Experience
Member at Platzer, LLC – Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
February 2015 – present
Partner at Platzer & Ortiz – Old San Juan, Puerto Rico/ Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
September 2013 – February 2015
Thanks to my extensive experience handling surety and insurance matters, I was able to successfully attract and retain as clients sureties, insurance companies, and insureds who had been denied coverage. Thanks to my education and experience as a computer engineer, I was also able to successfully attract and retain as clients several technology start-ups. Through my involvement advising technology startups, I developed a strong knowledge base regarding the following areas: Drafting and revising Requests for Information and Requests for Proposal (during the negotiation and contracting process); Drafting and revising Software License and Services Agreements, End User License Agreements, Alternative Licensing Agreements, Distribution Agreements, Open-source Agreements, Escrow Agreements, Confidentiality and Non-compete Agreements, Non Disclosure Agreements and Confidentiality and Proprietary Information Agreements; Data Privacy and Security Issues Arising from Software Licensing; and Employee and Contractor Issues.
Associate Attorney at Saldaña & Saldaña-Egozcue, PSC – Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
December 2010 – August 2013 (2 years 9 months)
The foundation of the firm’s practice was based upon its dealings with a vast array of contract surety, fidelity, miscellaneous and commercial surety bond matters. As an associate attorney at the firm, I was called upon to represent sureties in handling matters involving each stage of the bonding process, including claims investigation and resolution (particularly payment and/or performance bond claims), negotiating and drafting completion contracts, takeover agreements, ratification agreements and settlement and release agreements, as wells as litigation and appeals involving principals, obligees, indemnitors and third-party claimants. During my more than 2 years as an associate attorney at the firm, I handled matters before the U.S District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance of Puerto Rico and state courts at all levels, including over 15 appeals representing insurance companies, most of which resulted in recorded decisions.
Tribune at the Disciplinary and Professional Ethics Tribunal of the Professional College of Engineers and Land Surveyors of Puerto Rico – Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
November 2010 – August (2 years 10 months)
The Court addresses the formal complaints filed against engineers or chartered surveyors due to violations of the Canons of Ethics governing the professional conduct of its members. During the course of carrying out its functions the Disciplinary Tribunal has the power to impose the disciplinary measures it deems appropriate for professional ethics violations. Disciplinary sanctions may include warnings, verbal or written reprimand and economic sanctions or suspension of membership, during which practice of the profession is prohibited indefinitely or for a fixed period of time.
Law Clerk at Edgardo Rosario Law Offices – San Juan, Puerto Rico
November 2007 – November 2010 (3 years 1 month)
The firm was dedicated to the practice of the legal profession in almost every area of civil law with particular emphasis in surety and property and liability insurance claims and litigation. My duties included: Conducting legal research using online legal services and other non-digital legal resources and publications; Drafting and proofing all kinds of legal documents, including, appeals, writs of certiorari, oppositions, replies, sur-replies, requests for summary judgment, pre-trial reports, and all other types of motions; Assisting in case trial preparation, including the preparation of guides for interrogating and counter-interrogating witnesses and experts, and; Occasionally attending trials, hearings, depositions and client and witness interviews. During all of my time at the firm, I worked extensively in various cases involving insurance coverage disputes, including the case which ultimately resulted in the published opinion of Integrand Assurance v. Codeco, 185 D.P.R. 146 (2012). My active participation in this case included the preparation of the writ of certiorari presented before the Supreme Court, as wells various motions presented before both the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeals.
Applications Engineer & Lead Developer at Microjuris – Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
January 2006 – November 2007 (1 year 11 months)
Designed and developed a Java web-based application for searching and retrieving legal documents which is presently marketed under the name of ‘Intellisearch’. Implemented development guidelines and standards, and provided programming supervision and support to developers locally and in various countries in Latin America.
Programmer at EVERTEC (formerly BPPR) – Cupey, Puerto Rico
February 2004 – December 2005 (1 year 11 months)
Developed new features and bug fixes for BPPR’s Internet Banking application as well as a number of other standalone Java web-based applications.
Education
University of Puerto Rico, School of Law, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, 2006 – 2010
Honors and Awards: Entitled «Honor Registration» for the 2009-2010 school year, which is a special tuition exemption granted to students who are within the upper 5% of their class; Listed twice in Who’s Who Among Students In American Universities and Colleges (2009 and 2010).
University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez
B.S. magna cum laude, Computer Engineering, 1999 – 2003
Activities and Societies: Tau Beta Pi, Golden Key International Honour Society
Academia San José, Villa Caparra, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
High School Diploma, 1995-1999
Licenses and Certifications
- Certified Insurance Counselor (September 2014)
- National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research
- Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (June 2014)
- The Institutes – American Institute for CPCU (AICPCU) and Insurance Institute of America (IIA)
- Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding (March 2013)
- The Institutes – American Institute for CPCU (AICPCU) and Insurance Institute of America (IIA)
- Admitted to practice as an attorney in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico (April 2012) – License 229910
- Authorized to practice as a notary in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (March 2011) – License 18148
- Authorized to practice as an attorney in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (February 2011) – License 18148
- Licensed Professional Engineer (2007) – License 21518
Seminars Taught
- Who’s afraid of construction bonds? – The law regarding construction bonds in Puerto Rico
Approved by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico for up to 4.5 continued legal education credits; Available ‘OnDemand’ at microjuris.com during 2014 and 2015. - HIPAA: Practical Insights (co-taught)
5-hour seminar targeted towards professionals in the healthcare and healthcare insurance industry; Offered once in 2014 and once in 2015. Courses (Independent Coursework)
Engineering and Construction Related
Professional College of Engineers and Land Surveyors of Puerto Rico
Successfully completed the intensive and expedite course for certification as an OGPe «Authorized Professional». This 35 hour course and exam offered by the Professional College of Engineers and Land Surveyors of Puerto Rico covered all the skills an «Authorized Professional» must possess in order to carry out its functions, including: (1) issue ministerial permits, which were previously issued by ARPE or Autonomous Municipalities, such as use, demolition, remodeling and construction permits; (2) issue consolidated general permits for construction and categorical exclusion determinations, which were previously issued by the Environmental Quality Board; and (3) issue fire inspection certifications and sanitary licenses. (August 2011)
Insurance Related
The Institutes – American Institute for CPCU (AICPCU) and Insurance Institute of America (IIA)
- CPCU 500 – Foundations of Risk Management and Insurance (March 2013)
- CPCU 520 – Insurance Operations (June 2013)
- CPCU 530 – Business Law for Insurance Professionals (Waiver)
- CPCU 540 – Finance and Accounting for Insurance Professionals (December 2013)
- CPCU 551 – Commercial Property Risk Management and Insurance (May 2014)
- CPCU 552 – Commercial Liability Risk Management and Insurance (March 2014)
- CPCU 553 – Survey of Personal Insurance and Financial Planning (December 2013)
- ARe 144 – Reinsurance Principles and Practices (June 2014)
- AFSB 151 – Principles of Suretyship (October 2012)
- AFSB 152 – Contract Surety (December 2012)
- AFSB 153 – Commercial Surety and Crime Insurance (March 2013)
- ETHIC 311 – Ethical Guidelines for Insurance Professionals (December 2012)
- ETHIC 312 – Ethics and the CPCU Code Of Professional Conduct (June 2013)
The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research
- CIC – Personal Lines (September 2013)
- CIC – Commercial Casualty (February 2014)
- CIC – Commercial Property (May 2014)
- CIC – Life & Health (August 2014)
- CRM – Principles or Risk Management (September 2014)
Published Opinions
- N.H. Ins. Co. v. Passalacqua, 2011 PR App. LEXIS 3699 (P.R. Ct. App. Aug. 31, 2011)
- Suncom Constr. Group v. Prolmo, Inc.,, 2011 PR App. LEXIS 2634 (P.R. Ct. App. Sept. 15, 2011)
- United Sur. & Indem. Co. Demandante-Apelante v. Villas De Montellanos Assocs. S.E.,, 2012 PR App. LEXIS 308 (P.R. Ct. App. Feb. 8, 2012)
- United Sur. & Indem. Co. v. Sena, 2012 PR App. LEXIS 3394 (P.R. Ct. App. Sept. 10, 2012)
- United Sur. & Indem. Co. v. Villas De Montellano Assocs. S.E.,, 2012 PR App. LEXIS 3360 (P.R. Ct. App. Sept. 28, 2012)
- United Sur. & Indem. Co. v. Mgm Constr. Eng’rs, 2013 PR App. LEXIS 593 (P.R. Ct. App. Feb. 28, 2013)
- United Sur. & Indem. Co. v. Castro, 2013 PR App. LEXIS 870 (P.R. Ct. App. Mar. 8, 2013)
- Suncom Constr. Group v. Prolmo Inc., 2013 PR App. LEXIS 1024 (P.R. Ct. App. Mar. 13, 2013)
- United Sur. & Indem. Co. v. Am. Parking Sys., 2013 PR App. LEXIS 2045 (P.R. Ct. App. May 23, 2013)
- United Sur. & Indem. Co. v. Am. Parking System, 2013 PR App. LEXIS 1977 (P.R. Ct. App. June 28, 2013)