Rising Stars

Energy, natural resources and environment in Puerto Rico

McConnell Valdés LLC

The powerhouse team at McConnell Valdés LLC remains a market leader, bringing strength to high-value energy projects (including wind and solar power), and advising on greenfield and brownfield development, land use issues and compliance with environmental laws and regulations. With a client base that also includes financial institutions such as Santander Bank and multinational corporates spanning the aviation, energy, financial services, logistics and manufacturing sectors, the firm’s comprehensive service extends to power purchase agreements, interconnection agreements, procurement and construction contracts, land agreements and project finance. The team is headed by practice group chair environmental compliance and energy facility expert Carlos Fernández-Lugo and vice-chair Jorge García-Díaz, a specialist in the environmental aspects of real estate, finance and M&A transactions. Ignacio Vidal advises clients on environmental impact statements, zoning regulations, permits procurement and public service franchises. Associate André Palerm joined from O'Neill & Borges in December 2022.

Responsables de la pratique:

Carlos Fernández-Lugo; Jorge García-Díaz


Principaux clients

CooperVision Caribbean Corporation


Pattern Energy Group


Schnitzer Steel Industries


Sunnova Energy Corporation


Solar & Energy Storage Association of Puerto Rico


Convergent Energy and Power


Santander Bank


Principaux dossiers


  • Represented and advised a renewable energy company on the development of various solar energy projects as part of the second tranche of the request for proposals launched by the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority.
  • Representing and advising three manufacturing companies in connection with the development of a combined heat and power microgrid.
  • Represented and advised a financial institution in connection with the reconstruction of a 26 MW wind farm which was heavily damaged by Hurricane María in 2017.

Toro Colón Mullet, P.S.C.

The environmental, energy and land use law practice group at Toro Colón Mullet, P.S.C. advises clients across such sectors as real estate, agriculture, banking, manufacturing, cement, pharmaceuticals, electronics, petroleum, waste management, and telecoms, on a full range of matters. These extend to environmental risk strategies, including those related to M&A and property transfers, commonwealth and federal environmental permitting activities for hotels, industrial site developments and waste and recycling facilities, and environmental negotiation, litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Firm president Rafael Mullet-Sánchez advises clients on Puerto Rico and United States environmental regulations and construction law. Carlos Colón-Franceschi specialises in compliance with regards to clean air and hazardous wastes. Rafael Rivera-Yankovich concentrates on clean water matters.

DLA Piper Puerto Rico

The experienced energy and natural resources team at DLA Piper Puerto Rico provides a one-stop shop to advise regulators, the regulated, investors, developers and other key industry stakeholders, including governments, over the course of a major project’s entire lifecycle, from inception and development to completion, operation and sale. With a client base that includes power generators and multinational corporates across the utilities, energy, logistics and tech sectors, the group’s full service covers assistance with project finance, regulatory compliance, high-value, cross-border transactions, restructuring and dispute resolution. The team is led by deputy managing partner Miriam Figueroa, who assists with negotiating power purchase agreements and private operations contracts. Of counsel Laura Rozas brings 25 years of experience in the practice area and specialises in Puerto Rico and federal environmental law and Puerto Rico energy and land use law.

Responsables de la pratique:

Miriam Figueroa


Principaux clients

Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority


Luma Energy


Biomass Green Fuels


Smitcoms


PRTC (Claro)


Clean Energy Nexus


Bluepath


Stonecrest


Sunrun


Principaux dossiers


  • Assisted the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) in the procurement process and negotiation of contracts with major US suppliers of automatised water meters and remote reading systems.
  • Advising Biomass Green Fuels on corporate, tax, permitting and environmental matters as well as energy regulation and financing of the project.
  • Advising Luma Energy on energy regulatory matters affecting the operations of the company, including representing it before the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau in various regulatory cases.

Ferraiuoli LLC

The multidisciplinary environmental law, energy and land use practice group at Ferraiuoli LLC assists energy producers, investment management firms and international corporates on a diverse range of matters, from renewable energy projects, alternative fuel facilities and environmental impact reviews to zoning and permitting, regulatory compliance, disputes, multi-jurisdictional transactions, bankruptcy reorganisations, and the assessment, management and disposition of environmental liabilities. Counsel Eugene Scott Amy, who handles environmental litigation, and senior associate Eidalia González-Tosado are key figures.

O'Neill & Borges

The team at O'Neill & Borges advises sustainable renewable (including solar and wind) and alternative energy production tech companies, petroleum-based and distribution companies with federal and Puerto Rico regulatory matters, corporate compliance, government procurement and contracts and tax incentives. On the environmental side, the practice assists Puerto Rico government agencies with issues ranging from due diligence, internal compliance audits and the drafting and negotiation of agreements to civil and criminal liability under local and federal laws and regulations. Antonio Collazo-Bennazar and Jerry Lucas Marrero are the key contacts.

Pietrantoni Méndez & Alvarez LLP

In addition to assisting power producers with energy infrastructure projects, including oil, gas and product pipelines, terminals, petrochemical plants, solar plants and LNG facilities, the multidisciplinary team at Pietrantoni Méndez & Alvarez LLP coordinates its varied practices to advise clients on commercial lending, environmental law matters, privatisations, real estate, taxation, regulatory and zoning issues, and land use practices. Edwin Cruz and Karina Camacho-Ojeda are key contacts.