About Us

Federico was born and raised in Mexico City, coming to Chicago as a teenager. He began a quasi-legal career as an Official Court Interpreter for the County of Cook in 1989. While working during the day, he attended college full-time at night and weekends, receiving a B.A. from DePaul University’s School for New Learning in 1995. During that time, from 1990-91, he participated and graduated from MALDEF’s Leadership Development Programs under the direction of the Hon. Ruben Castillo (before his appointment to the federal bench).

Federico received a first year scholarship from the Illinois State senate to attend the University of Illinois College of Law in 1995, where he earned his J.D. in 1998. Upon graduating he began as an associate with Lawrence H. Hyman & Associates, focusing on personal injury litigation and high profile criminal cases nationwide. In his last two years with that firm, he brought in and handled personal injury cases that grossed over 11 million dollars combined for the firm.

He is currently the principal of Rodriguez Legal Group, LLC. Since opening his first solo firm, he has obtained over 32 millions dollars in judgments and settlements for his clients. He has handled many high profile cases, including two lawsuits against La Ley radio station (for their failure to award prizes to contestants arising out of their immigration status) and defamations claims against WGN News and another national Spanish language television station. Some of these cases have been featured in the New York Times, The Sun Times (front page), the Daily Herald, and the Law Bulletin. Federico has appeared on Telemundo, Univision, Television Azteca, NTN24 (broadcasted throughout the Americas) and Fox News’ former show Hannity & Colmes.

Alejandro Menchaca is a partner at the firm of McAndrews, Held & Malloy in Chicago, Illinois. Menchaca is an Adjunct Professor at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago teaching Patent and Trade Secrets Law, and also having taught Unfair Competition and Consumer Protection, International Intellectual Property Law, and Patent Prosecution (in John Marshall’s Intellectual Property LLM. Program). He received his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1985 and his law degree from the Loyola University of Chicago in 1989. He is also a former Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois where he worked in the criminal division.

Salvador Cicero is the President of the Hispanic Lawyers’ Association of Illinois (HLAI) for the Bar year 2011-2012. He is the Principal of The Cicero Law Firm, P.C. The firm focuses on providing affordable legal services to national and international clients.

Salvador Cicero is a graduate of the Matías Romero Institute for Diplomatic Studies in Mexico City (2000) and holds a Juris Doctor and a Certificate in International Transactions and Development from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law (1998). He received a B.A. in Latin American Studies at the University of New Mexico (1994). He is admitted to practice law in Illinois and the US Federal District Courts for the Northern District of Illinois (trial bar) and Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Prior to opening the firm, Mr. Cicero served as Research Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and Director of the American Bar Association’s Project to Combat Trafficking in Persons in Ecuador. Mr. Cicero was also a career member of the Foreign Service of Mexico.

He has published various Law Review articles and other academic articles in the U.S., Colombia, Mexico and Argentina. He has lectured in programs throughout the American Hemisphere, most notably as an expert for the Organization of American States and as a trainer for United Nations’ Peacekeeping Forces. He has been an invited commentator on national legislation in Mexico and Ecuador.

Among his awards and distinctions are the Martin Luther King Jr. DREAM Award for Public Service (2011), the El Humanitario Award (2007), the Ohio State University Alumni Association’s William Oxley Thompson Award for Early Career Achievement (2004), and the American Bar Association’s Silver Key (1998) and Bronze Key (1997).

Luana Montoya is the Executive Director of the City of Chicago Committee on Finance’s Claims Divisions. She has also served as a staff attorney for the Committee. She began her legal career as an Assistant Corporation Counsel in the City’s Department of Law.

Luana obtained her undergraduate degree in Government from Harvard University in 1998. She went on to earn her law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2003. While at the University of Illinois, she was active in the Latina/o Law Students Association, served as Executive Administrative Editor of the Elder Law Journal, and competed in the Hispanic National Bar Association’s moot court competition, earning the first place brief award in the school-level competition and second place at the national level with her school’s team.

Litza Mavrothalasitis is an Assistant Inspector General at the Office of Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor, investigating allegations of fraud, misconduct, and waste. Previously, she practiced litigation at the law firms of Jenner & Block LLP and DLA Piper LLP. She has experience handling matters involving ERISA, employment, breach of contract, insurance, and tort claims. She also has experience consulting with case teams on e-discovery. Litza was heavily involved with pro bono work at both firms, having served on Jenner & Block's Pro Bono Committee. Litza graduated from the University of Michigan Law School where she served as President of the Latino Law Students Association and was an Executive Articles Editor for the Michigan Journal of Race & Law. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and French Minor from Northwestern University. Prior to practicing law, she was an Associate in KPMG's Corporate Finance group working on mergers, acquisitions, and financings.

Alfredo Maldonado attended the University of Iowa for his undergraduate studies. He was awarded a full tuition scholarship to attend the University. He graduated from the College of Liberal Arts with Bachelors of Arts degrees in History and Political Science. He then went on to attend the law school at the University of Iowa and graduated with distinction.

He began his legal career as a contract attorney for West Law Publishing Group. He then went on to become a Cook County Public Defender. He has been assigned to the traffic division, child protection division and the felony trial division. He is currently assigned to the Homicide Task Force, where he defends persons accused of murder.

Alfredo is also a professor at Benedictine University where he teaches undergraduate courses in American Government and Argumentative Writing. He is a volunteer tutor at Kanoon Elementary Magnet School. He currently serves as the Recording Secretary for the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois.

Celia is an experienced employment attorney, investigator and human resources professional who has worked in both the private and public sector. She has jury and bench trial experience in federal and state criminal and civil courts, and has appeared before administrative agencies, local municipal courts, and labor arbitrators. Her professional background includes service as a General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for a healthcare billing company, Deputy Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago’s Employment Litigation Division, and service as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Department of Justice. Celia received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and her law degree from the University of Iowa.

Sergio E. Acosta is a partner with the law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP. Mr. Acosta's practice includes white collar criminal defense, gaming law, and commercial litigation. Prior to joining Hinshaw in 2010, Mr. Acosta served as Chief of the General Crimes Section for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago. Mr. Acosta was an Assistant U.S. Attorney from 1990 to 1999, and again from 2001 to 2010. From 1999-2001, he served as Administrator of the Illinois Gaming Board. Mr. Acosta began his legal career in 1985 as an Assistant State’s Attorney under then-State Attorney Janet Reno in Miami, Florida.

Mr. Acosta received his Bachelor of Arts degree from DePaul University and graduated in 1985 from the George Washington University School of Law in Washington, D.C. Since 1998, he has served as an adjunct professor of Trial Advocacy at the Northwestern University School of Law. Mr. Acosta is a member of the Board of Directors of Leadership Greater Chicago, and is a member of LGC’s Class of 1999. He is a past President and founding member of the National Hispanic Prosecutors Association.

Mr. Acosta has received numerous commendations throughout his career, including the Chicago Crime Commission’s Star of Distinction Award and the Chicago Bar Foundation’s Richard J. Phelan Public Service Award. Mr. Acosta has made presentations to many organizations, including the City of Chicago Law Department and the U.S. Department of Justice National Advocacy Center. In addition, Mr. Acosta has represented the Department of Justice and the Department of State in presentations to prosecutors, law enforcement agents and judges in various Latin American countries, including El Salvador, the Dominican Republic and Colombia. In July 2010, he presented a training program to Mexican federal prosecutors entitled, “The Investigation and Prosecution of Organized Crime and Human Trafficking Cases.”

Mr. Acosta lives in the western suburbs with his wife of 28 years, Patty. They have four children: Joseph (21), George (19), Alina (16) and Sara (13).

Ernesto Palomo obtained his J.D. in 2002 from the University of Illinois College of Law, where he was a Symposium Editor for Law Review and Vice President of the Latino/a Law Students’ Association. He is a partner at Locke Lord LLP works primarily in the Business Litigation and Arbitration practice group. Ernesto has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of complex business disputes, including cases involving civil RICO, antitrust, fraud, real estate, patent and copyright infringement, interference with contractual relations, unfair competition, cases alleging theft of trade secrets and cases involving emergency equitable remedies such as temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions. He also has substantial experience counseling clients on issues of insurance and reinsurance coverage and has represented domestic and overseas insurers and reinsurers in several coverage disputes. Ernesto also devotes considerable time to pro bono matters through the National Immigrant Justice Center, the Center for Disability and Elder Law, and the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.

Martha-Victoria Diaz is currently a senior associate at Sanchez Daniels & Hoffman LLP since August of 2006 and practices Civil and Commercial Litigation. Specifically she specializes in Municipal Litigation, Federal and State Civil Rights Litigation, Premises Liability, and Toxic Torts. In January of 2011, she won a Federal Civil Rights jury trial on behalf of the City of Chicago before Chief Judge Holderman of the Northern District of Illinois. Prior to her civil practice, from August of 2002 until August of 2006, Martha-Victoria was Assistant State's Attorney at the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. She started in the Appeals Bureau and besides having an in-depth opportunity to better learn criminal law; she has argued matters before the Illinois Appellate Court. After the Appeals Bureau, Martha-Victoria was promoted to the Juvenile Justice Division. In the both the Abuse and Neglect as well as the Delinquency Divisions of that bureau, she prosecuted over one hundred trials involving felony and misdemeanor offenses as well as charges of parental abuse, neglect, and unfitness pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act.

Martha-Victoria attended the University Of Illinois College Of Law in Urbana-Champaign. While there she was awarded a fellowship by the Public Interest Law Initiative and devoted her service to the Midwest Immigrants’ Rights Center in Chicago, IL. She was awarded “Best Overall” in the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) Moot Court Competition and was also a part of the National Team that competed in the fall of 2002 at the National HNMA Moot Court Competition. She was also awarded first place at the American Bar Association (ABA) Client Counseling Competition. Finally, during that that, she had the pleasure of externing for the United States District Court in Urbana, IL and volunteered for the Appellate Defender Clinic within the University of Illinois College of Law Legal Clinic.

Martha-Victoria Diaz currently serves on the board of Healthcare Alternative Systems (H.A.S.), the largest provider of social services to Latinos in the state of Illinois. She is also a board member of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois and of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois Charities. Finally, Martha-Victoria is also a member of the Hispanic National Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, and the Defense Research Institute.

Steve Hernandez is a seasoned Commercial Attorney whose career has taken him from representing small family businesses on 26th Street in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood to representing one of the world’s largest petrochemical companies, BP plc.

Steve is US counsel for BP America’s Refining Procurement Group. In that capacity, Steve advises BP’s 5 US refineries on national procurement contracts and business issues. Steve also serves as the primary commercial attorney for Castrol Industrial North America Inc. (a BP subsidiary) and BP’s US Asphalt Group. Prior to his current role, Steve was the primary commercial attorney for BP’s $4 billion dollar Whiting Refinery Modernization Project. In addition, Steve served as primary commercial counsel for BP’s Whiting and Toledo Refineries and Arco Aluminum Inc.

A 1981 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School, Steve is a past president of the Mexican American Lawyers Association (a predecessor of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois) and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Pier and Exhibition Authority in Chicago.

J. Damian Ortiz is a professor at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago. He received his under graduate degree from Loyola University of Chicago, his JD and Masters in Real Estate from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago. He teaches civil rights, legal writing and Fair Housing Law and Lending Law. He also litigates cases at the Fair Housing Legal Clinic. He is a national and international commentator on foreclosure, housing and lending issues. He has litigated numerous fair housing cases in administrative, state, federal courts and appellate courts. He has argued before the Illinois appellate court and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. His most noteworthy case is Sullivan-Lackey v. Godinez, 815 N.E.2d 822 (1st Dist. 2004) were he argued and the court found that the federal housing assistance program, Section 8, is a lawful source of income. Professor Ortiz conducts fair housing trainings and supervises staff attorneys and law students who are litigating fair housing cases at the Clinic. Professor Ortiz has received a number of awards for his community service and dedication to civil rights. Previously, he worked as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Ronald A. Guzman of the United States Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He is a member of the ABA, Seventh Circuit Bar, ISBA, CBA, Hispanic Bar Association and HLAI. He has served on the ISBA and CBA Judicial Review Committees for the last five years. He has authored real estate and civil rights articles. Other community activities include serving on the boards of various not-for-profit organizations.

Iris Chavira is an Assistant State’s Attorney with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. She is currently assigned to the Juvenile Justice Bureau, Delinquency Division, where she prosecutes juvenile misdemeanor and felony cases. Prior to that, she was in the Child Protection Division, where she prosecuted cases of child abuse and neglect. She began her career in the Civil Actions Bureau, Child Support Enforcement Division, where she enforced child support orders.

Iris Chavira graduated from DePaul University College of Law and completed her undergraduate degree at DePaul University where she majored in Psychology. During law school Iris Chavira was President of the Latino Law Student Association, law student liaison for the Hispanic National Bar Association, and a board member of the Illinois Latino Law Student Association. She has also served as a mentor for the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois - J.D. Mentors Program. Iris Chavira is currently a liaison between DePaul University’s Latino Law Student Association and the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois.