Tell us a little about yourself, your practice, and how you came to Nixon Peabody.
While working at the Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority on municipal debt restructuring and public finance matters for the Government of Puerto Rico, I was a client of Nixon Peabody. During that time, I met and worked with Virginia Wong, Mitch Rapaport, and Angelica Valencia. When it came time to join the private sector, I had no doubt that I wanted to be part of the firm that had provided us with the best work product and advice. Now at Nixon Peabody, I represent issuers, underwriters, and borrowers on a variety of public and project finance transactions.
What inspires you? Or why do you do the work that you do?
I really love that our work has a tangible aspect to it as we assist with the financing of projects that create a positive impact on everyday lives. It is inspiring to see the infrastructure projects for which we provide legal advice come to life and, even more so, to visit and use such improvements. I believe that infrastructure projects are the building blocks of our society that improve our livelihood. Also, as a project and public finance lawyer, I am always challenged with working on creative structures for the ever-changing financing schemes that drive financial markets.
What is your proudest personal or professional accomplishment?
Being part of the team that was able to help restructure the public debt of the Government of Puerto Rico. With such a historic achievement (biggest municipal debt restructuring in US history), after Puerto Rico was heavily hit by the global financial crisis and the phase-out by Congress of the economic incentives under Section 936 of the IRS Tax Code, the Government of Puerto Rico can now invest in economic development, infrastructure, and social programs, and take other measures to jump-start its economy to support the more than three million American citizens living in the Island.
Have you had any mentors or lawyers who have inspired your career?
During my career I’ve been lucky to meet people who have taken the time to mentor me and help me develop professionally. While at my first litigation law firm, the Puerto Rico Supreme Court, and during my experience in government, there were selfless individuals that offered helpful resources, valuable advice, and enlightening insights. Virginia Wong has been one of those mentors. I cannot thank her enough for always taking the time to teach me and provide me with candid feedback when I have done something well but most importantly when I have done something wrong.
For young Hispanic lawyers, what advice could you offer them for developing their career journey?
Never to stay in their comfort zone and to challenge themselves every day. In my experience, true growth and opportunity to succeed lies in the challenges dismissed by others because of how difficult or unrealistic they can appear. One of my favorite quotes, by Thomas A. Edison, is this: “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” If you do anything consistently, understanding how complicated it may be and how much work it will require, you will at the end succeed in such an endeavor.
What are some of the ways you have been involved in advancing NP’s commitment to DEI? How has your recent participation in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Pathfinder Program prepared you?
While an associate, I helped lead the Hispanic Resource Group, and since then I have remained active within the group to advance the firm’s DEI commitments. Recently, I helped draft the mission statement for the Hispanic Resource Group. My participation in LCLD has been instrumental in helping me build a diverse network of attorneys and has provided me with the tools, pathways, and confidence to ascend to a leadership position within Nixon Peabody.
