Former Deputy Solicitor General, Mabel Sotomayor Hernández, Joins MZLS Attorneys at Law, to Strengthen Appellate and Public Law Practice

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO –   MZLS today announced a significant addition to its team with the arrival of Mabel Sotomayor Hernández, Esq., who joins as a Junior Member. Ms. Sotomayor brings seven years of a distinguished legal career, marked by key roles in the Office of the Solicitor General and the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. Her arrival will further enrich the firm's capabilities in appellate litigation, administrative law, and general public law. Notably, in her seven-year legal career, Ms. Sotomayor has already secured eight favorable reported decisions from the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico.

"The arrival of my friend Mabel at MZLS is a source of great satisfaction for our entire team," said Anthony Maceira, Managing Member of the firm. "Her impressive career, including her experience as Deputy Solicitor General and at the Supreme Court, positions her as exceptional talent. Her track record of successfully representing the government of Puerto Rico in appellate proceedings is, without a doubt, a strategic enhancement to the critical areas we serve our clients."

"I am very excited to join the MZLS team and to have the opportunity to apply my knowledge now from the private sector," stated Ms. Sotomayor. "My goal is to contribute to our clients' success and to the ongoing development of law in Puerto Rico."

Ms. Sotomayor’s addition is a key component of MZLS's strategy to further solidify its standing as an important stakeholder in Puerto Rico’s appellate practice field. Her extensive experience in appellate matters, particularly her eight Supreme Court victories in the past four years, combined with the profound judicial insights of former Supreme Court Associate Justice, Hon. Edgardo Rivera García (who joined the firm in January after his retirement), uniquely positions MZLS to significantly contribute to the development of the Island's legal landscape. This commitment to attracting leading professionals is also underscored by the recent return of Francisco González de la Matta, former Interim Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DACO).

At MZLS, Ms. Sotomayor will focus on guiding clients through complex administrative processes and representing them before appellate forums and government entities, applying the deep understanding of public and governmental affairs cultivated throughout her career.

Her tenure as Deputy Solicitor General of Puerto Rico (September 2021 – February 2025) was particularly noteworthy; she directed and supervised government appellate litigation before the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, leading a team of over forty legal professionals. Previously, her role as Judicial Law Clerk to the Hon. Associate Justice Edgardo Rivera García at the Supreme Court (March 2017 – April 2019) immersed her in researching complex cases and drafting opinions and judgments, with a distinct emphasis on Constitutional and Criminal Law. Her professional background is also complemented by her time as an Associate at McConnell Valdés LLC, in the Litigation and Government Affairs practices.

Ms. Sotomayor's professional caliber was evident from the outset of her career: she was admitted to the Puerto Rico Bar in 2017 after achieving the highest score on the bar examination, ranking first among 401 candidates. This accomplishment followed her Summa Cum Laude graduation from the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico School of Law, where she also earned the highest GPA in her 2017 graduating class (4.00). She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. For more details on her experience please access here.

About MZLS LLC: Established in 2019, MZLS LLC is a full-service law firm with offices in San Juan, Puerto Rico (main office) and Washington D.C., a strategic position that strengthens its ability to handle federal matters impacting Puerto Rico. The firm offers comprehensive legal counsel for doing business in Puerto Rico, serving a diverse clientele ranging from Fortune 100 companies to small and medium-sized businesses. MZLS possesses a recognized practice in commercial and corporate law, in addition to a strong public law and appellate practice. Recently, the firm added former Supreme Court Associate Justice Hon. Edgardo Rivera García to its team following his retirement from the judiciary.