Francisco J. Pavía

Biography

He concentrates his practice in the representation of hospitality industry clients. He has structured joint ventures for investments in hospitality projects and has represented developers in all aspects of the financing of these projects, including the negotiation and execution of credit agreements, guaranty agreements and mezzanine financing arrangements. He has also represented developers in the negotiation and execution of hotel management agreements with some of the principal hotel brands in the world and has represented both landlords and tenants in the negotiation of complex commercial leases and has represented U.S.-based clients in the negotiation of joint venture agreements in South America and Central America.

Mr. Pavía was Vice-Chair of the Practice Group until 2018. He ranked as one of Puerto Rico’s Leading Attorneys in the Corporate and Real Estate fields by the renowned international publication Chambers & Partners in its Latin America Guide. He is also ranked in the Real Estate field of The Best Lawyers in Puerto Rico guide. He is a former partner of the law firm of Winston & Strawn, a 1,000 lawyer multinational law firm, where he represented the government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico on all federal relations matters and also represented the Local Redevelopment Authority for Naval Station Roosevelt Roads.

He has extensive experience advising clients on contracting with governmental agencies in Puerto Rico, and he also designs and implements legislative and executive branch strategies for clients with specific needs in those areas. From 1991 to 1993 he served as deputy director and general counsel of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, the Washington, D.C. office of the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In 2008 he was Co-Director of the Obama for America Puerto Rico Primary Campaign, responsible for coordination of all aspects of the primary campaign in Puerto Rico, including representation before the Puerto Rico Elections Commission. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, prior to which he negotiated all aspects of the National Democratic Party's Platform regarding Puerto Rico. He has served as member of the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and of the Puerto Rico Hotel Development Corporation.

Representative Transactions

Some of his representative transactions include:

• Lead counsel for the developer of a $185 million urban entertainment center, with a 177-room hotel, a 6,000 person concert hall, movie theaters, restaurants, bars, and a first of its kind urban zip line, financed through multiple multi-layer credit facilities, tax credits, key money, and tenant contributions.
• Local counsel in the acquisition of a $135 million portfolio of warehouses, and renegotiation of leases.
• Lead financing counsel for the developer of $105 million hospital with 104 beds, financed through multiple credit facilities and tax credits.
• Lead counsel on a $101 refinancing of credit facilities covering four hotel properties with over 450 hotel rooms and two casinos.
• Lead counsel for the developer of a $30 million hotel with 165 rooms in Orlando, Florida.  
• Counsel for the purchaser of a 135 unit timeshare project.
• Lead counsel for the developer of a $45 million hotel and timeshare property with 107 rooms, financed through multiple credit facilities and tax credits.
• Lead counsel for the re-structuring of a hotel and timeshare tourism project with 244 condominium units.
• Lead counsel for of the developer of a 104-room hotel with a casino, financed through a $23.9 million senior credit facility, with a guarantee from the Puerto Rico Tourism Development Fund, and a $6 million subordinated municipal loan.  
• Lead counsel for of the developer of a 126-room hotel, financed through a $18.6 million senior credit facility, with a guarantee from the Puerto Rico Development Fund, and a $3 million investment by the Hotel Development Corporation.
• Lead counsel to a U.S.-based health services organization in the acquisition and financing of a 108-bed acute care mental health facility, through a divestiture ordered by the Federal Trade Commission.
• Lead counsel to a U.S.-based health services organization in the sale of stock of various entities owning and operating acute care mental health facilities.
• Lead counsel for the restructuring of a $120 million secured debt for the development of a residential, tourism and marina resort.
• Counsel to a Regional Center approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to process EB-5 visa investments and to its related lending company, in structuring a $91 million transaction for the development of a 225 room full service hotel with a casino.

Practices

News & Publications