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.
LBAW’s mission is to promote, support, and serve Washington’s Latina/o legal professionals—both current and future—as well as the broader Latino community. We achieve this by:
• Providing professional development opportunities that help our members grow their expertise, build networks, and advance their careers;
• Using legal and advocacy skills to support community members and address critical issues impacting the Latino community; and
• Fostering mentorship, offering scholarships, strengthening professional connections, and celebrating our shared culture.
LBAW is guided by a commitment to service to the community, compassion for others, and selflessness in leadership. LBAW’s aim is to uplift and empower the Latino legal community.
Read the 2025 LBAW Bylaws Here.
Board of Directors
Zaida Rivera
President
(president@lbaw.org)
Zaida Carolina Rivera is the proud daughter of hardworking Mexican immigrants and an immigrant herself. Zaida serves as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Law and the Director of the Immigrant Justice Clinic (IJC) at Seattle University School of Law where she teaches the Immigrant Justice Clinic and supervises law students representing clients in various immigration matters. Professor Rivera has been practicing immigration law for over eleven years, primarily representing clients in immigration proceedings and humanitarian relief for various immigration legal services providers in Washington State, New York, and New Jersey.
Professor Rivera is passionate about access to justice initiatives and enjoys coordinating and volunteering for legal clinics. She also enjoys participating in law school pipeline programs to encourage underrepresented students to pursue a legal education. Si se puede!
Professor Rivera is a member of the ATJ Delivery Systems’ Undocumented Communities Subcommittee, the Labor Based Deferred Action Coalition, and a fellow for the Washington Leadership Institute Class of 2023. In her free time Professor Rivera enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.
President Elect
(president-elect@lbaw.org)
With over ten years of experience as a personal injury attorney, Sergio is passionate about helping survivors receive justice and holding individuals, corporations, and governments accountable. He fiercely advocates for his clients who have suffered harm stemming from serious personal injury; wrongful death; and crimes like sexual assault and harassment.
As a proud Mexican American, Sergio speaks Spanish fluently, allowing him to connect with the marginalized Latino/a community. Since law school, Sergio has volunteered countless hours fighting for the Latino/a community at legal clinics, speaking at community events and protests, and participating in workshops teaching individuals about their legal rights.
During his free time, Sergio loves playing guitar, dabbling in art, birding, listening to Mexican ballad/ranchera music, cooking, and traveling.
Sergio Garcidueñas-Sease
Vacant
Co-VP of Judicial Evaluations
jec2@lbaw.org
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.
Zulen is a public defender with the King County Department of Public Defense
In her free time, Zulen loves traveling with her husband, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her best friends -- her nieces and nephews.
Zulen Pantoja-Ortega
Maria Isabel Gonzalez
VP of Events
(events@lbaw.org)
Bringing over a decade of legal expertise in Corporate and Business Law, I am a dedicated attorney committed to shaping and fortifying corporate structures. My journey began at the "Universidad Panamericana" in Guadalajara, Mexico, where I earned my Law degree in 2010, followed by a Postgraduate degree in Corporate and Business Law in 2012.
With a passion for crafting robust corporate governance frameworks, I specialize in designing company constitutions, drafting bylaws, and negotiating partners' agreements while ensuring strict compliance with legal regulations. Throughout my career, I have played a pivotal role in facilitating multilateral transactions, navigating sponsorship agreements, and orchestrating mergers and acquisitions.
Deeply immersed in the vibrant UW community at the Medical Center where I leverage my legal expertise to bridge gaps in healthcare accessibility for minorities, advocating for equitable access to quality services; as a proud member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Committee, I am committed to spearheading initiatives that foster new opportunities for staff, patients, and the broader Washington community, reflecting my unwavering dedication to equity and justice.
Diego Rondón Ichikawa
Co-VP of Judicial Evaluations
(jec@lbaw.org)
Diego is an accomplished attorney and passionate advocate for individuals who suffered harm in the areas of product liability, serious personal injury, employment law, and sexual assault and harassment. He serves his clients with compassion and a commitment to hold wrongdoers accountable.
Born and raised in Venezuela, Diego is a native Spanish speaker. He also speaks Japanese and Portuguese, having lived in Japan and Portugal. Diego’s international upbringing and language skills allow him to navigate various cultural contexts with ease. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking and camping with his wife and three kids, living a vegan lifestyle, and playing one of his many instruments.
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 dog, Luna. She is passionate about a balanced life, and her agility and scent work dog classes keep her busy.
Laura Ramirez
Co-VP of Clinics
(clinics@lbaw.org)
Gloria Domingos
Co-VP of Clinics
(clinics2@lbaw.org)
Gloria Domingos is an immigrant who devotes her practice to immigration and humanitarian law as the founder and Principal Attorney of Domingos Law Firm. Gloria and her team serve clients from more than 25 countries, and they speak 10+ languages combined. She speaks in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French and holds a Master of Laws degree from University of Washington.
Her goal as the Co-VP of Clinics at LBAW is to offer pro bono legal assistance to a wider range of marginalized communities throughout Washington state. Continuing her volunteer work commitments, Domingos is now also on the Board of Directors of another non-profit organization that focuses on bettering the lives of immigrants and refugees named “Partner in Employment”.
In her personal time, Gloria Domingos enjoys exploring the world through travel and has a passion for scuba diving. She finds joy in immersing herself in diverse cultures and discovering the wonders beneath the ocean's surface.
Janet Moran
VP of Membership
(membership@lbaw.org)
Omar Cojulun
Immediate Past 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.
Susana Ruiz
Treasurer
(treasurer@lbaw.org)
Susana Ruiz is a Managing Attorney at S.L. Pitts PC and her primary focus is family law. Originally from Idaho, Susana moved to Seattle to attend UW Law and has been in the PNW for almost 10 years. She enjoys attending Mariners games, hiking, eating ramen, and playing pickleball.
Eilish Villa Malone
VP of Development
(development@lbaw.org)
Eilish Villa Malone (she/her) is a bilingual immigration staff attorney and white ally committed to providing trauma-informed, culturally competent legal services to low-income immigrants across Central Washington. At Central Washington Legal Aid, she leads the organization’s immigration program, focusing on humanitarian relief, removal defense, and family-based pathways to status.
Since becoming licensed in 2019, Eilish has practiced exclusively in immigration law, advocating for individuals navigating the immigration system with a focus on survivors of violence, families facing separation, and communities historically excluded from legal representation. Prior to her current role, she led citizenship legal services at La Casa Hogar in Yakima.
Eilish is dedicated to community-based advocacy, mentorship, and capacity building. She regularly provides immigration law trainings to attorneys, accredited representatives, and nonprofit staff across Washington. As Vice President of Development, she brings her commitment to equity and collective liberation to support LBAW’s mission of empowering Latinx legal professionals and expanding access to justice.
Andre Dayani
Immediate Past President
(pastpresident@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.
Past Presidents
2024| Andre Dayani
2023 | Tyler Quillin
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