Lesley Mendoza, Esq.
Executive Director
Lesley Mendoza joined CABA Pro Bono Legal Services in February 2013 as executive director and is responsible for supervising attorneys and all legal services provided by the organization. Mendoza conducts outreach efforts to educate the community on the services provided as well as recruitment and fundraising. From 2004 to 2007, Mendoza worked at White & Case in New York as part of the firm’s commercial litigation practice group. Prior to that, she worked at Thornton, Davis & Fein in Miami. She earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law in 2002 and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1998. Lesley is the 2014 recipient of the “Most Effective Lawyer” Award in the area of pro bono by the Daily Business Review.
Email: lesley@cabaprobono.com
Nicole E. Mestre, Esq.
Director of Pro Bono Services
Nicole Mestre has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1999. She spent the early part of her career as an associate in the appellate and products liability departments of Adorno & Yoss. In 2006, after gaining invaluable experience, Nicole opened her firm, which specializes in family and appellate law. She received an AV Rating by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, the highest peer-review rating for legal ability and ethical standards. Nicole was also named “Up & Comer” by Florida Trend Magazine, recognizing a small percentage of attorneys throughout Florida. Nicole’s commitment and dedication have been acknowledged throughout the legal community–she has been appointed as Guardian ad Litem by Family Court Judges. She has represented disabled individuals in pro bono dissolution of marriage actions.
Nicole served on the CABA Board of Directors and the CABA Pro Bono Board. In recognition of her service to the organization, she received an award from CABA Pro Bono.
Nicole attended Florida International University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and participated in the Honors Program. She also attended the University of Miami Law School, where she received the Dean’s Honor Scholarship and the Minority Participation in Legal Education Scholarship. Nicole interned at the Florida Attorney General’s Office and the Third District Court of Appeal throughout her legal education.
Email: nicole@cabaprobono.com
Beatriz Schachter, Esq.
Supervising Staff Attorney
Beatriz Schachter joined CABA Pro Bono in 2018. At CABA, she has assisted low-income veterans and victims of domestic violence with divorce, paternity, domestic violence injunction, temporary custody and child support cases, regularly appearing in court to advocate for clients. Schachter is currently serving as Attorney ad Litem for dependent youth in G.R.A.C.E. Court, a specialized court devoted to the needs of children who have been identified as victims of commercial sexual exploitation and labor trafficking. She earned a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center in 2000 and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida in 1997, where she served as President of the Cuban American Student Association.
Admitted to practice law in both Florida and New York, Schachter has worked at Clifford Chance LLP in New York, Bilzin Sumberg in Miami, and most recently as legal counsel for Gelber Schachter & Greenberg P.A. in Miami. She is fluent in Spanish and previously taught civics for Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Email: betty@cabaprobono.com
Viviana Busutil, Esq.
Supervising Staff Attorney
Viviana Busutil joined the CABA Pro Bono team in 2014 and supports its Immigrant Children’s Program. She previously supported CABA Pro Bono with low-income clients with foreclosure defense, loan modifications and landlord and tenant issues. In 2016, she opened her own firm, Busutil Law, which focuses on real estate law. Busutil attended Florida International University and earned her undergraduate degree in accounting. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of St. Thomas College of Law.
Email: viviana@cabaprobono.com
Patricia Salman, Esq.
Supervising Staff Attorney
Patricia Salman is the supervising attorney for the eviction diversion program. Before this role, she handled all cases under the Human Trafficking Victim Representation Project at CABA Pro Bono Legal Services, the Neurodivergent Program, and often served as Guardian Ad Litem. Before joining CABA Pro Bono Legal Services, Salman worked in the public service sector for over a decade for various Florida state agencies.
Additionally, Salman worked as assistant regional legal counsel in the Department of Children and Families in the Office of General Counsel in Miami. She was also an assistant attorney general for the Office of the Economic Division/Consumer Protection Division in Miami. She is a member of the Florida Bar.
She received her Bachelor of Science in finance, with a concentration in economics and criminology, from the University of Florida in 2003. Salman then went on to earn her Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2006.
Email: patricia@cabaprobono.com
Daniela C. Fletes, Esq.
Staff Attorney
Daniela Fletes began working with CABA Pro Bono in 2021, where she assists low-income clients with immigration and family law cases. She is a member of the Florida Bar and the Young Lawyers Division of the Florida Bar. In 2018, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in international relations with a specialization in political science from Florida International University. Fletes obtained her Juris Doctorate from the St. Thomas University College of Law in 2021.
Email: daniela@cabaprobono.com
Tensie Suengas, Esq.
Staff Attorney
Tensie Suengas graduated magna cum laude from Florida International University with a B.A. in psychology. Suengas went on to attend American University’s Washington College of Law in D.C. During law school, she helped survivors of domestic violence obtain U-Visas, VAWAS, restraining orders, and resolve custody and child support disputes. Suengas worked for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida as a case manager for the Unified Family Court Division and Complex Litigation Division. As a case manager, she assisted judges in cases such as divorce, domestic violence, paternity, dependency and juvenile delinquency. Suengas was a staff attorney with Dade Legal Aid where she represented victims of domestic violence in divorces, paternity and custody proceedings. At CABA Pro Bono Legal Services, she has represented victims of human trafficking, domestic violence and immigrant youths.
Email: tensie@cabaprobono.com
Aida Diaz-Silveira, Esq.
Supervising Staff Attorney
Aida Diaz-Silveira joined CABA Pro Bono in 2023. Her legal career spans over two decades. She was admitted to the Supreme Court of the State of Florida and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. She has provided pro bono representation for low-income clients with Church World Service, Americans for Immigrant Justice, and Catholic Legal Services. As an undergraduate at Florida State University, Aida interned with the Public Defender for Leon County and served as a legislative intern with Florida State Representative John Cosgrove and at the time Florida Senator Mario Diaz-Balart. She then went on to earn her Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami, School of Law.
Email: aida@cabaprobono.com
Vivian Escribano, Esq.
Staff Attorney
Vivian Escribano joined CABA Pro Bono Legal Services in May 2023 to serve as an Attorney ad Litem and Guardian ad Litem for underprivileged children, teenagers and young adults in our community. As Attorney ad Litem in the dependency court system, she represents foster children who are not statutorily entitled to have an Attorney ad Litem, when judges deem the circumstances in their cases require one. She has been an advocate for foster children in the dependency courts, including G.R.A.C.E. Court, a specialized court devoted to the needs of children identified as victims of human trafficking and helps in their transition from extended foster care to independent living. As Guardian ad Litem, Escribano conscientiously researches the children’s familial system to ensure their best interests are being preserved in paternity or divorce cases usually involving mental, physical or sexual abuse.
Escribano has always been an ardent litigator in her legal career, first as an Assistant State Attorney in criminal court, and then in civil and commercial litigation, including intellectual property and trademark and copyright infringement. She was admitted to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Vivian is the founder and executive director of Door To The Arts, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, that provided cultural arts enrichment services in the form of 25 different after school programs to over 20 schools in the South Florida area for ten years.
Vivian is fluent in English and Spanish. She received her Series 7 and Series 52 Securities Licenses while working for RBC Dain Rauscher and the Royal Bank of Canada in New York City and Florida. Escribano earned her Juris Doctorate at St. Thomas University College of Law and earned her bachelor’s degree in international finance and marketing at the University of Miami. Vivian won first place in litigation and trial advisory as an advocate in the American Bar Association National Trial Tournament when she was in law school. She was on the ATLA/Trial Court Executive Board, the Peter T. Fay American Inn of Court and won the Trial Advocacy Practice Book Award. She was also the president of the International Law Society and vice president of the Entertainment and Sports Law Society.
As a Cuban American, she is very proud to be working for CABA Pro Bono Legal Services.
Email: vivian@cabaprobono.com
Raquel Vega, Esq.
Staff Attorney
Raquel Vega joined CABA Pro Bono Legal Services in September 2023 as a staff attorney and will support the organization’s Landlord Tenant Eviction Program, representing low-income tenants facing eviction. Vega has experience in family law and has represented underprivileged victims of domestic violence in court and mediation. Previously she coordinated marketing campaigns at a Miami-based financial advisory firm.
Vega earned a Juris Doctorate from St. Thomas University College of Law where she was a Book Award recipient in criminal, property and Florida constitutional law. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and broadcast journalism from the University of Miami. She is fluent in English and Spanish.
Email: Raquel@cabaprobono.com
Daren Gonzalez
Law Clerk
Daren Gonzalez joined the CABA Pro Bono Legal Services team in 2024. He currently serves as law clerk for the organization. He assists attorneys in the organization’s Immigrant Children’s Program by drafting petitions, assisting in client interviews and additional support. Daren is currently in his third and final year of law school at the University of Miami School of Law.
Email: Daren@cabaprobono.com
Frank A. Gonzalez
Law Clerk
Frank A. Gonzalez is a law clerk at CABA Pro Bono Legal Services, where he will contribute to the Eviction Diversion Program. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2024, graduating with honors as a Governor’s Scholar. During his legal studies, Frank served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Technology Law & Policy and co-founded the Cuban American Bar Association UF Student Chapter. His professional experience includes internships at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the State Attorney’s Office, focusing on litigation and special victims cases. He is fluent in Spanish and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Florida International University.
Email: Frank@cabaprobono.com
Rosalba Penaherrera
Director of Operations
Rosalba Penaherrera has been with CABA Pro Bono Legal Services since March 2008 and currently works as director of operations for the organization. Penaherrera handles the company’s charitable giving, customer relations and grant applications.
Before joining CABA Pro Bono, she was a title processor at Manuel L. Crespo, P.A. and a personal banking specialist at AmTrust Bank.
Email: rosalba@cabaprobono.com
Maria Jacqueline Rodriguez
Supervising Paralegal
Maria Jacqueline Rodriguez has more than 15 years of legal experience, having served as a family law attorney in her native Cuba and eight years as a paralegal in Miami. She graduated from the University of Matanzas Law School in Cuba in 1990 and served as a family law and tax law professor until 2004. Rodriguez joined CABA Pro Bono in September 2006 and assists with preparing U.S. citizenship and immigration services applications for foreign-born individuals and their families, including applications to adjust status, employment authorization and naturalization. In addition, she conducts initial intake interviews, helps prepare legal documents for simple divorces, and assists in training classes to help applicants overcome barriers to becoming a citizen.
Email: jackie@cabaprobono.com
Diana Pacheco
Paralegal
Diana Pacheco joined CABA Pro Bono in 2023 as a paralegal. She graduated from the paralegal studies program at Florida International University in 2017 and began her career at Hochman & Goldin P.A., specializing in traffic law for seven years. Pacheco transitioned to real estate law and joined the Busutil Law Firm, where she dedicated three years. As paralegal at CABA Pro Bono, she previously worked with the Landlord Tenant Eviction Program and currently supports the team’s Immigrant Children’s Program.
Email: diana@cabaprobono.com
Raquel Murillo Mijares
Jr. Paralegal
Raquel Murillo Mijares is a junior paralegal at CABA Pro Bono, where she works on citizenship, residency cases, and the Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) program. She is also responsible for translating documents. She graduated from Anáhuac Querétaro in Mexico with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management.
Email: raquelm@cabaprobono.com
Valeria Lopez-Trujillo
Jr. Paralegal
Valeria Lopez-Trujillo joined CABA Pro Bono Legal Services in 2024 as a junior paralegal. Her responsibilities include assisting clients with work authorization and drafting petitions for the organization’s Immigrant Children’s Program.
Email: valeria@cabaprobono.com
Victoria Lopez-Trujillo
Jr. Paralegal
Victoria Lopez-Trujillo joined CABA Pro Bono in 2024 and currently serves as a a junior paralegal for the nonprofit. Victoria has work experience in advocacy and mental health as a PSR counselor at Meraki Wellness & Healing Behavioral Health and a resource coordinator at Lotus House Women’s Shelter. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Florida International University in 2020 and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling at University of Massachusetts.
Email: victoria@cabaprobono.com
Isabella Plazas
Jr. Paralegal
Isabella Plazas joined CABA Pro Bono in 2024 and currently serves as a junior paralegal also assisting with the organization’s in-house marketing efforts. She has worked in public relations for the U.S. State Department and on the information technology team at the World Bank. She graduated from George Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts in international economics and plans to attend law school.
Email: Isabella@cabaprobono.com
Yoldy-Dancy Brignolles
Legal Assistant
Yoldy-Dancy Brignolles joined the CABA Pro Bono Legal Services team in 2023 as a legal assistant. She specializes in assisting with cases involving victims of domestic violence and children that have been abused and/or neglected by their parents. Brignolles is fluent in English, Creole and Spanish.
Email: yoldy-dancy@cabaprobono.com
Christina Nader
Administrative Assistant
Christina Nader joined the CABA Pro Bono Legal Services team in 2023 as administrative assistant. She supports the team through accounting, grant reporting, client communications, overseeing fundraising efforts and event scheduling. Nader earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in communication studies at the University of Miami. She is fluent in English and Spanish.
Email: Christina@cabaprobono.com