The Lawtino™

Chef Ruffo Ibarra , founder of Oryx Capital and one of the leading voices in the Cali-Baja culinary movement, shares his journey from growing up between Tijuana and San Diego to becoming a Michelin-recognized chef and entrepreneur. He discusses hospitality as an act of empathy, the importance of culture and family, the evolution of Baja's food scene, nonprofit work supporting migrants, and wh...

Chef Omar Armas shares his remarkable journey from growing up in Baja California to training in Italy and working in some of the world's most prestigious culinary destinations, including China, Spain, Brazil, and Mexico. He discusses the discipline required to excel in fine dining, the importance of supporting local agriculture, and his vision for transforming Chula Vista into a culinary dest...

Attorney Adrian Martinez shares his remarkable journey from Mexico City to becoming a dual-licensed attorney in Mexico and California, as well as a partner at Procopio. He discusses overcoming obstacles, passing the California Bar Exam as a foreign-trained lawyer, building a successful cross-border legal practice, and helping international clients navigate complex legal matters. Along the way, Adr...

In this episode of The Lawtino Podcast, the hosts sit down with family law attorney and community leader Tamra Lett to discuss leadership, diversity, and service within the legal profession. Tamra shares how her involvement with Lawyers Club, the San Diego County Bar Association, and local community organizations has shaped her career and her mission to create meaningful connections across diverse...

In this episode of LAWTINO, we explore what it truly means to build a legal career across borders. Based in San Diego and Tijuana, our guests—a husband-and-wife attorney duo—share their professional journeys navigating two legal systems, two cultures, and one interconnected community. The conversation covers high-stakes cross-border litigation, including multimillion-dollar disputes, as well as th...

A deep dive into the San Diego–Tijuana region through the lens of binational leadership, exploring how two cities across an international border operate as one dynamic, interconnected community. This conversation unpacks the unique relationship between the U.S. and Mexico at a local level—where culture, commerce, and collaboration intersect to create one of the most active cross-border regions in...

In this episode of The Lawtino Podcast , Sean Gómez and David Arreguín sit down with Joe Garcia—pastor and Escondido City Council member—for an in-depth conversation about his personal journey and his role as a community leader. Joe shares how his background in faith has shaped his approach to public service, and how he navigates the intersection of spirituality, politics, and civic responsibility...

Pako Pablos is the Founder of Pako Pablos Studios. He is an artist and a multidisciplinary creator and entrepreneur whose studio develops high-end artwork, apparel, and immersive augmented reality experiences that bring art to life. Pako blends sports, pop culture, and Mexican heritage to create globally recognized collections while collaborating with elite athletes and brands. His work serves as...

Jose Rojas is the Founding Partner and Trial Attorney at Ventura Law and Levin, Rojas, Camassar & Reck, LLC. He is a Connecticut-based lawyer focused on personal injury, medical malpractice, and mass tort litigation. His firms represent individuals harmed by negligence, defective products, and corporate misconduct, which include complex nationwide cases. Jose helped develop influential litigat...

Esther Valdés Clayton is the Founder and Principal Attorney of Valdés & Associates, a San Diego-based firm that represents individuals and families in visas, green cards, asylum, deportation defense, and complex immigration appeals cases. She concentrates on empowering underserved communities and helping clients navigate the US immigration system with dignity and integrity. A Mexican-American...

Jorge García is the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at the California Western School of Law, where he oversees admissions strategy and financial aid initiatives that support student recruitment and access to legal education. With 23 years of law school admissions experience, he has also spent 33 years administering financial aid to undergraduate and law school students. Before joining the Cal...

Kathia Bustillos is the Board Chair and Executive Director of the Foundation for the Children of the Californias, a nonprofit that supports pediatric healthcare and equity for children across the San Diego-Tijuana region. As a leader in media, public relations, and philanthropy, she became the first woman to head a regional Televisa station and lead community-focused organizations. Kathia focuses...

Attorney Narciso Cruz is the Owner of The Cruz Law Office, APC, an immigration-focused legal practice. Admitted to the California Bar in 2011, Narciso has appeared before federal and immigration courts and built his firm on compassionate, personalized representation for clients facing legal challenges. Before founding The Cruz Law Office, Narciso served at one of San Diego's largest immigrati...

Lara Deitz is the Senior Trial Attorney at Gomez Trial Attorneys, a San Diego-based personal injury and civil litigation law firm. She focuses on personal injury, civil rights, and related plaintiff-side litigation. Before joining Gomez Trial Attorneys, Lara practiced family law litigation. She has also been recognized as a  Rising Stars  attorney for 2025–2026. In this episode… Behind courtroom w...

Román Cota Muñoz is the Mayor of Tecate in the state of Baja California, having taken office as part of the 25th City Council on October 1, 2024, for the 2024–2027 term. After being sworn in, Román outlined an agenda focused on community development, public safety, and strategic programs under the banner "Tecate al 100." His administration emphasizes service, transparency, and citizen en...

Hector Tamayo is the President of San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association, a professional bar association dedicated to advancing equality, empowerment, and justice for Latino attorneys and the Latino community in San Diego County. As a seasoned criminal defense and civil rights attorney, he represents clients in both state and federal courts and advocates for individuals who have experienced civil r...

Joaquin Luken is the Executive Director at SmartBorder Coalition, a binational organization that brings together leaders from the San Diego and Tijuana regions to improve cross-border mobility. In his role, he enhances border operations and builds relationships that support economic growth and community connectivity across the US-Mexico border. As a business development and management professional...

Adam Peña is an Immigration Attorney at La Maestra Community Health Centers, where he represents undocumented immigrants and detainees. At 25 years old, he was the youngest mayoral campaign manager for the 19th largest city in America. In April 2025, Adam made national headlines after the Department of Homeland Security mistakenly sent him a self-deportation notice. In this episode… Immigration en...

Judge Philip Gutierrez is a retired United States District Judge who served in the Central District of California from 2007 to 2024. Appointed to the bench by President George W. Bush, he served as a judge on the Los Angeles Superior Court from 1997 to 2007. With over 35 years of experience as a trial lawyer and state and federal court judge, Judge Gutierrez was a founding member of the United Sta...

Andrea Piontkovski is the Founder and President of Piontkovski Immigration Law, where she represents clients in immigration cases nationally and internationally. She is licensed to practice law in the US and Venezuela. Andrea is a member of the California Bar Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association of the USA, and the San Diego Bar Association.  In this episode… Immigrants seekin...

Marco Garcia is an Employment Litigation Associate at Jackson Lewis P.C., where he represents employers in workplace law matters, providing preventive advice and counseling. Recognized as a 2025 Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Star and one of San Diego Metro Magazine 's Top 25 Attorneys, he handles cases involving wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wage cl...

David Arreguin is an Attorney at Banker's Hill Law Firm, APC, where he practices personal injury and consumer law. Before Banker's Hill Law Firm, he was an Attorney at a California class action and complex litigation firm, where he collaborated with partners across multiple states, including Michigan, Montana, Texas, and Florida. During law school, David served as a Judicial Extern to th...

Beto Altamirano is the Co-founder and CEO of Irys Technologies, a firm building government technology solutions. Under his leadership, Irys developed the city's 311SA app, enhancing civic engagement by allowing residents to report and track service requests.  Beto is also a Vice President and Board Member for the San Antonio Port Authority and was selected to represent the US on the United Na...

Judge Maria Salas-Mendoza is the Judge of the 120th Judicial District Court in El Paso, Texas, where she has served since 2007. She is also the President and Chair of the Board of Directors at Texas Latinx Judges, a nonpartisan, nonprofit association that advances current and future Latinx judges. With over 16 years of judicial experience, Judge Salas-Mendoza has served on the Supreme Court Adviso...

Liz Ramírez is the CEO of The Chicano Federation, an organization that cultivates opportunities and advocates for families and individuals in San Diego for a more equitable community. With over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, she serves and leads movements that support equity and justice for marginalized communities, including children and families. Liz received a Master's deg...