Board, Members & Past PresidentsOur Organization

Born in Managua, Nicaragua. In 1978, Mario came to the United States with his family and has lived in South Florida since arriving from Nicaragua. He was raised in Miami Florida and graduated from Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami, Florida. His litigation experience in the fields of Personal Injury Litigation, Premises Liability, Construction Law, Medical Malpractice, Property Litigation, Nursing Home Litigation, Products Liability (which includes Chinese/American Drywall cases) and First Party Property Hurricane Damage, Water Damage and Personal Injury Protection (P.I.P.) Litigation has given him the ability to handle clients’ issues with efficiency and effectiveness to obtain successful outcomes.

Michelle Harper specializes in domestic violence and has a significant track record in securing both temporary and permanent injunctions for protection. Throughout her career, Michelle has skillfully guided hundreds of survivors through the complexities of the legal system to secure the protection they desperately need. She has also led various community outreach and training initiatives to increase awareness of domestic violence and the injunction for protection process. Michelle serves as a Supervising Attorney at Florida Legal Services, Inc., a nonprofit organization that operates a statewide domestic violence hotline and offers legal representation to crime victims across Florida. Michelle extends her commitment to justice through her involvement with the Hate Crimes Task Force for the Office of the State Attorney and her contributions to the Domestic Violence Committee of the Florida Bar’s Family Law Section, where she served as Co-Secretary last year.

Francisco Tschen is set to bring his extensive expertise and personal dedication to the Broward County Hispanic Bar Association (BCHBA) as the incoming Treasurer. Raised in Guatemala, Francisco moved to the United States to pursue his studies in engineering at Texas A&M University, with pivotal support from his family, who have always emphasized the importance of education. While working at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office as a Primary Patent Examiner he earned his law degree from FIU.

Currently, he serves as an International Patent Program Analyst at the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), where he contributes to the development of international patent standards and fosters collaboration with global IP offices. Additionally, Francisco is an adjunct professor at Florida International University College of Law, where he teaches courses on patent law, trade secret law, and international patent law, incorporating real-world examples to prepare future legal professionals. His dedication to education and mentorship aligns perfectly with BCHBA’s mission to promote diversity, cross-cultural appreciation, and equality in the legal profession.

Vanessa Thomson is an associate attorney at Robinson Pecaro & Mier, P.A., in Sunrise, Florida. Vanessa focuses her practice on Third Party Insurance Defense Litigation. Vanessa received her J.D., summa cum laude, from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law. Vanessa has also served as a volunteer for the Guardian Ad Litem program in Broward County since 2017.

Jacklyn O’connor is a graduate of the Florida International University College of Law, where she participated in the Carlos A. Costa Immigration and Human Rights Clinic. While in law school, she served as President of the Women’s Law Society and Vice President of the American Constitution Society. She has volunteered to provide legal services to the immigrant community through numerous deferred action and naturalization drives throughout the state of Florida. She has also volunteered for the CARA Pro Bono Project in Dilley, Texas, assisting women and children who recently entered the U.S. to prepare for their credible fear interviews. As an immigration attorney, Ms. O’Connor practices before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Immigration Courts, and the Board of Immigration Appeals. She also represents clients in detention, specifically at Krome Detention Center, Glades County Detention Center, and Broward Transitional Center. Ms. O’Connor is admitted to practice law in the State of Florida. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and Broward County Bar Association. She has been appointed as a member of the AILA South Florida Wellness Committee and has previously served on the Immigration Law Update Planning Committee, DMV Committee, and USCIS Committee for AILA South Florida. She is also active in the Young Lawyers Section of the Broward County Bar Association.

Fernanda Pedroso is an experienced and collaboratively trained family law attorney with years of representing clients in South Florida. Her experience and approach to family law matters provides clients with efficient and effective resolutions that promote the best interest of her clients and their families. Fernanda believes families are better served when they are encouraged to find common ground rather than turning their lives into a battleground. Fernanda is a Board Member of the Collaborative Family Law Professionals of South Florida; a member of the team heading the Pro-Bono Collaborative Process Pilot Program in Broward County; a member of the Florida Family Law Section and she is also the Assistant Director of the National Association of Divorce Professionals’ West Broward Chapter.

Karla Lopez Fernandez, Esq., a Miami Native, graduated with honors from St. Thomas University Benjamin L. Crump College of Law in 2022. She specializes in Homeowners Insurance Claims, Personal Injury, Maritime Accidents and Uber/Lyft Accidents. Her upbringing in Miami cultivated a strong sense of community and a passion for justice that she now applies to her legal career, advocating for clients with dedication and expertise.

William Solano is a solo practitioner who practices Probate and Trust Litigation and Real Estate. He graduated from Nova Southeaster University Shepard Broad College of Law in 2023 and began his own solo practice after law school. He is an experienced attorney with a demonstrated history of working in the real estate industry and also skilled in Sales, Real Property, Auditing, Financial Analysis, and Finance.

Stefani is an associate attorney at Mary Ann Ruiz, P.A. in Coral Gables, Florida. Stefani specializes in complex condominium matters, community association law, real estate litigation, and construction law. She represents local, domestic, and international clients in the real estate sector, including property owners, developers, community associations, and construction professionals. Outside of work, Stefani loves to travel, learn new cooking recipes, and spend time with her family and friends.

Andrew Demos, Esq. is the Founding Partner at Andrew C. Demos, P.A., in Pembroke Pines, where he litigates and practices in the areas of personal injury (auto accident, slip and fall, premises liability, wrongful death, and other negligence claims); medical malpractice; real estate litigation; community association law; and other areas of law. Mr. Demos has been a presenter many times concerning various aspects of personal injury, community association law, construction litigation law, and real estate law. He founded Andrew C. Demos, P.A., in 2007 after practicing at several law firms, including one in which he was the managing attorney of a six attorney law firm. Mr. Demos is a native of south Florida, where his father, uncle and cousin practice or previously practiced. He earned his B.B.A. degree from Florida International University and his J.D. degree from St. Thomas University, School of Law. Mr. Demos is admitted to practice in Florida and before the U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. District Court, Southern (including Bankruptcy Bar), Middle, and Northern Districts of Florida; and U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit. He is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator.

Talhia earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Florida International University, where she majored in Criminal Justice. She graduated from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law, where she found a passion for oral advocacy and competed in the Domenick L. Gabrielli National Family Law Moot Court Competition in Albany, New York, where her team became quarter finalists out of 26 law schools.  In law school, she was one of seven certified legal interns that were granted a provisional law license by the Florida Supreme Court to practice law prior to graduation. Through the NSU Children and Families Law Clinic, Talhia was permitted to represent indigent clients in family law matters, where she also received the Honorable Charles I. Kaplan Outstanding Service Award for her dedication and commitment to children and families through the clinic.

After becoming licensed to practice law in Florida and gaining experience in family law, Talhia returned to her alma mater as a clinical fellow and adjunct professor. She now educates and mentors future lawyers at the Disability Inclusion and Advocacy Law (DIAL) Clinic, formerly known as the Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disability (AIDD) Law Clinic until the end of her fellowship in 2025. During her tenure at the DIAL Clinic, Talhia has led the guardianship alternatives division and established the clinic’s annual pro bono project, where law students and attorneys guide families on how to apply for guardian advocacy of the person without needing an attorney. Additionally, Talhia has handled disability-related discrimination cases at both the administrative and federal levels.

Virna Roa began her legal career in her native South Florida, representing local workers employed in industries as diverse as hospitality, healthcare, construction, and transportation. Equipped with this firsthand knowledge, she evolved to represent and counsel small business owners, human resources personnel, insurance adjusters, third-party party administrators, and corporations. Possessing a vast knowledge of workers’ compensation claims ranging from their inception to resolution, she now vehemently defends clients statewide. With over ten years of exclusive practice in workers’ compensation, she provides practical and accessible advice to clients while zealously advocating for them.

Virna graduated from Tufts University in Medford, MA in 2007 earning a bachelor’s degree in International Relations. She graduated from the University of Miami School of Law in 2010. Virna has been a member of the Miami – Richard Sicking Inn of Court since its inception in 2019.

Rafael Katz was born in Colombia, South America and raised in South Florida. Rafael is fluent in Spanish and speaks conversational French, allowing him to communicate directly with Hispanic, French Canadian and Creole speaking clients. Rafael earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1992 and his Juris Doctor degree in 1995, both from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law. Rafael has been a practicing attorney for over 28 years, and over 26 of those years have been focused primarily on matters involving personal injury and insurance claims. Rafael currently focuses his practice on the representation of individuals injured as the result of the negligence of others, persons involved in disputes with their insurance companies as well as select civil rights and criminal matters. Rafael has tried over 200 cases. Rafael is a former Assistant State Attorney at the Broward County State Attorney’s Office and previously represented insurance companies and insureds in the defense of first party insurance and personal injury matters. Rafael is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified County Court and Civil Court Mediator. Rafael treats his clients with the same respect and care that he treats his community and his family – he is always available to help in any way he can.

Gloria is an Associate at Schlesinger Law Offices, P.A., Gloria represents clients in national product liability, Medical Malpractice, and personal injury. She is passionate about upholding her clients’ rights and fighting to ensure they receive the compensation they need and deserve.  Gloria graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a B.A in Political Science and Criminology. She completed her juris doctorate at Nova Southeastern University Shephard Broad College of Law while working part-time as a litigation paralegal at Schlesinger Law offices.

While in law school, Gloria interned for the Honorable Melanie May, Fourth District Court of Appeal, West Palm Beach. Gloria was the President of the Hispanic Student Bar Association and a Semi-finalist for the 2021 NYC Bar National Moot Court Competition.  As a proud Latina, Gloria is passionate about being a voice for the Hispanic community in South Florida.