The purpose of the Latina/o Bar Association of Washington is to represent the concerns and goals of Latino attorneys and the Latino people of Washington State.
The Latina/o Bar Association of Washington’s (LBAW) mission is to promote, support, and serve both Washington’s current and future Latina/o legal professionals and, the broader Latina/o community by:
Offering professional development opportunities to grow members’ expertise and networks for career advancement;
Leveraging legal and advocacy skills to assist community members and issues which impact the Latina/o community; and
Providing opportunities to promote mentorship, scholarship assistance, enhanced connectedness, and cultural celebration.
LBAW approaches its mission through a lens of service, compassion, and selflessness.
Board of Directors
Andre Dayani
President
(president@lbaw.org)
Andre Dayani serves as the Managing Partner for Dayani Law Firm. Originally from Topanga Canyon in California, Andre moved to the Pacific Northwest to attend the Seattle University School of Law. After graduation from law school, Andre began his legal service at the King County Department of Public Defense as a public defender. Andre continues the public defense mission in private practice, where he devotes a majority of his practice to serving Spanish speaking clients in personal injury and criminal defense matters.
Andre served as the Vice President of Events for the Latina/o Bar Association of Washington from 2019-2022, and volunteers at the bilingual LBAW legal clinic.
Andre explores the world with his wife Lauren, and their two dogs, Baloo and Nino. During his free time, he practices film photography, collects records, and competes in Jiu Jitsu. He likes chatting about the universe, life passions, and love.
Zaida Rivera
President Elect
(president-elect@lbaw.org)
Tyler Quillin
Immediate Past President
(pastpresident@lbaw.org)
Tyler Quillin is Principal Corporate Counsel at Microsoft Corporation, supporting the Xbox and Gaming team. Prior to joining Microsoft, Tyler was an associate attorney at Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP, where his practiced focuses on technology transactions and intellectual property law. Tyler earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Washington School of Law, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Chaminade University of Honolulu, and his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona. After law school, Tyler clerked at the Snohomish County Superior Court and, subsequently, had a general practice at Buchalter PC.
Prior to attending law school, Tyler taught special education on the Big Island of Hawai’i as a Teach For America Corps Member and 12th grade English in San Jose, California. In his free time, Tyler can be found geeking out on hifi audio or trying new home beer brewing recipes. He loves movies, music, reading, and exploring this beautiful state with his wife and four children.
Zulen Pantoja-Ortega
VP of Communication
(info@lbaw.org)
Zulen Pantoja-Ortega is a lifelong Washingtonian, born and raised in Mount Vernon, Washington. She is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants. Zulen is a recent graduate of Seattle University School of Law. After taking the bar exam in July she will be joining the King County Department of Public Defense.
During law school, she gained practical experience through various internships and externships. She served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Judge Tana Lin in the U.S District Court in the Western District of Washington, an intern at Columbia Legal Services and Northwest Justice Project. In law school, Zulen was named the 2021 Scholar for Justice; she was an executive member of the Latinx Law Student Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Board, a member of the Moot Court Board, and served on the Student Bar Association. She was also honored as one of the 25 Law Students who Soar during the 2022–23 school year.
In her limited free time, Zulen loves traveling with her partner, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her best friends -- her nieces and nephews.
Stephanie Perez-Cortez
Co-VP of Judicial Evaluations
(jec2@lbaw.org)
Ashley Gomez
Co-VP of Judicial Evaluations
(jec@lbaw.org)
Ashley Gomez is an Assistant Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Division of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office in Seattle. In that role, she works on behalf of the state to help ensure that Washingtonians are not harmed by unfair or deceptive business practices. Before joining the Attorney General’s Office, Ashley worked as an attorney at Schroeter, Goldmark & Bender and DuBois Cary Law Group (now DuBois Levias Law Group). Ashley earned her JD from Lewis & Clark Law School and two BA degrees from the University of California, Davis. She has been volunteering with LBAW since 2019. Outside of LBAW, Ashley has volunteered with the Unemployment Justice Project and was recently a fellow in the Washington Leadership Institute.
When she is not working or volunteering, Ashley loves to cook and bake, explore the Puget Sound with her husband, and cuddle with her two cats.
Maria Isabel Gonzalez
VP of Events
(events@lbaw.org)
Paula Arno Martinez
Secretary
(secretary@lbaw.org)
Paula is originally from Houston, Texas. Before starting her own law firm, Arno Martinez Law, PLLC, Paula worked for non-profit organizations and small private law firms. Paula’s practice focuses on family-based immigration.
Paula served as a Commissioner on the Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs, as a Latina/o Bar Association of Washington board member, and as the National President for Kappa Delta Chi, Sorority, Inc. in the past. Paula currently serves on the Wenatchee Pride Board, the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center Board of Trustees, the Wenatchee Valley College Board of Trustees, and the board of the state Association for College Trustees.
Paula enjoys traveling, especially with her wife, Vanessa, and her two dogs, Estrella and Luna. She is passionate about a balanced life, and her agility and scent work dog classes keep her busy.
Sandra Garcia Heredia
Co-VP of Clinics
(clinics@lbaw.org)
Sandra Garcia Heredia is a Legal Advocate at Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) in Seattle, helping unaccompanied children with their immigration cases.
Sandra earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in International Business from Seattle University in 2015. Sandra later attended Mitchell Hamline School of Law where she earned a Juris Doctor degree and a Certificate in Health Care Compliance in 2022. She is actively Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) by the Compliance Certification Board (CCB). Sandra recently completed a Global Master in International Sports Law from the Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economía (ISDE) out of Madrid, Spain, and is expected to graduate in July of 2024.
During law school, Sandra was recognized by the Minnesota Justice Foundation for completing the Law School Public Service Program (LSPSP) by having completed 50+ hours of pro bono/public interest work.
Before joining LBAW, Sandra had been volunteering at El Centro De La Raza, primarily helping during LBAW's legal clinic by doing intakes and interpretations.
In her free time, Sandra likes to hike, travel, try new restaurants, watch/attend soccer matches and relax at home.
Abi Hernandez
VP of Membership
(membership@lbaw.org)
Abi Hernandez is an Associate Attorney at the Redmond office of Wong Fleming. Her practice focuses on civil matters including commercial/corporate litigation, immigration, and family law matters.
During law school Abi externed with in-house counsel for both Nestle U.S.A. and Flyhomes Inc. Additionally, Abi worked as a Legal Intern for the Northwest Immigrants Rights Project in the Violence Against Women division.
When Abi is not in the office she enjoys traveling and outdoor activities such as snowboarding and running 5ks. In addition, Abi also helps run her husband's Mexican restaurant located in Bonney Lake, WA.
Abi is passionate about helping her community and has been involved with local latino resource centers such as El Centro de La Raza since she was in high school. Abi wishes to continue serving her community through her services at LBAW.
Gloria Domingos
Co-VP of Clinics
(clinics2@lbaw.org)
Omar Cojulun
Treasurer
(treasurer@lbaw.org)
Omar is in-house counsel at Microsoft on the trademark team. Before joining Microsoft, he worked at Perkins Coie in the Trademark, Copyright, Internet & Advertising practice group. He received his JD from UW Law and his BA from UCLA. Omar is originally from Southern California but has been living in Washington for almost eight years. He is passionate about soccer, eating, and traveling.
Vanessa Arno Martinez
Co-VP of Eastern Washington
(eastern-wa@lbaw.org)
Vanessa Arno Martinez has practiced immigration law since 2014, She is based in Wenatchee. Vanessa earned her Juris Doctor from the Seattle University School of Law. She is a Washington Leadership Institute (WLI) Fellow, class of 2018. She previously served on the LBAW board as secretary, VP of Eastern Washington, and president. Vanessa enjoys travelling, construction projects, and spending time with her wife and dogs.
Leslie Veloz
VP of Development
(development@lbaw.org)
Leslie Veloz is an Associate at Hintze Law PLLC. Leslie focuses on the intersection of privacy, security, and data ethics. Leslie represents companies exclusively on privacy issues. She advises clients in identifying, evaluating, and managing complex global privacy and compliance issues. Leslie has experience with drafting privacy policies, regulatory enforcement actions and investigations, privacy by design counseling, and benchmarking projects. Substantive areas of expertise include, the FTC Act, California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA), Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI), Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), ad tech, and data security compliance.
Prior to joining Hintze Law, Leslie was the first-ever Privacy Intern for T-Mobile where she gained valuable experience implementing state, federal, and global privacy and compliance laws.
During law school, Leslie held positions as a law clerk for the Honorable John Michael Vazquez, U.S.D.J. She also served as the Chair of the Northeast Region of the National Black Law Student Association, President of her local Latin American Law Students Association, and member of the Interscholastic Moot Court Board. In addition, Leslie has received several honors and awards, including the Seton Hall Law Women’s Leadership Award and Pro Bono Honors.
Sonia Rodriguez True
Co-VP of Eastern Washington
(eastern-wa2@lbaw.org)
Past Presidents
2022 | Favian Valencia
2021 | Andres Munoz
2020 | Vanessa Arno Martinez
2019 | Debbie Akhbari
2018 | Veronica Quinonez
2017 | Aimee Sutton
2016 | David Perez
2015 | Chach Duarte White
2014 | David Mendoza
2013 | Emily Gonzalez
2012 | Jennifer Sheffield
2011 | Fe Lopez
2010 | Patricia Lally
2009 | Nicole McGrath
2008 | Ciarelle Valdez
2007 | M. Lorena Gonzalez
2006 | Brenda Williams
2005 | Cristobal J. Alex
2004 | Cristobal J. Alex
2003 | Fred Rivera
2002 | Hector Steele Rojas
2001 | Lisa Castanon