Yolanda Alvarez-Cruz, Esq.

Ms. Yolanda Álvarez joined Ferraiuoli LLC as a Special Counsel in 2006 and is a Member of Ferraiuoli LLC since 2010. Ms. Álvarez obtained a Magna Cum Laude BA in Public Communications from the University of Puerto Rico (1993), a Master Degree in Public Administration (2000) and a Juris Doctor from the University of Puerto Rico Law School (2005).

She is admitted to practice before the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, and is a member of the Puerto Rico Bar Association and a Certified Mediator licensed by the Puerto Rico Supreme Court Alternate Dispute Resolution Methods Bureau.

Ms. Álvarez is an accomplished entertainment attorney and litigator. She has experience representing award-winning artists, record producers, music publishers, songwriters and record companies. She also drafts and negotiates other intellectual property agreements for different media, like film and television. Her main areas of practice are entertainment and intellectual property, as well as, general civil and commercial litigation, which include real property, insurance, contracts, construction and animal law.

In addition, her ample working experience includes roles as Communications Director for the University of Puerto Rico, Public Relations Advisor of several multinational and local companies, Journalist and Chief Editor of major publications. She has worked in the areas of communication, education, entertainment, sports, public affairs and health.

Ms. Alvarez, who has been a speaker in several conferences dealing with intellectual property, the entertainment industry and animal law, is a member the Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industry and Women in Communications, Law Committee of the Forum on Communications Law (ABA), Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section.

In addition, Ms. Alvarez is actively involved in non-profit organizations like Special Olympics and the Film Foundation of Puerto Rico, of which she is a member of the Board of Directors. She is currently the president of the Animal Law Special Commission of the Puerto Rico Bar Association and is member of the Animal Law Committee of the ABA. Most recently, Ms. Álvarez was appointed as Vice-Chair of the Intellectual Property Law Committee and Chair of International Issues of the Animal Law Committee within the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (“TIPS”) for the 2010-2011. Also, along with Carole Handler, Joe Gratz, Michelle Tilton and John Stephens, she was one of the Committee’s presenters at the ABA TIPS “Art and Law in the 21st Century” CLE program at the ABA Annual Meeting held in San Francisco.

Education

• University of Puerto Rico School of Law, J.D. 2005
• University of Puerto Rico, Master’s Degree Public Administration, 2000
• University of Puerto Rico, B.A. Public Communications, 1993

Bar Admissions

• Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
• United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
• Certified Mediator by the Puerto Rico Supreme Court Alternate Dispute Resolution Methods Bureau

Memberships

• Puerto Rico Bar Association
• Intellectual Property Commission
• American Bar Association (ABA)
  • Intellectual Property Section
  • Forum of the Entertainment & Sports Industry
  • Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (“TIPS”)
  • Animal Law Special Commission of the Puerto Rico Bar Association

Practicing: Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property