Biography
Accomplished Attorney and Senior Counsel Executive with 15 years’ experience specializing in commercial litigation, civil appeals, commercial international arbitration proceedings, lender’s liability, construction disputes, insurance subrogation claims, high‑dollar mortgage foreclosures of development projects and security interests (including First Preferred Ship Mortgage foreclosure), Uniform Commercial Code, Securities Fraud, Truth in Lending Act, Bank Holding Company Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, and other consumer protection laws and regulations.
First‑chaired in non‑jury trials and second‑chaired in jury trials and arbitration proceedings. Commercial litigation work includes pleadings, depositions, written discovery, appeals and judgment enforcement. Became senior associate after four years practicing law; a year later was named Junior Partner, a position held until August 2016, when she moved to Houston to attend the University of Houston Law Center’s LLM program in Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Law. While studying the LLM, she retained 100% of her clients and provided legal services remotely.
Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills. Ability to work closely with business clients, financial experts, other in‑house counsel and outside law firms to facilitate effective litigation and settlement of disputes and the early and efficient resolution of legal issues.
Core Competencies:
- Trial Appearance
- Analytical Abilities
- Case Management
- Legal Writing
- Construction & Development Financing Disputes
- Uniform Commercial Code (UCC Art. 9)
- Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA)
- Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) & Regulation X
- Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA) & Regulation E
- Self‑help Mechanisms under UCC Art. 9
Practice Focus
- ✓ 15 years’ experience in commercial litigation, civil appeals, and international arbitration
- ✓ Specializing in lender’s liability, construction disputes, insurance subrogation, and high‑dollar mortgage foreclosures (including First Preferred Ship Mortgage)
- ✓ First‑chair in non‑jury trials and second‑chair in jury trials and arbitration proceedings
- • Puerto Rico Supreme Court Davila Pollock v. R.F. Mortgage and Investment Corp, 182 PR Dec. 86 (2011); HBA Contractors Inc. v. Municipality of Ceiba, 166 P.R. Dec. 443 (2005); Belk Arce v. MartĂnez, 163 P.R. Dec. 196 (2004)
- • U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit Colón Fontanez v. Municipality of San Juan, 660 F.3d 17 (1st Cir. 2011); FirstBank Puerto Rico v. La Vida Merger Sub, 638 F.3d 37 (1st Cir. 2011); Puerto Rico Telephone Co. v. Municipality of Guaynilla, 450 F.3d 9 (1st Cir. 2006) (amicus brief)
Education
- Master of Laws (LLM), Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law, University of Houston Law Center, 2016–2017
- Doctor of Law (JD), Law (Magna Cum Laude), Inter American University School of Law, 1999–2002
- Bachelor’s Degree, Finance and Marketing, Boston College Carroll School of Management, 1995–1999
Bar Admissions
- Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
- U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Texas Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Licenses
- Supreme Court of Puerto Rico (Issued Jan 2003)
- U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico (Issued Jul 2003)
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (Issued Mar 2003)
- U.S. Supreme Court (Issued May 2010)
- Texas Supreme Court (Issued Dec 2015)
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (Issued Jan 2019)
Test Scores & Achievements
- U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico Bar Exam – Highest Grade, Mar 2003
- Puerto Rico Bar Exam – Highest Grade, Sep 2002