Our Team

Legal Team

• Desmond P. FitzGerald, Esq. - Managing Director
• Hans Bremer - Attorney
• Clary Geraldino - Legal Staff Supervisor
• Jodi Ziesemer - Paralegal
• Sumayya Essack - Paralegal
• Katherine Butler - Paralegal

Adminstrative Team

• Gloria Lara - Executive Director
• Ynes Hernandez - Accounts Receivable Coordinator
• Mariajimena Lizarralde - Administration and Case Coordinator

Legal Team

Desmond P. FitzGerald, Esq.
Managing Director

As the son of an Irish immigrant Desmond FitzGerald understood why people wanted to come to America.  As an attorney who helped his Colombian-born wife become an American citizen he understands what it takes to make this happen.

Through his personal and legal experience it became apparent to attorney FitzGerald that there was little ingenuity and a lack of a consultative, proactive solutions-based approach to the area of immigration law. In order to better meet this need in the community, Mr. FitzGerald decided to start his own firm, which through his leadership, creative approach and litigation success, grew into what is now FitzGerald & Company.

Understanding first hand the anxieties associated with immigration, Desmond has not forgotten the importance of serving every client in a respectful and personalized manner.  He likes to work closely with clients to identify their objectives and provide them with a goal-based strategy to help accomplish them.  For Desmond and his team there is no greater joy and reward in the practice of law, than to provide clients with the results they dream of.  This why the majority of the new clients that come to the firm, are referred by satisfied clients.

Attorney FitzGerald has successfully filed legal actions against numerous government agencies, including the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, for improperly denying licenses to immigrants and against the Immigration Department (USCIS) for failing to properly and timely adjudicate immigrant petitions.

Significant legal accomplishments include establishing the rights of step children of U.S. citizens to be recognized as “unconditional” legal permanent residents as well as getting the Immigration Service to accept applications from detained immigrants without a fee. As an experienced criminal litigator, attorney FitzGerald has particular expertise in minimizing negative immigration consequences of criminal charges.

Desmond FitzGerald is the legal counsel for the Colombian Consulate for New England and his firm has always recognized the benefits that the immigrant community provides to our region and nation and the importance of offering quality legal services to protect it.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston College, Attorney FitzGerald had the opportunity to live in Bogotá, Colombia, where he studied Spanish at the Unversidad Javeriana, before he received his law degree from the New England School of Law.

Attorney FitzGerald has been admitted by the Bar to practice law in Massachusetts, Florida, and Washington, D.C. and is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Hans Bremer
Attorney

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Mr. Bremer’s interest in immigration law stems from growing up in a low income, multi-cultural neighborhood in Salt Lake City. Even as a child, Mr. Bremer was plagued by the many injustices he saw around him and the struggles of immigrant families. One of six children in a single parent home, Mr. Bremer was raised by a mother who valued education and service. Consequently, at age 19 Mr. Bremer chose to leave his home and assist the people of Chile. For two years, he worked at his own expense as a volunteer among some of the more impoverished areas of Chile providing assistance building homes, digging wells and latrines, and educating the people. It was here that Mr. Bremer developed his fluency in Spanish, but more importantly it was here that he made the decision to go to law school and focus on immigration law. Hans has handled a variety of immigration matters including family and employment based visas and residency petitions, cancellation of removal, waivers of inadmissibility, writ of mandamus, and U visas.

Hans J. Bremer is admitted to the bar in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He received his Juris Doctorate from Roger Williams University Law School in 2008 while participating heavily with the Feinstein Institute’s Pro Bono Collaborative, dedicating over 200 hours to a variety of projects. In 2009 Hans received the Pro Bono Collaborative Award for Excellence for work at the Rhode Island Women’s Center. As part of this project, Mr. Bremer worked with a team of volunteers to present regular workshops, primarily in Spanish, educating victims of domestic violence of their legal rights and assisted with immigration issues. He played a key part in researching and preparing presentations on a Court Watch program for Rhode Island courts to further protect victims of domestic violence. Mr. Bremer also held workshops in Spanish for detained immigrants, assisting the detainees in understanding their legal rights and has represented families in the Rhode Island Family Court.

Hans graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish, which included a study abroad program at La Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile. He is the proud father of two young children currently volunteers much of his time as a director of a youth mentor program for ages 12-18.

Clary Geraldino-Karasek
Legal Staff Supervisor

Born in Santiago, Dominican Republic; fluent both in Spanish and English, Clary exemplifies the culture of customer service that we encourage at FitzGerald & Company. As such, Clary is the legal staff supervisor and she is responsible for the supervision, training and coordination of the activities of other legal staff members of the firm as well as management of the overall company schedule. She is also responsible for paralegal duties such as preparing immigration petitions, complaints, demands, and overall maintenance of client files. In addition, she helps prepare clients for interviews, interprets, translates, and corresponds with clients, medical professionals, and insurance companies. Through her communication skills, her desire to help, and her courteous nature, Clary is always ready to provide appropriate support and guidance to our clients, throughout the development of their case.

With an Associate degree in Liberal Arts, a degree in Bilingual Office Assistance, a paralegal certificate, and pursuing a Bachelor Degree in Political Science at Northeastern University, Ms. Geraldino-Karasek has a wide educational experience. She also has significant professional experience in customer service, working for several years with American Airlines. Ms. Geraldino-Karasek is well aware of the importance of maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction for a company and has made this the top priority of her job. Clary went through the immigration process herself and is happy to be able to help others going through a similar experience.

Jodi Ziesemer
Paralegal

Born in Madison, Wisconsin, Jodi serves as a part-time paralegal, handling a wide variety of immigration and criminal cases. Jodi has been working with legal immigration matters both in Chicago and Boston for the past five years specializing in asylum, family-based immigration, and visa petitions. Jodi prepares applications, briefs, and appeals both with the immigration service and with the courts and is fluent in Spanish and English.

Jodi was a Board of Immigration Appeals Accredited Representative with a non-profit firm in Chicago for three years prior to moving to Boston. She now studies international and human rights law at the Fletcher School at Tufts University. Jodi has lived abroad in Latin America and has traveled extensively throughout the world. She is dedicated to helping immigrants navigate legal issues and advocate for their rights.

Sumayya Essack
Paralegal

Born in Connecticut to Irish and South African-Indian parents, Sumayya speaks Spanish and English, and she is responsible for preparing immigration applications, client relations, government correspondence, and general case management. She also handles our relations and work with the Colombian Consulate in Boston for which we are the legal counsel for the New England area. Sumayya draws upon her intercultural communication skills and experience as a first generation American when helping our clients navigate the immigration process.

Sumayya graduated with honors at the top of her class at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, where she received her Bachelors Degree in Communications and International Studies. She has traveled the world extensively and lived in Spain, Greece, and Argentina. With a multicultural background and substantial international experience, Sumayya has a particular understanding of immigration issues in the context of globalization.

Katherine Butler
Paralegal

Born in Worcester, MA, fluent in Spanish and English and with a conversational degree of Mandarin and beginner's Portuguese, Katherine works with both immigration and criminal matters. She is responsible for preparing immigration petitions, client and court communications, and overall case management. Her case load has included various cancellation of removal petitions and family-based petitions, in addition to other applications, motions, and appeals both with the immigration service and different courts.

Katherine received a BA from Boston College in International Studies, Philosophy, and Hispanic Studies. While pursuing her Bachelor's, she was able to pursue her international education as well. Katherine attended the University of Guadalajara and took classes in law, Spanish and Mexican literature, and philosophy. She also attended Peking University in Beijing, China, where she studied International Relations, Political Science, and Mandarin. She also taught English to both children and adults while living in China. In both countries she traveled extensively and discovered the diversity of cultures that exist in Asia and Central America.

Katherine has been traveling the world from a young age, and has widespread international experience. With an extensive history living abroad, Katherine understands the issues that people from all countries and cultures face assimilating into and feeling at home in another country. She is dedicated to helping immigrants navigate legal issues in the U.S. and advocate for their rights.

Adminstrative Team

Gloria Lara
Executive Director

Born in Bogotá, Colombia. Ms. Lara's responsibilities are wide in scope, ranging from strategic planning, marketing, and operations, to human resources, accounting and billing. Though this may sound like a huge task to manage, she is a believer in teamwork and delegation. Her top priority is to make sure our clients are being taken care of appropriately at all times. Gloria is one of our leading problem solvers; her background in business consulting, marketing and Internet start-ups has been key to managing the growth at FitzGerald & Company and making sure that the firm adopts the best business practices among service industries.

A graduate from Boston College undergraduate School of Communication, and Boston University's dual MBA and MA in International Relations graduate program, Gloria has helped propel FitzGerald and Company into the efficient and service-oriented business it is today. Formerly, Gloria served as Marketing Director at NewDeal Inc. and Espanol.com. In addition, she served as Internet and management consultant at AGENCY.COM, DIGITAS, Arthur D. Little, and Monitor Company. She is an active member of the Association of Legal Administrators and the Legal Marketing Association. On a personal note, Ms. Lara has held 5 different types of visas to reside in the U.S., including B1/B2, F1, E2, H1, residency, and now citizenship. She is fluent in Spanish, French, and English.

Ynes Hernandez
Accounts Receivable Coordinator

Born in Barquisimeto-Edo Lara, Venezuela. Ynes supports the Executive Director and is a member of the Administration team. She manages the accounts receivable and collections process. Ynes is in charge of maintaining our receivables records, monitoring our aging accounts, creating client invoices, generating monthly receivable activity reports, reviewing bills and ensuring the appropriate application of billing procedures. As part of the administrative team, Ynes helps ensure that our office is running smoothly at all times and with her cheerie attitude she helps make our office a fun place to work at.

Ms. Hernandez is fluent in Spanish and English. She has an Associates degree in Business Administration from Bunker Hill Community College and will be pursuing her Bachelors degree in Business Management at UMASS Boston. Ynes has experience working as a Spanish/English interpreter and extensive experience working for car rental companies, which has taught her the importance of providing exceptional customer service to clients. She is always willing to listen, understand and respond to any inquiries or quiestions that clients may have about billing client concerns with superior customer service at all times.

Mariajimena Lizarralde
Administration and Case Coordinator

Born in Bogota Colombia, Mariajimena is fluent in Spanish, French, and English.  She supports the Executive Director in all aspects of firm administration. Specifically, she is responsible for client contracts, bill payment, vendor relationships, client database maintenance, marketing and technology projects, filing system administration, maintenance of the office calendar, and supervision and coordination of daily firm operations. She handles our relations and work with the Colombian Consulate in Boston for which the firm is the legal counsel for the New England area. Also she is responsible for preparing immigration applications, client relations, government correspondence, and general case management.

Ms. Lizarralde immigrated with her 3 children to the United States in 2002 as an asylee. Having gone through the immigration process herself, Mariajimena takes great satisfaction in helping and guiding others to understand and navigate the complex system of the diverse immigration processes.

Mariajimena studied business administration and graphic design in Colombia and she has worked in business administration from more than 10 years. Upon arrival to the U.S., Mariajimena worked for an International Courier and later owned her own business. She has always focused on client satisfaction and she excels at implementing productivity strategies and leading new projects. Mariajimena now brings her extensive business experience to our firm, is dedicated to our clients and loves her work.