Lourdes A. Robles-Torres

Biography

Ms. Robles-Torres is a distinguished legal professional with extensive experience as both a practicing attorney and a former judge in the Courts of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. She brings an entrepreneurial perspective to government affairs, policy development, and compliance, possessing unique expertise in commercial litigation and risk management. Her legal proficiency spans corporate, administrative, immigration, family, criminal, and civil law. Ms. Robles-Torres’ litigation skills encompass all stages of a case, from initial investigations and legal research to drafting motions, negotiating settlements, and preparing for trial and appeals.

Prior to joining McConnell Valdés, Ms. Robles-Torres practiced at a San Juan law firm and also served as an Examining Officer for the Public Corporation for the Supervision and Insurance of Cooperatives in Puerto Rico (COSSEC), where she was responsible for resolving disputes among COSSEC, cooperatives, and their members. Prior to that, she was an Attorney Advisor at the Office of Disaster Assistance within the U.S. Small Business Administration. In this role, she meticulously reviewed and analyzed hundreds of files to ensure accuracy and relevance, working to rectify funding errors related to Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).

From 2008 to 2015, Ms. Robles-Torres served with distinction as a Municipal and Superior Court judge, including leading the Specialized Courtroom on Domestic Violence. Her tenure was marked by significant improvements in victim services and the effective management of a diverse caseload.

Ms. Robles-Torres commenced her career with a focus on ethics and transparency as an Assistant Prosecutor at the Office of Government Ethics. Her work there was pivotal in promoting ethical standards and addressing violations by public officials and employees. Subsequently, she led the Office of Legal Affairs at the Puerto Rico Department of State, serving as the principal legal advisor to the Secretary of State. In this capacity, she provided counsel to high-ranking officials, represented the Secretary of State before the Legislature and in various judicial and administrative forums, and played a crucial role in negotiating the department’s inaugural collective bargaining agreement.

Beyond her formal roles, she has demonstrated a commitment to pro bono work, contributing to the Safe Passage Project and LatinoJustice PRLDEF. In these capacities, she advocated against discriminatory practices and provided essential legal support to refugee and immigrant children in New York City facing deportation, particularly those with strong legal grounds to remain in the U.S.

She holds a master’s degree in Translation and Interpretation from the University of Puerto Rico. Her thesis, El sistema jurídico de Puerto Rico, reflects her dedication to bridging linguistic and cultural gaps within legal contexts. Notably, her thesis received the highest grade awarded by the Department of Translation and was recommended for publication.

Representative Cases

Some of her representative cases include;

• Municipality of Aguada v. W Construction LLC; Recovery Finance Limited as Interventor: Instrumental in the successful recovery of a multimillion-dollar payment on behalf of our client Recovery Finance Limited.
• Member of the litigation team currently representing Recovery Finance Limited in several debt collection efforts against various municipalities.
• G-Con Manufacturing, Inc. v. BioSciencesCorp, LLC: Member of the litigation team that successfully secured the recognition, confirmation, and enforcement of a monetary award obtained in another jurisdiction.
• Recovery Finance Limited v. Titan Development Group, LLC: member of the litigation team currently representing the plaintiff in a breach of contract and collection of monies action filed before the District Court for the District of Puerto Rico.
• Pastelería Mandul v. Universal Products PR, Inc.: member of the litigation team which successfully represented the plaintiff in a breach of contract and collection of money action filed before the District Court for the District of Puerto Rico.
• Member of the litigation team representing multiple major energy companies seeking reconsideration of government contracts awards though Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and access to pertinent information pursuant to federal and local laws.
• ItalBank International, Inc. v. International Global Bank, formerly known as South American Investment Bank: member of the arbitration team which successfully represented plaintiff in this breach of contract dispute before the American Arbitration Association.
• The Vitamin Shoppe v. José Damián Tirado Herrera: successfully secured a restraining order under the Puerto Rico Stalking Act, Act No. 99-2016, ensuring the safety and protection of client’s employees from a persistent stalker.

Practices