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Mayra C. Artiles

Mayra Cristina Artiles Fonseca is an experienced attorney in the Corporate and Commercial Practice Group where she has successfully represented clients in a wide array of commercial and corporate transactions and disputes. Having also litigation expertise, Mayra provides comprehensive counsel to companies of all sizes on various corporate matters (from both a transactions and dispute resolution approach), helping them navigate complex legal landscapes with confidence and strategic insight. Mayra also helped establish, and currently leads, our firm’s Business Immigration Practice. 

Mayra counsel includes advising clients on a broad range of corporate and commercial matters, including mergers, acquisitions, corporate divisions, general corporate matters, due diligence, corporate governance, corporate financing, intellectual property, antitrust, corporate real estate, regulatory compliance, and privacy and data protection, She is a licensed civil law Notary Public, and regularly counsels clients in preparation and management of notary documents, including advising high net worth individual in trust and estates, real estate, and prenuptial agreement matters. With her comprehensive approach, Mayra serves as a trusted advisor, empowering clients to make informed decisions and navigate complex legal matters with confidence.  

She is recognized for her legal excellence and ranked by Legal 500 as a Rising Star in the Corporate and Commercial Practice area. In addition to her work at the firm, Mayra is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Puerto Rico, School of Law and the Pontificia Catholic University School of Law, where she teaches international law, trust and estates, and transnational business law for J.D. and L.L.M students. Mayra is also an advisor and former coach for the Philip C. Jessup Competition Team and co-mentors the Immigration Services and Orientation Pro Bono student program at the University of Puerto Rico. 

Mayra holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a major in Marketing, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Puerto Rico. She also completed a post-graduate certification in the International and European Legal Studies Program from the University of Antwerp in Belgium and a Masters of Law (LL.M.) in International Corporate and Commercial Law from King’s College London. 

Outside the office, Mayra is dedicated to supporting future generations by mentoring emerging entrepreneurs through her involvement with non-profit organizations focused on Puerto Rico’s entrepreneurial ecosystems. She also participates in various non-profit Pro Bono initiatives for various local communities. When she is not busy with her legal and community work, Mayra enjoys visiting new places and traveling to different countries, while learning about their cultures, cuisines, and histories.  

Education

  • King’s College London / LL.M. in International Corporate and Commercial Law / 2021 / Passed with Merits
  • University of Puerto Rico School of Law / JD / 2014/ Magna Cum Laude
  • University of Antwerp, Belgium / IELSP / 2013 / Cum Laude
  • University of Puerto Rico / BS Business Administration in Marketing / 2010 / Magna Cum Laude

Professional Certifications

  • Certified International Privacy Professional for United States (CIPP/US) by International Association of Privacy Professionals

Professional Affiliations

  • Meritas – U.S. Leadership Committee Member and Women’s Leadership Council Member. She also serves as the firm’s Emerging Leader representative. 
  • American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) – Puerto Rico Chapter Officer (2024-present) and formerly Chapter Secretary (2017-2019) 
  • Colegio de Abogados de Puerto Rico-Member of Immigration Commission 
  • Federal Bar Association  
  • American Bar Association
  • Colegio de Notarios de Puerto Rico
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)

Professional & Community Involvement

  • Pro Bono attorney for “Notarios por Puerto Rico” Program, program sponsored by the Puerto Rico Notary Association that provides notary services, advice and prepares legal documents for indigent clients.
  • Co-Mentor for Immigration Orientation and Services (SOI) Pro Bono, University of Puerto Rico School of Law

Publications:

  • Contributor for the Corporate M&A 2022 – Puerto Rico Trends & Developments Chapter published by Chambers Global Practice Guides.
  • Contributor of the Puerto Rico Chapter for “The Legal 500 Comparative Country Guides: Mergers and Acquisitions,” published by The Legal 500 (5th edition, 2021) available here.
  • The Island Life Might Serve as the Best Entry of Foreign Investment to the United States: Puerto Rico as Tax Haven for Attracting Foreign Investment to the United States, American Bar Association, International Law Section Year in Review 2016 
  • Notes on Universal Jurisdiction on Occasion of the New FIBGAR Universal Jurisdiction Principles /2015 
  • Co-editor of Immigration Manual “Conoce tus Derechos” (Know your rights), published by the Immigration Services and Orientation Pro Bono Program, University of Puerto Rico, School of Law / 2015  
  • Negotiating in Good Faith: A Civil Law Obligation? – Pangea UPR / 2014 

Honors & Awards:

  • Recognized as a Rising Star for Corporate and Commercial law in Legal 500 Puerto Rico Edition (2020-2023)
  • Caribbean Business- 40 under 40 award / 2021 edition
  • Top 100 Oralists in the 2014 Phillip C. Jessup Moot Court Competition

Speaking Engagements

  • Legal Risks and Litigation Panel / Colegio de CPA de Puerto Rico (CCPA) CyberForum: From Clicks to Cybersecurity Risks / 2023 
  • Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements considerations for businesswomen / Moni Wealth Seminar / 2023 
  • Getting the facts on Importing human Capital to PR /PRMSDC/ 2022 
  • Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements considerations for businesswomen / Women Who Lead Podcast / 2021
  • Visas for Victims of Violence / Colegio de Abogados de Puerto Rico / 2021
  • Introduction to Immigration Law / Colegio de Abogados de Puerto Rico / 2021
  • Immigration Benefits and remedies during disasters / University of Puerto Rico School of Law, Pro Bono Program / 2020)
  • Visas for Victims of Violence / Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico / 2020
  • Business Continuity during COVID-19 / Estrella, LLC Webinar / 2020
  • Immigration Law considerations for Accountants / CPA Bar Association / 2020
  • Avoiding Crisis in the digital Age / Women Who Lead Summit / 2020
  • Ms. Artiles is an adjunct professor, and continuously participates in continuing legal education, as well as seminars and lectures for law students concerning various topics including international law, commercial law, and U.S. immigration law. 

Representative Experience

  • Counsel for sellers in a multimillion-dollar international transaction involving the sale of stocks to a foreign conglomerate of entities.
  • Structure complex statutory merger agreements and reorganizations for prominent companies organized or doing business in Puerto Rico.
  • Co-counsel for buyers in a multimillion-dollar international transaction involving the purchase of certain assets of major retailer from the Bankruptcy Court and advise Client on the corporate financing and the corporate reorganization of the transaction.
  • Advised Client to undertake a due diligence and restructuring exercise for an oil and gas conglomerate, to establish a separate infrastructure division comprising the Group’s storage and terminals.
  • Counsel for clients in preparation of privacy and data protection documents.
  • Counsel for clients in cybersecurity breaches before applicable agencies.
  • Provided representation and assisted with preparation and processing of visas for investors and employers brining employees to the U.S.
  • Counsel for buyers in sale of assets for leading ticketing services in Puerto Rico.
  • Represented several clients in key due diligence proceedings for the acquisition and/or expansion of their operations in and outside Puerto Rico.
  • Represented several clients in key corporate financing transactions involving local and foreign financial institutions and/or banks.
  • Counsel for clients in their local set up of financial transactions and/or institutions and their applicable licenses.
  • Currently assisting Clients with procedures under Act 60-2019, also known as the Incentives Code of Puerto Rico. This Act codifies incentives granted for diverse purposes throughout decades with the aim of fostering economic development more effectively.
  • Served in team of lawyers advising oil and gas company in corporate and commercial matters for the Americas.
  • Serves as counsel for corporate and commercial matters for renewable energy clients.
  • Registered dozens of trademarks registration in USPTO and PRTO.
  • Represented corporate and commercial clients in antitrust legal disputes.
  • Represented corporate and commercial clients in trade secrets and corporate law disputes.
  • Represented retail clients in premises liabilities litigations and administrative proceedings.