Labor law firm Littler expands to Puerto Rico
Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, will combine with Puerto Rican law firm Schuster Aguiló, effective Jan. 1, 2014.
The firm’s venture into Puerto Rico will create the island’s largest labor and employment law firm and solidify Littler’s position as the dominant single-source solution for the domestic and global employer community, the company said in a statement issued Tuesday.
“Our partnership with Schuster Aguiló, one of Puerto Rico’s most respected law firms, immediately provides Littler with the most significant presence in the region of any global law firm,” said Jeremy Roth, Littler’s co-managing director.
“Their local expertise and deep ties to the Puerto Rican legal and business communities, supported by our deep domestic and global platform, creates an extremely advantageous position for both firms,” he said.
Littler’s move is similar to its combination with Godoy Córdoba Abogados and BDS Asesores, which was announced in October. Littler will join with Schuster Aguiló through an integrated strategy and the two firms will align their practices into a seamless client service platform.
With more than 150 Spanish-speaking attorneys throughout its more than 60 locations, Littler serves clients on a multinational level through its network of high-caliber domestic and international attorneys who bring comprehensive experience in cross-border labor and employment matters.
“Littler has long been partnering with Schuster Aguiló to service the Puerto Rican market,” said Tom Bender, Littler’s co-managing director. “We believe we have found the perfect fit with the commonwealth’s most reputable labor and employment firm, which shares our commitment and approach to providing exceptional legal representation and client service to the employer community.”
Founded in 1995, Schuster Aguiló, based in Hato Rey, has 22 attorneys led by managing partner Rafael Aguiló-Vélez and partners Carl Schuster, Carlos Villafañe-Real, Anabel Rodríguez-Alonso, Mariela Rexach-Rexach, Lourdes Hernández-Venegas, and Shiara Diloné-Fernández.
“This is an unprecedented move in Puerto Rico that will significantly deepen our service capabilities to clients while solidifying our position as the largest labor and employment law firm in Puerto Rico,” said Aguiló-Vélez.
“There is no other national law firm in our market that can offer such extensive resources and exceptional talent to handle our clients’ complex labor and employment issues,” he said. “Littler is the ideal stateside partner and we are excited about the tremendous opportunities this will open up for our firm.”
Schuster Aguiló represents management in all areas of labor and employment law, collective bargaining, employee benefits, business immigration and civil and commercial litigation. Its client base includes local, national and multinational companies in the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, distribution, telecommunication, retail, service, trade, government, and tourism industries. The firm actively litigates on behalf of clients before the Puerto Rico and federal courts, as well as before administrative forums.
