García Padilla has practiced law since 1998 and was Governor of Puerto Rico from 2013 to 2017.

After obtaining a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from universities in Puerto Rico, García Padilla began his career as a law clerk for the Appellate Circuit. He also served as a legislative aide, directed the Association of General Contractors, practiced contract and real estate law, and taught at the Inter American University Law School.

García Padilla’s political career started in 2005 when he was confirmed as the Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs. As Secretary, he championed the rights of ordinary Puerto Ricans, including keeping gas prices low during a time of high crude-oil prices that threatened the Commonwealth’s economy. García Padilla resigned this position in 2007 to run for the Senate of Puerto Rico and was elected to the Commonwealth Legislature in 2008. During his time in the Senate, García Padilla was the ranking member on the Governmental Affairs, Public Safety, and Judicial Affairs committees. In 2011, he announced his intention to run for Governor of Puerto Rico and was subsequently elected President of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD). In 2012, García Padilla won election to the office of Governor on a platform of standing by working class Puerto Ricans and promoting economic growth.

Following his years of public service, García Padilla returned to private law practice. The Spanish law firm Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo announced in 2018 that García Padilla would head the firm’s new Puerto Rico office. He also works as Of Counsel at national plaintiffs’ law firm Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC.