Officers & Board

Maridex E. Abraham is an associate attorney at Loke Walsh Immigration Law, PC, where she focuses primarily on employment-based and family-based immigration matters. H-1B visa petitions for specialty occupation workers, E-3 Australian visa petitions, H-1B1 visa petitions for Chilean and Singaporean specialty occupation workers, TN visa applications for Canadian and Mexican professionals, O-1 nonimmigrant visa petitions for individuals of extraordinary ability, P-1 visa petitions for entertainers, J-1 trainee visa applications, adjustment of status applications, and naturalizations.

Maridex attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts and Certificate in Asian American Studies. She earned her JD from the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis, Minnesota. During law school, Maridex served as 2L Class Representative and Secretary UST School of Law Student Government, as well as Secretary and Social Chair of the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association.

Attorney Maria Theresa T. Calimag joined Reeves Immigration Law Group as an Associate Attorney in the Pasadena Office in 2021. She has represented clients before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on a wide range of immigration matters, including family-based petitions, applications for conditional and permanent resident status, naturalizations, asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA), and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Attorney Calimag has defended clients from deportation in Immigration Court and before the Board of Immigration Appeals, and has also represented clients in California State courts for post-conviction relief.

Cherisse H. Cleofe is a senior associate at Kiesel Law LLP. She proudly represents plaintiffs in mass tort litigation, consumer class actions, catastrophic personal injury, and other complex litigation in federal and state courts. Her practice focuses on product liability mass tort litigation against pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Ms. Cleofe received a B.S. in Management Science from the University of California, San Diego and earned her J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law.

Ms. Cleofe was a member of a trial team that won a record $417 million jury verdict for a woman who contracted ovarian cancer due to talcum powder use. She was also a member of a trial team that won a unanimous $11 million federal jury verdict in the first bellwether trial in multidistrict litigation involving Wright “metal-on-metal” hip replacement devices.

Ms. Cleofe is a proud PABA Lifetime Member and continues to sit on the PABA Board of Governors. She was PABA President in 2020. In addition, Ms. Cleofe serves as Secretary for the Executive Committee of the LACBA Litigation Section and is a member of the APABA Public Appointments & Judicial Endorsements Committee. She also previously served as a member of the USF School of Law Board of Governors.

Jessica Obrador Gillette serves as Associate Counsel, Senior Director for L.A. Care Health Plan. She provides advice on a wide range of subject matters including employment, public agency, tax and licensing, and other legal matters. Jessica manages and oversees investigations, pre-litigation matters, administrative proceedings, and lawsuits. Prior to becoming in-house counsel for L.A. Care, Jessica served as a litigation attorney for a defense firm representing public entities and corporations.

Jessica is a PABA Lifetime Member and a member of the PABA Board of Directors. She is also on the Board of Directors of the Association of Corporate Counsel Southern California Chapter, serving as Chair of the Pro Bono Committee. She is a member of the Filipino American National Historical Society and spearheaded the relocation of the Landing of the First Filipinos monument in the City of Morro Bay. Jessica is also active in the City of Long Beach, where she serves as Equity and Human Relations Commissioner. She was instrumental in organizing the Inaugural City of Long Beach Filipino American History Month Celebration in 2022. She was also selected to be a member of the 2023 City of Long Beach Inauguration Honorary Host Committee.

Jessica was born and raised in the Philippines. She is fluent in Tagalog. She received her B.A. from the University of California, Davis, where she double majored in Sociology (Law & Society) and Rhetoric & Communication. She earned her J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law and was a Public Interest Law Scholar.

Ben Hofileña is an entertainment attorney most recently with Hulu where he was Assistant Chief Counsel and led the legal team for Hulu Originals. Prior to joining Hulu, Ben was a Business and Legal Affairs executive in Netflix's live action film group. Prior to Netflix, he was a production attorney in feature films at Twentieth Century Fox. For twelve years prior to joining Fox, Ben worked at the global law firms of McDermott, Will & Emery LLP and Orrick, Herrington, & Sutcliffe LLP where his practice focused on intellectual property matters. Ben served as President of the Philippine American Bar Association in 2007-2008 and is a former President of the PABA Foundation. In 2018, Ben was recognized with the PABA Distinguished Leadership Award. Throughout his career, Ben has been committed to his pro bono work on behalf of children and domestic violence victims primarily working with Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), The Alliance for Children's Rights, and Public Counsel. Ben earned his B.S. in Physiological Science at UCLA and his J.D. from Loyola Law School. While in law school, Ben won the national championship for the Giles Sutherland Rich IP Moot Court Competition sponsored by the AIPLA and was a judicial extern to the Honorable Stephen R. Reinhardt of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Ben loves all things UCLA, underwater photography and is a PADI Scuba Diving Instructor.

Kenneth (Kenny) P. Hsu is a Partner in Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP’s Litigation and Intellectual Property Departments with a focus on brand protection, intellectual property disputes, and complex commercial litigation. Kenny advises clients from a wide range of industries, such as apparel, food and beverage, and technology, in protecting their brands. He prosecutes and defends clients in intellectual property disputes, including trademark and patent infringement actions, in federal and state courts. In addition, Kenny regularly counsels clients regarding trademark matters, including applications, responses to office actions, licensing, and portfolio strategy.

During law school, Kenny served as editor-in-chief of the Hastings Business Law Journal. He also externed for the Honorable Susan Y. Illston, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, and for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Prior to law school, Kenny worked as a press aide for an elected official in New York City, New York and as a seasonal sportswriter for the Los Angeles Daily News. Kenny is an active member of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association, and has been recognized as a “Minority Leader of Influence” by the Los Angeles Business Journal and as a Southern California Rising Star by Super Lawyers.

John Bernard de Leon is an attorney with the State of California. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Southern California and a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. He currently serves as the Board President of the Baldwin Park Unified School District's Board of Education and a member of the Board of Directors of CASE – California Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges and Hearing Officers in State Employment, the labor union representing California's legal professionals.

Ferry Eden Lopez is a Partner in the Labor, Employment, and Workplace Safety group of K&L Gates. She focuses her practice on defending employers in single plaintiff and class action employment lawsuits and providing clients with strategic and collaborative solutions to minimize litigation risks. Ferry also provides advice, counseling, and training to management on every aspect of California employment law and traditional labor matters and has extensive expertise conducting workplace investigations and customized audits to ensure legal compliance.

Ferry received her J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law, and her B.A. from the University of California, San Diego. Prior to joining K&L Gates, Ferry practiced management-side labor and employment law at an international law firm and labor and employment boutique and served as a judicial law clerk to the honorable Christopher M. Klein, Chief Judge of the US Bankruptcy Court in the Eastern District of California.

Juliet Burton is the founder of the Law Office of Juliet Burton APC, a California law practice focused on estate planning, trust administration, and probate matters. She advises individuals and families on thoughtful, tax-aware estate planning and represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries in trust and probate proceedings. She is admitted to practice law in California and Washington.

Prior to founding her firm, Juliet practiced trusts and estate law at Los Angeles based law firms. She earned her Juris Doctor from Temple University Beasley School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology from Temple University. Earlier in her career, she served as a legal writer and editor with the Los Angeles Daily Journal, covering appellate decisions and developments within the legal profession.

As a first-generation Filipino American, Juliet views the practice of law as an honor. She volunteers her time to provide legal aid and policy research. Her work is guided by a commitment to service, clarity, and careful legal planning. Through her involvement with the Philippine American Bar Association, she is committed to mentorship, professional development, and expanding access to legal education and resources for underserved populations.

Nicholas “Nick” Marfori is an associate in the Los Angeles office of Ogletree Deakins. His practice is focused on defending clients against individual and class action lawsuits brought under the Unruh Civil Rights Act and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Nick regularly advises and defends retail stores, restaurants, hotels, theme parks, and other places of public accommodation in matters involving architectural access barriers and digital accessibility (e.g., website accessibility, mobile apps, streaming media). Nick also represents clients in employment litigation matters involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination claims. He has also represented residential developers, homeowners’ associations, and property management companies in fair housing matters and construction-related issues. Nick received his B.A. at the University of California, Irvine, and his J.D. at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. During law school, he externed for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and served as Developments Editor for the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review.

Mark Onyx Deroca is an associate at Hanning & Sacchetto LLP where his focus is on helping injured workers in their Worker's Compensation claims. Mark was born in the Philippines but grew up around the Middle East allowing him to bring different insights to the legal field.

Mark graduated with a Bachelor's of Arts in Film and Electronic Arts with an emphasis in Production Management at California State University, Long Beach. He recently earned his J.D. from Western State University College of Law in Orange County. Mark was Vice President of his school's Asian Pacific American Law Student Association during his last year and had served as an officer in 2 of the three years he went to Western State. He is fluent in Tagalog and speaks conversational French and Arabic.

Domingo Tan is a Partner at national law firm Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman, LLP. Domingo attended Loyola Marymount University where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and he earned his Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. He has over 25 years of litigation experience in various areas of law, including construction, business litigation, premises liability, transportation, product liability, habitability, insurance and toxic torts. In construction cases, Domingo has acted as lead counsel in numerous multimillion-dollar residential and commercial matters. His clients include Fortune 500 companies, several of California’s largest publicly held and privately held builders, real estate developers, contractors, construction managers and design professionals. Domingo is proud to be part of his firm’s Recruiting Committee, Charity Committee and DEI Task Force. He also serves as a mentor for several associates through his firm’s Mentorship Program. Domingo began with his firm as a Summer Associate in 1999 and he is now Coordinator of the Law Clerk Program.

Domingo has been a speaker at multiple legal conferences and he has published several articles. He has received various honors and awards including Best Lawyers in America for Construction Law (2025), The Jerrold S. Oliver Award of Excellence from West Coast Casualty for contributions to the construction community (2024), Leader of Influence: Minority Attorneys from Los Angeles Business Journal (2023) and Southern CA Rising Star from Super Lawyers Magazine (2009-2015).

Ernie is Counsel in the Entertainment & Media Industry Group of Reed Smith LLP. He advises clients in connection with business launches, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions and venture finance, and provides general corporate counsel with respect to client operations.

Arnold Pamplona is a seasoned Hospital Operations Attorney at CommonSpirit Health, bringing over two decades of expertise in healthcare law. An alumnus of Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to mentoring future legal professionals. He actively participates in professional organizations such as the California Society for Healthcare Attorneys (CSHA) and the American Health Law Association (AHLA). Arnold's involvement with the Philippine American Bar Association of Los Angeles (PABA) and the National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA) underscores his commitment to diversity and leadership within the legal profession. In 2009, he served as the President of PABA.

Jenny Pelaez focuses her practice on complex commercial and class action litigation at the trial and appellate levels. She has extensive experience representing a diverse group of clients in high-stakes matters involving claims under antitrust, securities and consumer protection laws, as well as a variety of contract and tort claims. She also regularly represents public companies and individuals in a wide range of industries in securities class action and derivative litigation. Her clients include companies in the financial services, accounting, technology, and entertainment industries.

Jenny also maintains a robust pro bono practice, including in the areas of reproductive rights, immigration law, public benefits, criminal procedure and prisoner’s rights.

Prior to joining the firm, Jenny clerked with the Honorable Pamela K. Chen of the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York. She worked for two years as a fellow at the National Center for Law and Economic Justice, where she litigated class actions seeking to reform policies and practices affecting low-income populations, including claims under the federal Due Process Clause, Food Stamp Act, Medicaid Act and Americans with Disabilities Act. Previously, she was a law clerk for the Honorable Frank Maas of the US District for the Southern District of New York.

Stacey A. Villagomez is Senior Counsel in Allen Matkins' Los Angeles office. She practices in all aspects of general business and real estate litigation in both state and federal courts. Stacey received her bachelor's degree in English, with a minor in Asian American Studies from UCLA. She received her J.D. from USC Gould School of Law where she served as Topic Editor for the Hale Moot Court Honors Program and Secretary for the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. While in law school, Stacey also obtained a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution. Prior to entering law school, Stacey worked as a paralegal for five years at an Orange County law firm. She also clerked for boutique litigation and appellate firms in Los Angeles while completing her law degree. Stacey is currently Co-Chair of the General Real Property Subsection of LACBA and is an active member of the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles.

Byron is a partner in Baker McKenzie’s Americas Dispute Resolution practice and a member of the firm’s Antitrust & Competition Practice Group in Los Angeles. He provides comprehensive counsel to clients across the full spectrum of antitrust and consumer protection law. His practice includes representing clients in both civil and grand jury investigations initiated by federal agencies, where he navigates complex regulatory scrutiny with strategic precision. He also advises on cross-border compliance and enforcement strategies, helping multinational organizations align their operations with evolving global standards.

Neil Bautista is an attorney and investigator at Oppenheimer Investigations Group LLP. He conducts impartial and independent workplace and school investigations as an external investigator for public and private entities. He received his J.D. from the University of California, College of the Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) and his B.A. from the University of California, Irvine. During law school, Neil served on the boards of the Pilipinx American Law Society, Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, and the Hastings Women's Law Journal.

Franz Español is a seasoned employment law leader currently serving as Deputy Chief Employment Counsel, where he advises senior executives within a national healthcare system on high-stakes employment and labor matters. In this role, he is known for his pragmatic, business-oriented approach to risk management, compliance, and dispute resolution, helping organizational leaders navigate complex legal issues while advancing operational and strategic objectives.

Franz leads and manages a high-performing team of employment law subject matter experts, including attorneys, paralegals, and legal professionals, fostering a collaborative and solutions-driven culture. He provides strategic oversight across a wide range of employment matters, including wage and hour compliance, workplace investigations, protected leave, accommodations, restrictive covenants, trade secrets, and unfair competition issues. He also partners closely with internal stakeholders and outside counsel to drive consistent, high-quality outcomes across jurisdictions.

With deep experience in legal operations and complex litigation management, Franz oversees hundreds of employment litigation matters nationwide, directing case strategy, controlling costs, and aligning litigation decisions with broader business priorities. His work includes managing high-profile and sensitive matters, negotiating and selecting outside counsel, and developing scalable employment policies and compliance frameworks across multiple states.

A trusted adviser to business leaders, Franz is recognized for translating legal risk into clear, actionable guidance and for balancing legal rigor with commercial practicality. His background spans in-house leadership, insurance and claims management, and private practice, giving him a uniquely comprehensive perspective on employment risk from prevention through resolution.

Mark Talise is a business litigation partner at Sinclair Braun Kargher LLP. He has successfully represented clients in various matters involving business and real estate disputes, insurance coverage, and personal injury. Mark was previously a senior associate at Cozen O’Connor where his practice focused on insurance bad faith litigation. Before transitioning to the legal profession, Mark was a claims examiner for a major automobile insurance carrier and a regulatory analyst for a global insurance carrier.

Mark attended California State University Northridge and later earned his law degree from Southwestern Law School. He was named editor-in-chief of the Southwestern Law Review during his final year and graduated magna cum laude.

Mark also serves as a part-time adjunct professor at Southwestern Law School where he teaches a practical skills class for students doing civil practice externships.

Jedidiah Hu is a current 2L student enrolled at Chapman University, Dale E. Fowler School of Law. He is the first in his immediate family to graduate college in America and the first in his family to pursue a Juris Doctorate. Having transitioned from a career in real estate to law, he began his legal experience in family law and later expanded into employment law. Although he thoroughly enjoyed employment law, he will be working at Bonne Bridges in Los Angeles this summer, where he hopes to explore medical malpractice and complex litigation.

Jaidyn Yambao is a 2L at Southwestern Law School. She serves as the Co-Communications Chair for APALSA, a Lead Article Editor for the Southwestern Journal of International Law, a Peer Mentor, and a Teaching Assistant for Legal Writing and Torts. She looks forward to working at MG+M this summer in Los Angeles. Jaidyn earned her B.A. in English, Honors, from California State University, Northridge, graduating summa cum laude.

Michael Cabanday is a 1L at UCLA School of Law and a Distinguished Scholars Award recipient. He graduated summa cum laude from UCLA with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in History. As President of both the UCLA Pre-Law Society and the Pilipinx Pre-Law Pipeline, he organized large-scale law forums, built mentorship programs, and worked closely with the Philippine American Bar Association. Currently, Michael looks forward to working with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison as a summer associate for his 2L summer.

Ava Ahlstrand is a 3L at UCI Law and a second-generation Filipino American. Ava is devoted to a career in public interest and has volunteered and worked for various legal aid organizations, including Community Legal Aid SoCal and Neighborhood Legal Services of L.A., and will be a Post Graduate Fellow for Legal Aid Foundation of L.A. Ava became involved with the PABA while pursuing her undergraduate degree at UCLA and created a mentorship program between the Pilipinx Pre-Law Pipeline organization at UCLA and PABA, and is passionate about expanding the Filipino legal community.

Matthew Secoquian, I'm a 3L at Western State College of Law. I have a strong interest in immigration law and public interest. I have always been passionate about helping others, and hope to use the position I'm in to become a strong advocate for those that need help.

Mark Rose is a 2L and honored to serve as the PABA Student Representative for Pepperdine Caruso School of Law. His father immigrated to California from the Philippines before joining the U.S. Navy, while his Hispanic mother was born and raised in West Texas. Mark earned his B.S. from Texas Christian University before enrolling in the joint JD/MDR program at Pepperdine University. Currently, Mark serves as a Lead Articles Editor for Pepperdine Law Review, a member of the moot court team, the Pepperdine APALSA President, a Legal Research and Writing TA, and a Mentor for Pepperdine Phi Alpha Delta pre-law undergraduates. Mark is interested in civil rights and liberties, appellate litigation, and public interest law.

Gabbie Santos is a 2L at UCLA School of Law in the David J. Epstein Program in Public Interest Law and Policy and the Critical Race Studies Program. Gabbie is a recipient of the Achievement Fellowship, a full-tuition scholarship for high-achieving students. During her 1L summer at UCLA Law’s Center for Immigration Law & Policy, she worked on Ninth Circuit litigation and policy advocacy efforts serving immigrant communities. She is looking forward to joining ACLU SoCal's Immigrants' Rights Project this Summer 2026.