McConnell Valdés LLC > San Juan, Puerto Rico > Firm Profile

McConnell Valdés LLC > The Legal 500 Rankings

Puerto Rico > Corporate, commercial and banking Tier 1

The powerhouse corporate group at McConnell Valdés LLC remains a market leader, utilising the experience of its team to advise national and multinational financial institutions and corporates, including Liberty Latin America, across such sectors as telecoms, financial services, aviation, fitness, professional services and insurance, on high-value, cross-border transactions. The practice assists with matters ranging from public-private partnerships for major infrastructure projects, restructuring and insolvency to government affairs, municipal financing, securities and M&A. The team is led by Rubén Méndez-Benabe, an expert in representing national banks, institutional lenders, financial institutions and borrowers in complex financings, and vice-chair Ricardo García-Negrón, who specialises in capital-raising transactions and securities regulatory compliance. Other key figures include Samuel Céspedes, who leads the M&A and corporate and public finance group, and Ernesto Mayoral, who brings strength to commercial real estate acquisitions.

Puerto Rico > Dispute resolution and bankruptcy Tier 1

The powerhouse team McConnell Valdés LLC remains a market leader in litigation, employing the experience of its team in complex, high-value class action law suits. With specialised offerings in such areas as bankruptcy and tax, the group advises a client roster of major insurers, financial institutions and multinationals, including household names Johnson & Johnson, Best Buy, Merrill Lynch and AIG, across sectors ranging from real estate, retail, financial services and medical devices to healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Litigation practice chair Juan Marqués-Díaz has over 25 years of experience and specialises in tax disputes, administrative and constitutional law, and arbitration, and vice-chair Henry Freese is an expert in maritime and admiralty law. Other key figures include Arturo García-Solá, who handles franchise and distribution law matters and contractual disputes, and Isabel Torres‐Sastre, who handles securities and IP matters.

Puerto Rico > Energy, natural resources and environment Tier 1

The powerhouse team at McConnell Valdés LLC remains a market leader, bringing strength to high-value energy projects (including wind and solar power), and advising on greenfield and brownfield development, land use issues and compliance with environmental laws and regulations. With a client base that also includes financial institutions such as Santander Bank and multinational corporates spanning the aviation, energy, financial services, logistics and manufacturing sectors, the firm’s comprehensive service extends to power purchase agreements, interconnection agreements, procurement and construction contracts, land agreements and project finance. The team is headed by practice group chair environmental compliance and energy facility expert Carlos Fernández-Lugo and vice-chair Jorge García-Díaz, a specialist in the environmental aspects of real estate, finance and M&A transactions. Ignacio Vidal advises clients on environmental impact statements, zoning regulations, permits procurement and public service franchises. Associate André Palerm joined from O'Neill & Borges in December 2022.

Puerto Rico > Intellectual property Tier 1

The powerhouse team at McConnell Valdés LLC remains a market leader, leveraging the experience of its team to manage and safeguard the intellectual property portfolios of financial institutions and global household-name brands such as Cartier, Clorox, Universal Music, T-Mobile and Moët & Chandon, across such sectors as consumer products, entertainment, apparel, jewellery, food and beverages, telecoms and motor vehicles. The practice’s comprehensive service addresses a diverse range of matters related to trade marks, trade dress, copyrights, moral rights, cybersquatting, false advertising, right of publicity and patents. The team is led by Dora Peñagarícano, an expert in fashion law, anti-counterfeiting, and trade mark and copyright infringement litigation, and Roberto Quiñones-Rivera, who brings expertise to the registration of IP in the financial services and hospitality industries. Other key figures include Isabel Torres‐Sastre, a specialist in media and entertainment, securities and healthcare law.

Puerto Rico > Labour and employment Tier 1

The labour and employment group at McConnell Valdés LLC remains a market leader, assisting major multinationals, including Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, Toyota and T-Mobile, across such industries as pharmaceuticals, aerospace, automotive, telecoms, consumer goods and medical devices with day-to-day employment matters, the labour aspects of high-value transactions, and in high-stakes labour litigation. The team is headed by practice group chair Anita Montaner-Sevillano, who specialises in business immigration matters, in addition to claims involving workers’ compensation and collective wage and hour claims; and vice-chair Miguel Rivera-Arce, who brings experience to union issues, labour arbitration and collective bargaining agreement negotiations. Another key figure is Reinaldo Figueroa-Matos, who represents clients in administrative proceedings before local and federal agencies. At associate level, key support is provided by Guillermo Figueroa and Natalia Marín.

Puerto Rico > Real estate, hospitality and leisure Tier 1

The powerhouse real estate department at McConnell Valdés LLC remains a market leader, leveraging the experience of its team to assist developers, domestic and multinational financial institutions such as Citibank, and corporates across such sectors as tourism, hospitality, energy and manufacturing with day-to-day matters and in high-value transactions. The team is headed by chairman Jorge Ruiz-Montilla, who brings strength to planning and structuring resort communities and timeshares, and hotel and condominium projects, and vice-chair and resort development expert Patricia George‐Iguina, who is the managing director of McV Consulting, an affiliate of the firm engaged in real estate and hospitality advisory services. Other key figures include Harry Cook, who advises on the structuring of real estate joint ventures, the planning of timeshares and lot development programmes, and Salvador Casellas and Jorge Rexach, both specialists in structured financing. Counsel Nathalia Rivera-Smith joined in August 2022 from the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency (COR3).

Puerto Rico > Tax Tier 1

The well-regarded tax team at McConnell Valdés LLC remains a market leader, advising household-name financial institutions and global corporations, including Google, Hewlett Packard, Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola, T-Mobile and Shell, on a diverse spread of tax matters. With an active client base spanning sectors ranging from chemicals, tech, pharmaceuticals and retail to beverages, telecoms, energy and hospitality, the firm’s comprehensive service extends to tax incentives and exemptions, consumption tax, e-commerce matters, advice for non-profit organisations on structuring and establishing operations in Puerto Rico, and the tax aspects of M&A and deal structuring. The practice is chaired by Isis Carballo-Irigoyen, a corporate tax expert who assists with start-up operations, reorganisations, acquisitions, financings and competent authority proceedings before the Puerto Rico Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service. The team is vice-chaired by Yamary González-Berríos, who advises on tax exemption issues relating to liquidations and other major transactions. Rubén Muñiz-Bonilla acts for clients in tax controversy and litigation matters, including tax audits and examinations, administrative appeals and court proceedings. Lillian Toro-Mojica advises on employee benefits, and income and property taxes. Associate Ivette Rodríguez joined from an in-house role in December 2022.