Attorneys

Special Counsel

José A. Sánchez-Girona

José A. Sánchez-Girona

Mr. Sánchez-Girona is a trial attorney with over 20 years of experience who specializes in matters involving Construction, Surety and Bankruptcy law, as well as Creditors’ rights. 

Throughout his career, Mr. Sánchez-Girona has represented over a dozen local and national insurance companies in the full range of construction suretyship issues, from disputes arising out of bid, performance, and payment bonds, to indemnity and recovery. He is also vastly experienced in the representation of contractors, owners, architects, and financial institutions at trial and appellate levels in local and federal courts, where he has litigated a multitude of complex cases, often achieving advantageous settlements on behalf of his clients. 

Additionally, Mr. Sánchez-Girona routinely advises clients on a plethora of issues arising under federal bankruptcy law. As part of his bankruptcy practice, Mr. Sánchez-Girona obtained the dismissal of an action filed by a trustee against a surety by arguing that the surety’s post-petition collection of amounts owed by its debtor/principal did not amount to a preferential transfer of funds precluded under the United States Bankruptcy Code. See In re Luis Diesel Servs. Inc.; Wiscovitch Rentas v. MAPFRE, 19-050 (BAP) (1st Cir. 2021).

Mr. Sánchez-Girona also successfully argued for the dismissal of an action filed by an obligee against a construction surety by convincing the Court that the principal’s assignment of its account-receivables under the bonded contract to a third-party amounted to a breach of the surety agreement. See Colinas del Bosque S.E. v. United Surety & Indemnity Co., KLAN200800877 (TA 2009).

Due to his extensive legal knowledge and experience, Mr. Sánchez-Girona is also a sought-after speaker. In that capacity, he has presented to various groups on topics such as the Puerto Rico Oversight Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) and the 2020 amendments to Puerto Rico’s Civil Code. 

Mr. Sánchez-Girona is a Special Counsel at SCVR. He joined the firm in 2017. Previously, he worked at other law firms and amassed 9 years of experience in the insurance industry. He frequently draws on the knowledge he garnered during that time to the benefit of his clientele.

Education
  • University of Puerto Rico School of Law (J.D., cum laude)
  • University of Maryland (B.A., Economics)
  • Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the First Circuit
  • Puerto Rico
  • Puerto Rico Notary Public
  • United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
  • United States Court of Appeals, First Circuit
  • American Bar Association
  • Puerto Rico Bar Association
  • In re Luis Diesel Servs. Inc.; Wiscovitch Rentas v. MAPFRE, 19-050 (BAP) (1st Cir. 2021)
  • IM Winner, Inc. v. AAA, KLAN201400798 (TA 2015)
  • Colinas del Bosque S.E. v. United Surety & Indemnity Co., KLAN200800877 (TA 2009)
  • Banco Popular de Puerto Rico v. 422 Corporation, 07-1859 (JAF) (D.P.R. 2007)
  • In re 422 Corp.; 422 Corp. v. United Surety & Indemnity Co., 05-3276 (BKT) (D.P.R. 2007)