Appointed/Elected:
Appointed to the Court of Appeals by Governor Mark Dayton, April 7, 2014. Elected in 2016 and 2022. Current term expires January 2029.
Education:
William Mitchell College of Law, Juris Doctor, cum laude (1997)
- Best Brief, Rosalie E. Wahl Moot Court Competition (1994-1995)
- Founding Member of the WMCL Hispanic Law Student Association (1993)
University of St. Thomas, Bachelor of Arts, Major: Chemistry, Minor: Biology
Employment:
Partner, Barnes & Thornburg, L.L.P., 2013-2014
Senior Intellectual Property Lawyer, Cargill, Incorporated, 2001-2013
Attorney, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, L.L.P., 1997-2001
Judicial Law Clerk, Ramsey County District Court Judge Salvador M. Rosas, 1996-1997
Senior Environmental Scientist, Metropolitan Council, Environmental Services, 1987-1996
Professional Memberships:
Hispanic National Bar Association (2003-present)
- Immediate Past President (2013-present)
- National President, (2012-2013)
- Chair, Inaugural HNBA/Microsoft IP Law Institute, Washington, D.C. (2013)
- Steering Committee Member, Inaugural Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy, Minneapolis, MN (2013)
- Steering Committee Member, Inaugural Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy, Minneapolis, MN (2014)
- National President-Elect (2011-2012)
- National Vice-President of Sections & Committees (2010-2011)
- National Vice-President of Regions & Affiliates (2008-2010)
- Convention Chair, HNBA 35th Annual Convention (2010)
- Regional President, Region XI (2004-2008)
- Conference Chair, HNBA 2007 Mid-Year Conference & HNBA Moot Court Competition
- Planning Committee Member, 2006 HNBA Mid-Year Conference & HNBA Moot Court Competition
- Planning Committee Member, 2005 HNBA Mid-Year Conference & HNBA Moot Court Competition
- Team Leader, HNBA Legislative Day, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012
- Member, HNBA Intellectual Property Law Section (2008-present)
- Member, International Law Section (2008-present)
- Member, HNBA In-House Counsel Committee (2007-present)
- Member, HNBA Executive Director Selection Committee (2006)
- Member, Corporate Advisory Board (2003-2005)
Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association (1997-present)
- President (2000-2003)
- Board Member (1997-2000)
American Bar Association (1997-present)
- Member, ABA House of Delegates (2013-present)
- Commissioner, ABA Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities (2013-present)
- Chair-Elect, TIPS Intellectual Property Law Committee (2010-2011)
Professional and Community Activities:
Nationwide Hispanic Advisory Council, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Board Member (2012-present)
American Bar Foundation, MN Chapter, Fellows (2010-present)
William Mitchell College of Law, Board of Trustees (2005-present)
Neighborhood Justice Center, Board of Directors (2001-2014)
Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, Board of Directors (2001-2006)
UCLA Latino Leadership Program, Attendee, (November 2005)
Cargill Hispanic-Latino Employee Council, Founding Member & President (2005-2009)
Guitarist and Vocalist in the Contemporary Guitar Group “Evoking Sound,” Church of St. John the Evangelist, 1998-2000
Volunteer Religious Education Teacher, St. John the Evangelist School, 1993-1997
Guitarist and Vocalist in the Contemporary Guitar Group, Church of St. Therese, 1986-1993
Additional Information:
HONORS
Named to Poder Magazine’s list of “The 100 Most Influential Hispanics in America” in 2013.
Recipient of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal “Diversity in Business” Award in 2013.
Named to Poder Magazine’s list of “The 100 Most Influential Hispanics in America” in 2012.
Named by Minnesota Lawyer as “Attorney of the Year” 2012 Honoree.
Recipient of the “2008 MHBA Distinguished Service Award.”
Recipient of the “2007 HNBA Regional President of the Year Award.”
Named by Minnesota Lawyer “Top Ten Minnesota Attorneys of the Year” in 2001.
Recipient of the “1997 William Mitchell College of Law Alumni/ae Association Student Award of Merit.”
Recipient of the “1997 Second Judicial District Employee of the Year” Award.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Panel Speaker and HNBA Representative Speaker, ABA Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities, “The Latino Impact”, Washington, D.C., November 6, 2013
Panel Speaker, University of St. Thomas Law School, Multicultural Bar Reception, "Being a Minority in a Large Firm or Company," Minneapolis, MN, October 23, 2013
Keynote Speaker, Ecolab, “The Status of Immigration Reform”, St. Paul, MN, September 26, 2013
Presidential Speaker, HNBA Annual Convention, Denver, CO, September 4-7, 2013
Presidential Speaker, Inaugural HNBA/Microsoft IP Law Institute, Washington, D.C., July 7-12, 2013
Speaker, Inaugural HNBA/Microsoft IP Law Institute, “Perspectives of an IP Owner”, Washington, D.C., July 10, 2013
HNBA Representative Speaker and Moderator, Inaugural Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy, Minneapolis, MN, June 27-28, 2013
Speaker, Inaugural Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy, “Leadership Toolbox: Planning for Impact”, Minneapolis, MN, June 28, 2013
Speaker, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP Diversity Speaker Series, New York City, NY, June 6, 2013
Presidential Speaker, HNBA Legislative Day, Washington, D.C., May 13-15, 2013
Panel Speaker, Bank of America Diversity Series, Charlotte, NC, April 9, 2013
Presidential Speaker, HNBA 3rd Annual Corporate Counsel Conference, Atlanta, GA, March 13-15, 2013
Speaker, Oregon Hispanic Bar Association Award Dinner, Friday, February 14, 2013
Panel Speaker, MCCA 13th Annual Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference, “Demographics in Corporate Legal Departments”, Sept. 10th, 2012
Panel Speaker, NBA Corporate Leadership Forum, “Developing and Implementing Successful IP Strategies”, July 14th, 2012
Panel Speaker, HNBA 3rd Annual Corporate Counsel Conference, “Practical Solutions for Effectively Managing Outside Counsel Fees: The Case for Alternative Fee Arrangements”, Friday, Mar. 30, 2012
Keynote Speaker, Hamline University College of Law Juris Fiesta, March 24, 2012
Moderator, HNBA 36th Annual Convention, “U.S. Antitrust and Global Competition Laws”, Friday, September 2nd, 2011
Speaker, ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Intellectual Property Law Committee, “Bio Terrorism, Bio Ethics and Intellectual Property on Trial”, August 7, 2011, Toronto, Canada
Keynote Speaker, William Mitchell College of Law Latino Law Student Association Annual Cesar Chavez Dinner, Friday, March 25th, 2011
Panel Speaker, Minnesota State Bar Association CLE, “In-House Strategies for Promoting Diversity Inside the Company and Among Outside Counsel”, Wednesday, February 16th, 2011
Moderator, HNBA 35th Annual Convention, “Successful Cross Border Joint Ventures”, Friday, September 10th, 2010
Panel Speaker, ABA International Section Conference, “Cultural Differences in the Americas; Lemons to Lemonade: Unique Perspectives of Hispanic In-House Counsel”, Oct. 30, 2009
Panel Speaker, 2008 HNBA Mid-Year Conference & Moot Court Competition, “General Counsel Diversity Panel”, March 14th, 2008
Panel Speaker, 2008 HNBA Iberoamerican Congress, “The International Protection of Intellectual Property Rights and the Procedures Available in Latin America to Safeguard These Rights”, January 29th, 2008
Panel Speaker, 2007 HNBA Annual Convention, “What Does the Supreme Court’s Recent Anti-Patent Stance Mean to Corporate America”, October 24th, 2007
Speaker, “Ethics & Bias: Issues in the World of Intellectual Property Law – Minorities & Intellectual Property”, MSBA CLE Program, June 6, 2007
Keynote Speaker, William Mitchell College of Law, 2nd Annual Multicultural Gala, May 16, 2007
Panel Speaker, Federal Bar Association, “The Business Case for Diversity”, May 5, 2006
Panel Speaker, 2006 HNBA Mid-Year Conference & HNBA Moot Court Competition, “Intellectual Property Overview”, March 9, 2006
Moderator, 2006 HNBA Mid-Year Conference & HNBA Moot Court Competition, “What IP Issues Keep Companies and their GC's Awake at Night (And What Can In-House and Outside Counsel Do to Address These Issues)”, March 11, 2006
Panel Speaker, 2005 HNBA Mid-Year Conference & HNBA Moot Court Competition
Panel Speaker, MSBA Convention, “Diversity in Practice Settings – What’s it Like Being the New Kid on the Block?” June 2001