The powerhouse real estate department at McConnell Valdés LLC remains a leader in the marketplace, leveraging the bench strength of its team to assist developers, domestic and multinational financial institutions, and corporates in the hospitality and tourism sectors with day-to-day matters and high-value transactions. The team is headed by practice group chairman Jorge Ruiz-Montilla, who brings expertise 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, and who also specialises in the structuring of tax concessions for tourism projects. Other key figures include Harry Cook, who advises clients on the structuring of real estate joint ventures, the creation of protective covenants for resort communities and the planning of timeshares, condominiums and lot development programmes, and Carla D’Almeida-Aracena, a specialist in matters involving mortgage law and commercial financing.
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Accolades

Client satisfaction

Key clients

  • UBS Trust Company
  • Strattam Capital
  • Forbright Bank
  • Maxxam
  • Toro Verde
  • AmeriNational Community Services
  • Sonesta International Hotel Corporation
  • Destilería Serrallés
  • Alma Old San Juan Hotel

Work highlights

Acting as lead counsel to developer Discovery Land Company in the request for proposal process and issuance of an award for the development of a 50-room hotel, a golf course and 302 luxury residences in the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Base.
Acting as lead counsel to DBR West Point on the real estate and sales matters relating to the development of the West Point Ritz Reserve branded units at the Dorado Beach Resort.
Acted as sole counsel in the representation of the seller in the sale of an entity owning a 202-room hotel in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

Lawyers

Leading partners

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

Jorge Ruiz-Montilla; Patricia George-Iguina