Chief legal officer | GENCO General Contractors
José W. Meléndez Santiago
Chief legal officer | GENCO General Contractors
Team size: Three
What are the most significant cases, projects and/or transactions that you and/or your legal team have recently been involved in?
Over the past year, my legal team and I have handled a range of complex matters, from federal construction projects with U.S. Government agencies, to contract negotiations under the SBA’s Mentor-Protégé Program and Joint Ventures. We have managed several payment and performance bond issuances, compliance reviews for Service Contract Act wage determinations, and a restructuring proposal for multi-million-dollar credit lines with our primary financial institution. In litigation, we have focused on civil contract disputes, including motions for summary judgment anchored in contract interpretation and doctrines such as exceptio non adimpleti contractus and Rule 408 evidentiary protections.
How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crisis to ensure the organisation’s resilience?
My approach is structured and preventive. I prioritise situational awareness, rapid legal risk mapping, and the establishment of clear communication channels between leadership, finance, and operations. During periods of volatility, such as pandemic-driven cost escalations, I have led legal reviews to renegotiate contract terms, seek equitable adjustments under FAR, and implement contingency clauses that preserve cash flow and compliance while protecting our ability to deliver on schedule.
Have you had any experiences during your career as a lawyer that stand out as particularly unique or interesting?
Recently, I had a standout experience negotiating a cross-jurisdictional joint venture between an Alaskan Native American tribe and our company, a small business federal contractor. It required balancing SBA compliance, competitive strategy, and equitable workshare allocations—an interesting opportunity to align business development with regulatory precision.
AI has been taken seriously as a potentially revolutionary technological change in the legal world for a number of years now. Has it had a meaningful impact on how your legal team works in this time? strong>
AI has had a significant impact across all areas, and legal is no exception. We have implemented AI tools to handle law-related inquiries, flag regulatory changes, and perform first-pass reviews of contract clauses. This allows our legal team to focus on high-judgment, strategic matters.
Looking forward, what trends do you foresee in the legal landscape in Puerto Rico over the next 5–10 years that companies should prepare for?
Over the next 5-10 years, I foresee increased implementation of technology and AI across legal practice in general, greater regulatory oversight of cybersecurity requirements, and continued digitalisation of court and agency processes. Companies should prepare by investing early in compliance infrastructure, automation, and human resources capacitation to adapt to these changes.
