The Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association (MHBA) was founded in 1991 to organize Hispanic attorneys, judges, law students and other concerned members of the Hispanic community into a force for professional and community benefit. The MHBA mission is to unify and organize all members of the Hispanic legal community, to promote legal professionals, and to serve as an advocate for the Hispanic community in Minnesota. The MHBA strives to promote professional growth and opportunity for Latino law students and attorneys, to provide community service and to ensure access to justice for all.
In 1993, the MHBA began a scholarship fund with contributions from members and a matching gift from Mr. Cliff Whitehall, former President of the General Mills Foundation. In 1998, the MHBA established an endowment fund in partnership with El Fondo de Nuestra Comunidad and under the administration of The St. Paul Foundation. The MHBA Endowment Fund serves as a source of funding for law student interns working at non-profit organizations serving the Latino/a community. Each year MHBA hosts a fundraising gala event to continue to grow the fund to benefit the Latino/a community.
In 2004, the MHBA began its Law Student Mentorship Program to mentor the next generation of attorneys in Minnesota. Every year the program kicks off with a reception, where law students are matched with attorneys to provide guidance and an introduction into the legal community in Minnesota.
Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association Diversity and Inclusion Statement
The Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association is committed to building a more just and equitable legal environment in Minnesota. We recognize the history of oppression that has resulted in ongoing disparities for some communities, as well as the limitations of a nonprofit framework to address them. Yet, we have a powerful network of organizations and change agents with an opportunity to create positive systemic change. We believe that nonprofits that engage diverse perspectives and evolve to be inclusive and behave equitably, can and do have profound impacts on society. We are therefore committed to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable culture where all individuals feel valued and respected regardless of their race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, education, marital status, veteran status, disability, or other protected characteristic. We are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach and provide equal opportunity for involvement and advancement in all of our committees, programs, and initiatives. We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure that all voices are valued and heard.
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2023-2024 Board of Directors
Board meetings are typically held on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30pm, with some exceptions. Board meetings are open to all members, please confirm the date and location with the Secretary if you plan to attend. Any items members would like to the board to consider for discussion or vote must be submitted at least 10 days in advance of the board meeting.
Braynell Estrada Britton – President
Braynell is an Associate General Counsel for Best Buy since August 2021, before joining Best Buy he was part of the Corporate Procurement Group at U.S. Bank as a Contract Consultant. Braynell provides legal advice in different matters that impact Best Buy’s internal business, draft and negotiate contracts with vendors from various industries for the support of Best Buy´s internal business. He is a licensed attorney in Nicaragua, his home country, and in Minnesota. Braynell likes to play soccer, reading books, cooking and volunteer.
Best Buy
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Kelvin Collado - President - Elect
Kelvin Collado handles a wide range of legal matters, including appeals, for corporations, small businesses, and individuals. Kelvin is passionate about the law and committed to providing the best possible representation.
Kelvin began his career as a prosecutor at the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office. As a prosecutor, Kelvin handled hundreds of cases, performed over a dozen evidentiary hearings, and a number of trials. He then moved to Minnesota and clerked for the Honorable Peter M. Reyes, Jr. of the Minnesota Court of Appeals, where he was exposed to a wide range of civil and criminal state appeals.
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Andrea Mejia - Vice President
Andrea is a commercial litigation attorney at Sapientia Law Group, who also advises her clients on corporate, commercial, and transactional matters. She is licensed in Colombia and Minnesota.
T: 612.756.7148
E: AndreaM@sapientialaw.com
120 South 6th Street, Suite 100, Minneapolis MN 55402
Gabriel Ramirez-Hernandez - Secretary
Gabriel Ramirez-Hernandez represents businesses across the country in civil litigation matters, including complex civil litigation, appeals, intellectual property litigation and commercial disputes. Gabriel assists at all stages of litigation.
Before joining Norton Rose Fulbright, Gabriel served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Jerry W. Blackwell, Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota and the Honorable Peter M. Reyes, Jr., Judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
In addition to serving on the board, Gabriel serves on the MHBA Judicial Selection Committee, the Membership Committee, and the Development Committee.
Maslon LLP
Direct Phone: (612) 672-8289
Eder Castillo - Treasurer
Eder Castillo prosecutes white-collar crimes at the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, where he also co-chairs the Latinx Affinity Group. When he’s not working, Eder enjoys watching live theater with his wife, Nayely.
Roxy Gonzalez – Past President
Roxy Gonzalez is an associate in Dorsey’s Trial group where she represents clients involved in complex business litigation and bankruptcy matters.
Before joining Dorsey, Roxy was a law clerk to the Honorable Justice David L. Lillehaug on the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Roxy has dedicated a portion of her practice to pro bono work.
Board Members
Delmar Flynn
Delmar is an Mexican-Argentine immigrant naturalized as a child. She attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and received her law degree from DePaul University in Chicago.
As an attorney, her passion for legal advocacy began with children in the role of their attorney and guardian ad litem. In her thirteen years of practice across Illinois and Minnesota, she has collaborated with social workers, foster parents, service providers and teachers, as well as opposing counsel, and advocates for her clients’ interests in court.
In addition to her current position in family law at Fiddler Osband, LLC, Delmar also donates her time to local legal aid organizations for pro bono work. She is also an active member of Minnesota Women Lawyers.
Fiddler Osband, LLC. delmar.flynn@gmail.com
Phone: 612-822-4095
Yastril Nañez
Paola K. Maldonado
Paola Maldonado is an Associate Attorney at Flaherty & Hood, P.A., practicing municipal and labor and employment law with a primary focus on litigation. In addition to serving on the Board, Paola co-chairs the Public Relations Committee. Outside of MHBA, she is a member of the Warren E. Burger Inn of Court and the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Minnesota State Bar Association.
N. Georgette Marling
Georgette is an immigration attorney and an advocate for international human rights.
Jacqueline Perez
Jacqueline is from Dallas, Texas. She moved to Minnesota in 2011 where she graduated from the College of St. Benedict and Mitchell Hamline School of Law. She is currently a criminal prosecutor at the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. Jacqueline enjoys traveling, eating, and spending time with family in Texas. She enjoys connecting with students and is always available for coffee.
Email: Jacqueline.Perez@hennepin.us
Student Representatives
Marina Cruz
Marina is a third-year student at the University of St. Thomas. She has been a board member of UST’s Latinx Law Student Association (LLSA) since her 1L year and has planned and coordinated numerous events for LLSA members. Before law school, Marina attended the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University where she graduated with honors and earned degrees in Global Business & Hispanic Studies, with a minor in Latino/Latin American Studies and a certificate in Entrepreneurship. In between college and law school, Marina earned her Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate and taught English online. She continues to teach a weekly ESL class. Outside of law school, you can find Marina at the coffee shop where she works as a barista part-time, going for a walk around the lakes, or hanging out with her nieces and nephews.
Reen Reinhardt
Reen is a rising 3L at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, and a recent graduate of Hamline University’s 3+3 Program, through which she received a bachelor’s in legal studies. At Mitchell, Reen is the incoming Latine Law Student Association President, Native American Law Student Association Public Relations Co-Chair, and a student in the Native American Law and Sovereignty Institute’s Certificate Program. She currently works as a legislative assistant for Lockridge Grindal Nauen, PLLP, on their Government Relations team, and plans to continue working in public policy after graduation.
Joshua Fuller
Originating from Montana, Joshua is a rising 2L at the University of Minnesota. Prior to law school, Joshua was a music education major at Concordia College, in Moorhead, Minnesota. During that time, Joshua sang in The Concordia Choir, under Dr. Rene Clausen. He is focused on contract law and business law but enjoys studying as much as possible and exploring new fields. He is currently a board member for the Latinx Law Student Association at the University of Minnesota and made an appearance in last year’s TORT (Theatre of the Relatively Talentless) production of Tortanic as Captain Ahab. He also helped conduct the pit and orchestrate pieces for the show. Joshua is currently a law clerk for ASK LLP, where he works in the bankruptcy preferences department. When not focusing on all things law, Joshua loves to cook. He is an avid gamer, notoriously putting in long hours on the weekends to various games, enjoys spending time with friends, and being in the outdoors.