René J. Avilés-García

Get to know René

René J. Avilés-García is a Capital Member and the Chair of the firm’s Taxes & Employee Benefits Practice Group. René practices in two complimentary areas – employee benefits and trusts & estates. In his employee benefits practice, he focuses on complex pension plan design, operation and reorganization consultations (including mergers, spinoffs and transfers of assets between qualified retirement plans), as well as other deferred compensation arrangements. René also has substantial experience representing clients in:

• ERISA litigation
• pension plan administration and qualification with Puerto Rico tax authorities, and
• correction procedures with the U.S. Department of Labor

On the trusts and estates side, René brings his sophisticated knowledge of pension and tax law in advising high net worth individuals regarding their estate planning concerns as well as representing them when a trust or estate matter becomes litigious.

René is also a Certified Public Accountant, has extensive knowledge of general corporate tax matters and has litigated tax matters before administrative and judicial tribunals. Rounding out his experience, he also has a solid background in the private corporate world, having worked for Procter & Gamble as a financial analyst and forecaster for Puerto Rico and Latin American Export Divisions (1996-2001). René is a frequent speaker at conferences addressing legal implications of pension plans, estates and trusts, and tax legislation affecting these matters.

Why do your clients come to you?

I deliver timely, accurate solutions for my clients that are reasonably priced. I have many satisfied clients who know that I will go above and beyond to answer their questions and provide sound legal representation. Since I come from a finance background, I understand the need to deliver practical legal advice that addresses my clients’ real-life concerns and I don’t spend unnecessary time parsing words when I can get right to the point.

What do you find most rewarding?

I sleep very well at night knowing that I provide a real service to my clients. On the benefits front, I truly believe in the legal framework that exists to benefit employees and in the importance of saving for retirement. I am very involved in helping my clients as well as my colleagues plan for their future. On a daily basis I know that I make a real difference in their lives and in the lives of their families and loved ones.

Looking forward, what you see?

I practice in an area where I am constantly looking forward. On the estate planning side, I see fertile ground for providing solutions to problems that my clients often don’t know that they have. As we all grow older, I’m finding that my clients identify with the messages I am delivering to them. We all (hopefully) retire after leading long, productive lives and want to make sure that we have planned well for the future.

Education

• University of Puerto Rico School of Law, J.D., 2001
• Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, B.B.A. in Accounting, summa cum laude, 1996

Bar Admissions

• Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
• Federal District Court for the District of Puerto Rico

Affiliations

• Puerto Rico Bar Association
• Puerto Rico Certified Public Accountants Association

Professional Recognition

• The most recent Latin American Edition of Chambers & Partners reports that René “receives widespread recognition for his expertise in employee benefits, and clients admire his ‘impressive command of Puerto Rico and US pension matters.’”