Estrella LLC channels the bench strength of its team to act as the first port of call for insurers and major multinationals (including The Home Depot, American Airlines and Walmart) involved in high-stakes litigation and dispute resolution matters. Representing an active client roster across such sectors as energy, entertainment, real estate, aviation and healthcare, the firm displays particular strength in cyber litigation, commercial and liability litigation in the retail sector, and in disputes in the oil and gas industry. The practice is led by managing partner Alberto Estrella, who draws on over 30 years of experience in both state and federal courts; Kenneth Suria, who brings strength to class actions, product liability and medical malpractice claims, and commercial and insurance litigation; consumer affairs division head and retail sector expert Luis Morera, who specialises in defending administrative claims; and bankruptcy practice leader Carlos Infante, who acts for individual and business debtors, creditors and creditors’ committees. Other key figures include Andrés Colberg Trigo, who utilises a background working for the Legislation Division of the Justice Department of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and of counsel Stephanie Vilella, who handles cases involving complex banking regulations.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Phone
787-977-5050
Email
Profile

Profile

Work Department
Federal Practice & Dispute Resolution
Position

Member, and Federal Practice Leader

Career

In 1985, Kenneth Suria commenced his legal career with Hartford Fire & Indemnity Insurance Company representing the carrier’s assureds in general liability and automobile insurance claims in cases from their inception through trial. Two years later he became staff counsel for CIGNA Property & Casualty Company where he represented the company’s assureds in a vast array of areas of civil litigation, including premises liability, automobile accidents, general liability, insurance law, products liability, copyrights, and federal litigation.

Subsequently, Mr. Suria became a Senior Trial/Litigation Associate with the firm of Bower & Gardner, where he represented the firm’s corporate self-insured clients in general liability cases involving product liability, commercial litigation, insurance law, and premises liability defense, among other areas, from their inception through jury trial and verdict. Finally, Mr. Suria went into the private practice of the law for a period of two years before returning to Puerto Rico.

Upon his arrival in Puerto Rico, Mr. Suria briefly worked for the well-known tort law firm of Martinez-Texidor & Fuster in Ponce before moving to his native San Juan and taking up his place as a Senior Litigator with the Castellanos Law Firm. At Castellanos, Mr. Suria successfully litigated the case of New Shows, S.A. v. Don King Productions, Inc., in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, providing Mr. King with his first legal defeat ever. The lower court verdict was subsequently affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (210 F.3d 355 (2nd Cir. 2000)). Mr. Suria headed the Federal Litigation Department, where he became involved in the litigation of cases in the areas of product liability, copyright, collections, medical malpractice, appeals, and other areas of civil practice.   Mr. Suria joined Estrella, LLC in March 2000, and is actively engaged in general civil litigation, including labor and employment matters, tort defense, federal appeals, federal litigation and contract cases.

Bar Admissions

  • New York State/1985
  • New Jersey/1985
  • Puerto Rico/2000

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York/1985
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York/1985
  • U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey/1985
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico/1998
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit/1991
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit/1999
Languages
English, Spanish
Memberships
  • American Bar Association
  • Puerto Rico Bar Association
  • Hispanic National Bar Association
Education
  • New York Law School/J.D./1983
  • Spring Hill College/B.S./1979

Content supplied by Estrella LLC

Key clients

  • The Home Depot
  • Fidelity National Title Company

Work highlights

Acting as primary litigation defence counsel for Walmart in Puerto Rico, conducting litigation in both state and federal court forums.