ECIJA SBGB > San Juan, Puerto Rico > Firm Profile

ECIJA SBGB Offices

ECIJA SBGB
954 AVE. PONCE DE LEÓN
SAN JUAN
Puerto Rico
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Profiles

ECIJA SBGB > The Legal 500 Rankings

Puerto Rico > Corporate, Commercial and Banking Tier 2

ECIJA SBGB is particularly experienced in advising real estate developers, but also advises multinationals, commercial banks, government entities, non-profits and investors. The team's practice spans financial transactions, corporate governance, M&A, joint ventures and strategic investments. Other key areas of expertise include private equity transactions and major public infrastructure projects, particularly in the energy, low-income housing and transportation sectors. Practice head Fernando Berio focuses on corporate, real estate and tax matters. Jorge Fernandez-Reboredo has expertise in M&A and energy and infrastructure projects.

Practice head(s):

Fernando Berio

Testimonials

‘What makes the lawyers stand out is the unique and personalised treatment they provide, in addition to their range of knowledge in the services they provide.’

Key clients

NFE Energía (New Fortress Energy)

The Michaels Organization

Luis Ayala Colón & Sucesores

Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

PRISA

Hispanic Housing Development

Acruva Capital Partners

Bahia Apartments

Montblanc PR Associates LP

Aon Risk Solutions of Puerto Rico

Egida del Medico

Progressive AE

Caribe Pharmacy Management

Dorado Tech Park

Aspen Surgical Puerto Rico

IQTek Solutions Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Terminals

Energeólica de Puerto Rico

Ad Practitioners

Soli5 Group

Work highlights

  • Advised New Fortress Energy on acquiring capital for the development of state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities in Puerto Rico to supply energy-efficient alternatives to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority.
  • Advised the Michaels Organisation on procuring the largest mixed finance award in Puerto Rican history for the development of a 400-unit public housing project.
  • Advised BPPR subsidiary DeShow.com, which constitutes the largest marketplace of foreclosed properties in Puerto Rico, on all real estate title clearance and closing.

Puerto Rico > Labour and employment Tier 2

ECIJA SBGB‘s labour and employment advice is tailored to multinational corporations and large Puerto Rican institutions, but its client portfolio also includes local start-ups. Collective bargaining negotiations and arbitration, wrongful termination, discrimination and retaliation claims, and wage and hour issues feature prominently in the team’s workload. Trial and appellate litigators Antonio García Ramírez and Jaime Sanabria Montañez, who is praised as ‘a great connoisseur of labour legislation in Puerto Rico’, co-ordinate the practice group and are known for their activity in matters relating to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Anfranz Vázquez Bragan is noted for her advice to local and multinational companies on their operations in Puerto Rico.

Practice head(s):

Antonio García Ramírez; Jaime Sanabria Montañez

Testimonials

‘Jaime Sanabria is a great connoisseur of labour legislation in Puerto Rico. He also organises a number of informative webinars, which are a plus to his service.’

‘Excellent service. Accessible. Excellent understanding of the legal issues related to labour law. Fluid explanations of legal matters. Very well-mannered and affable treatment of clients.’

‘Jaime Sanabria has outstanding knowledge of labour law and is very accessible. He fully comprehends the legal issues and offers fluid and easy-to-understand explanations. He is always available to field questions about the issues brought to his attention.’

‘Anfranz Vazquez is very knowledgeable about labour law. She is very accessible, understands the legal issues and offers explanations which are very understandable to lay people. She is always available and willing to field questions about the issues brought to her attention.’

‘ECIJA SBGB has a talented team who are experts in labour law and provide an impeccable service to their clients. They are very pragmatic and offer seemingly simple solutions to complex issues.’

‘They provide a personalised service and respond quickly to clients. Their advice is prompt, efficient and practical.’

‘The team’s response times are very quick without affecting the quality of the advice. It is very easy to get in touch with them and they have a very practical perspective when making recommendations.’

Key clients

Coca-Cola (Caribbean Refrescos)

Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Jack

Abarca Health

Triple-S Management Corporation

Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust

Synovos Puerto Rico

Plaza Provisions

Kelly Services

Pharmpix

MC-21

Aireko Construction

Consumers Advocates

Safe Harbor Marines

Amerijet International

Aspen Surgical

Oracle

Boys and Girls Club of Puerto Rico

Vieques Air Link

MAPEI

Gerdau Metaldom

Structural Steel Manufacturing

Toperbee (Pearl Vision)

Aerojet

King Uniforms and Industrial Laundry

Wurth Timberline Fasteners

Xpert’s

Crowe

Work highlights

  • Defended Kelly Services in a five-day bench trial over claims for unfair dismissal, retaliation and violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act brought by a former employee, and secured a dismissal.
  • Advising Abarca on local employment issues, including drafting unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation policies.
  • Assisting Triple S with labour and employment assessments regarding its merger with GuideWell.

Puerto Rico > Real estate, hospitality and leisure Tier 3

Fernando Berio and Jorge Fernandez-Reboredo are ECIJA SBGB‘s key contacts for real estate matters in Puerto Rico. Berio focuses on pre-development activities and mixed-finance structuring for multi-family housing deals. Fernández litigates real estate cases, among other matters. Mixed-finance projects and infrastructure projects in the energy, tourism and transportation sectors are also areas of strength.

Puerto Rico > Dispute resolution and bankruptcy Tier 4

ECIJA SBGB‘s dispute resolution practice demonstrates skill in civil and commercial litigation, commercial arbitration, and constitutional and administrative litigation, together with the ability to handle procurement and government affairs cases. Founding members Jaime Sanabria Montañez and Antonio García Ramírez specialise in labour litigation. Luis Román-Negrón departed the firm in April 2022 to establish an independent practice.

Practice head(s):

Antonio García Ramírez; Enrique Del Cueteo Pérez; Jaime Sanabria Montañez

Testimonials

‘The efficiency, communication skills, experience and quality of the lawyers in this office make ECIJA SBGB stand out. Their approach of understanding and listening to their clients is the thing that makes them stand out. The attorneys accomplish their goals in a shorter period of time than at other law firms and, more importantly, with positive results.’

‘The command of the law of the lawyers at ECIJA SBGB is impressive. Jaime Sanabria is available to address clients’ concerns at any time and has achieved results that exceed clients’ expectations. He is very responsive to specific situations and presents options that few would offer. His humanity, warmth and openness make this firm one that we recommend to others in the industry.’

Key clients

Triple-S Salud

Puerto Rico Ports Authority

Amerijet International

Abarca Health

Juan A. Hernández Law Offices

Synovos

Triple-S Propiedad

Triple-S Vida

MAPFRE Insurance Company

Office of Management and Budget

Office of the Inspector General

Work highlights

  • Successfully represented Triple-S before the US District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, which held that Puerto Rico Act 90-2019 is expressly pre-empted by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003.
  • Representing the Puerto Rico Ports Authority in a case brought by a dismissed employee, which could result in the application of sovereign immunity to a public corporation.
  • Representing MAPFRE Insurance before the Puerto Rico Supreme Court in a case concerning whether the adjustment notified during a judicial proceeding as part of the discovery process is immediately payable to the insured, even when such adjustment is not accepted by the insured.

ECIJA SBGB > Firm Profile

With over 20 years of experience, we have positioned ourselves as one of the best multidisciplinary and independent firms in the Ibero-American market, as accredited by the most prestigious international directories, offering comprehensive legal services regarding regulatory compliance and information security.

With headquarters in Spain, Portugal, Colombia, Chile, Nicaragua, Argentina Panamá, Costa Rica, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil and Puerto Rico, ECIJA has a multidisciplinary team of over 900 professionals, with exceptional experience in their areas of specialisation, enabled to work in different jurisdictions, with extensive knowledge of the different sectors and international markets.

In addition, in 2019, the Firm signed the largest strategic agreement between a Spanish firm and a Chinese firm, through a joint venture with the fourth largest law firm in China, Grandall Law Firm, resulting in the creation of its own China Desk in its Madrid headquarters and the consolidation of a hub between Asia, Iberia and Latin America bringing together more than 3,500 lawyers in 18 countries in a total of 57 offices.

ECIJA, after merging with Sanabria Bauermesiter Garcia & Berio (SBGB LLC), now opens its first office in Puerto Rico and its 20th at the international level. ECIJA SBGB will be led by Jaime L. Sanabria Montañez, Antonio L. García Ramírez, Fernando L. Berio Muñiz and Jorge Alberto Fernández Reboredo. The partners along with their team of lawyers will handle all the corporate counseling practice in Puerto Rico. This strategic partnership also represents the beginning of ECIJA’s law practice in the United States of America.

Main Contacts

DepartmentNameEmailTelephone
Managing Partner Jaime Sanabriajsanabria@ecija.com+787 300 3200
Partner Enrique del CuetoEdelcueto@ecija.com+787 300 3200
Partner Jorge A. Fernández-Reboredojfernandez@ecija.com+787 300 3200
Partner Fernando Beriofberio@ecija.com+787 300 3200
Partner Antonio L. Garcíaalgarcia@ecija.com+787 300 3200
Partner Anfranz N. Vázquezanvazquez@ecija.com+787 300 3200

Languages

English
Spanish

ECIJA SBGB > Firm Profile

ECIJA SBGB is led by Jaime L. Sanabria Montañez, Antonio L. García Ramírez, Fernando L. Berio Muñiz and Jorge Alberto Fernández Reboredo. The partners along with their team of lawyers will handle all the corporate counseling practice in Puerto Rico. This strategic partnership also represents the beginning of ECIJA’s law practice in the United States of America.

ECIJA SBGB particularly stands out for advising private equity firms and local and multinational companies in connection with public infrastructure projects, especially in the energy, housing and transportation sectors. Commercial banks, government entities and non-profit organisations are also important clients for the team. The group is led by Fernando Berio, who has significant experience in the real estate and tax fields. Jorge Fernandez-Reboredo is an ‘outstanding partner’; he focuses on business law matters, mergers, acquisitions, energy and infrastructure projects, and commercial litigation.

Main Contacts

DepartmentNameEmailTelephone
Managing Partner Jaime Sanabriajsanabria@ecija.comT: +787 300 3200

Staff Figures

Rosa Soto : Office Manager

Press Releases

ECIJA GPA strengthens its presence in Ecuador with the opening of a new branch in Cuenca

23rd June 2022 ECIJA GPA expands its team by integrating the law firm Estudio Central of Cuenca.

ECIJA GPA strengthens its presence in Ecuador with the opening of a new office in Manta

3rd February 2022 ECIJA GPA starts the year reinforcing its team with Ingrid Rodriguez as the new partner of the Manta office.