Miguel A. Eliza Rivera, Esq.
*** ***** ** **?n Ave.
Suite 403 Tel.
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907 acfq9k@r.postjobfree.com
Legal Counsel
Accomplished attorney offering knowledge and experience in Commercial and
Contract Law, Administrative Law, Financial Regulatory Law, Tax
Procedure, and Litigation to corporate counsel positions. Fluent in
English and Spanish.
Professional Experience
MARTINEZ ECHEVERR?A & ELIZA RIVERA PSC,
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Attorney Feb. 2007 - present
. Capital partner at Martinez Echeverr?a & Eliza Rivera P.S.C.
. Off counsel to Rivera-Munich & Hern?ndez, P.S.C. and capital partner
until January 2011.
. Corporate, tax procedure, general and commercial litigation, counsel for
service companies, including insurance companies and financial
institutions.
DORAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Deputy General Counsel / Senior Vice President Dec.
2004 - Feb. 2007
. Oversaw and counseled on all financial institution operations, including
litigation administration, regulatory compliance, Sarbanes-Oxley, Bank
Secrecy Act and general corporate governance of a publicly traded
corporation.
. Reviewed, analyzed and drafted contracts in which the Holding Company or
any of its banking or insurance affiliates were parties.
. Assisted the General Counsel in all matters related to the restatement
process including class action and derivative suits, and investigations
by the corresponding authorities.
. Designated as Assistant Secretary to the banking subsidiary's board of
directors.
. Administered and oversaw litigious cases in which the Holding Company or
any of its affiliates were parties. Revised, analyzed and approved
invoices received from outside counsel.
. Analyzed and responded to requests for opinion and customer claims from
the banking, mortgage and insurance subsidiaries.
. Represented the Holding Company and its affiliates in dealings with
regulatory agencies including the Commissioner of Financial Institutions
and the Insurance Commissioner of Puerto Rico.
. Member of the Company's Anti-Money Laundering Committee.
. Reviewed and analyzed subpoenas and information requests by state and
federal government agencies.
PUERTO RICO TREASURY DEPARTMENT, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Jul. 2003 - Nov. 2004
Assistant Secretary, Tax Evasion Area
. Structured entire tax evasion area by establishing central office and two
regional offices, and recruiting over 40 new agents and auditors.
. Improved agency operations by establishing new subpoena procedures, and
revising forfeiture and investigative procedures.
. Investigated and notified for Treasury Department $60M+ in tax
deficiencies.
. Represented agency to High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and
State Forfeitures Board.
Miguel A. Eliza Page 2
Professional Experience Continued...
. Advised Secretary of Treasury Department on public policy.
. Administered human resource oversight for over 70 special agents and
auditors.
. Reviewed and referred qualifying cases to Department of Justice.
MIGUEL A. ELIZA LAW OFFICES, San Juan, Puerto Rico Jul. 2002 -
Jun. 2003
Private Practice Attorney
. Acted as off-counsel legal advisor to Puerto Rico Manufacturers
Association and its members on contract, labor, tax, and regulatory law;
and counsel to Secretary of Treasury Department and Assistant Secretary
of Tax Evasion on civil law, criminal and administrative procedure, and
litigation.
. Conducted appellate litigation functions.
UNIVERSIDAD DEL ESTE, Carolina, Puerto Rico
Lecturer
. Developed and presented curriculum to undergraduate paralegal and
criminal justice majors in Constitutional Law and Administrative Law
courses.
PUERTO RICO MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION, San Juan, Puerto Rico Jun. 2001 -
Jul. 2002
Legal Advisor
. Interfaced and communicated with member companies to provide general
legal advice on multiple issues including tax law, labor law, and
contractual law and regulations.
. Represented manufacturing companies' interests through lobbying efforts
including appearances in legislative hearings.
. Evaluated legislative bills and authored corresponding position papers.
OQUENDO & RIVERA-MARTINEZ LAW OFFICES, Caguas, Puerto Rico Jan. 2000 -
Jun. 2001
Litigation Attorney
. Practiced criminal, civil, administrative, commercial, and contractual
law as trial lawyer and appellate attorney for small law firm.
PUERTO RICO SUPREME COURT, San Juan, Puerto Rico Jan. 1999 - Jan. 2000
Judicial Clerk
. Served as advisor to Supreme Court Judge, Hon. Antonio Negr?n Garc?a.
. Evaluated, researched, and wrote drafts for opinions and sentences.
Education
UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO, LAW SCHOOL, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Juris Doctor, 1998
UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, 1995
Computer Proficiency
Westlaw ( Lexis Nexis ( WordPerfect ( MS Word ( Excel ( PowerPoint (
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