Attorney Frau Escudero is an seasoned litigator who was a state court judge for over 12 years and has more than 27 years of experience. He focuses his practice on commercial and civil litigation. He is experienced in all stages of the litigation process, including pre-litigation due diligence, discovery, dispositive motions, trial, post-judgment motions and appeals and from both sides of the bench.
Prior to founding the firm, Mr. Frau Escudero was a superior court judge in the Puerto Rico Court of First Instance (first in Guayama and later in San Juan) from 2007-2019. While serving in the judiciary, he was the sub-administrator for the Guayama district for 3 years; handled two dockets, each with a 400-case-workload; and handled a diverse caseload, including heading courtrooms specialized in family law, criminal law, torts, and general civil litigation. Prior to joining the judiciary, Mr. Frau Escudero was also a counsel in the litigation department of two large law firms in Puerto Rico from 2004-2007 and 1997-2000, the deputy Secretary of Justice in the Puerto Rico Justice Department from 2001-2004 and a law clerk for Associate Justice Jaime Fuster in the Puerto Rico Supreme Court from 1994-1997.
Mr. Frau Escudero was also a member of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court’s Examining Board for the Admission to the Practice of Law from 2004 to 2007.
Representative Cases
As a judge, Frau Escudero was often confirmed by the Puerto Rico Court of Appeals and the Puerto Rico Supreme Court, including in a highly contentious case challenging the granting of a permit to open a monkey research facility in Guayama. In another case, the Court of Appeals confirmed his denial of a motion to dismiss a case against the Mayor of the Cataño Municipality.
Johnson and Johnson Caribbean v Mun. de San Juan, concerning a government contract that was not registered. After the Court of First Instance ruled in favor of Johnson and Johnson, the Court of Appeals reversed in part. Frau Escudero joined Johnson and Johnson’s representation after the appellate judgment and won the case on appeal when the Puerto Rico Supreme Court reversed the appellate court’s judgment, in favor of Johnson and Johnson.
In Loomis Fargo v Policia de Puerto Rico, a case concerning the licensing requirements of private detectives, the Puerto Rico Court of Appeals and the Puerto Rico Supreme Court considered a jurisdictional requirement. In another case, while representing Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Supreme Court set precedent in favor of BPPR’s position that the Court of First Instance had to celebrate an evidentiary hearing to determine the mental capacity of a party due to the legal effects (of absolute nullity) of any legal proceedings held while a party is mentally incapacitated, such that any remedy granted or determination of the party’s rights would be totally null and void.
Admissions
Puerto Rico Supreme Court, 1994
U.S. District Court for the District of PR, 2004
U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, 1997
Education
J.D., magna cum laude, University of Puerto Rico Law School, 1994
B.A., magna cum laude, University of Puerto Rico, 1991