lawyers, 2018

2012 Best San Antonio Lawyers, Scene in SA Magazine

2011 Rising Star Scene in SA Magazine

Education

St. Mary's University Doctor of Jurisprudence/Juris Doctor (J.D.) 2006
Baylor University BBA 2002

Associations

State Bar of Texas, International Law Section: Board Member 2015 – 2019
State Bar of Texas, Hispanic Issues Section: Board Member 2014 – 2019
State Bar of Texas, Immigration and Nationality Law Section: Board Member 2014 – 2019
Texas Young Lawyers Association Vice President: 2011 – 2012

Attorney Profile

I represent domestic and international clients with their litigation and transactional legal issues. Additionally, I advise and represent corporate and individual clients (domestic and international) who are facing government investigations into their business practices. Moreover, if such government investigations turn into federal criminal complaints, I also represent the clients in federal courts. I have a team of bilingual and bi-cultural employees working with clients daily.

I have litigated in the following federal and state courts:

• S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
• S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
• S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
• S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
• Bexar
• Caldwell
• Comal
• Dallas
• El Paso
• Frio
• Harris
• Hidalgo
• Hondo
• Kendall
• Maverick
• Potter
• Travis
• Webb

Litigation Practice

The following is a sample of representative litigation matters:

• Representing a Mexico-based supplier of automotive parts in pending litigation in the Northern District of New York.
• Represented a Mexico-based supplier of automotive parts in mandatory mediation in New York.
• Represented a U.S.-based client in their premises liability litigation in Hidalgo County.
• Represented and advised a Mexico-based copper broker during their U.S. government investigation into a tax-avoidance business scheme.
• Represented and advised a Mexican client during their U.S. government investigation into bank fraud and money laundering with former Mexican-state governors.
• Represented a Mexican client during preliminary federal forfeiture proceedings and was successful in reversing the government's $14 million dollars forfeiture.
• Represented and advised a Mexican client charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering with a former Mexican-state governor. Obtained a successful result for the client that avoided a federal jail sentence.
• Represented and advised a Mexican client charged with a $66 million-dollar money-laundering scheme. Worked with Mexican attorneys in devising a strategy for parallel civil and criminal proceedings in Mexico before la Procuraduria General de la Justicia.
• Represented and advised a Mexican individual client, along with Mexico-based counsel, in pending proceedings before the Subprocuraduria Juridica y de Asuntos Internacionales.

Transaction Practice

The following is a sample of representative transaction matters:

• Represented and advised a Mexican-based client entity in their $2 million-dollar acquisition of a U.S.-based industry competitor located in Minnesota.
• Represented and advised a Mexican-based client entity in their $3 million-dollar real estate purchase in Travis County. Worked alongside their Mexico-based attorneys in developing a favorable tax strategy for the purchase of the real estate.
• Represented and advised a Mexican-based client entity in their $6 million-dollar real estate purchase in Bexar County.
• Represented and advised a Mexican-based client entity in their $8 million-dollar real estate purchase in Bexar County.
• Represented and advised a Mexican-based client entity in their $2 million-dollar real estate purchase in Bexar County.
• Represented and advised a Mexican-based client entity in their $1.5 million-dollar real estate purchase in Maverick County.
• Represented and advised a Mexican-based media company in their negotiations with the FCC to obtain a must-carry license to broadcast in the United States.
• Represented and obtained investment visas (L and E) for executive clients in Mexico.

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