DLA Piper announced today it has opened an office in San Juan, Puerto Rico, expanding the firm’s growing presence and capabilities in the Americas. The office will be initially comprised of partners Nikos Buxeda, Miriam de Lourdes Figueroa, José Alberto Sosa-Lloréns and Manuel López-Zambrana, each of whom have deep roots in Puerto Rico and extensive experience on a wide range of public and private transactions. Buxeda will serve as the office’s managing partner.
”DLA Piper has a growing strategic presence in Latin America and the Caribbean, and we are now in a position to provide the highest level of service on the ground to clients in Puerto Rico, further complementing our platform and services in the region,” said Roger Meltzer, the firm’s global co-chairman and co-chairman of the Americas. ”Puerto Rico is at a pivotal moment in its history, and we believe that with the help of these talented lawyers, we can play a role in helping the island overcome its current difficulties and become a vibrant economy again.”
DLA Piper’s expansion into Puerto Rico continues its strategy of delivering services to clients around the world and in the Americas. The firm recently established a cooperation agreement with Martinez Neira Abogados, a leading Colombian law firm, as well as combinations with Gallastegui y Lozano, S.C. in Mexico and Davis LLP in Canada. DLA Piper also has a presence in Brazil through a cooperation agreement with independent firm Campos Mello Advogados and a foreign consultancy.
”We’re excited to formalize our relationship with Nikos, Miriam, José and Manuel, all of whom have worked with DLA Piper in the past,” said Robert Gruendel, co-chair of the firm’s Latin American practice. ”Puerto Rico is poised for significant investment in the years ahead, and the new office will work in close coordination with DLA Piper lawyers in the region and around the world.”
About the lawyers:
Nikos Buxeda primarily advises clients on corporate and securities law transactions, including M&A, private placements, project finance, public-private partnerships and spin-offs. He also has experience advising clients on the organization of Puerto Rican mutual funds and private equity funds, distribution contracts, debt issuances and loan financing. He received his J.D. from Stanford Law School and his B.A., cum laude, from Harvard University.
Miriam de Lourdes Figueroa has extensive experience advising clients on infrastructure projects, public finance, project finance, public-private partnerships and administrative law. Figueroa has also advised government and private clients on energy related matters. She received her J.D., summa cum laude, from Pontifical Catholic University in Puerto Rico, her LL.M. from Harvard Law School, and her B.A. from Macalester College.
José Alberto Sosa-Lloréns advises clients on securities and banking regulatory matters, international banking, M&A of financial institutions, and corporate reorganizations. He has represented successful bidders in infrastructure transactions including public-private partnerships. Sosa has also served as bond counsel and underwriters counsel in public finance transactions for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, its instrumentalities and political subdivisions. He received his J.D. and B.B.A. (Finance) from the University of Puerto Rico and his LL.M. from Columbia Law School.
Manuel “Nolin” López-Zambrana focuses on tax matters and has worked with several large companies. Nolin is rated Band One by Chambers, and has served as an advisor to the Puerto Rico Department of the Treasury and to the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico. He received his B.A. from the University of Puerto Rico and his J.D. from the University of Puerto Rico Law School.
Source: www.dlapiper.com
