Team
For foreign citizens who wish to progress in their personal lives and professional careers in the United States, it is essential to rely on the legal support of attorneys who not only specialize in Immigration Law but who are also licensed to practice federal law across the entire country. All Gondim Law Corp’s attorneys are licensed in the United States and members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).
Our team works under the highest standard of ethics, commitment, and transparency to ensure the best service to our clients. Gondim Law Corp. counts on attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants who are experienced in various types of immigration processes.
Meet our Gondim Law Corp. team. Let us fulfill your goals towards the American dream.
ATTORNEYS
Marcelo Gondim
Immigration Attorney and President
Marcelo is the founder and lead attorney at Gondim Law Corp. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and licensed by the State Bar of California, U.S. District Court (Central District Court of California), and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Marcelo came to the United States as an immigrant pursuing the same American dream, that years later, he has helped his clients achieve. Before his move to the U.S., Marcelo was an attorney in Brazil. Since 2010, he has been practicing law in the United States and has been working in immigration law for over 21 years now.
Julia Montenegro
Immigration Attorney
Julia is an immigration attorney licensed to practice law by the California State Bar since 2019. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and holds a Master’s degree from the Chapman University School of Law.
A lawyer in Brazil since 2012, Julia began working at Gondim Law Corp in 2016, as an intern.
She is fluent in English and Portuguese.
Patricia Mendoza
Immigration Attorney
Patricia holds a Juris Doctor degree (JD) from the University of West Los Angeles, School of Law. Since 2020, she is a CA Provisional Licensed Attorney authorized by the State Bar of CA and a member of the American Immigration Lawyer Association (AILA).
Patricia has considerable legal experience in various immigration areas, including but not limited to, immigration court proceedings, asylum, family-based and employment-based petitions/adjustment of status, naturalization, DACA, TPS, etc. She is fluent in English and Spanish.
João Mateus Loyola
Immigration Attorney
João is an immigration attorney licensed to pratice law by the California State Bar since 2022 and by the Brazilian Lawyers Association (OAB) in Brazil since 2014. He is a member of the American immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).
João studied law at Estacio de Sa University and completed a paralegal course at Fullerton College. He has more than ten years of legal experience working in different areas of administrative law. João speaks English, Portuguese and Spanish.
Legal Team
Cynthia Macedo
Coordinator
Cynthia has been working as a Paralegal at Gondim Law since 2020. She coordinates the EB-1 and EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) visa team. A licensed lawyer in Brazil since 2011, Cynthia holds postgraduate degrees in Public Law and Business Law, having worked for more than ten years in Customs and Tax Law. She is fluent in English and Portuguese.
Camila Viega
Paralegal
Camila holds a degree in Law in Brazil from the University of Araraquara (UNIARA), São Paulo. During her career, she has worked for large companies, mainly in Labor and Sports Law. Camila holds a postgraduate degree in Labor Law, Labor Processing, Business in Sports and Sports Law, and specializations in the area of Material and Labor Procedural Law and Sports Law. Camila is fluent in English and Portuguese.
Carlos Henrique
Paralegal
Carlos Henrique is a lawyer licensed in Brazil since 2015, “LLM Loyola Law School 22”, and Post-graduate in Constitutional Law and Public Law. He worked with corporate law, litigation, testimonials, and appeals and served as an air traffic controller. Carlos speaks English, Portuguese and Spanish.
Déborah Leite
Paralegal
Déborah is a licensed lawyer in Brazil. Postgraduate in Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure, Consumer Law, and Labor Law from Anhanguera-Uniderp University, having worked for more than five years in the Criminal field and later specialized in Consumer Law and Labor Law. Déborah has worked as a lawyer at Unimed Vitória, at which time she was starting her Master’s degree in Civil Procedural Law from the Federal University of Espírito Santo. She is fluent in English and Portuguese.
Eliane Ciscel
Paralegal
Eliane began working at Gondim as a Legal Secretary in 2019 and obtained her Paralegal certificate the following year. She currently works assisting the legal team with Family-based immigration petitions and green cards thru the EB-3 process. Eliane holds a bachelor’s degree in Education in 2007 and has previously worked as a Political Advisor in Brazil. She is fluent in English and Portuguese.
Fernanda Louzada
Paralegal
Fernanda is lawyer licensed in Brazil since 2012. She graduated from Law school at Faculdade de Direito Milton Campos and held a postgraduate degree in Contracts. Fernanda worked for the Court of Justice of Minas Gerais – Brazil. She is fluent in English and Portuguese and speaks advanced Spanish.
Juliana Vegini
Paralegal
Juliana works as a paralegal at Gondim Law, assisting lawyers in preparing and finalizing various types of visas, extensions, and changes of nonimmigrant status. She also helps with cases of EB-2 and family members. Juliana holds a bachelor’s in Law from the Catholic University of Salvador in 2002. As a licensed attorney in Brazil, she has worked with large companies, mainly in Tax and Customs Law. Juliana is fluent in English and Portuguese.
Karoline Pereira
Paralegal
Karoline has been a licensed lawyer in Brazil since 2020. She previously worked at the Public Defense of São Paulo. She graduated from Law school at Centro Universitário Adventista de São Paulo and held a postgraduate degree in International Law and an LLM in International Business Law from Northeastern University. Karoline speaks English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French.
Manoela Reis
Paralegal
Manoela is a paralegal at Gondim law Corp working with the EB-2 NIW team. She is a lawyer in Brazil and graduated from Mackenzie Presbyterian University in São Paulo. Manoela worked with tax and global trade at a Big Four Consulting Company in São Paulo until 2019, when she moved to California to do her Master’s degree in American Law at the University of California, Irvine. Manoela speaks English, Portuguese and Spanish.
Nayara Rodrigues
Paralegal
Nayara has been an attorney licensed by the Brazilian Association of Lawyers (OAB) since 2011. In Brazil, she has worked for the GDF (Federal District Government) in Land Law. She also worked for renowned law companies and opened her law firm specializing in civil, labor, and tax areas. Nayara holds a postgraduate degree in International Public Law. She is fluent in English and Portuguese.
Patricia Macedo
Paralegal
Patricia has been working as a Paralegal, assisting lawyers in preparing mainly EB-2 and EB-1 cases, besides supporting the preparation of the most diverse immigrant and non-immigrant visas. She holds a postgraduate degree in Civil Procedure Law and has been a licensed lawyer in Brazil since 2011. In the US, she has completed a Criminal Justice, Criminal Law Evidence & Procedure course and a Business English certificate. Patricia is fluent in English and Portuguese.
Ricardo Affonso
Paralegal
Ricardo Affonso has Bachelor’s in Law and Postgraduate degree in Public Law, has been a lawyer in Brazil since 2011 when he passed the exam after graduation. He worked for public institutions in Brazil mainly in the State Attorney Office of Rio de Janeiro, Court of Justice of Rio de Janeiro, and Goias State Legislative Cabinet. In US, He obtained an MBA in Global Business from University of North Alabama and a Master’s in Arts in Theology. Ricardo is fluent in English and Portuguese.
Ricardo Gondim
Paralegal
Ricardo works as a paralegal helping the lawyers draft and finalize EB-2 processes since 2018. He holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Everest University (Florida) in 2010. Ricardo has been a licensed lawyer in Brazil since 1993. He is fluent in English and Portuguese.
Virgínia Montenegro
Paralegal
Virginia Montenegro is a paralegal at Gondim law Corp working with the EB-2 NIW team. She holds a postgraduate degree in Administrative Law and has been a licensed lawyer in Brazil since 2012. Virginia speaks English and Portuguese.
Alexandra Leão
Legal Assistant
Alexandra is an attorney licensed to practice law in Brazil since 2017. She holds a master’s degree in Law from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Brasília. She is currently working as a Legal Assistant at Gondim Law Corp, where she provides support to the Paralegals and Attorneys in the EB-2 NIW team. Alexandra is fluent in English and Portuguese and speaks advanced Spanish.
Bianca Costa
Legal Assistant
Bianca has been a licensed lawyer in Brazil since 2010. She graduated in Law from the UFF (Universidade Federal Fluminense) and Portuguese English from the UFRJ (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro). Bianca worked for both the State and the Federal Legal Defender’s office in Rio de Janeiro-Brazil.
At the University of Syndey, Australia, Bianca obtained graduation and a postgraduate degree in Legal Practice. She was admitted to the NSW Supreme Court in Australia, where she also had the opportunity to work for various immigration law offices. She is fluent in English and Portuguese.
Carolina Eisenman
Law Clerk
Carolina Eisenman works as a Law Clerk at Gondim Law Corp. She is responsible for supporting day-to-day operations as well as making the connection between clients and our team of professionals.
Carolina graduated from high school in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. She also graduated, with a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and got a specialization in Psychology from the California State University Northridge. She is currently studying for an associate degree in Paralegal.
Carolina is fluent in English and Portuguese.
Ingrid Medina
Law Clerk
Ingrid holds a degree in Law from the University Candido Mendes (UCAM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She has seven years of administrative experience working in national banks in Brazil. As a Law Clerk in the United States, she assists the legal team in the EB-3 department. She is currently pursuing an MBA (Business Administration) in California. Ingrid is fluent in English and Portuguese.
Vivian Silva
Law Clerk
Vivian began working at Gondim Law Corp. in 2021 as a secretary. Later, he went to work in the administrative unit and then with the team that takes care of the immigration processes in the EB-3 category. She assists paralegals in communicating with clients, filling out forms and other administrative functions. Vivian is fluent in English and Portuguese.
Xenia Zamarripa
Law Clerk
Xenia works as a Law Clerk at Gondim Law Corp since 2023. She provides support to the Paralegals and Attorneys in the Family-based team on immigration petitions, green cards, employment authorization document cards, and various legal proceedings. Xenia holds a bachelor’s degree in Food Science and has previously worked in the food industry. She is currently completing a Paralegal Certification. Xenia is fluent in English and Spanish.
Administrative Team
Maria Eduarda
Office Manager
Marina Macedo
Finance Department Supervisor
Adrielly Martellotti
Financial Assistant
Alice Madruga
Receptionist
Amanda Peter
Receptionist
Monica Gondim
Marketing Assistant
Kevin Gondim
Administrative Assistant
Manuela Camboim
Administrative Assistant
Suellen Dacio
Administrative Assistant