Attorneys
Juan B. Soto-Balbas, Esq.
Founder and President
Attorney Soto-Balbas was admitted to the bar on 1981, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; 1982, U.S. District Court, District of Puerto Rico; 1983, U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit; 1994, U.S. Supreme Court.
EDUCATION: Boston College (Chestnut Hill, MA) B.A., Finance, 1977; Interamerican University of Puerto Rico (San Juan, PR) J.D., 1981.
LANGUAGES: English and Spanish.
PRACTICE AREAS: Commercial Litigation, Bankruptcy, Eminent Domain, Estates, Foreclosures, Government and Municipal Law, Notary Law, Notary Public, Insurance Law, Real Estate.
MEMBER: Bar Association of Puerto Rico, American Bar Association, Puerto Rico Notaries Association.
Ernesto Rovira-Gandara
Attorney Rovira-Gandara was admitted to the bar on 2004, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; 2005, U.S. District Court, District of Puerto Rico.
EDUCATION: Indiana State University (Terre Haute, IN) B.S., 1999; Interamerican University of Puerto Rico (San Juan, PR) J.D., 2003.
LANGUAGES: English and Spanish.
PRACTICE AREAS: Administrative Law, Appellate Practice, Banking and Contract Law, Commercial Transactions, General Litigation in Notarial Law, Healthcare Law, Insurance Law, Labor and Employment Law, Mortgages, Torts.
MEMBER: Bar Association of Puerto Rico, American Bar Association, Puerto Rico Notaries Association.
Adrian Mercado
Attorney Mercado was admitted to the bar on 1963, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico and U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit; 1965, District of Columbia; 1993, U.S. Supreme Court.
Assistant District Attorney, Superior Court of San Juan, PR, 1965.
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EDUCATION: Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) B.A., 1960; University of Puerto Rico (San Juan, PR) LL.B., 1963.
LANGUAGES: English and Spanish.
PRACTICE AREAS: Commercial Law, Banking Law, Foreclosures, Insurance Law, Litigation, Real Estate.
MEMBER: Bar Association of Puerto Rico, The District of Columbia Bar, American Bar Association, The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel.
Wilfredo A. Geigel
Attorney Geigel was admitted to the bar on 1967, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico and U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit; 1979, U.S. Supreme Court; 1985 Court of Appeals Third Circuit, U.S. District Court for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Superior Court of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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EDUCATION: University of Dayton (Dayton, OH) B.A., 1963; University of Puerto Rico (San Juan, PR) J.D., 1966.
LANGUAGES: English and Spanish.
PRACTICE AREAS: Commercial Law, Banking Law, Foreclosures, Litigation, Bankruptcy, Evictions, Title Issues, Deed Transfers, Real Estate Transactions.
MEMBER: Bar Association of Puerto Rico, American Bar Association, Puerto Rico Notaries Association.
Eugenio Geigel-Simounet
Attorney Geigel-Simounet was admitted to the bar on 2001, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; 2003 U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico; 2005, U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit; 2002 U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit; 2005, U.S. District Court for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Superior Court of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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EDUCATION: University of Dayton (Dayton, OH) B.A., 1996; Hostos School of Law (Mayaguez, PR) J.D., 1999.
LANGUAGES: English and Spanish.
PRACTICE AREAS: Foreclosures, Litigation, Bankruptcy, Deed Transfers, Evictions, Title Issues, Real Estate Transactions.
MEMBER: Bar Association of Puerto Rico, American Bar Association, Puerto Rico Notaries Association.
Non-Attorney Staff
Norman Castillo
Director of Marketing & Client Relations
Norman Castillo is Director of Marketing & Client Relations for Juan B. Soto Law Offices, P.S.C. He is responsible for all marketing media campaigns, advertising, special events, firm wide internal and external communications and all client related matters. Additionally, he contributes to product pipeline definition as a voice of the client; gathering and documenting business compliance requirements.
Prior to his position with Juan B. Soto Law Offices, P.S.C., he was the Director of Bankruptcy, Evictions, Litigation and oversaw all operations for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for Connolly Geaney Ablitt & Willard, P.C.
Norman has a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science/Criminal Justice from the University of Salem State (Salem, MA). Norman has also earned an ABA Paralegal Studies Certificate from Boston University (Boston, MA).
LANGUAGES: English and Spanish.
MEMBER: Notary Public for the state of MA.
Lisette Maldonado
Lisette Maldonado is a paralegal at Juan B. Soto Law Offices, P.S.C. She is responsible for case management as well as updates on all bankruptcy, foreclosure and loss mitigation matters.
Prior to her position with Juan B. Soto Law Offices, P.S.C., she was Paralegal Supervisor for McConnell Valdes LLC and coordinated the work to be completed by the paralegals and supporting staff.
Lisette has a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Chestnut Hill College (Philadelphia, PA). Lisette has also earned an ABA Paralegal Studies Certificate from Widener University (Chester, PA).
LANGUAGES: English and Spanish.
Adela Encarnacion
Adela Encarnacion is Officer Manager for Juan B. Soto Law Offices, P.S.C. in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She is responsible for the operations as well as case management and updates on all U.S. Virgin Islands referred matters.
Adela has an Associate degree in Business Administration from the University of the U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, U.S. VI).
LANGUAGES: English and Spanish.