Attorneys

<p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong><em>JUAN RAMÓN CANCIO-ORTIZ</em></strong>, admitted to Bar, 1983, Puerto Rico.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Education</strong>: Franklin and Marshall College (B.A., 1980); University of Puerto Rico (J.D., 1983).</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">His practice is focused in the areas of corporate and business law, municipal finance, corporate finance, banking, litigation, real estate, securities, workouts, and mergers and acquisitions. He became initiated in securities work in 1984 in a US Treasury indexed preferred stock offering for Banco de Ponce, then one of the leading banks in Puerto Rico. Since then, Mr. Cancio has participated in numerous offerings of municipal and corporate securities, including swaps, hedges, and derivative products. During this time, in addition to being involved in the purely transactional and regulatory aspects of the transactions in which he participated in, he has also been involved in the determination of the taxation of such financial products. His finance practice involves the representation of borrowers, financial institutions, and private lenders in a diversity of financing transactions, including acquisition, asset based and real estate financings, restructurings, workouts, and purchases and sales of distressed credits. Mr. Cancio has participated in numerous offerings of municipal and corporate securities, including swaps, hedges, and derivative products. During this time, in addition to being involved in the purely transactional and regulatory aspects of the transactions in which he participated, he has also been involved in the determination of the taxation of such financial products. His experience in the taxation of financial products and transactions extends from Puerto Rico taxation to Section 501(c)(3) and Section 103 exempt financings under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Mr. Cancio was designated by the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico as part of the selective group of professionals entrusted with facilitating the successful return of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority to the revenue bond market, after a 20-year hiatus. Through his involvement in the financing and securities offerings, for Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt hospitals and similar facilities in Puerto Rico, Mr. Cancio has also developed significant experience in the regulatory aspects of healthcare law. His expertise in this particular field was recognized by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, during its initial efforts in the privatization of various public healthcare facilities in the 1990s.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Among his most recent work in the field of municipal finance Mr. Cancio has led CCS’ representation as local counsel for the GDB Debt Recovery Authority in the issuance of the $2.6 billion of GDB Debt Recovery Authority Bonds (Taxable) in November 2018, the first Qualifying Modification under Title VI of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) (certified by the Financial Oversight and Management Board, under Section 601(g)(2)(A) of PROMESA, and approved by the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico on November 7, 2018) and our representation of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority in the issuance of $1,300,000,000 of its Senior Revenue Bonds and the refunding of $284,755,000 of its Commonwealth Guaranteed Revenue Bonds in 2008 and $2,095,695,000 of its Senior Lien Bonds under an amended and restated Master Agreement of Trust in 2012.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Additionally, Mr. Cancio has been involved in commercial litigation in the local court system and before the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in numerous high-stake cases involving multi-million dollar claims, including “<em>bet the company</em>” litigation. Specifically, Mr. Cancio has appeared on three (3) separate occasions before the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and was successful in upholding the constitutionality of Act No. 109 approved by the Puerto Rico Legislature, on July 12, 1985, as amended, under the Dormant Foreign Commerce Clause, a case of first impression in the United States.  Mr. Cancio also led the Firm’s efforts to successfully enjoin in local court the payment of a multi-million dollar stand-by letter of credit. Most recently, after a trial that lasted three weeks, Mr. Cancio was able to achieve a judgement in favor of his client, a shopping center owner, of approximately $2,300,000.00 in contract damages against a supermarket chain owner who abandoned the premises after a fire. Before trial, counsel to the supermarket chain offered Mr. Cancio $17,000.00 to settle the matter. Pending final adjudication, Mr. Cancio requested and was granted an order to attach funds of the supermarket chain. As a result, the full amount of the judgement was deposited with the Court.</p> <img class="wp-image-8405 size-medium aligncenter" src="https://ccsllp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/juanramoncancioortiz-300x91.png&quot; alt="" width="300" height="91" /> <img class="size-medium wp-image-8521 aligncenter" src="https://ccsllp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Unknown-300x252.jpeg&quot; alt="" width="300" height="252" />  

<strong><em>JORGE L. COVAS-MENDOZA</em></strong>, admitted to Bar, 1996, Puerto Rico. <b>Education</b>:  University of Massachusetts at Amherst, MA and University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, Puerto Rico (B.S.,<i>Cum Laude</i>, 1992); University of Puerto Rico School of Law, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico (J.D., 1995). Mr. Covas has participated to varying degrees in transactions for the issuance of municipal bonds, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt hospital revenue bonds and tourism revenue bonds, as well as participated in the negotiation and drafting of closing documents for complex real estate transactions, stock and asset acquisitions, mergers, and joint ventures, including the acquisition of the Caribe Hilton Hotel by Hilton International, and a number of lease-backed government-sponsored real estate development projects for use by global research and development, IT, and manufacturing companies. Mr. Covas has also worked with clients in organizing corporations, planning and implementing corporate recapitalizations, spin-offs’ and other corporate restructurings and participated in negotiations and drafted documents in connection with the privatization of government assets and services, including representing the government of Puerto Rico during its initial efforts to privatize the public health system. He has prepared and negotiated loan and security documents as well as repurchase and purchase and sale documents for collateralized notes and other securities for the corporate banking, structured finance, investments, asset based lending and workout divisions of the largest commercial bank in Puerto Rico, including trades and workouts of distressed loans, leveraged buy-outs, and project financings.   <img class="wp-image-8404 size-medium aligncenter" src="https://ccsllp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/jorge-300x92.png&quot; alt="" width="300" height="92" />

<strong><em>CARLOS P. SANTIAGO-SARKIS</em></strong>, admitted to Bar 1995, Puerto Rico. <b>Education</b>: University of Puerto Rico School of Law, J.D., Cum Laude, 1994; Wallace E. Carroll School of Management, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, BS Finance, 1990. Mr. Santiago is one of CCS’ founding members, and a member of its Corporate Department. He is primarily engaged in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, secured corporate and commercial finance transactions, debt restructuring and workouts, and general corporate counseling. His finance practice involves the representation of borrowers, financial institutions, and private lenders in a wide range of financing transactions, including acquisition, asset based and real estate financings, restructurings, workouts, and purchases and sales of distressed credits. Mr. Santiago is also experienced in general corporate matters, including the organization of corporations, limited liability companies, and joint ventures, negotiation of commercial contracts, and corporate governance. He has also participated in transactions for the issuance of public and private debt and other securities, and represented both issuers and investors in venture capital formation transactions. Prior to the firm’s founding, he was an associate and later a partner in a large corporate law firm in San Juan. <blockquote><i>Established partner Carlos Santiago offers notable expertise advising clients on M&A transactions, joint venture agreements and debt restructuring mandates.</i> <cite>- Chambers</cite></blockquote> <img class="wp-image-8450 size-medium aligncenter" src="https://ccsllp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/FW-2025-Best-Lawyeers-page-1-300x91.jpg&quot; alt="" width="300" height="91" />   <img class="wp-image-8522 size-medium aligncenter" src="https://ccsllp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Santiago-Carlos-Logo-2026-300x252.jpg&quot; alt="" width="300" height="252" />

<strong><em>RODNEY W. COLÓN-ORTIZ</em></strong>, admitted to Bar, 2000, Puerto Rico. <b>Education</b>:  University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, and Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (B.B.A., 1996; J.D.,<i>Cum Laude</i>, 2000). Law Clerk for Honorable Juan M. Pérez Giménez, District Judge, U. S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, 2000. Mr. Colón has had continuous involvement in transactions and other matters related to the fields of local and federal litigation, securities, corporate, real estate, administrative and banking law practice and financing. Mr. Colón represents real estate developers in all stages of residential and commercial developments, as well real estate financings, acquisitions, and divestitures. He has also, prepared and negotiated loan and security documents as well as repurchase and purchase and sale documents for one of the principal commercial banks in Puerto Rico. Mr. Colón is involved in various civil and commercial litigation cases representing banking institutions and other commercial entities in both local and federal courts.

<div><span class="s7"><strong><em>CHARLES E. VILARÓ VALDERRÁBANO</em></strong>, admitted to Bar, 2006, Puerto Rico; United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, 2006, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, 2010.  </span></div> <div></div> <div><strong>Education</strong>:  University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus (B.S. in Accounting, Cum Laude, 2002); University of Puerto Rico, School of Law, San Juan, P.R. (J.D., 2005).</div> <div></div> <div> Mr. Vilaró joined CCS in 2008 as an associate attorney and is a member of its Litigation Department. He is a Junior Partner at CCS. Prior to joining CCS, Mr. Vilaró worked in private practice and in the Puerto Rico Department of Justice’s Office of Federal and General Litigation where he represented government agencies and officials in civil and commercial cases, having also participated as first chair counsel in federal civil jury cases. Mr. Vilaró has approximately fifteen years of litigation experience and concentrates his practice in the areas of creditors’ rights, securities litigation, and commercial litigation, before state and federal courts, agencies and ADR forums (i.e., arbitration and mediation).   Charles represents clients on such matters as shareholder appraisal litigation, derivative actions related to short-form mergers, construction litigation and contractor delays, insurance coverage defense, fraudulent transfer litigation under bankruptcy and local law, land use and permit procurement litigation, contract disputes, health law, medical invoicing litigation, collection of monies, creditors rights, among others. He has also advised and represented corporate entities in expropriation cases, successfully reaching favorable out of court settlements with public corporations. Mr. Vilaró obtained a favorable judgment from the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, in which said court vacated a decision issued by the Court of Appeals in an Act 95 (P.R. Real Estate Broker Law) case on due process grounds (<em>Ana Rivera Delbrey v. Global Equities Realty</em>, AC-2012-0037). Also, after being briefed by Mr. Vilaró, the Supreme Court issued certiorari in another case of first impression involving the litigious credit redemption doctrine as it intertwines with various sections of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. </div>

<p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong><em>CRISTINA MARGARITA GARCÍA HALL</em></strong>, admitted to Bar, 2009, Puerto Rico.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Education</strong>: University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus (B.A., Social Sciences, <em>Magna Cum Laude</em>, 2006); Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico Law School (J.D., <em>Magna Cum Laude</em>, 2009).</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Ms. García-Hall joined CCS in 2010 as an associate attorney and is a member of its Corporate Department. She is a Junior Partner at the firm. Prior to joining CCS, Ms. García-Hall worked in private practice and in the Puerto Rico Sports and Recreation Department. As a member of CCS’ Corporate Department she counsels a wide range of private and public sector entities, including 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, in a broad range of transactions. Ms. García-Hall is primarily engaged in the areas of corporate and commercial law, corporate and municipal finance, commercial lending, mergers and acquisitions, securities, health and administrative law. As part of CCS’ Public Finance practice Group Ms. García Hall has participated in the Firm’s representation as local counsel for the GDB Debt Recovery Authority in the issuance of $2.6 billion GDB Debt Recovery Authority Bonds (Taxable) and the representation of Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority in the structuring, negotiating, drafting and execution of the definitive documents in the constitution of the Trust Funds for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (collectively, the “SRFs”). The establishment of the Trust Funds permitted the Government of Puerto Rico to recover about $195 million in federal funding that had been frozen at the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">She assists clients in diverse transactions, including the issuance of public and private debt and other securities. She has participated in numerous mergers and acquisitions, stock and asset purchase transactions, as well as secured corporate and commercial financings, debt restructurings and workouts. She also provides general corporate counseling and assists clients in a variety of general corporate matters, including the organization of corporations, limited liability companies, negotiation of commercial contracts, and corporate governance, among others.</p>

<div><span lang="ES-PR">Admitted to bar, 1989, Puerto Rico. </span>Education: Georgetown University, Washington, D. C. (B.S., 1985); University of Puerto Rico Law School (J.D., 1989). Ms. Vela-has been continuously involved in transactions and other matters related to the fields of corporate, real estate, administrative, banking law practice and financing. She has prepared and negotiated numerous loan and security documents, as well as repurchase and purchase and sale documents for one of the principal commercial banks in Puerto Rico</div>

<p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong><em>ILEANA M OLIVER-FALERO</em></strong>, admitted to bar, 1999, Puerto Rico; 2001, United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and 2005, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Education</strong>: Yale University (B.A. Spanish and Portuguese, <em>Magna Cum Laude, </em>Honors in Major, Bildner Prize, 1991); University of Puerto Rico Law School (J.D., 1998, Member of Law Review Board, 1995-1996, 1996-1997) ; Vanderbilt University (Graduate Studies 1992-1993) Universidade de São Paulo (Exchange Program 1989-1990).</p> <div> <div> <strong>Professional Overview:</strong> </div> Ileana M. Oliver Falero is a seasoned attorney with extensive experience in state and federal litigation. She leads a private legal practice and serves as Special Solicitor for the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico’s Reputation Commission. Additionally, she acts as Of Counsel at Cancio, Covas & Santiago, LLP (CCS), specializing in complex litigation, bankruptcy law, and representing public entities and creditors in PROMESA proceedings, as well as Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases and related adversary litigation.<b></b> </div> <div> Previously, Ms. Oliver Falero served as a Senior Associate at CCS, where she successfully developed litigation strategies that reduced costs and achieved favorable outcomes through compromise settlements and summary judgments. </div> <div> Her current private practice encompasses a diverse range of legal services, including real estate, inheritance matters, and closing transactions, where she offers substantial expertise as a notary public. </div> <div> <strong>Legal Achievements:</strong> </div> <div> Ms. Oliver Falero has held key leadership roles in the public sector, notably serving as Special Assistant to the Director of Legal Affairs for the Municipality of San Juan. In this capacity, she managed litigation, negotiated settlements, and provided counsel on municipal ordinances and regulations. </div> <div> As Acting Deputy Solicitor General for the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, she represented the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in appellate cases before state and federal courts. Her work included oversight of high-stakes litigation involving matters of public interest and professional disciplinary investigations. </div> <div> Her litigation portfolio spans a wide array of high-profile cases, including bankruptcy litigation, catastrophic personal injury, RICO Act claims, class actions, health law, and commercial disputes. </div> <div> <p class="xmsonormal"><strong>Notable Clients:</strong></p> </div> <div> <p class="xmsonormal">Ms. Oliver Falero has represented a wide range of prominent clients, including MiCorredor.com, Glassmetco, LAPIC, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, Scotiabank, PR Asset Portfolio, Hospital Español Auxilio Mutuo, Metro Holdings, Caribbean Hospital Corporation, SIMAH, Taco Maker, La Cruz Azul, MC-21 Corporation, DaimlerChrysler, Commoloco, Fox Sports Latin America, Sears Roebuck, Sherwin-Williams, and Univision Communications.</p> </div> <div> <strong>Commitment to Excellence:</strong> </div> <div> Ms. Oliver Falero combines comprehensive legal expertise with a client-focused approach to consistently deliver favorable outcomes. Her dedication to navigating complex legal challenges—particularly in bankruptcy law and litigation—has established her as a trusted advocate and a valuable resource for her clients. </div>

<strong><em>ANÍBAL J. MENDÍN-SÁNCHEZ</em></strong>, admitted to Bar, 2013, Puerto Rico. <b>Education:</b>Johnson & Wales University (B.A., Hotel & Restaurant Management), 2005. Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, School of Law, J.D., 2012; Mr. Mendín-Sánchez joined CCS in 2017 as an associate attorney and is a member of its Corporate Department. Prior to joining CCS, Mr. Mendín-Sánchez was an associate in Mendín Marín & Assoc. where he represented various governmental agencies and financial institutions, including the Economic Development Bank for Puerto Rico, the Innovation Fund for the Agricultural Development of Puerto Rico, the Department of Economic Development and Commerce, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, the Puerto Rico Land Administration, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico and PR Asset Portfolio International, LLC. He is primarily engaged in the areas of commercial secured financing transactions, corporate law, and foreclosure and collection suits. <div></div>

<p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>JUAN RAMÓN CANCIO VELA</strong>, admitted to Puerto Rico Bar in January 2024.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Education: </strong>University of Notre Dame (B.A., International Economics), 2015; Tulane University Law School, J.D., 2022.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Mr. Cancio Vela joined CCS in 2022 as an associate attorney and works for both the Corporate and Litigation Departments. Before attending law school, Mr. Cancio Vela worked in wealth management and corporate finance for a combined total of over four years.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Prior to joining CCS, Mr. Cancio Vela completed General Electric’s Financial Management Program (<em>“FMP”</em>), which is an executive grooming program that pushes analysts to complete four six-month rotations in different GE businesses, each of which highlights a unique corporate finance core competency. Additionally, the FMP program extends beyond these full-time work experiences by also requiring analysts to complete seven corporate finance courses alongside normal work duties. These courses encompass foundational accounting principles and specialized financial topics alike; for example, one course delineated the various commercial financing structures General Electric offered key industrial clientel. After completing the two-year management program at GE, Mr. Cancio Vela became a Multi-plant Finance Manager at ASEA Brown Boveri for two industrial factories located in Puerto Rico. During his tenure as a finance manager, Mr. Cancio Vela analyzed variable and fixed cost operational expenses generated at both factories, facilitated the migration of the factories' operational expenses onto ABB's financial reporting structure, analyzed factory cost-performance compared to expected finished-goods cost-yield, and designed budgets incorporating the latest revised-production-guidance to maintain adequate cost-yield at the factories.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">While attending Tulane Law, Mr. Cancio Vela worked as a tax-law research assistant for Professor McCarden, as a teaching assistant for Professor Gard at the Freeman School of Business, and as a student attorney for the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic. During the first semester of his clinic experience, Mr. Cancio Vela interviewed an immigrant client, drafted their sworn-declaration and wrote a legal brief arguing for the client's eligibility for a special immigration status. In the final semester of his clinic experience, Mr. Cancio Vela designed a client intake-and-screening procedure for immigrants eligible for temporary protected status (TPS). After an additional group of immigrants became eligible for this protection mid-semester, Mr. Cancio Vela prepared a comprehensive training on the legal elements of TPS for a class of law students with only one week’s notice. The students, who had no previous training in this immigration protection, were then immediately assigned to assist clients using these training materials.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">As part of the CCS team, he is primarily engaged in the areas of commercial transactions, corporate law, tax law, real estate law, and foreclosure and collection suits. Apart from the aforementioned primary areas of law, he has also gained experience with legal research and writing to support the Litigation Department, and Mr. Cancio Vela has also conducted and coordinated pre-production document reviews searching for materials protected under legal privilege and confidentiality on e-Discovery platforms like OneDiscovery and Everlaw.</p>

<p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong><em>René Adalberto Sagardía Rivera</em></strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Education:</strong> Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, San Juan PR (B.A., Psychology, <em>Magna Cum Laude</em>, 2016). Escuela de Derecho, Universidad de Puerto Rico (J.D. with a concentration in civil law, <em>Magna Cum Laude</em>, 2019). Facultat de Dret, Universitat de Barcelona (Grado en Derecho, 2020).</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Mr. Sagardía-Rivera joined CCS in 2024 as a Law Clerk. Prior, in 2016 Sagardía-Rivera obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, graduating with <em>Magna Cum Laude</em> honors. Mr. Sagardía-Rivera completed his Double Title program after studying abroad in the Facultat de Dret, Universitat de Barcelona, receiving a “Grado en Derecho,” certifying a formal education in Spain’s legal system. In 2023, Mr. Sagardía-Rivera also worked as an emergency insurance adjuster and later an auxiliary to a licensed insurance adjuster, gaining practical experience in processing real property and personal property insurance claims.</p>

<strong><em>NICOLE M. GONZÁLEZ SÁNCHEZ</em></strong>, admitted to Puerto Rico Bar in 2024. <strong>Education</strong>: University of Puerto Rico in Arecibo (B.A., Business Administration, majoring in Accounting), 2017; Inter American University School of Law, J.D., 2024. Ms. González Sánchez joined CCS in 2024 as an associate attorney and works for both the Corporate and Litigation Departments. Prior to joining CCS, Mrs. González Sánchez was a paralegal for Attorney Ramón Pérez González, and while at Inter American University School of Law was part of the Innocence Project Association and the Litigation Association. Apart from gaining experience with legal research and writing to support the Litigation Department, Ms. González Sánchez took part in drafting a certiorari filed in the Supreme Court, which led to the Opinion: <em>Blassino Alvarado v. Reyes Blassino</em>, 2024 TSPR 93, 214 DPR.

<strong>GABRIEL NATALIO PRATS BAYONET</strong>, admitted to the Puerto Rico Bar in July 2023 and to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in September 2023. <strong>Education:</strong> Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (B.A., Homeland Security), 2019; Interamerican University School of Law, J.D., 2022. Mr. Prats-Bayonet joined CCS in October 2025 as an associate attorney and is a member of the Litigation Department. Prior to joining CCS, Mr. Prats-Bayonet worked as junior counsel in Aerostar Airport Holdings, LLC, a P3 corporation at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, where he engaged in the reviewing and drafting contracts in-house. Before being admitted to the Puerto Rico Bar, Mr. Prats-Bayonet interned as a law clerk for the Hon. Gustavo A. Gelpí, both during his tenure as Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico (during the Summer of 2021), and, presently, as a Circuit Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (during his last semester at law school). He also worked part-time with R.P.P. Law, P.S.C., gaining valuable insight into litigation case management. While at the Interamerican University School of Law, Mr. Prats-Bayonet was part of the 56th Edition of the Interamerican University Law Review, where he authored Vaello-Madero: Putting on Hold Equal Rights for Territorial Citizens, 56 REV. JUR. UIPR 39-71 (2022), which delved into the history and recent cases the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on regarding the rights of U.S. citizens living in U.S. territories. The article centered around the development and subsequent ruling of the case United States v. Vaello-Madero, 596 U.S. 159 (2022), which held that the Constitution does not require Congress to extend Supplementary Security Income (“SSI”) benefits to residents of Puerto Rico.