Katiuska Bolaños-Lugo advises clients on regulatory compliance, public private partnership (P3) matters, and litigation, with a primary focus on the energy sector. She has more than 12 years of experience representing public and private sector clients in regulatory compliance matters, infrastructure transactions, and administrative proceedings involving energy markets and utility regulation.
She has significant experience guiding clients through energy related P3 transactions, including advising on bid strategy, regulatory due diligence, commercial negotiations, and the implementation of long-term concession and operating structures. Her transactional work also includes advising on issues involving power purchase and operating agreements, such as regulatory approvals, operational compliance obligations, and alignment of commercial and regulatory frameworks.
Previously, Katiuska served as Chief Regulatory Officer of the public private partnership responsible for operating Puerto Rico's publicly owned generation fleet. In that role, she led regulatory strategy and compliance efforts for a 5 GW power generation portfolio, represented the operator in proceedings before federal and local regulators, negotiated key energy and infrastructure agreements, and secured critical approvals advancing Puerto Rico's energy transition.
Fully bilingual in English and Spanish, she helps clients navigate regulatory, transactional, and litigation challenges in the energy sector with strategic, commercially grounded solutions.
CourtsUnited States District Court for the District of Puerto RicoUnited States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
EXPERIENCE
Katiuska has over 12 years of experience representing clients in regulatory compliance, administrative proceedings, and litigation, with a focus on the energy industry.
As Chief Regulatory Officer of the public private partnership responsible for operating Puerto Rico's publicly owned generation assets, Katiuska led regulatory compliance and legal strategy for a 5 GW power generation portfolio. She represented the operator before the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US Department of Justice, and local environmental regulators. Under her leadership, the operator secured critical approvals to convert generation capacity from ULSD to natural gas and obtained emissions waivers, enabling continued compliance with evolving federal environmental standards while maintaining reliable power supply.
Prior to this role, Katiuska served as outside counsel to Puerto Rico's publicly owned vertically integrated utility. Her work included representing the utility in adjudicative proceedings before the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau, such as integrated resource planning (IRP), rate cases, and regulatory enforcement matters. In addition to litigation advocacy, she collaborated with internal teams and external consultants to develop and implement compliance strategies, IRPs, and rate case filings, ensuring regulatory alignment with Puerto Rico's energy policy objectives. Katiuska also participated in the negotiation of power purchase agreements and other key contracts, ensuring their consistency with regulatory requirements and long-term policy goals.
Earlier in her career, as an attorney in the Federal Litigation Division of the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, Katiuska represented the Commonwealth, including government officials, municipalities, and public corporations, in high-profile federal litigation. She also provided strategic counsel to the Attorney General on federal compliance and regulatory enforcement matters.
Katiuska's litigation experience also includes representing clients in contract disputes, tort claims, and enforcement actions during her tenure in private practice.
