Littler, a labor and employment law firm with a presence in 28 countries, significantly expanded in Puerto Rico after all of rival Jackson Lewis’s lawyers in Puerto Rico moved to the firm. Juan Felipe Santos, managing partner of Littler Puerto Rico, told El Nuevo Día the office now has 23 attorneys, six legal assistants, two paralegals and five administrative staff.
Four shareholder partners joined: Sara E. Colón Acevedo, Karina Rodríguez, Ana B. Rosado Frontanés and Carlos J. Saavedra Gutiérrez, who served as secretary of the Department of Labor and Human Resources under Governor Ricardo Rosselló. Marcia C. Laurido Soto, Tatiana Leal González and José L. Maymí-González joined as associates. Santos said Jackson Lewis’s entire client portfolio and team moved to Littler, including most or all of its clients, spanning pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, medical devices, hotels, financial services, banks, professional services, retail and pharmacies, both local companies and multinationals.
He cited Littler’s network of offices on four continents and noted Puerto Rico’s legal framework is more complex because federal and state regulations coexist. Littler also advises on artificial intelligence adoption, cyberattacks, privacy and data protection. Littler president Erin Webber said Puerto Rico is an important market for its clients.
Littler entered Puerto Rico in 2014 by integrating the Schuster firm. Santos said growth plans include investing in talent and raising the Puerto Rico office’s profile, possibly with a services export decree under the 2019 Incentives Code. Littler reports employing more than 2,000 lawyers worldwide.