Dedication
The Oregon Minority Lawyers Association is managed completely by volunteers. Our Board of Directors is made up of Oregon lawyers who donate countless hours of their personal time to make Oregon a great place to practice law.
Gilbert Cotto-Lazo
Co-Chair |
Gilbert A. Cotto-Lazo focuses his practice on appellate litigation, discrimination, whistleblower and retaliation claims, compliance and investigations, higher education, and litigation and trials.
Prior to joining Littler, Gilbert was at a regional full-service law firm, where he assisted in matters involving complex civil litigation, professional negligence defense, civil and administrative appeals, and employment claims for public and private entities. He previously served as term Social Security Appeals clerk for the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, and short-term clerk in the Hon. John V. Acosta’s chambers. While in law school, Gilbert externed for the Oregon Circuit Court for the County of Lane for the Hon. Charles D. Carlson, the Oregon Court of Appeals for the Hon. Steven R. Powers, and for the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon for the Hon. John V. Acosta. Additionally, he participated in national Appellate Moot Court competitions and served as the treasurer for the Latinx Law Students Association. |
Anthony Chavez
Co-Chair |
Anthony Chavez earned his undergraduate degree from Texas State University and his law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law. While in law school, he worked as a certified law student at his family’s criminal defense practice in Odessa, Texas. Coming from a family of criminal defense attorneys, he has long been drawn to trial work and criminal defense.
Anthony is currently an associate attorney at Scissors Law. He handles criminal defense matters, restraining orders for petitioners and respondents, and represents victims of crime. He has experience representing clients charged with crimes in Oregon Circuit Court and the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. Before joining Scissors Law, he managed a full felony caseload at Metropolitan Public Defenders’ Multnomah County office. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, spending time with his two dogs and exploring Portland’s food scene. |
Fernanda Douglas
Treasurer |
Fernanda Douglas grew up in El Paso, Texas. She is a first-generation Mexican American whose parents served in the U.S. Army.
She studied psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law. Interested in criminal law, she began her career with CLS in Multnomah County’s domestic violence unit while in law school. She then served as a prosecutor in Josephine County and continued her career in Josephine and Clackamas counties. She now works as a felony domestic violence prosecutor in the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office. She lives in Portland with her cats and enjoys spending time at her local gym. |
Sujata Patel
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Sujata Patel joined the OMLA board in 2009. She was a member and board member of MLSA (Minority Law Student Association) during her 3 years at Lewis and Clark Law School graduating in 2007. After law school, she wanted to continue to stay involved in the legal community, and OMLA's mission of creating community and its commitment to diversity within the legal professional was a perfect fit. Sujata currently directs commercial real estate transactions for Apex Real Estate Partners.
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Shannelle Honda
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Shanelle is a commercial litigator whose practice focuses on business litigation, including insurance coverage, contract disputes, and fiduciary liability, trade secret, and employment disputes. She also has experience in bid protests and public contracting disputes. Shanelle provides counsel at every stage of litigation and has successfully represented clients in state and federal courts.
Shanelle has significant experience with insurance coverage disputes and focuses exclusively on representing policyholders. She helps businesses resolve a variety of complex insurance coverage matters, including claims concerning errors and omissions, employment practices, general liability, environmental contamination, and product recall. Prior to entering private practice, Shanelle served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Jerome E. LaBarre of the Multnomah County Circuit Court, where she clerked in over 20 trials and numerous hearings. She also externed for the Honorable Michael W. Mosman of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon while in law school. Before pursuing a legal career, Shanelle worked in the banking industry for nearly seven years helping clients reach their financial goals. When not practicing law, Shanelle enjoys dining out, hiking, and otherwise spending time with her husband and their dog. Although raised in Oregon, Shanelle was born in Hawaii and returns as often as possible for the culture, food, and beaches. She enjoys painting and ceramics, and trying to grow plants in her garden. |
Sun Kim
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Sun Kim is a first-generation Korean American who moved to Oregon from Salt Lake City, Utah to attend Lewis & Clark Law School. Sun graduated from Lewis & Clark Law School in 2024. During law school, she served as Editor in Chief of the Lewis & Clark Law Review; Vice President of External Affairs for the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association; and as a peer mentor, supporting fellow students throughout their law school journey. She also completed externships with the Child Advocacy and Protection Division of the Oregon Department of Justice, and the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.
Sun currently practices construction law and business and commercial litigation, and she is committed to making a positive impact on both individuals and the legal community. In her free time, Sun enjoys spending time outdoors, whether hiking, going on walks, visiting local farmers markets, or reading by the pool in the summer. She also loves cooking, baking, and savoring delicious food. Most importantly, she cherishes time spent with family and friends. |
Helen Toloza
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Helen Toloza is a Los Angeles native and is a first-generation Salvadoran American. She comes from a family of butchers from La Paz, El Salvador.
She studied Sociology at the University of California Santa Cruz and graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law. She is passionate about workers' rights and labor issues. Currently, she works as a Deputy City Attorney in the City Attorney's Office for the City of Gresham. She primarily works on labor issues that arise between the City and the City's unions. Prior to joining the City of Gresham, Helen worked at the Legal Aid Service of Oregon focusing on eviction defense. She also worked at a union-side labor law firm where her practice focused on representing labor organizations in arbitrations, unfair labor practice proceedings, organizing campaigns, and other union matters. |
Jack Smart
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Jack Smart is a Chicano who grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah. Jack fell in love with Oregon while attending the University of Oregon School of Law. He practiced civil defense litigation in Salt Lake City for nine years before moving to Portland to raise his children in the Pacific Northwest. Jack currently practices labor and employment litigation. Jack is committed to furthering diversity within his communities.
In his free time, Jack enjoys spending time outside with his wife and children. He loves to snowboard, fish, and explore new restaurants. |