What is the number one challenge that has impacted you over the past year?  

LUMA Energy was specifically created for Puerto Rico, designed to provide the people and communities of the island with a resilient, reliable, and sustainable electric grid, while also delivering outstanding customer service. Since June 1, 2021, approximately 4,000 employees have operated thousands of miles of electrical transmission and distribution lines, and currently oversee billions of dollars in disaster recovery programs, all the while transforming Puerto Rico’s electrical system.  

The LUMA legal team supports the legal framework and strategy that supports LUMA’s commitment to transform the electric grid, including the integration of new technologies, modernising infrastructure using federal funding and advancing the adoption of renewable energy more than ever before.  

The number one challenge would have to be the fact that I was the first In-house attorney for the company for a period of around six months, even before we took over the operations of the Puerto Rico Transmission and Distribution System. 

I had to embark on the challenging journey of helping to create a legal department from the ground up, while facing significant legal challenges. We are now a team of ten counsel and administrative staff, and manage a multi-million-dollar legal budget. Over the past year, our workload has increased to almost 200 active matters and more than 300 legal cases on a wide array of topics.  

Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works and did not come at a large expense? 

To successfully operate a fast-paced and high-volume legal department, organisation and metrics are key. I implemented a modern enterprise legal management software (ELM Software) to develop a metrics-driven department and deliver excellent legal service. The implementation of this software has allowed me to centralise legal service requests and better control our departmental budget and daily operations at a reasonable price. The platform provides comprehensive matter management for in-house and external counsel, legal e-billing, AI-assisted invoice review, and custom analytics, providing invaluable data for resource allocation and empowering in-house attorneys to spend more time on the actual practice of law.  

What would you say are the unique qualities required to be successful as an in-house lawyer in your industry?  

A successful in-house lawyer in the energy and utilities industry should be passionate about learning the ins and outs of the business, which is a unique and specialised field. The person must have the emotional intelligence and soft skills required in a leadership role, have a sharp ability to critically think and weigh all options presented, possess business acumen, and be able to embrace technology.