Lizette Vélez-Rivé

Mrs. Diana M. Batlle-Barasorda, Esq. is an Attorney at Casillas, Santiago & Torres, LLC, where she serves as a litigation attorney. Mrs. Batlle-Barasorda provides hands on technical expertise and advice in complex litigations and transactions. Prior to such tenure, she was an associate attorney in one of Puerto Rico’s largest and most important law firms. From 1996-1998, Mrs. Batlle-Barasorda also served as a law clerk for now retired Supreme Court Justice Francisco Rebollo Ló...

Eidalia González-Tosado is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Energy Law. Eidalia practices law in San Juan, Puerto Rico Best Lawyers has recognized Eidalia González-Tosado since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Eidalia González-Tosado is held by other lawyers.

Juan Carlos Méndez is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Corporate and M&A Law. Juan Carlos practices law in San Juan, Puerto Rico Best Lawyers has recognized Juan Carlos Méndez since 2020. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Juan Carlos Méndez is held by other lawyers.

Ms. Szendrey-Ramos concentrates her practice in trademark prosecution, intellectual property counseling, and trusts and estate planning. Prior to joining McConnell Valdés, Ms. Szendrey-Ramos was a shareholder at a major San Juan law firm, where she helped create and manage one of Puerto Rico’s preeminent intellectual property law practice groups. She has advised clients in multiple and complex trademark, copyright, trade secret, moral rights of authors, and right of publicity iss...

Mariela Rexach is an experienced federal litigator with outstanding command of federal civil procedure and evidence, who practices in all areas of employment law. She has actively participated in several major cases before the U. S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and the U. S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. She has over 50 published federal cases and an outstanding summary judgment record. She has also successfully tried numerous cases before Puerto Rico courts and re...

José E. Villamarzo Santiago is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Tax Law. José E. practices law in San Juan, Puerto Rico Best Lawyers has recognized José E. Villamarzo Santiago since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which José E. Villamarzo Santiago is held by other lawyers.

Manuel handles complex, high-profile disputes. He has successfully tried multiple cases in federal and state courts, as well as in arbitration proceedings and administrative forums. He also has successfully argued or briefed multiple cases before the First Circuit Court of Appeals, the Puerto Rico Supreme Court, and the Puerto Rico Court of Appeals. Manuel regularly lectures on the Federal Rules of Evidence, and has written multiple articles on evidence, and on the Puerto Rico Dealer and Fran...

Shiara Diloné-Fernández is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Labor and Employment Law. Shiara practices law in San Juan, Puerto Rico Best Lawyers has recognized Shiara Diloné-Fernández since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Shiara Diloné-Fernández is held by other lawyers.

Mr. Rodríguez, who joined the Firm in 1974, practices in the areas of tax exemption, general corporate and government contracts. He has negotiated and re-negotiated dozens of grants of tax exemption for companies owned by U.S., European and Puerto Rican entities, including Johnson & Johnson, Schering-Plough, Medtronic, Harvey Hubbell, Astra-Zeneca (U.K.), Aventis (France) and MOVA (Puerto Rico).

Mr Casellas has over 25 years of experience in various corporate and financing matters, including project development and finance, commercial lending and structured finance, real estate and mergers and acquisitions. He has acted as counsel for various financial institutions in commercial lending and structured finance transactions. Some of his recent transactions include acting as counsel for Autopistas Metropolitanas de Puerto Rico, LLC in the financing of the PR-22 toll road concession, the...