Rafael E. Lázaro
Founding Partner
Rafael E. Lázaro is a founding member of Lázaro Law Group, LLC. With 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 sections 1983 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 Bijonowski joined the firm as a clerk in 2020 and has been a practicing attorney since
With several years of litigation experience, Bethany is a passionate advocate for
employee rights with a particular focus on sexual harassment and gender discrimination cases.
She has achieved favorable outcomes for clients through multiple litigations, from initial filing
through resolution. Bethany has also successfully defended employers against employment-
related charges and lawsuits, and has conducted numerous workplace investigations on matters
ranging from sexual harassment to financial misconduct. Her strong negotiation skills have
proven instrumental in securing successful mediations and negotiating favorable employment
and severance agreements for her clients.
Bethany values building strong attorney-client relationships and understanding each client’s
unique circumstances to provide tailored legal strategies. She approaches each case with
thorough preparation and strategic advocacy, consistently delivering results while protecting her
clients’ rights.
Joseph E. Garcia
Associate Attorney
Joseph E. Garcia is an associate attorney at Lázaro Law Group, LLC, where he
represents clients in discrimination, harassment, and wage and hour actions.
With a strong foundation in employment law, Joseph is dedicated to providing clients
with strategic counseling and advocating for fair and equitable outcomes in workplace
disputes.
Joseph is actively involved in the employment law community and serves on the Board
of Directors of NELA-Illinois (National Employment Lawyers Association). He co-chairs
the Professional Development Committee.
Prior to joining Lázaro Law Group, Joseph served as an Equal Justice Works Fellow at
Legal Aid Chicago, where he represented clients in federal court and before
administrative agencies.
Joseph was selected to the 2026 Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, an honor
awarded to no more than 2.5% of attorneys in the state.
PEDRO E. GINER-DAPENA
Of Counsel
Pedro E. Giner-Dapena is a seasoned attorney with 25 years of experience and a proven track record of success in the legal industry. He represents both employers and employees in labor and employment matters — a dual perspective that aXords him unique analytical insight and a comprehensive understanding of workplace dynamics from all sides. He earned a Magna Cum Laude degree in Psychology from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (1999) and a Magna Cum Laude Juris Doctor from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law (2002), achieving a 99.1% score on the bar exam while working as a law clerk and excelling in extracurricular activities.
Groomed in Puerto Rico’s top law firms, Mr. Giner-Dapena became a founding partner of Usera, Figueroa & Giner in 2011, leading a successful six-year run before founding Giner Dapena Law in 2017. He also serves as Of Counsel at Lazaro Law Group in Chicago, where he actively litigates. His career spans Fortune 500 companies and local businesses across pharmaceutical, manufacturing, telecommunications, healthcare, hospitality, banking, retail, software, and services industries, delivering cost-eXective counsel in litigation, compliance, regulatory matters, and business operations before federal and state courts and administrative agencies.
Beyond his legal practice, Mr. Giner-Dapena has founded technology ventures aimed at
improving access to legal tools and services, as well as an import and distribution business reflecting his entrepreneurial mindset and firsthand understanding of the operational and regulatory challenges businesses face. He serves as a Board Director of Banco de Alimentos de Puerto Rico and is a Notary Public, Certified Arbitrator, and Registered Notary for Weddings. He is admitted to practice in Puerto Rico, the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
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
