Biography

Carla García-Benítez is a Member of the Litigation Department at O’Neill & Borges LLC. With over thirty-five years of experience in civil and commercial litigation in Puerto Rico, she has handled a broad range of complex cases involving distribution and franchising, intellectual property, insurance, and tax litigation. Known for her strategic precision and practical problem-solving, Ms. García-Benítez combines deep litigation experience with targeted business insight, allowing clients to achieve effective results both in and outside the courtroom.

Throughout her career, Ms. García-Benítez has represented local and multinational clients in disputes involving trademark infringement, reinsurance, policy coverage, and copyright claims, among others. She has successfully defended and enforced trademark rights through both judicial and extra-judicial means, often achieving clients’ objectives without the need for costly trials. Her work also includes copyright litigation involving software and architectural works, as well as the representation of insurance companies and insureds in complex coverage and reinsurance disputes.

In addition to her courtroom practice, Ms. García-Benítez has collaborated closely for more than two decades with the firm’s Corporate Tax Department in defending corporate clients in administrative and judicial tax litigation. She has represented taxpayers in proceedings before the Puerto Rico Department of Treasury and other taxing authorities, as well as in tax deficiency appeals before local and federal courts.

Her intellectual property practice extends beyond litigation to include non-contentious trademark and licensing matters. Ms. García-Benítez regularly oversees local and federal trademark registrations, negotiates intellectual property assignments and licenses, and advises on brand protection and enforcement strategies.

Ms. García-Benítez earned her LL.M. in Trade Regulation from New York University School of Law (1990), a Juris Doctor from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law (1987), and a B.A. from the University of Puerto Rico (1982). She is admitted to practice in Puerto Rico and New York, as well as before the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the First and Federal Circuits, and the U.S. Court of International Trade.

Ranked by Chambers Latin America for sixteen consecutive years as a “Leader in the Field” in Intellectual Property, Ms. García-Benítez is widely recognized for her measured advocacy and strategic approach. Clients rely on her ability to navigate the interplay between intellectual property, distribution, and tax litigation in Puerto Rico with exceptional depth and judgment.