National Brazilian Bar Association (NABBA).

Building a Community for Brazilian Legal Professionals and Allies

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Mission Statement

The National Brazilian Bar Association (NABBA) is dedicated to fostering a supportive community for Brazilian legal professionals, students, and anyone who sympathizes with our cause. Our mission is to provide valuable resources, promote professional development, and advocate for the interests of our members.

We aim to bridge cultural and legal gaps, promote excellence in the practice of law, and make sure our members have the tools and connections they need to thrive in their legal careers. Through collaboration and engagement, we strive to increase the visibility and influence of Brazilian legal talent within the U.S. legal landscape.

You can be part of our organization from anywhere in the world — all you need is a love for Brazil, an interest in the law, and a desire to support those who want to study or work in the U.S. legal field.

P.S. Joining our association is free for now! Once we complete the setup of our non-profit organization, we’ll establish a small yearly membership fee that will go directly toward helping people pursue legal education in the United States. Just fill out the form — and you’re in! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.

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Sessions

Areas of Practice

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Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Covers basic civil procedure, lawsuits, evidence, mediation, and arbitration.

Criminal Law (Defense & Prosecution)

Foundations of criminal defense, prosecutorial ethics, plea bargaining, and trial practice.

Family & Domestic Relations Law

Divorce, custody, support, domestic violence protections, and family court procedures.

Business, Corporate & Employment Law

Business formation, contracts, employment rights, workplace discrimination, and compliance.

Real Estate & Landlord-Tenant Law

Property transactions, leases, evictions, land use basics, and common disputes.

Estate Planning & Probate

Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and administering estates through probate courts.

Immigration & Nationality Law

Visas, green cards, citizenship, asylum, and removal defense.

Intellectual Property & Technology Law

Trademarks, copyrights, patents, digital rights, privacy, and emerging tech issues.

Tax Law (Individual & Business)

Tax obligations, planning, compliance, and how to respond to tax disputes or audits.

Public Interest, Civil Rights & Ethics

Civil rights protections, discrimination cases, pro bono opportunities, and attorney ethics..

We believe that success is stronger when it is built together

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TEAM OF EXPERTS

Board of directors

LETICIA D. LEAL
President
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CRISTIANE LUCENA
Vice-president
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ANDREIA SEIXAS HART
Secretary
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SABRINA MENDES
Treasurer
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TALITA DIAS
Executive director
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CONTACT US

We Can Solve
All of Your Problems

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NABBA connects and supports Brazilian legal professionals and students in the U.S. by offering career resources and development.
Membership is open globally and is currently free upon filling out the online form.

All rights reserved.

LETICIA D. LEAL

President

Leticia Leal works at the University of Houston Law Center Clinical Programs, as a clinical supervising attorney. She received her LLM in United States Law from the University of Houston Law Center in 2020 and is admitted to practice law both in Texas and Brazil. Having grown up in Rio de Janeiro, Leal received her Bachelor of Law in 2007 from Estácio de Sá University and a Bachelor of Physical Education from Castelo Branco University in 2002. Fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, Leal has a wide range of interests that include history of the world as well as health and fitness.

CRISTIANE LUCENA

Vice-president

Cristiane Lucena, who prefers to go by Cris, is a Brazilian-born attorney with more than two decades of combined legal experience across two continents. She began her legal career in Brazil as a labor and employment attorney and later served as a judicial clerk to appellate and trial judges at the Regional Labor Court of Paraná. After relocating to the United States in 2014, she navigated the demands of resettling her family while preparing for the next chapter of her legal career. In 2020, Cris earned her Master of Laws (LL.M.) in U.S. Law from the University of Houston Law Center and passed the Texas Bar Exam amid the COVID-19 pandemic on her first attempt.

Cris discovered her passion for immigration law while working as a student attorney at the University of Houston Law Center, where she advocated for vulnerable individuals facing overwhelming legal challenges. Since then, she has dedicated her career to immigration law, with a focus on humanitarian matters — including asylum, family reunification, VAWA petitions, and adjustment of status. Her experience includes serving Afghan nationals paroled into the U.S. following the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, work that reflects her commitment to representing those with the most at stake.

With experience across both nonprofit and private practice settings, Cris currently operates Lucena Global Immigration, where she continues helping immigrants navigate complex legal systems with compassion and diligence. She brings a particular commitment to serving the Brazilian community and draws on her own experience as an immigrant to connect meaningfully with the clients she serves.

Outside the office, Cris enjoys hiking and exploring nature trails, as well as the occasional thrill of a roller coaster. She values time with friends and family and loves winding down with her cat, Kobe.

ANDREIA SEIXAS HART

Secretary

Andréia Hart has more than 20 years of experience as an attorney. Andréia works for Galveston-Houston Immigrant Representation Project (GHIRP) as a Staff Attorney. She works with the Immigrant Children & Youth (ICY) program representing Unaccompanied Children. Prior to joining GHIRP, Andréia worked as a Staff Attorney for the YMCA International Services where she provided legal services to detained immigrants in the Houston-area detention facilities and unaccompanied minors. Andréia has represented immigrant clients before the Immigration Court, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and immigrant children in state family courts.

Andréia was born and raised in Brazil, where she worked as an attorney for more than 12 years. She has a Master of Laws degree (LL.M.) from Penn State Law, and is licensed to practice law in Texas. As an immigrant herself, Andréia is passionate about advocating for the immigrant right

SABRINA MENDES

Treasure

Sabrina Mendes earned her J.D. from the University of São Paulo Law School and her LL.M. in U.S. Law from the University of Houston Law Center in 2020. A licensed attorney in Brazil, she has worked in the United States as a litigation paralegal since 2006, gaining extensive experience in labor and employment law as well as tort litigation. After obtaining her license to practice law in Texas in 2024, she transitioned into practicing as an attorney in the state and currently works at a law firm focused on mass tort litigation.
Fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, Sabrina is passionate about Portuguese and English literature. She was also an active member of Toastmasters for several years, where she developed strong leadership and public speaking skills while serving in several leadership positions, including Club President.

TALITA DIAS

Executive director
 

Before moving to the United States, Talita worked as a teacher for six years, teaching Portuguese and English to children. She also taught adults through a government-sponsored education program designed for individuals who had not had the opportunity to complete their education during their school years and were working toward earning their high school diploma as adults.

After relocating to the United States, Talita decided to pursue a new career in the legal field. She completed a Paralegal Certificate program and has been gaining valuable experience while working alongside attorneys and expanding her knowledge of the U.S. legal system.

Talita is the proud mother of three wonderful children. In her free time, she enjoys movies, books, and music.

Fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, Sabrina is passionate about Portuguese and English literature. She was also an active member of Toastmasters for several years, where she developed strong leadership and public speaking skills while serving in several leadership positions, including Club President.