Littler Expands to Puerto Rico

Labor and Employment Powerhouse Joins with Schuster Aguiló as Part of Integrated Global Strategy; Latest Move to Enhance the Firm’s Ability to Serve Multinational Clients

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (December 9, 2013) – Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, will combine with the leading Puerto Rican law firm Schuster Aguiló, effective January 1, 2014. Littler’s move follows the recent announcement of its combination with the Colombian law firm Godoy Córdoba Abogados and the Central American law firm BDS Asesores. The firm’s venture into Puerto Rico will create the commonwealth’s largest labor and employment law firm and further solidify Littler’s position as the dominant single-source solution for the domestic and global employer community.

“Our partnership with Schuster Aguiló, one of Puerto Rico’s most respected law firms, immediately provides Littler with the most significant presence in the region of any global law firm,” said Jeremy Roth, Littler’s co-managing director. “Their local expertise and deep ties to the Puerto Rican legal and business communities, supported by our deep domestic and global platform, creates an extremely advantageous position for both firms.”

Littler’s move is similar to its combination with Godoy Córdoba Abogados and BDS Asesores, which was announced in October. Littler will join with Schuster Aguiló through an integrated strategy and the two firms will align their successful practices into a seamless client service platform. With more than 150 Spanish-speaking attorneys throughout its more than 60 locations, Littler serves clients on a multinational level through its network of high-caliber domestic and international attorneys who bring comprehensive experience in cross-border labor and employment matters.

“Littler has long been partnering with Schuster Aguiló to service the Puerto Rican market,” said Tom Bender, Littler’s co-managing director. “We believe we have found the perfect fit with the commonwealth’s most reputable labor and employment firm, which shares our commitment and approach to providing exceptional legal representation and client service to the employer community.”

This latest move underscores Littler’s commitment to expanding its presence in strategic markets throughout the United States and globally. In October 2010, Littler opened its 50th office at its first international location in Caracas, Venezuela and further expanded internationally in 2012, opening two offices in Mexico. In recent years, the firm has opened new offices throughout the U.S., including Nashville, Memphis and Morgantown.

About Schuster Aguiló

Founded in 1995, Schuster Aguiló, based in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, has 22 attorneys led by managing partner Rafael Aguiló-Vélez and partners Carl Schuster, Carlos Villafañe-Real, Anabel Rodríguez-Alonso, Mariela Rexach-Rexach, Lourdes Hernández-Venegas, and Shiara Diloné-Fernández.

“This is an unprecedented move in Puerto Rico that will significantly deepen our service capabilities to clients while solidifying our position as the largest labor and employment law firm in Puerto Rico. There is no other national law firm in our market that can offer such extensive resources and exceptional talent to handle our clients’ complex labor and employment issues,” said Aguiló-Vélez. “Littler is the ideal stateside partner and we are excited about the tremendous opportunities this will open up for our firm.”

Schuster Aguiló represents management in all areas of labor and employment law, collective bargaining, employee benefits, business immigration and civil and commercial litigation. Its client base includes local, national and multinational companies in the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, distribution, telecommunication, retail, service, trade, government and tourism industries. The firm actively litigates on behalf of clients before the Puerto Rico and federal courts, as well as before administrative forums.

As the only Puerto Rican law firm named a “Go-To Law Firm” by ALM’s Corporate Counsel magazine, Schuster Aguiló is committed to providing its clients with exceptional and cost-effective legal services.

About Littler

Littler is the largest global employment and labor law practice, with more than 1,000 attorneys in over 60 offices worldwide.  Littler represents management in all aspects of employment and labor law and serves as a single source solution provider to the global employer community.  Consistently recognized in the industry as a leading and innovative law practice, Littler has been litigating, mediating and negotiating some of the most influential employment law cases and labor contracts on record for over 70 years.  Littler is the collective trade name for an international legal practice, the practicing entities of which are separate and distinct professional firms.  For more information visit: www.littler.com.