Roberto C. Quiñones-Rivera

Bar Admissions

• Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
• New York
• Massachusetts
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
• U.S. District Courts for the District of Puerto Rico
• U.S. District Courts for the Southern District of New York
• U.S. District Courts for the District of Massachusetts

Education

A.B., Summa Cum Laude, Rollins College

J.D., Yale Law School, 1990

Memberships

International Trademark Association (INTA)

Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA)

His representative cases include:

• Representation of ten international and Puerto Rico banks in three cases filed by municipal bond insurers in Commonwealth court seeking over $1.6 billion in damages arising from defaults of Puerto Rico bonds. After oral argument (at which Roberto argued for defendants) in two of the cases, both were dismissed with prejudice.  The dismissals were affirmed on appeal.  The third case (in which the trial court did not hold oral argument) was dismissed on appeal.
• Representation of investment bank and bond underwriter in action filed in Commonwealth court seeking over $800 million in damages in connection with issuance of Puerto Rico’s pension obligation bonds.
• Representation of multinational electronics company and of manufacturer in cases filed by the Government of Puerto Rico, purportedly in parens patriae capacity, for conspiracy to fix prices in violation of federal antitrust law and Puerto Rico law.
• Representation of international and Puerto Rico broker-dealers in hundreds of FINRA arbitrations stemming from the collapse of the Puerto Rico bond market.
• Representation of largest Puerto Rico-based financial institution in ERISA class action filed by pension plan beneficiaries for breach of fiduciary duty.
• Representation of several bond underwriters in adversary proceedings filed under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA).
• Representation of financial institution in class action and individual cases filed against it in federal and Commonwealth courts pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Representation of broker-dealer in mandamus action filed against it and the Puerto Rico Commissioner of Financial Institutions by firm’s customers and the Puerto Rico Journalists’ Association seeking disclosure of confidential firm documents filed with the agency. Disclosure of confidential documents was denied.
• Representation of Puerto Rico bank in trademark litigation involving its house mark and raising issues of first impression in First Circuit. Oriental Financial Group, Inc. v. Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito Oriental, 698 F.3d 9 (1st Cir. 2012) (addressing progressive encroachment doctrine as issue of first impression and applying it to bar laches defense); Oriental Financial Group, Inc. v. Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito Oriental, 832 F.3d 15 (1st Cir. 2016) (finding infringement of financial institution’s house mark).
• Representation of international fuel company in arbitration concerning millions of dollars of allegedly contaminated product.
• Representation of leading resort developer as defendant in federal action seeking repossession of land and demolition of iconic resort property. After closing arguments following weeklong jury trial, plaintiff voluntarily dismissed case.
• Representation of mainland bank in connection with investigation by Puerto Rico Commissioner of Financial Institutions concerning loans to Puerto Rico residents.
• Representation of international music and entertainment group in copyright litigation, including cases raising issues of first impression in First Circuit. See, e.g., Luar Music Corp. v. Universal Music Group, Inc., 861 F.Supp.2d 30 (D.P.R. 2012) (granting summary judgment for defendant as to claim seeking extraterritorial application of U.S. Copyright Act); Luar Music Corp. v. Universal Music Group, Inc., 847 F.Supp.2d 299 (D.P.R. 2012) (rejecting plaintiff’s arguments under equitable estoppel doctrine; granting summary judgment for defendant); Los Cangris, Inc. v. UMG Recordings, Inc., 2011 WL 1743193, 2011 Copr.L.Dec. P 30,077 (D.P.R.) (granting motion to dismiss copyright and state law claims).
• Representation of Puerto Rico’s largest pharmacy benefits administrator in purported class action under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Sánchez v. Triple-S Management Corp., 492 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2007) (affirming summary judgment dismissing case).
• Representation of renowned artist Romero Britto and his exclusive international licensee in the largest trademark, copyright and civil counterfeiting case filed in the U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico.
• Representation of international film companies in connection with investigation by the Puerto Rico Office of Monopolistic Affairs.
• Representation of defendants in patent infringement cases, including Canatelo, LLC v. AXIS Communications AB, Civil No. 13-1084 (D.P.R. 2013) (dismissing patent infringement suit for lack of personal jurisdiction), and Ingeniador, LLC v. Interwoven, 2012 WL 1712492 (D.P.R.) (dismissing patent infringement claims for failure to state claim and for lack of personal jurisdiction).
• Representation of mainland insurance company in antitrust class action under the Sherman and Clayton Acts and Puerto Rico’s antitrust laws. Arroyo-Melecio v. Puerto Rican American Insurance Co., 398 F.3d 56 (1st Cir. 2005) (affirming dismissal of main claim).
• Representation of defendants in defamation cases filed in federal and Commonwealth courts.
• Trademark prosecution counsel in connection with federal and Puerto Rico registrations of several leading Puerto Rico marks (sometimes overcoming adverse office actions), including POPULAR, ORIENTAL, RIO MAR and IKEA.
• Representation of prominent advertising agency in various cases alleging copyright infringement under the U.S. Copyright Act and Puerto Rico’s Intellectual Property Act and trademark infringement.
• Representation of international telecommunications company in case involving issues of first impression concerning removal jurisdiction and Y2K Act. Obtained emergency order by First Circuit staying remand to Commonwealth court pending appeal and, after oral argument, judgment reversing remand order. Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica de Puerto Rico v. Ericsson Inc., 201 F.3d 15 (1^st 2000).
• Representation of creditor in action raising issues of first impression concerning scope of obligations under commercial guarantees. Laura Thorn, Ltd. v. Alletzhauser, 71 F.3d 991 (1st Cir. 1995) (reversing dismissal order).

Roberto has been recognized by Best Lawyers in Puerto Rico guide for his expertise in the fields of Litigation; Arbitration and Mediation; Competition/Antitrust; and Intellectual Property.

He has been ranked as a Leading Attorney by Chambers & Partners, which noted that he “receives strong endorsements from peers for his extensive experience and particularly his litigation skills.”

Roberto is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.

Roberto is a valued and active contributor of McV’s Pro Bono Program, demonstrating a strong commitment to service and social impact.