Our Practice

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Petronila “Petra” Veras-Rizwan joined the Gomez and Palumbo team March of 2020 as an Associate Attorney. Petra is a first-generation Dominican American with a deep understanding and appreciation for the immigrant community. Petra learned early on to speak for those that cannot speak for themselves. Petra’s passion and drive derives from seeing her own family struggle through the immigration system. In 2004, Petra saw her own brother, who spent his entire life in the United States, deported to the Dominican Republic. Before Petra’s family could even hire an attorney to represent his brother, he had been deported without reasoning.

Petra has shown determination and resilience both in court and in her personal life. After graduating from high school, Petra became a single mother. Being a single mother did not deter Petra’s ambition and drive to accomplish her childhood dream of practicing law. Petra worked full time as a paralegal while she attended Northern Essex Community College and the University of Massachusetts Lowell. While attending the Massachusetts School Law at Andover, Petra worked full time as an administrative assistant for the Committee for Public Counsel Service Youth Advocacy Division in addition to raising her family.

Petra began practicing immigration law after her admission into the Massachusetts bar and has been a zealous advocate for immigrants before the Executive Office for Immigration Review, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Education

Massachusetts School of Law at Andover (J.D.)

CALI-Academic Achievement Award-District Court Trial Procedure

Southern New Hampshire University (M.S.)

University of Massachusetts-Lowell (B.L.A)

Northern Essex Community College (A.A.)

Bar Admission

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

(2016)

Massachusetts Federal District Court

(2017)

Professional Memberships

America Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys (MAHA)

Petronila "Petra" Veras-Rizwan se unió al equipo de Gómez y Palumbo en marzo de 2020 como abogada asociada. Petra es una dominicana de primera generación con un profundo entendimiento y aprecio por la comunidad inmigrante. Petra aprendió desde el principio a hablar por aquellos que no pueden hablar por sí mismos. La pasión y el impulso de Petra se derivan de ver la lucha de su propia familia a través del sistema de inmigración. En 2004, Petra vio a su propio hermano, que pasó toda su vida en los Estados Unidos, deportado a la República Dominicana. Antes de que la familia de Petra pudiera contratar a un abogado para representar a su hermano, había sido deportado sin razonamiento.

Petra ha demostrado determinación y resistencia tanto en la corte como en su vida personal. Después de graduarse de la escuela secundaria, Petra se convirtió en madre soltera. Ser madre soltera no disuadió la ambición y el impulso de Petra para lograr el sueño de su infancia de practicar leyes. Petra trabajó a tiempo completo como asistente legal mientras asistía al Northern Essex Community College y a la Universidad de Massachusetts Lowell. Mientras asistía a Massachusetts School of Law at Andover, Petra trabajó a tiempo completo como asistente administrativa de la División de Defensa Juvenil del Comité de Servicio de Asesoramiento Público además de criar a su familia.

Petra comenzó a practicar la ley de inmigración después de su admisión en el colegio de abogados de Massachusetts y ha sido una entusiasta defensora de los inmigrantes ante la Oficina Ejecutiva de Revisión de Inmigración, la Junta de Apelaciones de Inmigración y los Servicios de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de EE. UU.

Educacion

Massachusetts School of Law at Andover (J.D.)

CALI-Academic Achievement Award-District Court Trial Procedure

Southern New Hampshire University (M.S.)

University of Massachusetts-Lowell (B.L.A)

Northern Essex Community College (A.A.)

Admision a Corte

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (2016)

Massachusetts Federal District Court (2017)

Afiliaciones Profesionales

America Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys (MAHA)

Omar is the Operations Manager at Gomez & Palumbo, LLC. Having recently immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic in 2021, Omar was looking for a career change and had developed an interest in Immigration Law. He initially joined Gomez & Palumbo, LLC as a Paralegal in August of 2021 and was shortly thereafter promoted to Operations Manager. Due to his extensive experience in business management, Omar has led the Gomez & Palumbo, LLC team through this transformative process. His transition into the managerial role has been seamless and Omar has proven to be an invaluable member of our firm.  

Omar obtained his Master’s in Business Management from PUCMM – Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra of Santo Domingo in 2007 and his Bachelor’s in Data Base Computer Science, Cum Laude, from the same university in 2004.  Omar has over 15 years of experience working in management and comes to Gomez and Palumbo with a business background eager to manage the innerworkings of a law firm.  His enthusiasm and ability to connect with people make him a leader who is approachable and kind.         

In his own words: Gomez and Palumbo, LLC serves as a beacon of hope for our community of immigrants and guides them on their path to achieving their goals in a new country. Having family members for which I have always been the go-to person, gave me a lot of insight into the struggles immigrants go through to come to this country looking for better opportunities.  It is a blessing to be part of the process at Gomez and Palumbo.

Español

Omar es el Gerente de Operaciones de Gomez & Palumbo, LLC. Habiendo inmigrado recientemente a los Estados Unidos desde la República Dominicana en 2021, Omar estaba buscando un cambio de carrera y había desarrollado un interés en la Leyes de Inmigración. Inicialmente se unió a Gomez & Palumbo, LLC como asistente legal en agosto del 2021 y poco después fue ascendido al puesto de Gerente de Operaciones. Debido a su amplia experiencia en gestión empresarial, Omar ha liderado el equipo de Gomez & Palumbo, LLC a través de este proceso de transformación. Su transición al rol gerencial ha sido fácil y Omar ha demostrado ser un miembro invaluable de nuestra firma.     

 Omar obtuvo su Maestría en Administración de Empresas de la PUCMM – Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra de Santo Domingo en el 2007 y su Licenciatura en Informática de Bases de Datos, Cum Laude, de la misma universidad en el 2004. Omar tiene más de 15 años de experiencia trabajando en administración de empresas y viene a Gómez y Palumbo con experiencia, deseoso de administrar el funcionamiento interno de un bufete de abogados. Su entusiasmo y capacidad para conectarse con las personas lo convierten en un líder amable y respetuoso.      

En sus propias palabras: Gomez and Palumbo, LLC sirve como un faro de esperanza para nuestra comunidad de inmigrantes y los guía en su camino para lograr sus metas en un nuevo país. Tener familiares para los que siempre he sido la persona a quien acudir me dio mucha información sobre las luchas que atraviesan los inmigrantes para venir a este país en busca de mejores oportunidades. Es una bendición ser parte del proceso en Gómez y Palumbo.      

Beatriz Sweeney-Sanchez joined Gomez & Palumbo, LLC as a Paralegal in June 2022. Beatriz graduated with honors from Mount Washington College where she obtained her undergraduate degree in criminal justice in 2014. Beatriz brings unique perspective and experience to her role as a paralegal through her background in law enforcement, as she served as a corrections officer from September 2015 until October 2018, and a police officer for the city of Lawrence, MA, from October 2018 until May 2022, prior to joining the team. 

Beatriz is a service-driven professional whose interest in serving the immigrant community was born from her parents’ immigrant story from El Salvador. Beatriz’s desire to learn, grow and serve her community is unmatched and has made her transition into her role at Gomez & Palumbo, LLC seamless. Her ability to communicate with clients in Spanish and English allows Beatriz to understand a client’s needs and assist them efficiently and effectively in moving forward with their case. Beatriz loves serving all communities in the surrounding areas and enjoys working at the firm. 

Beatriz Sweeney-Sánchez se unió a Gomez & Palumbo, LLC como Paralegal en junio de 2022. Beatriz se graduó con honores de Mount Washington College, donde obtuvo su licenciatura en justicia penal en 2014. Beatriz aporta una perspectiva y experiencia únicas a su papel como asistente legal a través de su experiencia en la aplicación de la ley, ya que se desempeñó como oficial de correcciones desde septiembre de 2015 hasta octubre de 2018, y como oficial de policía para la ciudad de Lawrence, MA, desde octubre de 2018 hasta mayo de 2022, antes de unirse al equipo.

Beatriz es una profesional orientada al servicio cuyo interés en servir a la comunidad inmigrante nació de la historia de inmigración de sus padres de El Salvador. El deseo de Beatriz de aprender, crecer y servir a su comunidad es inigualable y ha hecho que su transición a su papel en Gomez & Palumbo, LLC sea perfecta. Su capacidad para comunicarse con los clientes en español e inglés le permite a Beatriz comprender las necesidades de un cliente y ayudarlos de manera eficiente y efectiva a seguir adelante con su caso. A Beatriz le encanta servir a todas las comunidades en las áreas circundantes y disfruta trabajar en la firma. 

Yeimi Hernandez-Ovalle is a dedicated professional who embarked on her journey with Gomez & Palumbo, LLC, in July 2020, immediately after her graduation from Greater Lawrence Technical School. In May 2023, she celebrated a milestone by earning an Associate's Degree in Business Transfer, reinforcing her academic foundation. Currently, Yeimi is furthering her education at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where she is diligently working towards a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration.

The daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, Yeimi has grown up with a profound appreciation for the fortitude and spirit of immigrant communities. She has firsthand insight into the obstacles they encounter in the United States, and these insights fuel her daily commitment to her role. Yeimi is driven by a deep-seated passion to make a substantive impact in the lives of the people she serves.

Articulating her ethos, Yeimi shares a personal credo: "There is an immense sense of fulfillment that comes with knowing I am playing a role in bettering the lives of others." As someone who places a high value on service and compassion, she takes pride in being a cornerstone of a team deeply invested in enhancing the wellbeing of others. Through her experiences in the field of immigration, she has embraced the importance of engaging with individuals and their unique circumstances with empathy and respect.

Yeimi is often the first point of contact for clients at Gomez & Palumbo, LLC—a role she considers an honor. This position allows her the privilege to extend dignity and focused attention to each individual, ensuring that from the moment they step through the firm’s doors, they are met with the understanding and support they rightfully deserve.

Debbie Conde joined the Gomez & Palumbo, LLC team in June of 2022 as a Mail Clerk. Debbie comes from the banking industry and brings her attention to detail an unwavering commitment to service to the firm. One of the things Debbie enjoys the most at Gomez & Palumbo, LLC is the dedication the firm has to providing a welcoming and safe environment for our clients. She is passionate about customer service; therefore she is a great addition to our team. She is highly focused, dependable, professional, and courteous. Our clients learn to quickly trust her during her communication with them. 

In her own words: “I have the fortune to have been born in this great country, a land of opportunities. My mother is an immigrant from the Dominican Republic. It has been my honor to grow up seeing her work hard to accomplish her aspirations. Just last year she became a United States Citizen, and I still savor the joy of that accomplishment. I love working at Gomez & Palumbo, LLC because it is a place that helps people fulfill their dreams, like my mother was able to. Nothing gives me greater joy than giving great news to people when their dreams also come true thanks to the help of the team at Gomez & Palumbo, LLC.”  

Jazmarie Alcantara joined Gomez & Martinez, LLC as a Paralegal in March 2024. She graduated with honors from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in Law and Politics, as well as two minors in Spanish and Legal Studies.

Jazmarie is an immigrant herself, coming from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She arrived in the United States at the age of seventeen without knowing the language, but eager to learn in order to achieve her dreams. When she started her journey, she was sad to leave behind her maternal family that she grew up with and her friends whom she had known since she was five years old. However, she knew that with hard work and dedication, she would be able to achieve her dreams and goals of helping her loved ones in the Dominican Republic and becoming a lawyer in the United States.

Jazmarie is working her way through the admission process to start her journey as a law school student. Growing up, Jazmarie had amazing role models in her hard-working mother and grandmother, who taught her that we should always stand up for those who did not have the same privileges and opportunities that we did. This is why she is passionate about contributing and connecting with hard-working immigrants in our community to help them obtain legal status in the U.S.

In her own words: "Working for Gomez & Martinez, LLC has been an extraordinary opportunity, and I feel overwhelmingly privileged and lucky to work with a team of professionals who care so much about helping immigrants achieve a better quality of life, and who inspire me every day to add value to our society, especially our community of immigrants."

Español

Jazmarie Alcantara se unió a Gomez & Martinez, LLC como asistente legal en marzo de 2024. Se graduó con honores de la Universidad de Massachusetts Lowell, donde obtuvo su licenciatura en Ciencias Políticas con una concentración en Derecho y Política, y con dos subespecializaciones en Español y Estudios Legales.

Jazmarie es inmigrante, proveniente de Santo Domingo, República Dominicana. Llegó a los Estados Unidos a la edad de diecisiete años sin conocer el idioma, pero con muchas ganas de aprender para lograr sus sueños. Cuando comenzó su viaje, se sintió triste por dejar atrás a su familia materna con la que creció y a todos sus amigos quienes conocía desde que tenía cinco años. Sin embargo, sabía que, con trabajo duro y dedicación, sería capaz de lograr sus sueños y objetivos de ayudar a sus seres queridos en la República Dominicana y convertirse en abogada en los Estados Unidos.

Jazmarie está trabajando en el proceso de admisión para comenzar su camino como estudiante de derecho. Al crecer, Jazmarie tuvo tuve modelos a seguir increíbles a seguir increíble en su madre y abuela trabajadoras, quienes le enseñaron que siempre debemos defender a aquellos que no tuvieron los mismos privilegios y oportunidades que nosotros. Por eso, siente una gran pasión por contribuir y conectarse con los inmigrantes trabajadores en nuestra comunidad para ayudarlos a obtener estatus legal en los Estados Unidos.

En sus propias palabras: "Trabajar para Gomez & Martinez, LLC ha sido una oportunidad extraordinaria, y me siento enormemente privilegiada y afortunada de trabajar con un equipo de profesionales que se preocupan tanto por ayudar a los inmigrantes a lograr una mejor calidad de vida, y que me inspiran cada día a agregar valor a nuestra sociedad, especialmente a nuestra comunidad de inmigrantes.

Evelyn Gonzalez Cuadrado was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. She has three children and a granddaughter who brings her great joy. Her family is the most important part of her life, as they have taught her to appreciate what she has and to strive to be a better person every day. Evelyn studied Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting, a field she practiced in her home country for 15 years. In December 2014, she emigrated to the United States. Although the transition was challenging, she has managed to move forward, gaining diverse work experience along the way.

In October 2023, she joined Gomez & Martinez, LLC in Lawrence, MA, as a Data Entry Assistant. This role has been enriching, as she learns more about the extensive field of immigration every day. Her responsibilities include direct communication with clients, who have entrusted her with their immigration processes. Evelyn understands that waiting can be difficult for them, and she always encourages them to have faith and remain calm, assuring them that everything will be fine. She is grateful to Gomez & Martinez for welcoming her into their family and to God for this opportunity to meet and assist people from various countries seeking a better quality of life in the United States. Evelyn and the entire Gomez & Martinez team are committed to providing the best service to their clients, ensuring they have confidence that everything will go well.