Diego A. Arp is Senior Counsel at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. His legal practice includes banking, compliance, corporate, regulatory, and tax work for domestic and international commercial transactions. Diego was born and raised in the San Joaquin Central Valley to parents of Mexican and Creole descent.

He attended San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, California and then transferred to the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB). While at UCSB, Diego earned a bachelor’s degree and obtained dual majors in History and Law & Society. He went on to earn his Juris Doctorate at the University of California Los Angeles School of Law (UCLA School of Law). At UCLA School of Law, Diego served as a member of several diverse law student organizations in leadership positions, clerked at the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office and at Crystal Stairs, Inc.

Since graduating, he has served as President of the UCLA School of Law Alumni Association, actively supports the UCLA School of Law, Law Fellows Program, the Mexican American Bar Foundation, California Minority Counsel Program, Association of Corporate Counsel and the Hispanic National Bar Association. Diego is also a member of the Wells Fargo Law Department Diversity and Inclusion Council (LDDIC) both nationally and locally. He volunteers regularly with the Alliance for Children’s Rights and has provided pro bono legal services to immigrant families held in detention centers in Dilley, Texas as a participant of the Dilley Pro Bono Project.

Eric R. Canton is a trial attorney at the Law Offices of Brian D. Witzer, Inc., representing individuals throughout California who have been injured by the wrongful and negligent acts of others. Eric earned his undergraduate degree from UC Santa Barbara in 2009, where he majored in Law and Society and minored in Music and Spanish. While attending UCSB, Eric was very active in the community. He played in a non-profit community-based Mariachi, worked for a non-profit organization that focused on helping children with learnings disabilities succeed in elementary school, and interned for the Santa Barbara Public Defender’s office.

Eric then obtained his Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School in 2016. While in law school, Eric served as Vice President for La Raza de Loyola, volunteered as a mentor and coordinator for Loyola’s Young Lawyers program, and competed in the the 21st Annual Uvaldo Herrera Moot Court Competition.

Eric received First Honors recognition in the Civil Litigation Skills Practicum and completed the Civil Litigation and Advocacy Concentration with honors. Eric was then awarded a fellowship with the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). When Eric is not working, Eric enjoys spending time with his family, going to Dodgers games, playing soccer, and exploring new places.

Juan J. Redín is a Senior Deputy General Counsel with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Juan was born in Ixtapan de la Sal, Mexico. At the age of 10 he immigrated to the U.S. with his Mom and younger sister. Juan was raised in a single parent household and is the first in his family to graduate from college. As an undocumented student, Juan endured many challenges on his journey to achieve his Dream of higher education. Juan attended Mt. San Jacinto Community College and Mt. San Antonio College before being able to take advantage of California’s pioneering law, AB 540 and transfer to UCLA. Juan received his bachelor’s in political science, magna cum laude, from UCLA in 2003.

Juan obtained his Juris Doctor from the UCLA School of Law. During law school, Juan served as the Co-Editor in Chief of the Chicano Latino Law Review and the External Co-Chair of the La Raza Law Student Association. Juan also completed a judicial externship with the Honorable Fernando Olguin at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Prior to joining Metropolitan, Juan represented school districts, cities, and various public agencies, in securing funds to finance critical infrastructure projects.

Juan is passionate and deeply committed to expanding educational access to those who are less fortunate, especially for Dreamers. Through his work with Dreamers, Juan was honored to join First Lady Michelle Obama during the 2012 State of the Union address in Washington DC. Juan is an avid cyclist, striving baker, and enjoys coaching youth soccer.

Mayra Joachín is a Senior Staff Attorney at the ACLU of Southern California. She is part of the Immigrants’ Rights, Criminal Justice, and Police Practices projects. Mayra utilizes advocacy and litigation to address immigration detention issues, challenge unlawful arraignment practices, and combat abusive and racially discriminatory policing.

Prior to joining the ACLU, Mayra was a Staff Attorney at the National Immigration Law Center, where she advanced the rights of low-income immigrants through impact litigation, administrative advocacy, and technical assistance. Her main areas of work involved expanding immigrants' access to status and crucial services, including access to health care and public utilities, for all individuals regardless of race, status, or national origin.

Mayra graduated from Columbia Law School and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Her passion for her work stems from her experiences as a Salvadoran immigrant.

Jesse F. Blancarte is the Managing Partner of Blancarte Law, APC, along with his brother, James E. Blancarte. Jesse primarily focuses on immigration law, representing clients before the Executive Office for Immigration Review, the Department of Homeland Security, and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. He is also the Supervising Attorney at El Rescate, a non-profit that has represented individuals in immigration proceedings in Los Angeles for over 40 years.

Jesse attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he earned a B.A. in Sociology and English. Jesse subsequently attended Loyola Law School and graduated in 2015. While in law school, Jesse externed for the Honorable Philip S. Gutierrez, who currently serves as the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California. He later externed for the Honorable Steven J. Kleifield of the Los Angeles Superior Court. Jesse was also a Board Member of the Scott Moot Court at Loyola Law School.

Jesse has also volunteered at non-profits that represent individuals in immigration proceedings for little or no cost. He has dedicated his career to advocating on behalf of immigrant communities that face increasingly difficult challenges and hostility. Jesse credits his father, Judge Jim Blancarte, and mother, Cynthia, for always being there to support and guide him.

Jesus Zelada is the founding member of The Law Office of Jesus Zelada, APC, an immigration law practice dedicated to providing the best representation for persons facing removal from the United States, persons wishing to petition family members for United States legal permanent residency, and other immigration needs. Prior to opening his law practice in 2012, from 2009 to 2012, Mr. Zelada gained invaluable experience as an attorney working at a law firm dedicated to immigration, family, and criminal law.

Mr. Zelada grew up in a challenging neighborhood and now dedicates his time to giving back to his community. Mr. Zelada is the current President of the Board of Directors for YouthBuild Charter School of California (YCSC), a project-based high school serving young people ages 16-24 who previously left or were pushed out of the traditional school system without a diploma. YCSC provides students with vocational training, counseling, leadership development, post-secondary readiness, and an authentic education leading to a high school diploma. Mr. Zelada received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Cornell University and his Juris Doctorate from Whittier Law School.

Alma D. Puente is the founder of the Law Office of Alma D. Puente, a boutique, immigration law firm. Her practice focuses on family-based immigration, political asylum and removal defense.  She has practiced immigration law since April 2005 when she left her position with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Alma was a member of the El Monte City Council from November 2020 to December 2024.  She served as Mayor Pro Tem from August 11, 2021 to December 2022. She has also served on the Immigration Resource Center of San Gabriel Valley (IRC) board and currently provides pro bono services to the IRC. Alma has been married to her husband for 24 years and together they have three sons and a giant schnauzer who thinks he is her favorite child.

James Blancarte, Jr. has served as a Trustee on multiple MABA Boards. On his first MABA Board, he served as the MABA Golf Tournament Chairman and has been on the committee for every golf tournament since then, including the 2023 tournament at the Brookside Golf Course. He has also served on numerous committees over the years and is honored to serve as a Trustee for the 2024 MABA Board. 

James comes from a family with an extensive background in the legal field. His father was an attorney for many years and is now a Judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court. His brother, Jesse Blancarte, is an attorney and fellow MABA Board Member. They are the Managing Partners of their law firm, Blancarte Law, APC. James's sister, Marisa Blancarte-Cuevas, is a contract procurement specialist for SCAG, the Southern California Association of Governments. James credits the guidance of his father, past MABA president judge James Blancarte, Sr., who helped him become the attorney he is today. 

James manages a general practice including a variety of state court matters. He also represents minors in custody and guardianship cases to assist in their eventual application for a juvenile visa, a critical step in acquiring legal status in the United States. James also represents many individuals, unable to afford legal services, on a low-bono and pro bono basis. Through his work at Blancarte Law, APC and MABA, James dedicates his time and energy to give back to the community.

Alfonso Estrada is a partner at Hanson Bridgett LLP. He is an experienced labor and employment attorney who is well-versed in all stages of the litigation process. He represents both public and private sector clients in matters involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, First Amendment violations, and more. He has a wealth of trial experience and previously worked with law enforcement as a criminal prosecutor.

In addition to the litigation side of his practice, Alfonso also focuses part of his practice in investigations related to employee misconduct and harassment, as well as regulatory enforcement and white-collar defense matters. Throughout his career, Alfonso has worked extensively with law enforcement agencies and unions across California in a variety of matters. He has successfully conducted complex internal investigations for several notable agencies, including the City of Beverly Hills Police and Fire Departments, City of Anaheim, City of Alhambra Police Department, among others.

Prior to joining the firm, Alfonso worked as a Deputy District Attorney for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Alfonso is affiliated with several professional organizations and regularly presents his expertise at conferences. Outside of his practice, he volunteers as a Certified Instructor for the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.

Dominique E. Banos is the managing and principal attorney of DBLO Firm. Her legal practice consists of state and federal civil litigation, family law, real estate transactions and criminal defense. Dominique was born in Los Angeles and raised in the Conejo Valley graduating with honors from Oak Park High School. Upon graduation, she attended California State University of Northridge (CSUN), where she earned a B.A. in History. She also studied Art and International Relations at the City University of New York’s Hunter College, Manhattan, New York, as part of California State University’s National Student Exchange program.

Dominique earned her Juris Doctorate at Whittier College School of Law. At Whittier, she served on several student organizations in leadership positions, including the Student Bar Association, Hispanic American Law Students Association, and Black Law Students Association. She clerked at Community Legal Services in Compton, California, providing advocacy and legal services for low income individuals and victims of domestic violence, as well as the Major Fraud Unit of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Dominique was admitted to the California State Bar in 2016 and went directly into private practice the same year. She actively supports her entire Los Angeles community through volunteer work with the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Los Angeles, Mexican American Bar Association and Latina Lawyers Bar Associations; and continues to dedicate many hours of her practice to pro-bono legal services for low-income individuals battling complex civil and family law matters. She is admitted in the United States District Court for the Central and Northern Districts and was admitted into the Supreme Court of the United States bar in 2023. She is honored to serve on the 2025 MABA board as Trustee.

Brenda Galvan is a Deputy Attorney General at the California Department of Justice in the Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse. She received her B.A. from Barnard College, Columbia University and her J.D. from American University, Washington College of Law. Before joining the Department of Justice, Ms. Galvan served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, where she prosecuted cases involving a variety of crimes, including murder, attempted murder, carjacking, and robberies.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Galvan worked for U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand as an Immigrant and Foreign Affairs Liaison, a position in which she assisted hundreds of constituents, who were often victims of crime, with their immigration matters. That experience sparked her interest in attending law school.

Ms. Galvan is actively involved in the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles and the Latino Prosecutors Association. In her spare time, Ms. Galvan enjoys spending time with family and friends, long-distance running, traveling, eating at new restaurants, and hiking with her significant other, Jeremy, and their dog, Buster. 

Selene Estrada-Villela is an Associate Attorney at Gastélum Law, APC. Her practice primarily focuses on civil rights and police misconduct cases in federal courts throughout California. Selene received a B.A. in 2013 and MSW in 2015 from the University of California, Los Angeles.

In 2023, Selene received a J.D. from Loyola Law School, where she was an editor of the International and Comparative Law Review and board member of the Latinx Law Students Association. During law school, Selene was a certified law student in Loyola’s Juvenile Justice Clinic where she represented children impacted by the delinquency system. Selene externed at several public interest organizations while in law school including the Western Center on Law & Poverty, Public Counsel and the ACLU of Southern California. Selene also served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong.

Prior to law school, Selene was a children’s social worker for nearly a decade. As a social worker, Selene worked primarily with Spanish-speaking families navigating the dependency system.

Ronald Gomez, a native of Inglewood, CA, serves as Deputy Public Defender for the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office. Prior to joining the Public Defender's Office, he practiced Employment Law as an Associate Attorney at prominent law firms in Los Angeles.

Ronald is a graduate of UCLA, Loyola Marymount University, and most recently, of USC Gould School of Law. As a proud first-generation American, he is passionate about serving the needs of underrepresented communities. Before law school, he was a member of Teach for America and was also a Fulbright Scholarship recipient. Today, as a newer attorney, he intends to use his legal education to advocate for racial and social justice.

As a new member on the MABA Board of Trustees, Ronald intends to continue advocating for the rights of the Latino community through his participation with the Association.

Mildred Segura is a litigation partner in the Los Angeles office of Reed Smith LLP. She is a nationally recognized litigator with over two decades of experience defending complex product litigation matters. Her extensive portfolio includes mass torts, class actions, and coordinated actions involving a diverse array of products. She also is a thought leader in emerging technologies, providing strategic counsel to companies in the artificial intelligence and life sciences sectors. She excels at helping clients identify and mitigate product liability risks associated with AI-driven innovations. Her practice combines a deep understanding of cutting-edge technologies with the ability to guide clients through the complexities of the legal landscape.

Beyond her litigation practice, Mildred is a champion of diversity and community engagement. She has served as the firmwide chair of Reed Smith's Hispanic/Latino Business Inclusion Group and currently co-chairs the Hispanic National Bar Association's Health & Life Sciences Section. As a first-generation attorney of Guatemalan heritage, Mildred is deeply committed to not only increasing but also maintaining diverse talent in the legal profession. In recognition of her commitment to promoting diversity in the legal profession, she was honored with the 2023 Luminaria Award by the Latina Lawyers Bar Association.

Additionally, Mildred dedicates her time to pro bono initiatives, including representing indigent U-Visa applicants, and has held board roles with the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Counsel for Justice, the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, and the UCLA School of Law Alumni Board of Directors.  Mildred has a deep love for nature and the outdoors, where she cherishes spending quality time with her family, exploring and creating lasting memories.

Matthew Barragán is an Assistant United States Attorney in the Civil Rights Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. Matthew brings civil actions in U.S. District Court to enforce federal civil rights laws. He has pursued civil rights matters under several statutes, including the Fair Housing Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act.

In addition, Matthew is in touch with many in the civil rights community, including advocates for religious, ethnic, and racial minority groups, as well as advocates for LGBTQ+ individuals, individuals with disabilities, fair housing rights, and prisoner rights. He meets regularly with civil rights advocates throughout the State of California and has organized trainings regarding federal civil rights protections.

Matthew received a B.A. in 2008 from University of California, Los Angeles. He received a J.D. in 2011 from UCLA School of Law, where he was an editor for the Dukeminier Awards Journal of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law. From 2012 to 2017, he worked as a staff attorney at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Since 2017, he has served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Central District of California, serving in the Complex and Defensive Litigation Section from 2017 to 2022 and the Civil Rights Section since 2022. Matthew lives in Pasadena, California with his husband, Oscar Espino-Padron, and their son, Elías.