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Staff
Roberto Gonzalez's legal experience spans two decades in the private and public sectors, as a partner and practicing attorney, and with the Providence Housing Court, where he served as Chief Judge until January of 2007. Prior to becoming a lawyer, he was the Director of the Educational Opportunity Center at Rhode Island College; a program designed to provide scholarship assistance to worthy students. Roberto's law practice focuses primarily in the area of immigration, although he has also worked in the areas of family, social security, business, workers' compensation, and personal injury law. He enjoys helping individuals become United States Citizens and Legal Permanent Residents, as well as providing advice on immigration issues. Roberto also represents businesses seeking to hire foreign nationals. He is active in the International Institute of R.I., the RI Coalition of Immigrants and Refugees, the American Immigration Lawyer's Association, and in the local Hispanic community. He is fluent in Spanish. Roberto received his Juris Doctor in 1986 from the New England School of Law, and his Masters Degree in Counseling and a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from Rhode Island College.
Deborah “Debbie” Gonzalez has been working with Roberto Gonzalez for the past 19 years, starting as the receptionist and slowly moving up as a secretary and a paralegal. In November of 2008, Debbie was sworn in by the Rhode Island Supreme Court, and today she is practicing law along side Roberto Gonzalez. Debbie is experienced in all aspects of immigration law including, deportation and removal cases, family and business immigration cases; in addition she is also working with clients with misdemeanor criminal matters and nominal divorce matters. During her law school career, Debbie worked as a Student Attorney with the Roger Williams University Criminal Defense Clinic representing indigent clients with misdemeanor offenses. In October of 2008, Debbie founded a group called O Centro Brasileiro de Information (Brasilian Information Center). The objective of the organization is to unite the Brasilian Community to represent their country in addressing various community needs. The organization is also committed to providing the Brasilian and Portuguese speaking community with information about a variety of topics. Debbie also serves clinical hours once per month at the St. Loreta Church in East Providence. Her office hours at the church are after the 7:30 p.m. Saturday Brasilian Mass. Debbie is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish.
Olivielly “Levy” Lima has been working with Gonzalez Law Offices for over three years as a paralegal. She is fluent in Creole, Portuguese, English, and speaks some Spanish. She was born in the Cape Verde Island. At the age of eleven, Levy and her family moved to Portugal, where they lived for about five years. She then moved to Rhode Island at the age of sixteen. After graduating from East Providence High School, she went on to attend Rhode Island College where is graduated with a Bachelor’s in Sociology and Justice Studies. To better her professional skills, she also obtained her Legal Assistant certificate from Katherine Gibbs School. Levy uses her educational experience and her language skills to assist the immigrant community in the Rhode Island.
Isabel Barroso has been working with Gonzalez Law Offices, Inc. since May of 2007, as a Legal Assistant working in the area of Immigration. She is a graduate of the Central University of Ecuador, where she earned a degree in Political and Social Sciences, and a Juris Doctor and postgraduate degree in International Economic Sciences. Prior to joining the firm, Isabel was working in her native country as a Legal Advisor in Tributary and Notary law, and in Corporate and Business Matters, Civil Law. She is fluent in Spanish.
Antonio “Tony” Simas is a Machine and Tool Design Engineer by trade. He studied and worked in Brazil in his trade until 1985, when he returned to the United States with his family. While in the US, Tony has worked in several fields. Tony retired in July of 2006. Tony has been working with Gonzalez Law Offices, Inc. since October of 2006, as a collections clerk on a part-time basis. He has been an invaluable addition to the firm in up keeping our billing department. Tony also helps clients change their address with the Citizenship & Immigration Service. |
Roberto Gonzalez: 
Deborah (Debbie) Gonzalez 
Olivielly (Levy) Lima: 
Isabel Barroso: 
