Biography
Carlos A. Valldejuly is a Capital Member of the Litigation Department. For over 30 years, Carlos has handled substantial commercial litigation matters involving a wide array of complex legal disputes at the Federal Courts, the Puerto Rico local courts and administrative agencies, and has also participated in significant commercial arbitration proceedings (before the AAA, JAMS, and ad hoc proceedings). He has extensive experience in class actions, distribution and marketing matters, predominantly in cases relating to Puerto Rico’s dealer and sales representatives’ protection statutes (i.e., Law 75 and Law 21), and other trade regulation areas (such as price discrimination and other antitrust issues), mass torts and environmental litigation, securities litigation, RICO, FINRA, breach of contracts, insurance claims, among other types of commercial litigation.
Carlos has been repeatedly recognized by Chambers and Partners as one of the leading dispute resolution attorneys in Puerto Rico, described as “a very strategic thinker” who “easily understands sophisticated commercial matters and is very thorough”, and “a top-notch commercial litigator in Puerto Rico.” Most recently, Chambers commented that “Carlos Valldejuly-Sastre is an excellent resource and a sophisticated litigator”, and clients praised “[h]is negotiation skills, legal knowledge and understanding of counterparts enabled us to achieve the best possible result.”
Carlos takes pride in working very closely with clients to develop tailor-made strategies to achieve the desired objectives in a cost-effective manner, and also provides preventive counseling to the Firm’s clients, as appropriate. In addition, Carlos has been repeatedly selected by his peers for inclusion among the Best Lawyers in Puerto Rico in the field of Litigation, and was also named the Best Lawyers 2018 Litigation “Lawyer of the Year” in San Juan.
Carlos has served the Firm in various capacities, including as the Firm’s Managing Partner, as a member of its Executive Committee and also as the head of the Litigation Department. Carlos has been actively involved with the Federal Bar Association, having served as President of the FBA’s Puerto Rico Chapter, which is one of the largest in the U.S., and holding various positions at the National level. Under his leadership, the PR Chapter received the Presidential Excellence Award in 2011. He is also a Fellow of the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association.
- As lead counsel for several condominiums, secured more than $100 million in arbitration awards against the insurance carrier for damages caused by Hurricane María.
- Served as liaison counsel and represented a major oil producer in the largest federal Civil RICO action ever brought in Puerto Rico.
- Secured early dismissal of defendant in a mass tort litigation resulting from an explosion at a fuel tank farm.
- Successfully defended Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM) from antitrust suit brought by the Government of Puerto Rico against several PBMs and pharmaceutical companies.
- Represents global energy company in climate change litigations, defending from proposed class action suits for damages allegedly caused due to the sale and use of carbon-based products.
- Successfully pursued a CERCLA cost recovery action against polluters that used a private property as a clandestine landfill for many years.
- Represented multiple principals (and many distributors) in Law 75 arbitrations and litigations, as well as provided counseling in negotiations regarding distribution agreement disputes and contract negotiations.
- Defended multiple claims filed by investors against their local broker-dealers.
- Represents manufacturer of medical devices in class action of communities seeking medical monitoring for alleged exposure to higher levels of cancer risk.
- Successfully represented hotel owner in dispute regarding valuation and sale transaction of property during COVID.
- Represented global manufacturer of electric appliances in product liability case.
- Represented major oil company in class action involving alleged groundwater contamination.
- Represented multiple companies challenging government contract awards.