OUR SERVICES
Solid and customized legal solutions
Construction law and litigation, along with surety bond law, are some of our firm's main practice areas. Our construction group drafts contracts tailored to the laws of the United States and Puerto Rico, and provides advice to contractors and owners. Our knowledge of Puerto Rican construction law is of great value to our clients. We are proud to have served large and small construction clients in Puerto Rico, the continental United States, and Europe. We have also participated as speakers in educational seminars on construction law.
We have assisted clients in drafting and negotiating construction and subcontract contracts, joint venture agreements, operating agreements, mergers and acquisitions agreements, shareholder agreements, real estate transfers, distribution agreements, and mortgages. There is a special synergy between our contracts practice and our other areas of expertise, such as construction, project finance, surety bonds, real estate, and real estate development, which allows us to assist clients in the negotiation and drafting of such contracts.
Our litigation group has experience in all forms of dispute resolution (including mediation and arbitration) and civil litigation before local and federal administrative agencies, as well as before federal and local courts. We have experience in litigation before administrative agencies, the Court of First Instance of Puerto Rico, the Intermediate Court of Appeals of Puerto Rico, the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, as well as before the Civilian and Armed Services Contract Appeals Boards.
We have represented clients in a variety of surety bond matters. We have negotiated and litigated, successfully handling default terminations, including challenges to construction default declarations. We have handled payment bond disputes under federal, state and private bonds, and have assisted clients in preparing and negotiating financial accommodation agreements, termination agreements, takeover agreements and other surety-related contracts.
Our firm represents Puerto Rico, national and international corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies for whom we provide company creation and governance services. We perform commercial transactional and litigation work for corporations and other entities in diverse industries and have experience in mergers and acquisitions.
Our firm has experience in negotiating and drafting alternative dispute resolution agreements, including arbitration agreements, mediation, mini-trials, expert fact-finding, and early neutral evaluations of disputes. We have participated in such proceedings on behalf of our clients. We have intervened in arbitrations involving construction and surety bond claims. We also assist clients in the enforcement of arbitration awards.
We have experience representing both borrowers and lenders and negotiating loan agreements, including loans for real estate projects. We can offer advice and services related to land loans and construction loans, as well as permanent end-user financing.
We have experience representing both sellers and buyers in mergers, sales and acquisitions. Our firm also has experience in joint ventures. We have worked for banks and other companies as mergers and acquisitions advisors. We can also provide representation and advice in related areas such as labor and employment, real estate, bank financing and secured transactions.
Our firm has experience representing clients before administrative agencies in connection with regulatory compliance and adversarial proceedings. Some of the agencies before which we have practiced include the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, the Armed Services Contract Appeals Board, the Puerto Rico Telecommunications Bureau, the Permit Management Board, and the Department of Consumer Affairs.
Under Puerto Rico law, the transfer of titles and other rights over real property, including mortgages, requires the services of a notary (who must be a lawyer). Our attorneys-notaries represent buyers, sellers, corporations and banking institutions.
We have knowledge and experience in Puerto Rico inheritance law, including administration, liquidation and distribution of inheritances. We have handled multi-jurisdictional matters related to inheritance and heirs. Probate litigation is one of our strengths. We have litigated succession disputes as attorneys for executors, as well as heirs.
There is a special synergy between our real estate, construction and corporate practices. We have represented residential and commercial real estate developers and performed their contractual work, including drafting development agreements and operating agreements, bond financing of their projects, as well as regulatory and permitting work.
We offer advice on wage and hour matters according to federal and Puerto Rico laws, as well as other labor matters. Our labor practice includes litigation before federal and Puerto Rico courts and administrative agencies. We also have experience in matters before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regarding unfair labor practice proceedings, as well as in the negotiation and administration of collective bargaining agreements.
Puerto Rico's distribution laws, such as Act 75 and Act 21, govern the business relationship between principals and locally designated distributors, and limit the ability of principals to unilaterally terminate the relationship. We have experience representing clients in matters involving Act 75 and Act 21.
Our firm has participated in public-private partnership projects, such as the Moscoso Bridge (a privately operated and maintained toll bridge that connects the San Juan International Airport to the Hato Rey business center) and the Humacao Judicial Center , a design-build-maintenance project. We have also participated on behalf of real estate developers in the formation of state, municipal and private consortia for various aqueduct and sewer facilities of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority.