Sobre Nosotros

Fundado en 1995, el Colegio de Abogados de Colombia en Estados Unidos (COLBAR) es un colegio de abogados voluntario compuesto por jueces, abogados y firmas nacionales e internacionales, y estudiantes de leyes. Se dedica a promover los intereses cívicos y profesionales de los abogados colombo estadounidenses y sus colegas como también a abordar los intereses legales de la comunidad colombo estadounidense y en general.

COLBAR se reúne de 10 a 12 veces al año para almuerzos de red, presentaciones profesionales y Clases de Educación Continuada CLE, eventos sociales, un picnic anual y en otras ocasiones como dar la bienvenida a dignatarios colombianos visitantes o celebrar eventos importantes para la comunidad colombiana. COLBAR también participa activamente en eventos benéficos—su campaña anual de pavos de Acción de Gracias es una tradición establecida—y sus miembros a menudo se coordinan para brindar al público información legal confiable y sin costo.

Perfiles de los Directores Ejecutivos

Tiffany Escobar, Esq.
Presidenta

Tiffany Escobar is an Associate Attorney at Your Immigration Attorney, PLLC, in Miami, Florida. Fluent in English and Spanish, she specializes in U.S. immigration law, including defensive asylum, removal proceedings, employment-based, family-based, and humanitarian matters.

Ms. Escobar earned her Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University School of Law, where she co-founded the Colombian American Student Bar Association and received the CALI Book Award in Admiralty Law. During law school, she served in the Human Trafficking Unit of the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office as a Certified Legal Intern. She holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Florida International University.

She currently serves as the President of the Colombian American Bar Association (COLBAR 2026) and was appointed to the Florida Bar Journal/News Editorial Board for a three-year term through 2027. In 2024, Ms. Escobar was named an “Up-and-Comer Honoree” at the Hispanic Women of Distinction Awards, receiving a Special Congressional Recognition from Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

She is also an active member of the Miami-Dade Bar Association Young Lawyers Section, the Hispanic National Bar Association, and the International Entrepreneur Chamber of Commerce (U.S. Florida Chapter).

Laura Arboleda, Esq.
Vicepresidente

Laura Arboleda nació en Estados Unidos y fue criada entre Medellín, Colombia y Miami, Florida. Durante mas de siete años adquirió experiencia en varios casos migratorias como Paralegal en bufetes reconocidos. Ahora tiene su propio bufete.

Raphael Sanchez, Esq.
Secretario

Raphael Alejandro Sanchez (Ralph) is the founder of The Law Office of Raphael A. Sanchez, P.A. His practice is dedicated to all forms of personal injury and homeowner’s insurance claims. He is a member of the Colombian Bar Association (COLBAR), Dade County Bar Association, and Westchester Chamber of Commerce.

Ralph is a first-generation American of Colombian descent and speaks fluent Spanish. He was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Florida International University (FIU) in 2010 and his Juris Doctor from the St. Thomas University School of Law (STU Law) in 2014.

While a student at STU Law, Ralph was a law clerk for the Honorable Judge Abby Cynamon and a legal intern at the City of Miami Office of the City Attorney. He was also an Articles Editor of the St. Thomas Law Review, and an active member of the Cuban American Student Bar Association (CASBA) and Hispanic American Law Student Association (HALSA).

Shortly after graduating from STU Law, Ralph began his legal career by handling criminal defense cases with prominent criminal defense attorney Dennis Gonzalez, Jr. There he obtained extensive courtroom experience representing clients in court for traffic infractions, traffic misdemeanors, misdemeanor bond hearings, and felony bond hearings. He also negotiated the resolution of cases with Assistant State Attorney’s and prepared motions to dismiss based on the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Thereafter, Ralph joined the law firm of Pacin Levine, P.A. There he worked hand in hand with the managing partner of the firm, Marc Pacin, and obtained extensive knowledge of the intricacies of the world of personal injury. There he handled over 400 personal injury cases and has helped recover more than 2 million dollars from the insurance companies.

In June 2017, Ralph formed The Law Office Raphael A. Sanchez, P.A. to represent individuals with competent, aggressive, and personalized legal care.

Laura Marino, Esq.
Tesorera

Laura Marino is an Associate Criminal Defense Attorney at Ratzan & Faccidomo, LLC. Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Laura is fluent in both Spanish and English and is committed to serving diverse communities through her legal practice.

Laura graduated cum laude from St. Thomas University Benjamin L. Crump College of Law. During law school, she co-founded and served as President of the Colombian American Student Bar Association, reflecting her dedication to mentorship and representation within the legal profession.

Laura was also an active member of the St. Thomas Law Trial Team, competing in both state and national advocacy competitions. In October 2022, she received an Honorable Mention at the Georgetown White Collar Crime Invitational, competing against sixteen of the top advocacy programs in the nation. She also competed in the prestigious Chester Bedell Mock Trial Competition, helping place St. Thomas Law among the top 25 mock trial programs in the country.

While in law school, Laura worked as a law clerk at Ratzan & Faccidomo and interned at the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office, where she served as a Certified Legal Intern in the Jail Division, gaining hands-on courtroom experience representing incarcerated clients.

Following graduation, Laura was honored with the “Up and Comer Award” at the Annual Hispanic Women of Distinction Ceremony, recognizing Latina professionals who are paving the way for future generations.

Laura later returned to the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office as an Assistant Public Defender, where she gained significant trial experience handling jury and bench trials across a wide range of criminal matters.

Laura prides herself on her ability to build meaningful relationships with her clients while providing zealous, strategic, and compassionate advocacy.

Board of Directors

Natalia Yidi, Esq.
Board Member

Ms. Yidi received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law. While in law school she was a member of the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Society and a member of the Hispanic Law Student Association. During law school, Ms. Yidi interned at the State Attorney’s Office of the 11th Judicial Circuit, specifically in the Circuit Criminal Division. Ms. Yidi graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, majoring in Journalism and Advertising. Ms. Yidi gained litigation experience working at white-collar criminal defense and civil litigation firms.

Adriana P. Santiesteban, Esq.
Board Member

Adriana P. Santiesteban, Esq., es una experimentada abogada litigante civil con más de veinte años de experiencia en el campo legal. Nació en Urrao, Colombia, S.A., y con la ayuda y sacrificios de su abuela materna, su familia emigró a los Estados Unidos cuando ella tenía dos años. La Sra. Santiesteban se crió en Brooklyn, NY y vivió en East Stroudsburg, PA, durante algunos años antes de mudarse permanentemente a la soleada Miami, FL en 1989.

Paula C. Arias, Esq.
Board Member

Soy una abogada internacional cuya experiencia profesional incluye trabajo en los sectores académico y legal en el sector privado y en temas relacionados con el arbitraje comercial internacional, los derechos humanos internacionales, las políticas públicas, y el estado de derecho y la defensa. Tengo excelentes habilidades interpersonales y de extensión que han dado lugar a una gran red establecida de relaciones profesionales con personas e instituciones a nivel nacional e internacional.

Alexander Lian, Esq.
Board Member

Alexander Lian, originally from Barranquilla, Colombia, is well known for his legal acumen and ability to handle intricate and complex matters. Noteworthy achievements include his 2011 selection as a finalist for the Daily Business Review’s Most Effective Lawyer in South Florida, Real Estate Litigation. Mr. Lian’s clients include the largest Fortune 100 company headquartered in South Florida, national religious organizations, as well members of South Florida’s business community. A Vanderbilt University Graduate and Law School alumnus, he authored a renowned study on U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., which Cambridge University Press published internationally in 2020. Mr. Lian is also a Florida Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator and past president of COLBAR (2021).

Valentina Rios, Esq.
Board Member

Valentina es abogada graduada de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad Internacional de Florida (FIU) y actualmente se desempeña como abogada asociada en Bryson Harris Suciu Demay PLLC, firma en la que previamente completó su programa como summer associate. Su práctica profesional se centra en litigios de acciones colectivas, con especial énfasis en asuntos de privacidad de datos y protección al consumidor, arbitraje masivo y litigios comerciales complejos.

Valentina mantiene un vínculo cercano con Colombia, país que visita con frecuencia y que sigue siendo parte fundamental de su identidad personal y profesional. Uno de sus objetivos en su carrera es demostrar, a través de su trabajo, el talento y la solidez de los abogados colomboamericanos, así como contribuir al fortalecimiento de la presencia legal colombiana en Miami mediante la construcción de relaciones profesionales y la colaboración jurídica entre ambos países.

Valentina remains deeply connected to Colombia. One of her professional goals is to reflect, through her work, the skill and professionalism of Colombian-American attorneys and to contribute to a stronger Colombian legal presence in Miami by fostering meaningful professional relationships and cross-border collaboration.