Ms Miriam Figueroa > DLA Piper Puerto Rico > San Juan, Puerto Rico > Lawyer Profile

The energy and natural resources team at DLA Piper Puerto Rico brings expertise to advising regulators, the regulated, investors, developers and other key industry stakeholders, including governments, over the course of the entire project lifecycle, from inception and development to completion, operation and sale. With a client base of power generators and major multinationals across sectors ranging from utilities, energy, beverages, medical devices to telecoms, logistics, pharmaceuticals and tech, the group’s comprehensive service covers assistance with project finance, regulatory compliance, restructuring, dispute resolution and high-value, cross-border transactions. The team is led by managing partner Miriam Figueroa, who assists with negotiating power purchase agreements and private operations contracts. Of counsel Laura Rozas brings 25 years of experience in the practice area and specialises in Puerto Rico and federal environmental law and Puerto Rico energy and land use law.

The team at DLA Piper Puerto Rico coordinates with its US offices to advise domestic and multinational corporates and financial institutions (including UBS and Citibank) involved in high-value, cross-border transactions. The practice’s active client roster spans such sectors as energy, food and beverages, financial services, tech, construction, education, government, logistics and entertainment. The team’s full offering covers matters ranging from public-private partnerships, M&A, debt financing, bank licensing and regulatory matters to private placements, fund formation, administrative law, project finance, spin-offs and corporate reorganisations. The practice is led by Nikos Buxeda who, in addition to international transactions, assists with the organisation of local mutual funds, private equity funds and distribution agreements. Other key figures include banking regulatory expert José Sosa-Lloréns; managing partner and energy sector specialist Miriam Figueroa, who brings strength to infrastructure projects and public law matters; and associates Adriana Pérez-Rentas, Rubén Fernández Agramonte and Iván Garau González.

DLA Piper LLP (US)‘s rapid growth of its US-based Latin America practice is bringing significant rewards. It now has prominent talent across multiple practices, including energy and infrastructure. Partners and associates in its New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Diego, Houston and Miami offices, now frequently work alongside colleagues in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Puerto Rico, as well as in Brazil (through Campos Mello Advogados in cooperation with DLA Piper). Many in the Latin America team are natives of countries in the region, or are native Spanish or Portuguese speakers. Margarita Oliva Sainz de Aja is head of Latin America banking and finance, and is based in New York after spending many years as a partner in Argentina; she is an experienced project finance specialist with an established client base of multilateral agencies, ECAs, commercial financial institutions, sponsors and project companies. Miriam Figueroa splits her time between New York and Puerto Rico, and has extensive expertise in infrastructure, power purchase agreements and public-private partnership contracts; much of her practice centres on Puerto Rico. New York partner Marcello Hallake is a prominent name in energy M&A, especially in Brazil-related deals; while Diego Peña is a key partner in Santiago. Bruno Soares joined the firm from what is now A&O Shearman in February 2024 and has subsequently become managing partner of the new Sao Paulo office.