Objective
In House Counsel / Executive / Management position with maritime transportation / shipping company
Profile: Experienced legal professional with particular expertise in admiralty and transportation matters; broad background in contracts, commercial, insurance, labor law and litigation
Experience
2007 to 2009 - Of Counsel - Brown & Ubarri, P. S. C.
1997 – 2007 - Proprietor - Law Office José E. Alfaro-Delgado
1996 – 1997 - Partner - Calvesbert, Alfaro & López Conway
1986 / 1996 - Partner - Calvesbert & Brown
1984 / 1986 - Associate Counsel - Bird & Bird
1981 / 1984 - Associate Counsel - Arias Cestero & Arias Guardiola
1980 / 1981 Law Clerk - Hon. Antonio S. Negrón García
Associate Justice of the Supreme
Court of Puerto Rico
Education
• University of Puerto Rico - 1971-76
B. A. in General Studies; Major in Sociology;
Magna Cum Laude
• University of Puerto Rico School of Law – 1976-79
Juris Doctor; Cum Laude
Certification
Bar Admissions
• 1979 - Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
• 1980 - Notary Public
• 1981 - U. S. District Court for the District of Puerto
Rico
• 1982 - U. S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Professional Memeberships
• Puerto Rico Bar Association
• Maritime Law Association (Proctor in Admiralty)
Skils
• Ample knowledge and understanding of business aspects of shipping / maritime transportation industry
• Extensive experience in litigation, representing prestigious U. S. and Puerto Rico corporate clients
• Experience working and liaising as local counsel with U. S. and International law firms
• Experience in preparing and developing litigation strategy plans / budgets
• Superior ability to analyze, explain and seek solutions to complex legal issues
• Experience in timesheet keeping, billing of legal fees and implementation and compliance of billing guidelines and cost-control procedures
• Experience in hiring, supervising and providing professional guidance to less senior counsels
• Ability to multi-task, work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Excellent legal research skills including online (West Law)
• Strong oral and written skills (English, Spanish)
• Computer Literate (MS Office, Outlook Express, Internet Explorer)
• Excellent interpersonal-communication skills
PARTICULAR ACHIEVEMENTS
• Representation of vessel’s owners, stevedores and marine terminal operators, shipping agents, dock owners, Non-Vessel Operating Carriers (NVOCC’s), and other maritime industry businesses
• Handling of cases involving ship arrests, maritime attachment and garnishment, partition actions, maritime liens and ship’s mortgages, vessel documentation, inter-modal transportation, cargo claims, personal injury (seamen and passengers), maintenance and cure, unseaworthiness, collisions, groundings, navigational rules, towage, compulsory pilotage, limitation of liability, salvage, marine pollution, charter drafting and disputes, marine insurance, on board accident investigations for P & I Clubs, petitions for relief or mitigation of fines and penalties imposed by U. S. Customs, etc.
• Advice and participation in the preparation and submission of a Facility Security Plan pursuant to the Maritime Transportation Act of 2002
• Advising large shipping company in an in-house like capacity, working closely with the upper management, familiarizing with its operations, corporate structure, policies and governance, liaising between management and other outside law firms, rendering opinions and making recommendations regarding cases in litigation and settlement and contractual and insurance matters; providing support to Human Resources regarding employment legislation and employment contracts, interpretation of collective bargaining agreements, labor relations and interaction with unions
• Drafting, revising and negotiating contracts, including agency, stevedoring and terminal services agreements, sales, vendor and distribution agreements, technical services contracts, equipment acquisition contracts, free trade zone agreements, warehouse contracts and receipts, lease and development agreements and others
• Litigation of complex cases, multidistrict litigation and class actions, including appeals
• Litigation of insurance defense cases and rendering of coverage opinions in areas of liability, personal, casualty and property, inland marine and marine insurance
• Litigation of tort, personal injury and environmental, toxic substances exposure cases