Maria focuses her practice on complex financial restructuring and bankruptcy transactions for companies and municipalities. Her expertise provides clients with creative and proven solutions to preserve and maximize value.
Maria is a leading member of an O’Melveny team representing Puerto Rico in the largest municipal bankruptcy in US history and advising the Island’s government entities through recovery from two devastating hurricanes, political turmoil, earthquake swarms, and COVID-19. Maria represents the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority in its on-going restructuring of more than US$8 billion in debt and led negotiations for the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority in its successful restructuring of approximately US$1 billion of debt under federal water and sewer programs.
Maria also advised the City of Long Beach, NY to settle an overwhelming over US$140 million judgment against the City and to address a long-history of being one of the most fiscally stressed municipalities in New York State. In her over 25 years of practice, Maria has represented companies in various industries including health care, manufacturing, energy, financial services, and for-profit education. Maria was lead counsel to women’s fashion boutique francesca’s® in its Chapter 11 case, which resulted in the successful going concern sale at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Complex Financial Restructurings
- Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority, Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority and Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority in in-court and out-of-court debt restructuring under PROMESA.
Debtor Representations
- Women’s clothing retailer, Francesca’s Holdings Corp. and its subsidiaries.
Lender/Creditor Representations
- Secured creditor and purchaser of United Road Towing.
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- New York
Court Admissions
- US District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York
Education
- St. John’s University, J.D. 1997: magna cum laude; Articles and Notes Editor, St. John's Law Review; Dean's List; St. John's School of Law Scholarship; CALI Award for Excellence in Corporate Taxation
- William and Mary, B.A., Government, 1994: Pi Sigma Alpha, the Political Science Honor Society
Honors & Awards
- Recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law in New York, NY (2020-2025)
- Recommended by The Legal 500 US (2012-2013, 2015); Restructuring (including Bankruptcy): Corporate (2019, 2022, 2024); Restructuring (including Bankruptcy): Municipal (2022-2024)
- Named to the Lawdragon 500’s list of Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers (2020, 2022-2023)
- Named by Marquis Who’s Who in the World (2018)
Professional Activities
Member
- American Bankruptcy Institute
Articles, Publications & Lectures
- Speaker, “Bankruptcy & Reorganizations 2024: Current Developments,” Practising Law Institute (April 23, 2024)