April 20, 2021
LatinoLEAD member: Inti Martínez-Alemán
Tell us a little bit about yourself/background? I was born and raised in Honduras. I completed my college education in the US and then I returned back home to pursue my “Honduran Dream” by studying and practicing law. It was a very fulfilling yet dangerous career. Hundreds of my colleagues have been murdered in the last dozen years—including close relatives and friends. I didn’t want to become a statistic. So I decided to flee persecution. In 2013, I moved back stateside to start my legal career anew. It was a tough decision because law school is difficult, getting licensed even more difficult, and immigration laws are outright nasty. But God has been extremely faithful and good to me! I have been practicing law in the US since 2016. I love the work I do at Ceiba Fôrte Law Firm, representing Hispanics in business, civil, and employment litigation matters. Share with our network a bit more about your practice and what type of support you offer? We help Hispanics protect their assets, businesses, and jobs by way of litigation. That means we are in court all the time. Monday is my favorite day of the week (after Friday)! You can learn more about my law practice by visiting ceibaforte.com. At Ceiba Fôrte Law Firm, we are very picky with the cases we take on. We want to only focus on strong cases benefitting deserving clients under decent fee arrangements. Having a good reputation is crucial for building a fine law practice. So taking on a case "just because" is problematic. What inspired you to be part of this work? When I was in law school (for the second time) I clerked at a few immigration law firms. There, I learned immigration law was not my cup of tea. It’s for way smarter and more patient lawyers. So I began to informally survey attorneys serving Hispanics. I asked them in which areas of law there were few or no Spanish-speaking attorneys. With time, I came to the conclusion that business, civil, and employment law were my ideal practices. They are compatible with each other and there is a huge demand for legal services in Spanish. We need more Spanish-speaking attorneys practicing these areas of law—and a dozen other areas too! I also learned that I didn’t want to have a boss. So I opened my own law firm: Ceiba Fôrte Law Firm. A legal incubator helped me get things going. Why do you think the work of LatinoLEAD is important for our community now? LatinLEAD has been instrumental in my life and legal career in Minnesota. From the moment I opened my law firm in 2016, I have met in LatinoLEAD events countless of impressive Hispanic professionals from all walks of life. Many of these folks have become close friends. I love people, so getting to know more folks was very nice early on when I was new in town. Anything else you'd like to share? (any question I didn't ask?) Our monthly newsletters are extremely informative. I recommend you subscribe HERE. Also, feel free to stop by for some coffee at Ceiba Fôrte Law Firm—I’m working on improving my barista skills!