Luis C. Marini-Biaggi

Member​

lmarini@mpmlawpr.com

787.705.2173

Overview

Luis helps clients maximize value by using his bankruptcy, transactional, and litigation skills both in and out of court. He concentrates his practice in all aspects of insolvency and business restructuring matters across a broad range of industries and in commercial real estate matters. He regularly represents financial institutions, private equity funds, purchasers of distressed debt or assets, and other parties on bankruptcy, restructurings, investments and acquisitions, and commercial lending transactions. Since 2018, Luis has led the firm’s representation of the Government of Puerto Rico with respect to all aspects of the financial restructuring of Puerto Rico’s debt obligations – marking the largest municipal restructuring in recent history – and, for over two decades, Luis has represented financial institutions, investors and private equity funds in their most complex restructuring, transactional, and insolvency matters in Puerto Rico and the US.

 

Since 2011, the international publication Chambers & Partners has ranked and recognized Luis as the only “Band 1” attorney for lawyers in bankruptcy and restructuring in Puerto Rico. As part of its overview of the Puerto Rico legal market, Chambers recently commented that: “[t]he economic climate has, however, contributed to an increased volume of bankruptcy and restructuring matters, an area currently led by [Marini Pietrantoni Muniz’] Luis Marini.” Chambers and Partners (Latin America), Puerto Rico Overview. Chambers recently stated, quoting clients and peers, that Luis “is the best insolvency and restructuring lawyer in Puerto Rico,” “is an expert in federal bankruptcy cases”, “demonstrates full command of the subject”, is “one of the best bankruptcy lawyers in the country” and that “he is a reference in the market and is worthy of being at the absolute top of the market”. Past Chambers’ coverage has described Luis as “always impress[ive] in complex bankruptcy proceedings”, “responsive, detail oriented and thorough in his analysis of each case”. Chambers also quoted clients stating that “[i]f someone asks me for a recommendation regarding a lawyer that is specialized in bankruptcy, his is the first name that I would mention. He has a vast knowledge of this area, and in the context of litigation he is dedicated and gracious whilst remaining firm, and the proposals he brings to court are based on solid foundations.” Chambers also quotes sources describing Luis as “a great lawyer who has a deep knowledge of insolvency matters”, as being “remarkably attentive and succinct”, and that “he understands his clients’ needs and will do everything in his hands to help them succeed. It is a true pleasure to work with him.”

Luis has also been recognized by LawDragon’ 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers, as a leading insolvency lawyer by Best Lawyers®, Puerto Rico Edition, named Lawyer of the Year (2020 and 2025) for Bankruptcy and Restructuring in Puerto Rico and the team was named Law Firm of the Year (2021) for Bankruptcy and Restructuring in Puerto Rico. Luis has also been recognized as a leading insolvency lawyer by the Legal 500® and as a Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation®.

Luis frequently writes and lectures on insolvency and bankruptcy matters, participating frequently on panels sponsored by various organizations such as the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce, the American Bankruptcy Institute, the Federal Bar Association, the Instituto Iberoamericano de Derecho Concursal, and the Puerto Rico Industrial Association, among others. He regularly provides seminars on various technical bankruptcy and insolvency issues to financial institutions, government entities, private funds, and other entities throughout Puerto Rico.

Luis also served on the Local Bankruptcy Rule Committee of the United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Puerto Rico, on the Advisory Board for the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Caribbean Insolvency Symposium, and was an associate editor for the American Bar Association’s Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Litigation committee. He is currently the President of the Puerto Rico Chapter of the Instituto Iberoamericano de Derecho Concursal.

Luis holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Finance from the University of Michigan and obtained his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University. Prior to founding Marini Pietrantoni Muniz LLC, Luis was a capital member, head of the Litigation Department, and co-chair of the Bankruptcy, Restructuring, and Insolvency Group at O’Neill & Borges LLC and also practiced in Washington D.C., at Shaw Pittman LLP (now Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman).

Credentials

Education:

  • University of Michigan, Business School, Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Finance, Summa Cum Laude (1997).
  • Georgetown University, Juris Doctor, Magna Cum Laude, (2001).

 

Bar Admissions:

  • Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
  • United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
  • First Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Commonwealth of Virginia (inactive)
  • District of Columbia (inactive)
  • United States District Courts for the District of Virginia and the District of Columbia (inactive)

 

Past Employment Experience

  • O’Neill & Borges LLC, (2004-2018) Capital Member, Co-Chair of Bankruptcy Group, Head of the Litigation Department
  • Shaw Pittman LLP (now Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman), Washington D.C. (2001-2004), Associate, Bankruptcy, Workouts & Business Reorganizations Group.

 

Recent Speaking Engagements

  • Panelist, DIP Financing in Latin America: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Trends , Instituto Iberoamericano de Derecho Concursal, Lima, Peru (2024).
  • Panelist, Growing Client Relationships and Your Practice: Doing What Seems Obvious But Not Easy, Federal Bar Association, Puerto Rico Chapter (2024)
  • Panelist, Sistemic and Sovereign Public Debt Crises Across Latin America, Instituto Iberoamericano de Derecho Concursal (2024).
  • Panelist, Preserving the Going Concern Value of a Business, Instituto Iberoamericano de Derecho Concursal, Guadalajara, Mexico (2023
  • Panelist, Restructuring Under PROMESA, 1st and 2nd Promesa Conferences, Sponsored by the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce (2017 and 2018).
  • Panelist, A Guide to PROMESA, Puerto Rico Industrials Association (2017)
  • Panelist, Potential Challenges and Development Tools Under PROMESA, Puerto Rico General Contractors Association (2016)
  • Panelist, Executory Contracts: A Practical Guide, Caribbean Insolvency Symposium, American Bankruptcy Institute (2011).
  • Panelist / Creditor’s Counsel, Mock Trial – Confirmation Requirements, Caribbean Insolvency Synposium, American Bankruptcy Institute (2014).
  • Panelist, Bankruptcy Sales: Negotiating, Structuring and Obtaining Approval, Federal Bar Association (2014 and 2015).
  • Panelist, DIP Financing – Recent Trends, Federal Bar Association (2014).
  • Panelist, Confirmation of Chapter 11 Plans, Federal Bar Association (2014).

 

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • President, Instituto Iberoamericano de Derecho Concursal – Puerto Rico Chapter
  • Puerto Rico Bankruptcy Bar Association
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Prior Associate Editor of the American Bar Association, Bankruptcy & Insolvency Committee
  • Prior Advisory Board Member of the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Caribbean Insolvency Symposium
  • Prior Member of the Local Rules Committee for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Puerto Rico

Publications

  • How to Prosecute and Defend an Avoidance Action Under the United States Bankruptcy Code, a chapter in the book titled “Avoidance Actions Across Latin America and Europe” (Los Mecanismos de Incremento de la Masa Activa: Reintegracion y Responsabilidad. Asuntos Transversales), 20th Anniversary Edition, Instituto Iberoamericano de Derecho Concursal (2024) (co-author)
  • The Business of Bankruptcy: Becoming a Bankruptcy Lawyer, From the Bar, a Publication of the Federal Bar Association, Spring 2024, Issue No. 64 (co-author).
  • Welcome to the IIDC – Hon. Gerardo A. Altieri, Puerto Rico Chapter, From the Bar, a Publication of the Federal Bar Association, Spring 2024, Issue No. 64 (author).
  • Executory Contracts: A Practical Guide, American Bankruptcy Institute (2007) (author)
  • Estate of Branson v. Commissioner, 53 Tax Law 791, Spring 2000 (author).
  • Cuba’s Perfeccionamiento Empresarial Law: A Step Towards Privatization?, 23 U. Pa. J. Int’l Econ. L 119, Spring 2009 (assisted in article).

Areas of Practice

  • Bankruptcy Practice
  • Bankruptcy Litigation
  • Bank Finance
  • Government and PROMESA Bankruptcy Representation
  • Prepackaged and Prearranged Chapter 11 Cases
  • Banking Regulation
  • Distressed M&A
  • Workout, Restructurings, and Transfers
  • Foreclosures, Collections & Transfer of Collateral
  • Financial Services & Insolvency Related Litigation
  • Debt Finance
  • Mergers, Acquisitions & Joint Ventures
  • Private Credit
  • Real Estate
  • Government Affairs
  • Appellate Practice
  • Construction
  • General Contract, Commercial and Business Disputes

Reviews

  • “Luis Marini is the best insolvency and restructuring lawyer in Puerto Rico.” – Chambers & Partners, Latin America Guide, 2023

 

  • He’s an excellent professional who is very versatile and can handle both litigation and bankruptcy proceedings.” – Chambers & Partners, Latin America Guide, 2023

 

  • “Luis Marini stands out in the bankruptcy field. He has been in this practice area for a long time and stands out for delivering a quick and responsive service to his clients.” – Chambers & Partners, Latin America Guide, 2022

 

  • Luis Marini is very knowledgeable, practical and helpful in avoiding further risks and problems.” – Chambers & Partners, Latin America Guide, 2024

 

  • Luis Marini is an excellent and leading dispute resolution attorney in Puerto Rico.”
    – Chambers & Partners, Latin America Guide, 2024

 

  • He’s very industrious and is always looking to add value for his clients.” 
    – Chambers & Partners, Latin America Guide, 2024

 

  • “He knows how to explain complex matters in a simple manner and is highly respected in the bankruptcy space.”
    – Chambers & Partners, Latin America Guide, 2025

 

  • Luis Marini is excellent.”
    – Chambers & Partners, Latin America Guide, 2025

 

  • “His level of knowledge is the best in his field.”
    – Chambers & Partners, Latin America Guide, 2025

 

  • Luis Marini is very easy to work with, has a breadth of experience and is very talented.”
    – Chambers & Partners, Latin America Guide, 2025