RAFAEL LÁZARO
Founding Member
Rafael E. Lázaro is a founding member of Lázaro Law Group, LLC. With a particular emphasis on sexual harassment, Mr. Lázaro has dedicated his career to improving the workplace.
Mr. Lázaro regularly litigates before Illinois, Puerto Rico and United States courts in all aspects of employment law as well as suits under sections1983 and 1981. Prior to establishing Lázaro Law Group, Mr. Lázaro was an attorney at Seyfarth Shaw LLP where he represented fortune 100 companies and at Stowell & Friedman Ltd., a nationally recognized employee class action boutique law firm.
CATHERINE ROLAND
Partner
Catherine Jean Roland is an experienced litigator and trial attorney who is licensed in both Illinois and California. The primary focus of Catherine’s practice has been in employment litigation, but she has also litigated a variety of different matters, including legal malpractice, personal injury, union matters and business disputes.
Prior to joining Lázaro Law Group, LLC, Catherine gained experience representing employers both at Littler Mendelson, P.C., the nation’s largest employment and labor law firm, and as General Counsel of a venture-backed startup. Catherine’s passion however is in representing employees. Catherine has spent a majority of her career fiercely advocating on behalf of her clients in cases ranging from wrongful discharge and discrimination to harassment and retaliation under state and federal laws.
BETHANY M. BIJONOWSKI
Associate Attorney
Bethany M. Bijonowski recently joined the team as a Law Clerk. She is a third-year student at Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she has earned a place on the Dean’s List each semester.
During her time in law school, Bethany has participated in the Chicago-Kent Vaccine Injury Clinic and the Semester Law Firm Associate Program at Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney. These experiences have afforded her the opportunity to work in a variety of legal areas including medical malpractice, personal injury, and contract dispute. Bethany has a special interest in Labor and Employment law and expects to practice in this area after graduating.
Prior to law school, Bethany earned a B.A. in translation of French and Spanish and interned abroad in Peru and Morocco.
PEDRO E. GINER-DAPENA
Of Counsel
Pedro E. Giner-Dapena is an experienced lawyer with a successful track record in the legal industry. Skilled in Labor and Employment Law, Civil Law, Medical Cannabis Law and business consulting, digital currencies and blockchain technology, negotiation, arbitration, and litigation. He has entrepreneurial mindset with a solid business acumen and proven leadership skills.
In 1999 he obtained a Magna Cum Laude Psychology major from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Puerto Rico Law School in 2002, passing the bar exam on that same year with a 99.1% score. As a law student, he was a member of Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity. He also competed in PaceLaw School’s 2001 Environmental Law Moot Court Competitions, representing the University of Puerto Rico. He complemented his academic experience by attending various seminars given by Puerto Rico’s Bar Association and the Puerto Rico legislature regarding Civil Law issues and legal draftsmanship.
NICOLE TORRES
Paralegal and Office Manager
Nicole Torres has been a paralegal since 2013. Before working for Lázaro Law Group, Nicole worked as an Account Director at the global accounting agency Young & Rubicam for 18 years. Her clients included Colgate Palmolive, ATT/TMobile, Mazola, Direct TV, Merck, and Goodyear, among others. As an Account Director, she was the first point of contact for her clients and went to great lengths to make sure her client’s needs were always met. Similarly, as a paralegal, Nicole prides herself on prioritizing the needs of the firm’s clients.
Nicole is bilingual and fluent in Spanish. Originally from Puerto Rico, Nicole has two teens who are also bilingual, as the family only speaks Spanish in the house. Nicole and her family visit Puerto Rico frequently and it is one of her favorite places to visit. She likes to spend her free time with her husband and kids, doing Bar Method and whenever possible, traveling to new places.
Education
UNIVERSIDAD SAGRADO CORAZON
Advertising & Communications, 1997
