Lia Lopez ‘18 Elected as Board Member for Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association

Lia Catalina Lopez is an Attorney with degrees in civil and common law from Colombia and the U.S, respectively and is a member of the Colombia and Florida bar.   Originally from Sincelejo, Colombia, Ms. Lopez graduated from Universidad de Cartagena law school in 2012. During her time at Universidad de Cartagena, she was a Certified Legal Mediator for low-income families and individuals at the school’s legal clinic. In addition, Ms. Lopez was a Research Assistant focusing on consumer rights protection and legislative development. In 2011, she presented a paper on adhesion contracts at a Private Law international Conference in Bogota, Colombia. In 2016, the Universidad de Cartagena Press published Ms. Lopez’ thesis on consumer protection. Before moving to the United States, she worked as a Legal Advisor for a public hospital in Barranquilla, Colombia.

In Miami, Ms. Lopez worked in the regional legal department of a national restaurant chain for a year. In 2016, she was admitted to Florida International University College of Law Juris Doctor Advanced Standing Program where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in the top 7% of the 2018 class.

During her time at FIU Law, she completed In-House internships at a global communications supplier and at a corporate investigations and risk consulting firm in Miami. Additionally, she served as Treasurer for the International Dispute Resolution Club and as Parliamentarian for the H.T Smith Black Law Student Association. She was also part of the Public Interest Auction committee, a student led fundraiser supporting students working in the public interest sector.

Upon graduation, she worked as associate attorney at business and commercial litigation firm before joining FIU’s Office of the General Counsel in 2019 as an Attorney Fellow. Currently, she is a Business Development Associate for global company that provides corporate and legal services, fund creation and administration, and business support solutions in multiple jurisdictions across the globe.

Ms. Lopez is actively involved in the Florida Bar and is a member of the Education committee and the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She also currently serves as co-chair of the Diversity Committee for Miami-Dade FAWL. In her spare time she likes to cook and salsa dancing.