Practice Areas: Immigration, International; view more
Licensed in Massachusetts since: 2016
Education: Northeastern University School of Law
Languages Spoken: English, Portuguese
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2023 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2021 Call today:
857-340-5678
Free Consultation Garreta Law LLC
92 High StSuite DH30
Medford, MA 02155 Visit website
Details
The founder of the eponymous law firm, Garreta Law, in Medford, Massachusetts, Rafaela Garreta P Serrano serves clients across the state, offering them legal assistance with matters involving:
·    Immigration
·    Real estate
·    Business law
·    Family law
·    International custody
·    Domestic violenceÂ
Ms. Serrano is admitted to practice law in Brazil and the United States. She has an LL.M. degree in American and international law from the Northeastern University School of Law. In addition, she holds a Bachelor of Laws from the Universidade Estácio de Sá, Menezes Cortes in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
During law school, Ms. Serrano was a NULab Fellow and an active member of the Black Law Students Association, Latin American Law Student Association and the Committee Against Institutional Racism. She was elected as the class valedictorian and received recognition from the Lambda Epsilon Chi honor society for high academic satisfaction.Â
One of the few lawyers with a Brazilian heritage issuing titles in Massachusetts, Ms. Serrano was recognized with a 2022 Person of the Year Award by the Brazilian Times and added to the list of Business Elite's 40 Under 40. Since becoming a lawyer in the United States, she has been acknowledged by the Brazilian community for her consistent stance in the fight for civil liberties and better laws and rights for immigrants living in the United States.
A dedicated and zealous attorney, Ms. Serrano is a member of the Brazilian Bar Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association and the Massachusetts Bar Association. Furthermore, she maintains professional affiliations with The Real Estate Bar Association for Massachusetts and the Women's Institute for Leadership Development. She is also an advisory board member of the Community Dispute Settlement Center and the president of CDLE-USA – Chamber of Shopkeepers and Entrepreneurs.Â
Practice areas
Immigration: Consumer, Immigration: Business, International, Real Estate: ConsumerFocus areas
Naturalization & Citizenship
- 30% Immigration: Consumer
- 30% Immigration: Business
- 20% International
- 20% Real Estate: Consumer
First Admitted: 2006
Professional Webpage: https://garretalaw.com/quem-somos/
- Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil, 2006
- Licensed to Practice Law in Brazil OAB/RJ 145769, 2006
- Bachelor of Laws Universidade Estácio de Sá, Menezes Cortes, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil  , 2006
- Northeastern University School of Law, 2014
- Comparative Analysis of the Employment and Labor Laws of Brazil and the United States Applicable to Domestic Workers, Writter, Comparative Analysis of the Employment and Labor Laws of Brazil and the United States Applicable to Domestic Workers, 2014
- New England Community Center, Stoughton, MA - Providing free legal advice to the immigrant community in that region., 2020
- President of Brazilian Chamber of Commerce in Massachusetts - CDLE, 2021
- New England Community Center, Stoughton, MA - Volunteer Attorney., 2021
- Brazilian Worker Center, Boston, MA - Volunteer attorney., 2021
- Brazilian Immigrant Center, Boston, MA       Volunteer Attorney, June 2020 – Present. Provide pro bono assistance and legal advice the members in matters on tenant’s rights issues on worker’s rights, harassment at the workplace, tenant’s rights and immigration. Started a tenant’s rights clinic to assist with legal advice and representation to community members on issues of tenancy during the pandemic. Appeared before the housing courts on emergency matters of eviction., 2020
- Brazilian Immigrant Center, Boston, MA Vice President, Board of Directors from June 2010 – May 2011.    , 2011
- Council of Representatives of Brazilians Abroad, Advisory Member for Judicial and Consular Matters, October 2020 – Present: Provide advisory to the Council which the objective is to coordinate and unite the efforts of volunteers around the world, performing its actions in favor of the expatriate Brazilian community in its most eminent needs., 2020
- Community Dispute Settlement Center, Boston, MA           Advisory Board Member, August 2017 – Present: Advise the Board and its members on matters related to mediation of disputes. Member since 2017., 2020
- Brazilian Citizens Council, Boston, MA    Deputy Chair for Women’s Affairs and Domestic Violence, October 2020 – Present: Provide advisory, propose polices and programs related to women and domestic violence to the community. The council a non-partisan advisory body whose main objective is to represent the interests of the Brazilian community residing in the jurisdiction of the Boston. It seeks to present proposals for actions and public policies that make consular services and Itamaraty's operations more and more effective and efficient. This initiative also counts on the collaboration of the secretariat of Brazilian communities living abroad. In carrying out its mission, the Council oversees and promotes the image of Brazilians, and of Brazil, abroad. We are ambassadors for Brazil and form a community respected and admired by the local society due to our work capacity, our entrepreneurship and our love for the family and our country of birth. We always seek to spread our language and our traditions showing abroad the best of Brazil., 2020
- Chris Foundation, Inc., Boston, MA Board of Directors Member, June 2018 – Present., 2020
- Appointed member of the advisory board of the Community Dispute Settlement Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts (2017-Present), 2017
- Community Dispute Settlement Center, Boston, MA; Board of Directors Member, April 2016 – August 2017., 2017
- Elected member of the board of the Community Dispute Settlement Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts (2016-2017), 2016
- Brazilian Immigrant Center, Boston, MA       President of the Board of Directors from June 2011 – August 2013. The youngest and only female to hold that position., 2013
- Elected the first woman and youngest president of the board of the Brazilian Workers Center, Boston, Massachusetts (2011-2013), 2011
- Elected youngest vice president of the board of the Brazilian Workers Center, Boston, Massachusetts (2009-2011), 2009
- United States District Court District of Massachusetts, 2020
- Oredem dos Advogados do Brasil, 2006
- Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court - Admission, 2016
- With over 55 videos and 520 subscribers, Garreta Law YouTube Channel provides informative videos to the Brazilian immigrant community about American and Brazilian laws, politics and news., Garreta Law Informative Page on YouTube , Brazilian Immigrant Community, 2020
- Interview to the Successful Entrepreneurs TV presented during Band News and Band News International (Brazilian Open TV)Â Â , Interview - Band News and Successful Entrepreneurs , Business, 2020
- Testimony before the Massachusetts Committee of Transportation in Support of the Driver's License in Massachusetts, Testimony in Support of the Driver's License in Massachusetts, 2019
- Personal statement about discrimination as a person of color. , Today, I Cry..., 2020
- Launched the Garreta Law Magazine - The only legal magazine in Portuguese in our community of Massachusetts. In 2021 we have distributed over 5,000 magazines in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The magazine shares information about relevant topics in our community such as immigration, domestic violence prevention, domestic relations rights, worker's rights, women's rights etcetera., 2021
- Business Elite Awards, a trademark of Global Top Brands Awards, originated from the idea to recognize and network the most successful and ambitious business leaders from all around the globe. Business Elite’s distinctively crafted programs are platforms that provide opportunities to partaking businesspersons which help them expand their businesses and consequently their companies’ profits. Our unique way of achieving it is by organizing prestigious business events at the most luxury venues in the world’s biggest business capitals and by maintaining and further developing our tools and services that facilitate the future cooperation of our member entrepreneurs and executives., Business Elite's "40 under 40" Awardee, Business Elite Award, 2022
- Recognition to Brazilians entrepreneurs in the United States who share their stories of achievements and overcoming difficulties in the USA., Brazilian Success Award, https://rmeventsusa.com/quem-somos/, 2022
- Business and opportunities network elite group in the Steal Valley, in Minas Gerais, Brazil. , Recognition "Renovaço", Renovaço https://renovaco.com.br/, 2022
- Super Lawyers Rising Star , Thomson Reuters, 2021
- Cambridge Health Alliance recognition for contributions to Portuguese-speaking communities, Recognition for Contribution to Portuguese-speaking Communities, Cambridge Health Allience, 2017
- Voted the best immigration lawyer in Massachusetts by the readers of Brazilian Magazine., Best Immigration Attorney, Brazilian Magazine and Xfinity, 2016
- Nominated to the Northeastern University Student of Excellence Award., Nominee Student of Excellence, Northeastern University, 2014
- Recognition of the American Honor Society Lambda Epsilon Chi for high academic satisfaction., Recognition for High Academic Satisfaction, the American Honor Society Lambda Epsilon Chi, 2017
- Elected speaker of 2014 the Northeastern University School of Law Commencement Ceremony., Commencement Speaker, https://news.northeastern.edu/2014/05/23/school-of-law-commencement-2/, 2014
- Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (MassCOSH) recognition for commitment and dedication to the working community., Recognition for Commitment and Dedication to the Working Community, 2015
Office location for Rafaela Garreta P Serrano
92 High St
Suite DH30
Medford, MA 02155
Phone: 857-340-5678
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2023
- Rising Stars: 2021
