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Our Team Attorneys David Van Susteren Dave Louie Foreign Legal Counsel Santiago Forero Legal Staff Diane Bart Andre Alers

Areas of Practice
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Business Contracts

Business Litigation

Employment Law Litigation

Personal Injury

Family Law

Immigration Litigation

Federal Criminal Defense

	Santiago Forero Foreign Legal Counsel sforero@vansuslaw.com vcard email

Santiago Forero is a native Spanish speaker and is licensed to practice law in Colombia with a law degree from Universidad de los Andes. He also holds an LL.M (Masters in Law) degree from the University of Texas.  While in Colombia, Santiago was an attorney for the Universidad de los Andes where he handled matters involving employment litigation and commercial transactions and where he also taught employment law for five years.

Santiago is not a licensed lawyer by any U.S. jurisdiction and may not practice law in the U.S.  Santiago assists with briefing and motion practice working with David Van Susteren.   

Educational Background

• 2009 – LL.M., University of Texas, School of Law
• 2004 – Masters of Employment Law, Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
• 2003 – Masters of Corporate Law, Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
• 1999 – LL.B., Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia

Legal Experience

HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, Houston, Texas Intern -Crimes Against Children Division.  Intern-Bond Forfeiture Division September 2009 – April 2010

• Assisted Assistant District Attorneys in trial preparation and attended hearings and trials.
• Drafted trial motions.
• Reviewed Judgment Nisi and bond.
• Granted or denied motions for remittiturs based on defendant’s custodial status.

EQUAL JUSTICE CENTER, Austin, Texas, Legal Intern-Transactional Workers Legal Compensation Clinic, January 2009 – May 2009

• Advised migrant workers in wage rights litigation, administrative actions, and wage claims for criminal prosecution on wage fraud charges.
• Initiated and managed active litigation in employment law matters.
• Prepared legal documents including pleadings, motions and discovery.
• Interviewed and advised clients, assisted clients in hearings and court proceedings.

Employment Law Experience

• Negotiated, drafted and reviewed contracts.
• Gave advice and represented client in administrative procedures before governmental agencies. 
• Represented client in contract claim disputes before District Courts and Courts of Appeals.
• Negotiated, drafted and reviewed agreements and other legal documents related to mediation proceedings in employment contract termination.
• Prepared several advising memoranda related to the implementation of employment law regulations.
• Developed and implemented regulatory compliance programs and related policies and procedures.
• Trained and supervised last year students enrolled in the Employment Advanced Legal Clinic.
• Reviewed and corrected court memoranda.

• Assisted students with trial preparation.

Commerical Law Experience

• Negotiated, drafted and reviewed contracts.
• Prepared several advising memoranda related to commercial course of actions.
• Represented client in arbitration procedures for disputes arising out for sales and service agreements.

Legal Community Service / Pro Bono Research

UNIVERSIDAD DE LOS ANDES, CLINICS PROGRAM, Bogotá, Colombia.

Member of the Judicial Office, January 1998 – December 1998.

• Represented low-income defendants charged with felony and misdemeanor offenses.
• Briefed and argued criminal appeals at District Court of Appeals level.

Languages

Fluent in English and Spanish

“There are no problems we cannot solve together, and very few that we can solve by ourselves."

Lyndon B. Johnson,
36th President