DLA Piper Puerto Rico > San Juan, Puerto Rico > Firm Profile

DLA Piper Puerto Rico > The Legal 500 Rankings

Puerto Rico > Corporate, commercial and banking Tier 2

The team at DLA Piper Puerto Rico coordinates with its US offices to advise national and multinational corporates and financial institutions (including UBS and Citibank), involved in high-value, multi-jurisdictional transactions. With an active client roster spanning the energy, infrastructure, financial services, government and tech sectors, the firm’s full offering covers such matters as M&A, debt financing, bank licensing and regulatory matters, project finance, public-private partnerships, and corporate and securities law transactions, in addition to private placements, fund formation, administrative law, spin-offs, and corporate reorganisations. The team is led by Puerto Rico managing partner 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 specialist José Sosa-Lloréns, deputy managing partner Miriam Figueroa, who brings strength to infrastructure and public law matters, and associate Adriana Pérez-Rentas.

Puerto Rico > Energy, natural resources and environment Tier 2

The experienced energy and natural resources team at DLA Piper Puerto Rico provides a one-stop shop to advise regulators, the regulated, investors, developers and other key industry stakeholders, including governments, over the course of a major project’s entire lifecycle, from inception and development to completion, operation and sale. With a client base that includes power generators and multinational corporates across the utilities, energy, logistics and tech sectors, the group’s full service covers assistance with project finance, regulatory compliance, high-value, cross-border transactions, restructuring and dispute resolution. The team is led by deputy 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.

Puerto Rico > Tax Tier 2

The experienced team at DLA Piper Puerto Rico brings expertise to advising insurers, domestic financial institutions and multinational corporates such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, Air Canada and Bacardi on a wide array of matters across the practice area, including tax planning and structuring, complex financial transactions, transfer pricing, tax audits and appeals, and tax litigation. The group’s active client base spans the aviation, financial services, food and beverages, telecoms and government sectors. The team is headed by Manuel López-Zambrana, an expert in tax controversies who assists clients with complex US federal and Puerto Rican income tax matters and with obtaining Puerto Rican tax incentives for manufacturing and IP licensing activities. Another key individual is of counsel Edwin Figueroa Alvarez, who provides support to start-ups and businesses on the tax aspects of establishing operations in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico > Dispute resolution and bankruptcy Tier 3

Leveraging the experience of its team and the bench strength of a global network spanning the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific region, the dispute resolution team at DLA Piper Puerto Rico assists local authorities, financial institutions, individuals, and national and multinational corporates across such sectors as energy, financial services, technology and healthcare with complex, high-stakes arbitration and commercial litigation. The firm’s full service extends to claims related to breach of contract, damages, employment matters, distribution agreements, intellectual property and consumer rights. In addition, the firm has a dedicated white-collar crime and investigations group. The team is led by experienced litigator and arbitrator Margarita Mercado, who previously served as the Solicitor General for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and white-collar crime expert Nereida Melendez-Rivera, who joined the firm with Sonia Torres-Pabón, the other former founder of Meléndez Torres Law, PSC and a former Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, in July 2022. Another key figure is of counsel Mariana Muñiz-Lara, who brings strength to matters involving intellectual property and employment law.

Puerto Rico > Labour and employment Tier 3

The labour and employment team at DLA Piper Puerto Rico assists national and multinational corporates across such sectors as pharmaceuticals, energy, manufacturing, software and financial services on day-to-day matters and in complex litigation. Janine Guzman heads the team, bringing experience to matters related to wages and hours, statutory licences, employee benefits, discipline and termination, business restructurings, reductions in force and relocations, discrimination, employee privacy, confidentiality, restrictive covenants, and immigration. Another key figure is of counsel Mariana Muñiz-Lara, who represents public and private entities before state and federal first instance and appellate courts, as well as before administrative agencies and arbitral forums.

Latin America: International firms > Banking and finance

DLA Piper LLP (US)’s sizeable Latin America team in the US alongside practitioners in the region itself, provides a solid platform for a growing banking and finance practice. The firm has built an enviable client base, particularly Latin American borrowers, and is widely recognised for its geographic spread of engagements in project finance and large restructurings. The team was further strengthened by the hire of Latin America banking and finance specialist Robert da Silva Ashley from McDermott Will & Emery LLP in April 2023; splitting his time between New York and Miami, he brings wide-ranging experience in project finance and corporate lending, including wind and solar projects. Margarita Oliva Sainz de Aja is co-regional head of Latin America banking and finance, and is another experienced figure in project finance and general corporate lending. Mexico City partner Edgar Romo and Lima’s Sergio Barboza, are also co-regional heads of the group, and are key figures within the team, along with José Sosa-Lloréns in Puerto Rico. Raul Farias, who splits his time between San Diego and New York has made a big impression in cross-border financings and refinancings, and has also led on a series of large-scale restructuring engagements; he was the lead partner in advising Mexico-based Crédito Real on its $2.9bn global debt restructuring encompassing six different jurisdictions and more than 45 different creditors.  

Latin America: International firms > Projects and energy

DLA Piper LLP (US) has a large team of Latin America specialists, spread across its US and Latin America offices. It has extensive connections to developers and project sponsors, and is increasingly building its presence in renewables and energy transition matters (including wind, solar, hydro and battery storage). The practice is also noted for PPP transactions, thanks to its headline role in advising LUMA Energy as the winning bidder in the PPP transaction for the management and operation of the transmission and distribution assets of the state-owned electricity utility in Puerto Rico. The firm is further noted for its M&A expertise in energy and infrastructure, including portfolio acquisitions of renewables assets. Marcello Hallake has joined the New York office from Jones Day, bringing significant energy sector transactional expertise. New York’s Margarita Oliva Sainz de Aja is Latin America head of banking and finance and has an excellent record in project financings in the region. San Juan partner Miriam Figueroa is a key figure in PPPs and infrastructure projects. Santiago partner Diego Peña is also an integral team member, as is Raul Farias in San Diego/New York. Since publication, the practice has been furhter strengthened with the hire of Sao Paulo-based Bruno Soares from Allen & Overy LLP - effective as of February 2024.