Meet Our Team

Maraliz Cartagena is an Associate Attorney in the Immigration Department of Latorre Law Firm. She handles removal proceedings and in court representation. She also has experience with family based petitions including I-130s, U visas, VAWA and Waivers. Mrs. Cartagena graduated from the University of Puerto Rico Law School in 2014 with honors. After graduating from Law School, she started her legal career in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., where she was awarded for her exemplary work with the Civil Rights Division Assistant Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award in 2016. Her passion for immigration prompted her to move from Civil Rights into full Immigration Work. Mrs. Cartagena is a native Spanish speaker excited to continue serving the Spanish speaking community.  

Ms. Carlie McCleary is an Associate Attorney in the Immigration Department at Latorre Law Firm. Mrs. McCleary was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa before moving to the Charlotte area. Mrs. McCleary received her B.A. in criminal justice and sociology from Iowa State University and her Juris Doctor from Drake University Law School. While in law school, Ms. McCleary worked for several private law firms and nonprofits specializing in immigration and was a student attorney in Drake’s Refugee Clinic, which sparked her passion for immigration law. As a student attorney, Ms. McCleary represented clients in removal proceedings before the Omaha Immigration Court. As an associate attorney, Ms. McCleary has focused on several areas of immigration law, including family-based petitions, representation in removal proceedings, adjustment of status, consular processing, VAWA, U-Visa, and Special Immigrant Juvenile applications. She has received favorable adjudications from the immigration courts and from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Ms. McCleary is a licensed attorney in the state of Minnesota and is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Ms. McCleary’s passion for immigration law stems from her goal to unify families and provide significant benefits to immigrants who have experienced hardships. In her spare time, Ms. McCleary enjoys spending time with her dog, Archie, and exploring all that Charlotte has to offer.

Mrs. Chen Chen is an Associate Attorney at Latorre Law Firm, practicing in Immigration Law. Mrs. Chen earned Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2019. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB) at Jinan University (Guangzhou, China) and Master of Laws (LLM) specialized in Business and Commercial law at Indiana University Maurer School of Law. She is admitted to practice law in Indiana. Mrs. Chen is a Chinese Mandarin native speaker, and she is fluent in English. She has been working in immigration law area since 2018 and has a lot of experiences in family-based applications. She is full of passion for helping clients.

Mrs. Tatiana Fotescu is an associate attorney at Latorre Law Firm, specializing in the field of U.S. Immigration Law. Mrs. Fotescu successfully executed diverse and complex nonimmigrant/immigrant petitions and applications, which resulted in favorable adjudications, and zealously represented clients before the immigration courts (EOIR) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Prior to immigrating to the United States, Mrs. Fotescu earned two law degrees (J.D. equivalent) from University of Bucharest and Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne respectively. During her  law school studies, she was actively involved in several student organizations and participated in international youth exchange programs in Europe and Asia. In addition, she worked as a legal intern at the Parliament of Romania, Moldovan Embassy to the United States of America, Canada and Mexico in Washington D.C. and at the New York office of the United Nations. Mrs. Fotescu moved to the United States to pursue her dream of having an international career. As an immigrant herself, she felt a strong motivation to start helping immigrants navigate the complex and continuously evolving system and ease the emotional rollercoaster which immigration entails. With great interest to become a licensed immigration lawyer in the United States, she graduated “cum laude” the LL.M. in Business Law program at Florida State College of Law, while being the LL.M. representative for the International Law Students Association and also a member of the Advocates for Immigrant and Refugees Rights organization and The Florida Bar International Law Section. Prior to joining Latorre Immigration Law Firm, Mrs. Fotescu worked for a private immigration law firm in Miami as an Associate Attorney gaining extensive experience in a wide range of immigration law issues. Mrs. Fotescu is licensed to practice law in the state of New York. She is originally from the Republic of Moldova and is fluent in five languages: English, French, Spanish, Romanian, and Russian. In her spare time, Mrs. Fotescu enjoys reading, exercising and discovering Miami’s gorgeous beaches.

Maria de Lourdes Ramirez is an Attorney with Latorre Law Firm, practicing in the Immigration Law Department. Experienced in a variety of immigration cases such as Adjustment of Status, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Special Immigrant Juvenile Visas (SIJV), DACA, TPS, Waivers and Consular Processing, she has been able to help hundreds of immigrants seeking assistant. Mrs. Ramirez has also represented clients during their Naturalization interviews with USCIS and clients seeking Asylum in removal proceedings. Mrs. Ramirez was born in Puerto Rico. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Education, and a Juris Doctor Degree from the Facultad de Derecho Eugenio Maria de Hostos (FEMDH). When she graduated Law School, she started her legal career working as a Legislative Assistant, and later as a Legal Advisor for the Senate of Puerto Rico. She continued her legal career as an Administrative Judge where she worked rigorously, for the compliance of laws and regulations of providing the necessary services to students with special needs by the Department of Education of Puerto Rico. Mrs. Ramirez always had a passion for helping others and, as an immigration attorney she has always advocated for the immigrants’ rights. Being able to help clients in need and provide them guidance through their immigration process is exceptionally satisfying for her. Especially the Spanish Speaking community. Mrs. Ramirez has been a Member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) since 2020. During her spare time, Mrs. Ramirez enjoys singing, painting and she is an animal lover.

Olivia Friedlander is an Associate Attorney in the Immigration Department at Latorre Law Firm. She handles Adjustment of Status, U Visas, T Visas, SIJ, and VAWA. She has previously handled removal defense, affirmative asylum, TPS and DACA. Ms. Friedlander speaks Spanish, French, and English. She graduated from Tulane University School of Law and is licensed to practice law in Louisiana. Ms. Friedlander is passionate about helping some of the most vulnerable members of society navigate a complicated legal system. Her background is primarily in ensuring children can gain legal status in the United States. Outside of work, Ms. Friedlander enjoys reading and spending time with her husband, daughter, and dogs.

Ivanesse Lopez, is an associate immigration attorney. She has extensive experience in areas such as Special Immigrant Juvenile Visas, U Visas, Adjustment of Status, and Asylum. She has a proven ability to navigate complex legal challenges, build strong client relationships, and achieve successful outcomes. Ivanesse is eager to continue to assist the Hispanic community. She is originally from Puerto Rico. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico and a Juris Doctor from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico Law School. Throughout her career, she has consistently demonstrated a profound commitment to serving those in need. Prior to joining the Latorre Law Firm, Ivanesse served as a Supervising Attorney at a nonprofit organization, where she provided essential legal counsel and representation to individuals facing complex immigration issues. Her work in this role reinforced her dedication to justice, equality, and supporting vulnerable communities. Outside of her professional endeavors, Ivanesse enjoys painting, spending time at the beach, cherishing family moments, and exploring new destinations. Her bilingual fluency in English and Spanish enables her to connect effectively with clients, ensuring clear communication and a deeper understanding of their legal needs.  

Velveth Rivera is an associate immigration attorney with experience in areas such as adjustment of status and asylum cases. With over 15 years of professional experience in customer service, she has developed a personalized approach to client care, ensuring that each client receives dedicated attention and guidance. Velveth holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting, a master’s degree in business administration, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras. Throughout both her academic and professional career, she has been deeply committed to serving the community through a holistic approach. Her priority is to listen to and address the needs of those who seek her expertise, providing them with the necessary strategies and tools to navigate their immigration journey. Her life story is deeply connected to migration. Born and raised in Guatemala, she later emigrated to Puerto Rico, a country which she has called home for the past 20 years. Having experienced migration firsthand from a young age, she developed a strong interest in immigration law, driven by the desire to help others navigate and understand the complexities of the immigration system while making the process as smooth and manageable as possible. In her free time, Velveth Rivera enjoys great food, exploring new culinary experiences, and spending quality time with her loved ones while listening to good music.

Madeline Dake is an Associate Attorney in the Immigration Department at Latorre Law Firm. She graduated with honors from Tulane University Law School in 2025 and is licensed to practice law in Louisiana. Madeline primarily handles family-based immigration petitions, provisional waivers, and consular processing. She also has experience with U visas, VAWA, and removal defense from her prior work experience. Before joining the firm, Madeline volunteered with a nonprofit organization dedicated to seeking legal relief for undocumented children through Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) and asylum applications. These experiences deepened her understanding of the challenges faced by immigrant families and strengthened her commitment to helping individuals navigate the complexities of immigration law. Madeline entered the field of immigration law with a passion for helping individuals in her community and across the country seek legal relief and gain peace of mind. She believes that each client deserves personalized attention and a compassionate approach to achieve the best possible outcome for their case. Outside of her professional life, Madeline enjoys baking and spending time with her dog, Winnifred.

Andrea Mercado is an Associate Attorney in the Immigration Department at Latorre Law Firm. Andrea primarily focuses her practice on removal defense and asylum cases. She is deeply committed to advocating for the rights and dignity of immigrants navigating complex legal processes and approaches every case with empathy, compassion, and a strong sense of purpose. Before joining the firm, Andrea dedicated her legal career to the exclusive practice of immigration law, where she developed extensive experience in representing clients before immigration courts and federal agencies. Her passion for immigration law stems from a genuine desire to help others and make a meaningful impact in their lives. Andrea earned her bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in Linguistics from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and went on to complete her Juris Doctor at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Law. Andrea is licensed to practice law in Puerto Rico and is fully bilingual in English and Spanish. Outside of her professional life, Andrea enjoys reading and going on walks with her dog.

Awilda I. Moné is an attorney at Latorre Law Firm, where she practices in the Immigration Law Department. She is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. She has extensive experience handling a wide range of immigration matters, including Adjustment of Status, Consular Processing, Waivers, petitions under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), DACA, TPS, and U Visas. Through her work, she is dedicated to helping immigrants and their families navigate the immigration system and continue living legally in the United States. Awilda earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. She later obtained her Juris Doctor from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from American University Washington College of Law in Washington, DC. In her free time, Awilda enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time with her family. She is a native Spanish speaker and is also fluent in English.

Kimberly Quesada is a senior paralegal in the Immigration Department of the Firm. Ms. Quesada works in the immigration department of the firm, assisting foreign nationals with their immigration applications. She obtained her bachelor’s degree and Law Degree from the University of San Jose, Costa Rica in 2011. She obtained a specialty in Registry Law in 2016. She is licensed to practice law in Costa Rica only. She is not licensed in NC or SC. She is fluent in Spanish, which is essential for her to communicate with our Central and South American immigration clients.

Juan Salazar is an associate immigration attorney at Latorre Law Firm. He is the son of two formerly undocumented Mexican immigrants and is a first-generation American. He has experience in I-130s, adjustments of status, waivers, work permits, asylum, and special immigrant juvenile cases. Juan is proud to assist immigrant communities and provide the quality legal services they deserve. He served as a staff attorney for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center assisting low-income clients, victims of abuse, and unaccompanied minors. Before that, he interned at the Office of Immigration Litigation in their appellate division working on immigration appeals before the Federal Courts of Appeal. Juan has been working in immigration law since 2017, starting as a legal assistant. He graduated with his Juris Doctor from Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law in 2022. Outside of work, he likes to travel, play tabletop games, and spend time with his pets.

Mr. Serrano García is an Immigration Attorney at Latorre Law Firm. He graduated with honors from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law in 2017. After completing his legal studies, he began his career in private practice before transitioning into public service, where he dedicated ten years of his professional life. Before joining the firm, Mr. Serrano García continued his commitment to service through his work with a nonprofit organization affiliated with the American Bar Association. As a Staff Immigration Attorney, he provided pro bono legal services and counseling to underserved immigrant communities. His work included assisting individuals navigating complex immigration matters and advocating for accessible legal support. Mr. Serrano García is currently focused on affirmative and proactive representation within immigration proceedings. His extensive background in public service and nonprofit advocacy has strengthened his dedication to helping clients understand their options and pursue meaningful legal relief. Outside of his professional responsibilities, he remains passionate about community service and supporting initiatives that promote fairness and access to justice.