Members of the Firm

JOVITA CHÁVEZ-SEPÚLVEDA, was born in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México, 1954. She received her degree in Law in 1975 from the Autonomous University of Chihuahua and was admitted to the practice of law in 1976 in Chihuahua. Licenciada Chávez-Sepúlveda served as President of the Special Conciliation and Arbitration Labor Court in Juárez, Chihuahua, México from 1978 until 1983. She has held a faculty position as Professor in Specialized Conciliation and Arbitration Collective conflicts at CETYS University, Tijuana Campus.

HELIODORO CASTAÑEDA, was born in Mexicali, Baja California, in 1947. He received his Law Degree from the Autonomous University of Guadalajara in 1973 and was admitted to practice that same year. Mr. Castañeda holds a Master Degree in International Comparative Law from the University of San Diego, California. Licenciado Castañeda has practiced in México for the last thirty three years in all areas of litigation before State and Federal Mexican courts. He has focused in international commercial transactions and Constitutional Law, and while maintaining offices in Baja California he has appeared in courts in numerous Mexican States and in México City. Mr. Castañeda is familiar with American courts and has been active in cross border, bi-national programs through the Federal Courts of both countries, and on behalf of his clients. Over the past two decades Mr. Castañeda has been associated with several Southern California law firms and has appeared in California Superior and Municipal Courts, both as an expert in Mexican Law and as amicus curiae. He is a member of the Lawyers Bar Association Emilio Rabasa and the National Speakers Association. Mr. Castañeda is a founding partner of CHÁVEZ-SEPÚLVEDA & Castañeda, S.C.

ISRAEL A. GARCÍA SNCHEZ, was born in México, Distrito Federal in 1979. He graduated from Intercontinental University in México City in 2005. AREAS OF PRACTICE: Civil Litigation, Criminal, Corporate.

ALFONSO ERDMANN, was born in Tijuana, Baja California in 1972. He is currently a candidate for the degree in Law and anticipates the degree being conferred from Cetys University in 2000. AREAS OF PRACTICE: Labor, Migratory and Environmental.

CHRISTIAN HILARES GÓMEZ, is presently a law student at the University of Baja California, and assisting this Law Firm as Law Clerk.

OF COUNSEL

GRETCHEN CHRISTINA VON HELMS was born in 1964. She graduated with honors from Harvard University in 1990, receiving then a joint degree: a Juris Doctor from the Law School and a Masters degree in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Mrs. von Helms is authorized to practice law in California and in the US Federal Courts. She is currently defense counsel, with emphasis in Federal matters.

ROBERT C. ANDERSON, was born in Connecticut in April, 1941. He received his Baccalaureate Degree in 1964 from Fairfield University in Connecticut, a Masters Degree from the School of Medicine, Yale University in 1964 and his Law Degree from Suffolk University, Boston, Massachusetts in 1978. He has practiced law since 1983. Mr. Anderson is currently serves as a judge pro tempore for the court of the County of San Diego.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANT JULIAN TORRES RUIZ, was born in Apozol, Zacatecas in 1944. He received his degree in Communications and Electronic Engineering from the National Polytechnical Institute in México City in 1968. He has participated in the private and public sectors in environmental counseling and inforcement. He is an expert in air, soil, water, hazardous materials, acoustic, pollution prevention programs. Ingeniero Torres has a profound knowledge in issues concerning the invironment. He is coordinator of the Firm on environmental matters, State and Federal.