2023 NEVADA LATINO BAR ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Briana Martinez,
President
Briana was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and her Juris Doctor from William S. Boyd School of Law in 2018. While in law school, Briana served as the President and Treasurer of La Voz and on the board of other student associations. She also was the business editor for the Nevada Law Journal. In addition, Briana was a student attorney at the UNLV Immigration Clinic. After law school, Briana clerked for the Honorable Joseph Hardy Jr., Eighth Judicial District Court in Nevada. Briana Martinez is an associate attorney at Kaempfer Crowell practicing in the areas of privileged licensing, business transactions, real estate transactions and estate planning. She is the President of the Nevada Latino Bar Association and the Co-Chair of Kaempfer Crowell’s DEI Committee.
Ellsie Lucero
President - Elect
Ellsie is an attorney at Kaempfer Crowell where she handles commercial litigation and water law matters. Prior to joining the firm, Ellsie was a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Ronald J. Israel of the Eighth Judicial District Court. Ellsie graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and then earned her JurisDoctor degree from the William S. Boyd School of Law. While in law school, Ellsie was Executive Editor of the Nevada Law Journal, a member of the Society of Advocates Moot Court Team, and served as President and Treasurer of La Voz. In addition to her role as Vice President of Membership for the LBA, Ellsie is a Deputy President for Region XIV of the Hispanic National Bar Association.
Honorable Cristina Silva
Immediate Past President
Cristina is a judge with the Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County, Nevada. She previously served as the Chief of the Criminal Division for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, the first woman and Latina to hold that position. Prior to living in Las Vegas, she was a state prosecutor in Miami-Dade County, and previously interned for a judge on the DC Court of Appeals. Cristina earned her law degree from the American University Washington College of Law in Washington, DC, and her undergraduate degree from Wellesley College. Cristina enjoys running, traveling, hiking, enjoying the many restaurants located in Las Vegas, taking care of her two rescue poodles, reading fiction novels, and going to the movies.
Steve Jimenez
Vice President of Membership
Steve is an attorney at Gonzalez & Flores Law Firm practicing civil litigation, family law, and estate planning. He graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and then earned a Juris Doctor degree from the William S. Boyd School of Law. During his tenure in law school, Steve served as the Vice-President for La Voz and also Vice-President of the Student Bar Association, representing part-time students. Steve also served as the Legislative Extern for the Nevada Hispanic Legislative Caucus during the 79th (2017) Legislative Session. Also as an active member of the Hispanic National Bar Association, Steve has attended and volunteered at multiple Corporate Counsel Conferences.
Jorge "Coco" Padilla,
Vice President of Outreach
Coco currently serves as a term judicial law clerk at the Nevada Court of Appeals where he prepares bench memoranda and draft dispositions on civil, criminal, administrative, and family law matters. Coco obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and went on to earn his Juris Doctor from the William S. Boyd School of Law. While in law school, Coco was the President and Founder of the Immigrant Rights Coalition, Nevada Law Editor for the Nevada Law Journal, a State Bar of Nevada Professional Development Fellow, and Boyd Public Interest Fellow. In addition, Coco was a judicial extern to the Hon. Cristina D. Silva (Eighth Jud.) and was one of thirty students selected to participate in the Sonia & Celina Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program wherein he interned for the Hon. Edgardo Ramos (S.D.N.Y.) and met U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Coco was born and raised in Las Vegas and is of Mexican and Peruvian heritage. Coco enjoys international solo backpacking, caring for his little brother with autism, and vinyl record collecting.
Elva Castañeda
Vice President of Finance
More soon!
Sophie Salcedo,
Vice President of Communications
More soon!
Melissa Corral, Andale 5k Director
Melissa Corral is a staff attorney at the Community Advocacy Office (CAO) since June 2022 where she focuses on Immigration Removal Defense. Prior to working at the CAO, she worked at Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada for four years, where she developed expertise in immigration and family law. She was a law clerk to the Honorable Linda Marquis in the Family Division of the Clark County Eighth Judicial District Court and a student attorney at the UNLV Immigration Clinic. Raised in Durango, Mexico, and a native Spanish speaker, she earned her undergraduate and law degrees from UNLV.
Mayra Garay,
Director at Large
Mayra Garay is a litigation associate at Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP. Prior to joining Lewis Roca, Mayra served as a law clerk to the Honorable Justice James W. Hardesty and the Honorable Abbi Silver at the Supreme Court of Nevada.
While in law school, Mayra served as secretary for La Voz, the Latino law student organization. It was through La Voz that she first began serving her community. She wanted to continue this service as an attorney by becoming part of the Nevada Latino Bar Association. Mayra was elected to serve as Director at Large for the Nevada Latino Bar Association this past December.
Kristina Escamilla-Gilmore,
Director at Large
Kristina Escamilla Gilmore has been living in the Las Vegas community for over 20 years. She earned her undergraduate degree from Claremont McKenna College and received her Juris Doctorate from William S. Boyd School of Law. After law school, she completed a clerkship, and then went on to focus her practice in the area of labor and employment law. She currently works for the wonderful City of Henderson. She has a very supportive and brilliant husband and two adorable children that keep her on her toes! In addition to balancing work and family, she enjoys actively supporting the mission of the NLBA and being a part of encouraging more Latinos to join the practice of law.
David Chavez,
Director at Large
More soon!
Sihomara Graves
Director at Large
Sihomara is an attorney at Kaempfer Crowell where she practices primarily in the areas of general and commercial litigation and estate planning. She represents individuals and businesses in litigation matters and represents manufacturers and distributors in MDLs for various product or medical device litigation. Sihomara also assists clients in the areas of estate planning, trusts, wills and probate. Sihomara earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Nevada, Reno and went on to receive her Juris Doctor from the William S. Boyd School of Law. Sihomara served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Jennifer Togliatti, Eighth Judicial District Court for the District of Nevada. In addition, Sihomara was a student attorney at the UNLV Immigration Clinic. Prior to joining Kaempfer Crowell, Sihomara handled a high volume of immigration matters in front of both District Court and Immigration Court as a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada
Alma Orozco
Director at Large
More soon!
