Littler Accelerates Growth in Puerto Rico, Expanding Office to More Than 35 Attorneys and Business Professionals

SAN JUAN, P.R. (September 9, 2026) – Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, is strengthening its market-leading presence in Puerto Rico with the addition of eight attorneys. The group, which joins from Jackson Lewis, combines with Littler’s existing team in San Juan to significantly expand the office and further enhance the firm’s ability to serve employers across Puerto Rico and beyond. With this addition, Littler Puerto Rico is now comprised of 23 attorneys and 13 professional staff.

Juan Felipe Santos will serve as Office Managing Shareholder for Littler Puerto Rico. He joins alongside shareholders Sara E. Colón-Acevedo, Karina Rodríguez Villanueva, Ana B. Rosado-Frontanés and Carlos J. Saavedra-Gutiérrez and associates Marcia C. Laurido Soto, Tatiana Leal-González and José L. Maymí-González.

“Puerto Rico is an important market for our clients, and the arrival of this highly accomplished group further strengthens what is already an exceptional team in the region,” said Erin Webber, Littler’s managing director and president. “For more than a decade, our Puerto Rico office has served as a trusted advisor to employers navigating complex workplace challenges. By bringing together some of the most respected labor and employment lawyers in the market, we are increasing the depth of experience, industry knowledge and resources available to clients while reinforcing our long-term commitment to Puerto Rico and meeting the goals of our global strategy.”

Since establishing a presence in 2014, Littler has served as one of Puerto Rico’s largest labor and employment law practices. Littler entered the market through a combination with the preeminent firm Schuster, which was founded in 1995, and has long advised management on all areas of labor and employment law.

The expanded Puerto Rico team further broadens Littler’s bench of experienced practitioners with significant capabilities in employment litigation, workplace counseling, labor relations, government facing matters and strategic workforce issues. Clients will benefit from access to a larger team with diverse experience across industries, enhanced capacity to handle complex and high-volume matters, and the ability to seamlessly leverage Littler’s global resources.

As office managing shareholder, Juan Felipe Santos’ combination of legal acumen, leadership experience and strong relationships across Puerto Rico ideally position him to lead Littler’s expanded San Juan office. In his practice, Santos defends local and multinational corporations before local and federal courts and administrative agencies in a variety of employment-related matters. He also provides strategic advice and guidance to management and in-house counsel on human resources compliance issues, policy development, risk mitigation and dispute resolution. As president of the Puerto Rico Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Santos is a trusted voice among the region’s business and legal communities, regularly engaging with employers on emerging workplace trends, regulatory developments and workplace strategy.

“Littler has an unrivaled global platform, providing world-class counsel and innovative solutions to serve the wide-ranging needs of today’s employers across an increasingly interconnected business environment,” said Santos. “What makes this opportunity particularly exciting is the strength of the existing Littler Puerto Rico team. Together, we have assembled an extraordinary group of attorneys with complementary experience, allowing us to deliver even greater value and strategic guidance to our clients across the region and internationally. I am excited to help drive the continued growth of Littler in the market.”

In addition to Santos, other shareholders joining the firm include:

Sara E. Colón-Acevedo focuses her practice on employment discrimination, wage and hour law counseling, and litigation, representing employers in federal and local courts. In addition to her extensive trial experience, Colón-Acevedo provides preventive advice to clients and helps businesses develop and update employment-related policies. Earlier in her legal career, she completed a two-year clerkship at the San Juan Superior Court.

Karina Rodríguez Villanueva helps employers navigate workplace investigations, discrimination and harassment matters, and corporate reorganizations, and leads the development of employment policies and handbooks. In addition, Rodríguez manages litigation and appeals, as well as matters in front of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Department of Labor in the U.S. She previously served as a law clerk to the Hon. Erick Kolthoff Caraballo at the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. 

Ana B. Rosado-Frontanés is an employment litigator and serves as a strategic advisor to clients. She counsels employers across the full spectrum of the employment lifecycle including hiring, performance management, wage and hour compliance, accommodations, leaves of absence, and terminations, and also has experience managing claims involving harassment, discrimination and retaliation. She works closely with clients to mitigate risk and prevent litigation before it arises and also has deep experience litigating in front of state, local and federal courts as well as administrative agencies.

Carlos J. Saavedra-Gutiérrez represents clients in workplace law matters, providing preventive advice and strategic counseling. He has extensive labor law and public sector experience, having held several leadership positions within the Government of Puerto Rico, including serving as Secretary of Labor for the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resource, General Counsel to the Governor of Puerto Rico, and Chief Legal Officer for the Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority. Earlier in his legal career, he served as a law clerk to the Hon. Mildred Pabón Charneco at the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico.

View all attorney team members in Littler’s Puerto Rico office

Littler’s international operations span more than 100 offices across four continents – North America, South America, Asia and Europe – and offers multinational employers comprehensive legal support on cross-border employment matters, labor relations, dispute resolution and litigation.

About Littler

With more than 2,000 labor and employment attorneys in offices around the world, Littler provides workplace solutions that are local, everywhere. Our global team and proprietary technology foster a culture that celebrates original thinking, delivering groundbreaking innovation that prepares employers for what’s happening today, and what’s likely to happen tomorrow.
  

Español