Roberto Berrios

Roberto.Berrios@InfanteZumpano.com

Roberto is of counsel to Infante Zumpano and managing partner of its Puerto Rico office. Honesty, integrity, experience and a drive to seek justice are the fundamental principles that guide Robert in all of his professional endeavors.  Admitted to the practice of law in Puerto Rico in 1997 he immediately joined one of Puerto Rico’s largest law firms where he commenced his career as a corporate finance and securities attorney.  There he participated in the issuance of municipal revenue bonds for infrastructure and tourism projects and represented the largest commercial banking institution in transactional matters.  While still in private practice, and only 28 years of age, Robert was approached by Mr. William Riefkohl, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association (“PRMA”), and was offered the position of Director of Legal & Legislative Affairs. There he served as in house counsel for PRMA in tax, corporate, and labor legal matters.

One of his main responsibilities as in house counsel was to provide legal guidance to the members in all matters related to labor law, such as family medical leave, discrimination, military leave, vacation and sick leave, wage/ hour matters, meal periods, terminations, workmen’s compensation, non competition agreements, and equal opportunity laws.  Robert was also instrumental in the drafting, development, and updating of the manual entitled Labor Legislation in Puerto Rico which is widely used by human resources professionals in industry and commerce in Puerto Rico.  He also spearheaded several labor and tax legislative efforts in Puerto Rico and the United States for the improvement of the business climate in Puerto Rico.  After his time at the PRMA, Robert attended Georgetown University Law Center where he earned an LL.M. in Tax.

Immediately thereafter he joined PriceWaterhouseCoopers in New York where he was a member of the Latin American Desk of the International Tax Services practice.  While in New York he represented various Fortune 500 Companies in international tax matters ranging from the planning and structuring of hybrid financial instruments, stock and asset acquisitions, the structuring of non-registered obligations for qualification under the portfolio interest exemption, and provided tax support for cross border transactions.

After his tenure  in New York, Robert decided it was time to go back to Puerto Rico and continue his efforts to cultivate and promote the business climate in Puerto Rico. Driven by this goal, Robert  decided to return to  private practice on the island.  Since then he has represented families, major companies, financial institutions, private equity firms, stockholders, developers and contractors in tax, finance, securitization, labor and real estate matters, and he has developed a penchant for corporate, financial, commercial, labor and real estate litigation.  He is especially proud of the fact that, at present, he is seeking just compensation for various New York families against the United States Government in a takings case under the Fifth Amendment in the Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C.

Besides his professional background, Robert is also involved in the promotion and furtherance of Puerto Rico as a business destination, he is in constant contact with the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association, and always finds time in his busy schedule to help the poor and the disadvantaged find access to justice.

Areas of Concentration

• Tax
• Corporate
• Finance
• Labor and Employment
• Securities
• Real Estate
• Trusts
• Litigation

Education

• B.A., Loyola University, 1992
• J.D., University of Puerto Rico School of Law, 1996
• LL.M. in Tax, Georgetown University Law Center, 2001

Admitted to Practice

•Puerto Rico
•The United States District Court for Puerto Rico
• The United States First Circuit Court of Appeals
• The United States Court of Federal Claims

Associations

• Puerto Rico Bar Association
• Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity