Miriam Figueroa

Managing Partner

US-Latam Practice Group Regional Co-Leader, P3 & Infrastructure

Miriam Figueroa is a superstar. She works incredibly hard and is thorough, thoughtful and creative in her advice. We’re incredibly fortunate to have her on our team.

Active partner Miriam de Lourdes Figueroa offers noteworthy experience advising on the capital markets and infrastructure sectors in Puerto Rico. An impressed client notes: 'Miriam de Lourdes Figueroa is a very good lawyer who has been very helpful when handling a very complex deal.

— Chambers Latin America Guide, 2023

Emailmiriam.figueroa@us.dlapiper.com

Call+1 787 945 9113

San Juan New York

About

Areas of FocusCorporate

Bar admissionsNew YorkPuerto Rico

CourtsUnited States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

EXPERIENCE

Negotiated the Regional Consortium Contracts for the management of the Capital Improvement Program of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority with national firms such as Malcolm Pirnie, CDM Caribbean, Black & Veatch, CSA Group and LG Scott
Represented the Puerto Rico Tourism Development Fund in the structuring and financing of various tourism projects in Puerto Rico, including the La Concha and Vanderbilt Hotels
Advised and represented government clients in negotiating and administering the Contract for the Operation and Maintenance of the Water and Sewer System of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority with Ondeo de Puerto Rico (an affiliate of Suez S.A)
Advised the Puerto Rico Infrastructure Financing Authority and the Government of Puerto Rico in the process of implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, including drafting legislation, regulations, contracts and other mechanisms to define energy policy, ensure compliance with federal laws and regulations and ensuring the flow of funds and the implementation of the sponsored programs. After the conclusion and expiration of the ARRA programs, the Government of Puerto Rico initiated local programs to continue incentivizing renewable energy projects. Miriam advised and assisted the Energy Affairs Administration (the Energy Public Policy Office) in drafting new regulations and administrative procedures to create the Puerto Rico Green Energy Fund and subsequently to administer and implement the grants program
Advised the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico in connection with the operational and financial restructuring of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority and related processes before the Energy Commission and drafting and negotiating related legislation
Advised the Puerto Rico Public Private Partnership and the Puerto Rico Ports Authority in connection with the evaluation of a potential privatization of mega yatch ports in the San Juan Bay
Advises the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority in connection with the design and implementation of its "Green PRASA Program" to integrate more environmentally friendly generation of energy to its operations, including using solar and biogas sources, negotiating those contracts and administering them
Advises clients in Latin America in connection with energy and infrastructure projects, including negotiating power purchase agreements and evaluating such agreement in purchase transactions
Advises Puerto Rico clients entering foreign markets in the area of business intelligence services
Advised the Puerto Rico Public-Private Partnership in the procurement and negotiation process to award a thirty-years concession over 5 existing cruise piers and terminals and the rehabilitation and construction of 4 new piers in the San Juan Bay
Advises the Puerto Rico Ports Authority in the procurement and negotiation of a contract to privatize nine regional airports, including two PART 139 airports regulated by the United States Federal Aviation Administration
Advised the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, as issuer, in connection with the issuance of US$1.37 billion of revenue refunding bonds, Series 2020A and federally taxable revenue refunding bonds and Series 2020B
Advises Canadian-American joint venture (LUMA Energy) in its legal and regulatory matters after successfully winning an award for a $1.6 billion, 15-year Operation and Maintenance Agreement with the Government of Puerto Rico to operate Puerto Rico’s entire electric transmission and distribution system

Languages

Education

LL.M., Harvard Law School

J.D., Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico Law Review, Editor-in-Chief 1994-1995
summa cum laude

B.A., International Studies and Political Science, Macalester College
magna cum laude

Awards

Pro Bono

Miriam provides legal assistance and general support to a foster home and adoption agency in Puerto Rico in their processes of coordinating and effecting adoptions in Puerto Rico. She is also member of the DLA Piper North America Pro Bono Steering Committee, local Diversity and Inclusion Committee and of the Global LAW Steering Committee.

Insight Overview

Publications and Media Mentions

Author, "Public-private partnerships in Puerto Rico: Key Points," March 2017
Mentioned in "Bufete global de abogadas planta bandera en Puerto Rico," elnuevodia.com, August 28, 2016
Quoted in "Catch-22,” P3 Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 2

Publications

Author, "Public-private partnerships in Puerto Rico: Key Points.," March 2017

Media Mentions

Interviewed, ”Perfil: Miriam de Lourdes Figueroa Rodríguez”, El Nuevo Día, June 29, 2024
Quoted, "Catch-22,” P3 Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 2.The Biden Plan: The most awaited infrastructure plan for the US (March 31, 2022)
Mentioned, "Bufete global de abogadas planta bandera en Puerto Rico", El Nuevo Día, August 28, 2016

Prior Experience

Prior to joining the firm, Miriam worked in the corporate department of a leading law firm in Puerto Rico and as general counsel and executive vice president of the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico. Prior to working in the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico, Miriam was an associate in a leading global firm, working out of its New York and Tokyo offices. She also served as law clerk to former Chief Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court, José Andreu García.

Leadership and Pro Bono work

Co-Chair of the Public-Private Partnership Special Project integration initiative at DLA Piper and is a member of the DLA Piper local Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Miriam provides legal assistance and general support to a foster home and adoption agency in Puerto Rico in their processes of coordinating and effecting adoptions in Puerto Rico.

Memberships And Affiliations