Legal Services
HLR Legal Services is focused on developing practical solutions for complex legal problems.
Civil and Commercial Litigation
Heidi Rodríguez-Benítez, Esq. has thirty (30) years of experience handling civil and commercial disputes in and out of court. Heidi is admitted to the bar of all state and federal courts in Puerto Rico, as well as the First Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. She has vast experience in securities, employment and contract disputes, as well as defending tort actions. As a member of the Advisory Committee on the Rules of Evidence to the Puerto Rico Supreme Court, Ms. Rodríguez-Benítez has taught on the admissibility of electronic discovery and handled complex electronic discovery projects.
Internal Corporate Investigations
Heidi Rodríguez-Benítez, Esq. has handled multiple fraud and corporate malfeasance investigations reporting directly to Boards of Directors and Auditors in compliance with Serbanes-Oxley standards. After leading all legal defense work surrounding a notorious ponzi scheme in Puerto Rico early in her legal career, she aided several Government task forces investigating fraudulent schemes and counseled and defended businesses affected by fraudulent practices. Ms. Rodríguez also has ample experience in conducting internal investigations of sexual harassment and discrimination claims on behalf of employers.
Crisis and Risk Management
Heidi Rodríguez-Benítez has creative compliance and risk management programs for a healthcare group in Puerto Rico. During her tenure has General Counsel, she represented several in all regulatory and administrative matters. Ms. Rodríguez Benítez also has ample experience developing and conducting business risk audits.
Counseling and Representing Corporations and C-Suite Executives in Regulatory, Government and Criminal Investigations
Heidi Rodríguez-Benítez, Esq. has a wealth of experience counseling and representing businesses in administrative and regulatory investigations and proceedings. Heidi represents companies true active investigations, walking C-Suite Executives during processes conducted by local and federal authorities, including representing companies during searches, accompanying executives to interviews by local and federal enforcement officers and counseling both the businesses and the executives process..png)
Contracts and General Corporate Counseling
Serving as General Counsel of several companies for eight years, Heidi Rodríguez-Benítez, Esq. acquired a vast experience in negotiating, drafting and analysis of contracts, as well as the handling of general corporate matters, including handling due diligence and negotiation of complex corporate transactions.
Appeals and Motions Practice
After clerking in the Puerto Rico Supreme Court for two years, Ms. Rodríguez prepared briefs for all state and federal appellate courts overseeing Puerto Rico cases, including the First Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. She has argued before the First Circuit and the Puerto Rico Courts of Appeals. Heidi has also drafted briefs filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as The Joint Commission. Finally, Ms. Rodríguez has filed and argued many dispositive motions in state and federal trial courts.
Family Law
HLR Legal Services handles matters involving domestic relationships, guiding clients through emotionally challenging transitions like divorce, child custody, and guardianship. A collaboration with Leilaní Torres-Roca, Esq. provides the foundation for compassionate legal counsel and strong courtroom advocacy in separation and divorce proceedings, child custody and visitation rights, child and spousal support, prenuptial agreements, and adoptions and guardianships. We prioritize your family’s well-being through strong advocacy and strategic negotiations leading to out-of-court settlements that de-escalate tensions and stress, but we stand ready to protect your rights when litigation is required.
After obtaining her B.A. in History and Literature at Harvard University and her J.D. from Stanford Law School, Ms. Rodríguez-Benítez clerked for Honorable Jaime B. Fuster Berlingeri, Associate Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court. Later, she joined the law firm of Pietrantoni Méndez & Alvarez LLC, of which she formed part for 20 years and reached capital partnership. For her practice in the firm, Heidi was recognized as a leading attorney in the area of dispute resolution by the Latin America edition of Chambers & Partners from 2010 to 2015. Then, attorney Rodríguez-Benítez served as General Counsel and Executive Vice President for a conglomerate of corporations in the healthcare industry in Puerto Rico overseeing compliance, risk management, contracts and other legal matters. During her tenure as General Counsel, she took an active role in the private sector's emergency response task force for Hurricane Maria and represented Puerto Rico before the American Hospital Association. Now, she is back in private practice to assist her clients in navigating complex and sensitive situations with a dedicated personal service.
Attorney Rodríguez-Benítez has taught courses on the legal profession and practice in the University of Puerto Rico School of Law, lectured on the admissibility of electronic evidence before the Judicial Academy and the Puerto Rico Legislature, and volunteered as coach for competition groups at the Interamerican University School of Law. Heidi is a member of the Permanent Advisory Committee on the Rules of Evidence to the Puerto Rico Supreme Court that worked on the rules that were adopted in 2009 and a member of the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court Foundation.
30 years
Experience