Jorge R. González 

As leader of the firm's Distribution and Franchising Practice Team, he assists clients that want to enter into, modify or terminate franchise, distribution and sales representation relationships that are strictly regulated in Puerto Rico and many parts of Latin America.

In the tax exemption area he advises clients on the tax and other incentives available in Puerto Rico for manufacturing and export operations and assists them in establishing and maintaining such operations so as to maximize the incentives available.

From 1994 to 1996 Mr. González chaired the International Trade Committee of the Chamber of Commerce and in June of 1995 the Chamber of Commerce honored him with the Exporter of the Year Award.

In 1994 he helped organize the International Trade and Services Association of Puerto Rico that he has presided from its commencement. In October, 2002 he was elected the first Chairman of World Service Group, a global multi-disciplinary association of independent service providers and from 1991 to 1995 he served on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of Lex Mundi, an organization composed of over 160 independent law firms throughout the world

Mr. González has been a leader in numerous civic organizations such as United Way of Puerto Rico that he presided from 1984 to 1988, United Way International, American Red Cross - Puerto Rico Chapter, YMCA of San Juan, and the Rotary Club of San Juan. The Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce recognized his contributions to the community by naming him Citizen of the Year in 1987. In 1993, United Way of Puerto Rico awarded his wife and him its highest annual recognition, the Rafael Fabregas Prize, for their contributions to those in need.

He has been with the firm since 1969. Some of his representative transactions include:

• In the international trade area: licensing agreement for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company with Dominican Republic government tobacco company; distribution contracts for Stanley Works, Unilever, Bayer, Schering-Plough, Gillette and Ocean Spray in the Caribbean, Central America, Colombia and Perú; establishing complementary plant operations in the Dominican Republic and Barbados for Sensormatic and StorageTek.
• In franchising and distribution: master franchise for the Spanish firm, Pans Food; subfranshising for Puerto Rican firm, Superdestape relating to Mr. Plumber; distribution and sales representative agreements for Whirlpool, Mattel, Jergen's, Monsanto, Toro, StorageTek, Ocean Spray, Tyco Healthcare, BioMet, Stanley Works (previously Best Access), and Bayer.
• In tax exemption: Solectron, StorageTek, Unilever, Aramark Uniforms, Tyco (Sensormatic, US Surgical, Davis & Geck), Insular Wire, Ecolift, and Watson Pharmaceutical.

He is the author of the following articles in Business Puerto Rico: "Puerto Rico - Dominican Republic Related Manufacturing Operations," Spring, 1986; "Act 75 - Protection of the Distributor - Representative in Puerto Rico" and "Barbados Offers High Level Production Sharing Attractions," Summer, 1986; "Highlights of Puerto Rico Tax Incentives Act," and "Principal Issues in 936-CBI Financing," Jan.-Feb. 1987; "Export Service Industry-Puerto Rico's Untapped Incentive Program," Oct.-Nov. 1987; "Misconceptions Hamper Jamaica ''936'' Production Sharing Potential," Winter, 1988; "Is Puerto Rico Fulfilling its CBI Commitment?" Jan.-Feb. 1988; "Dominican Republic Production Sharing Update," Fall, 1988; "Act 75 Update," Dec.-Jan. 1989; "Update - Puerto Rico's CBI Commitment," Jan.-Feb. 1990; "CBI Legislation Extended Indefinitely and Expanded," Fall, 1990; "Act 21: Protection of the Sales Representative in Puerto Rico," Spring, 1991. Also author of "Puerto Rico's Special Status - Investment Advantages," Oct., 1991 Leader's; "The Caribbean 936 Program: Step Towards a Puerto Rican Global Strategy," Jan., 1992 Latin Finance. Co-Author: "A Special Report on Privatization," March 1992 issue; "Puerto Rico - Island Crossroad of the Integrating Americas," International Offshore & Financial Centers Handbook, Volume II - Caribbean, Mid-Atlantic & Central America, 1993. Author: "Contractual Considerations," Chapter for Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce Exporter's Manual, May, 1993; "The Puerto Rico Regulatory Environment," Latin Finance America Trade Finance Supplements, 1991-1992 and 1993; "Lessons from Successful Export Service Companies," Dec. 1995; "Incentivos Contributivos para la Exportación," May 1999; "The Jones Act - To Be or Not To Be?" May 1999; "Distribution Relationships Within the Latin American Context," March 2000.