We are pleased to announce that Melba Acosta-Febo has rejoined McConnell Valdés as Counsel in the Corporate Practice Group. Her practice will be focused on banking and financial institutions regulation, real estate financing and commercial lending, mergers and acquisitions, corporate, securities and public finance, debt restructuring and taxation.
Melba, who is a Certified Public Accountant, served as President of the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico, Secretary of Treasury and Chief Public Finance Officer for the Government of Puerto Rico from 2013 to 2016. During her tenure, she commissioned a report prepared by past IMF’s officers regarding the sustainability of the Government’s debt and was in charge of the initial debt restructuring negotiations for the Commonwealth and promoted various initiatives to increase revenues, reduce expenses and manage government’s cash flows. She also participated in Congressional hearings and other initiatives related to the approval of PROMESA. Prior to that she was COO and then CFO and Chief Risk Officer for a NYSE-traded holding company of commercial banking entities, dealing with sophisticated banking and securities regulatory issues, including anti-money laundering, privacy, information security, regulatory examinations, asset quality, risk management and complex accounting issues. Before that, she served as Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Chief Information Officer for the Government of Puerto Rico and Chief of Staff of the San Juan Municipal Government.
In between her various government positions, Melba worked with us as a summer associate, as a semester law clerk in the Litigation and Tax groups, and as an associate and then as Counsel in our Corporate Practice Group. McConnell Valdés has observed a long-standing tradition of welcoming back attorneys who leave the firm to enter public service. By having Melba rejoin us, we are continuing to honor a tradition that is very steeped in our corporate culture.
Melba holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and a Juris Doctor from the University of Puerto Rico, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. For over 14 years she has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico Museum of Art, where she has served as Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Fundación Luis Muñoz Marín and is a former member of the Board of Directors of United Way of Puerto Rico.
Please join us in welcoming Melba back to McConnell Valdés!
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