1. LAW/COURTS 46 CARIBBEAN BUSINESS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2011
Ferraiuoli LLC opens the way for the law practice of the future
BY MARIO BELAVAL DÍAZ
mariob@caribbeanbusinesspr.com
T he nomination of local full-service law firm
Ferraiuoli LLC as one of the four candi-
dates for Puerto Rico’s Law Firm of the Year
2011 award by Chambers & Partners is already
recognition of the quality, professionalism and
expertise that has driven the firm to the top in
just a mere eight years. Chambers & Partners is
the publisher of the world-leading directories of
the legal profession. From left, the four
“Ever since we began, we strove to enlist the capital members
brightest, most dynamic talent, who think outside of Ferraiuoli
the box, and this has placed us among the top LLC: Jorge L.
firms in Puerto Rico, firms that have 20 to 60 San Miguel,
years’ experience on the island,” said Eugenio Eugenio J. Torres
Torres Oyola, one of the firm’s four capital Oyola, Fernando
members. “That ability to think in new ways has J. Rovira Rullán,
allowed us to integrate new systems and ideas, and Víctor R.
ranging from administrative processes to prod- Rodríguez
ucts, which give an edge to our clients.” Martínez.
The company has also fulfilled its plan of
becoming a top-notch services-oriented firm,
by branching out from its original focus on intel-
lectual property, said Fernando Rovira Rullán, Attorney Lillian Mateo Santos joined Ferraiuoli
attorney & capital member, who chairs the firm’s as a member, specializing in environmental law,
corporate & real-estate department. While the energy and land use; René Avilés García also “We have assembled a team
company has established its reputation as the joined as a member, concentrating in employee that comprises young attorneys
leading intellectual-property firm in Puerto benefits; and Katherine González Valentín, who
Rico, it is also recognized as a top firm in the joined as a senior member, and is the chair of the who are experienced in areas
practice areas it specializes: corporate, tax & firm’s labor & employment department. that are relevant for businesses
employee benefits, intellectual property, labor “We have assembled a team that comprises
& employment, environmental, energy & land young attorneys who are experienced in areas today and the future, attorneys
use, and litigation. that are relevant for businesses today and the
“We decided to become the best firm in the area future, attorneys who have worked in other top
who have worked in other
of intellectual property. From there, we expanded local firms, and decided to join us,” said Víctor top local firms, and decided to
our areas of service, which began to grow as cli- Rodríguez Martínez, a capital member of the firm,
ents requested we offer them counsel and legal who’s experience includes more than a decade of
join us. These two facts let us
services in other areas of their business,” Rovira in-house counsel to ExxonMobil Corp. in Puerto know we are on the right
Rullán said. “Not only are we proud to be recog- Rico, the state of Florida and Rome, Italy. “These
nized, on an international level, as Puerto Rico’s two facts let us know we are on the right track track regarding our vision
top intellectual-property firm, but our achieve- regarding our vision and mission as a firm.” and mission as a firm.”
ments in that area have fueled the growth of our Part of Ferraiuoli’s mission is to offer local
other practices, strengthened by the best local clients the latest legal resources and solutions to —Víctor Rodríguez Martínez,
talent in those areas.” deal with relevant areas that are sure to become Ferraiuoli LLC capital member
Just this year, Ferraiuoli added 13 attorneys even more significant to doing business in Puerto
in practice areas that place them in the fore- Rico in the future, according to capital member
front of the most current and promising fields of Jorge L. San Miguel. During 2009, San Miguel, we help them reach goals, but also take part in
law. Among the leading legal talent that joined along with Mateo Santos, led a team that drafted ensuring people choose to do business in Puerto
Ferraiuoli in the past months are attorney Jorge Puerto Rico’s new Permits Process Reform Act, Rico, despite what they may perceive as chal-
L. San Miguel, who joined the firm as a capital which became law on Dec. 1, 2009. lenges or obstacles.”
member and heads the environmental law, energy “For example, take the issue of land use. As Torres Oyola added: “Our corporate and tax
& land use department; attorney Víctor Rodríguez an island, and given our geographic dimensions, attorneys, along with our intellectual-property
Martínez, the firm’s fourth capital member, who land is an ever-present concern for clients want- attorneys, are better equipped to handle intellec-
concentrates his practice in environmental law ing to do business in Puerto Rico. That concern tual-property-based transactions than any other
and energy & land use; and attorney Eduardo includes dealing with processes and regulations at law firm in Puerto Rico.” Intellectual property
Tamargo Motroni, who joined as a senior member municipal, state and federal levels,” San Miguel and energy law seem to be two practice areas
in the corporate department, specializing in gen- said. “Our mission, and what sets us apart, is that that will drive Ferraiuoli into the future, but this
eral corporate law, the petroleum industry, real we have the expertise and knowledge to guide our innovative firm seems ready to tackle any new
estate, commercial lending and entertainment. clients in these types of processes. Not only do challenge that comes its way.