About Us

WHO WE ARE

MABUHAY!

The Sacramento Filipino American Lawyers Association (SacFALA) is the recently formed association of Fil-Am lawyers in the Sacramento area. Comprised of attorneys, judges, and law students, it was formed to address the legal issues confronting the Filipino-American community and to meet the professional concerns of Filipino-American lawyers in the region.

SacFALA will look to sponsor community services focusing on various areas of the law and provide pro bono legal services. In addition, SacFALA will provide continuing legal education seminars and professional development opportunities for its members and assist Filipino-American law students through scholarship and mentorship programs.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

OUR MISSION

Whether a new attorney, an established attorney or an aspiring attorney, SacFALA is an association established to serve you and the needs of the Fil-Am legal community. It is a great way to network and socialize for its members throughout the year.

MEET US

LEADERSHIP

Jeffrey Javinar 

President

Jeffrey Javinar is an administrative law judge for the California Office of Administrative Hearings, General Jurisdiction. Before joining the bench, he practiced before state, federal, administrative, and private tribunals. His career has spanned both criminal and civil and includes both advisory work and complex litigation. He previously served as a Vertical Advocate with the Department of Corrections, as a Hearing Officer at the California State Personnel Board, and as a Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice. Before that, he was an associate with Littler Mendelson, P.C. He also worked as a prosecutor with the Sacramento County Office of the District Attorney.

Mr. Javinar has been active in the APA community. From 2015-2020, he served as the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) as a Board Member, as a Regional Governor and Secretary. He helped expand NAPABA programming and served on various NAPABA award and service committees. From 2019-2020, he served as a member of the NAPABA Strategic Plan Task Force. From 2010-2016, he served on the board for the Asian/Pacific Bar Association of Sacramento. Mr. Javinar has been the driving force in establishing SacFALA. He also assisted in forming the new California Asian Pacific American Bar Association, where he served as Secretary for several years.

In addition to serving as the President of SacFALA, Mr. Javinar serves as an At-Large Trustee for the National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA), where he chairs the Leadership Education and Attorney Development Task Force and founded the NFALA Leadership Academy. A complete bio is available here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/javinar/.

Patrice de Guzman Huber

President-Elect

Patrice De Guzman Huber is an Administrative Law Judge for the State of California. Previously, she was enforcement counsel at the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, staff attorney for the Department of State Hospitals, and a public defender.

Patrice grew up in the Philippines and immigrated to the US in 2001. She is dedicated to cultivating a connection to her cultural roots and helping others do the same. Patrice is a barrister in the Schwartz Levi Inn of Court and serves on the boards of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), the Sacramento Filipino American Lawyers Association (SacFALA), the Asian/Pacific Bar Association of Sacramento (ABAS), and the Wiley Manuel Bar Association (WMBA). She also serves as a mentor to Luther Burbank High School law academy students and to law school students in the greater Sacramento region.

Patrice earned her J.D. from Pacific McGeorge in 2014 and her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from California State University, Fresno in 2011. For fun, she enjoys practicing hot yoga, veganizing recipes, and taking photos of the ocean.

Kimberly Procida

Immediate Past President 

Kimberly Procida is a Regional Attorney with the California Public Employment Relations Board, where she assists in regulating public sector collective bargaining. She received her Bachelor of Arts degrees in English, Psychology, and Japanese from UC Davis and her JD from UC Davis School of Law. While in law school, Kim served as co-chair for both the Filipino Law Students Association and Students United for Reform and Justice. In her spare time, Kim enjoys knitting and baking desserts for her friends and family.

Marlo Nisperos 

Vice President

Judge Marlo Nisperos has been an Administrative Law Judge for the State of California since 2019. Prior to becoming an ALJ, she had a successful practice specializing in criminal defense and family law. After graduating from law school, she worked as a deputy district attorney for 10 years in Solano County where she prosecuted over 75 cases to trial. In 2005, she graduated from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, and earned her bachelors of arts degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Mills College in 1999. She was the inaugural President of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Solano County, was a Regional Governor for NAPABA, and served on the Solano County Bar Association board.

Serena Warner

Treasurer

Serena Warner is a Partner with Angelo, Kilday & Kilduff LLP, a Sacramento law firm specializing in civil defense of public entities. She received her Bachelor of Arts with high honors from the University of California Santa Barbara and graduated law school, cum laude, from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. While at Hastings, she served as President of the Pilipino American Law Society and Senior Articles Editor of the Hastings Race and Poverty Law Journal. She volunteers her time coaching the Mira Loma High School Moot Court Team for the annual Sacramento County Gordon D. Schaber Moot Court Competition and developing programming for the Sacramento County Bar Association Kids Law Day. Serena is a proud mama to a strong-willed, sweet-spirited two-year old daughter.

Anthony Crisostomo

Secretary

Anthony is an Assistant Public Defender with the Sacramento County Public Defender’s Office, specializing in representation of all individuals charged with felony crimes. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from CSU Sacramento and graduated law school from McGeorge School of Law He has been involved with the Sacramento Filipino-American Community since childhood, working mainly with the Philippine National Day Association and Sinag-Tala. As a Sacramento native, he remains active with the Fil-Am community specifically with causes related to the youth and the performing arts. In his free time, he enjoys recreational boxing, bouldering and attending live music events of all kinds.

Chris Alvarez

At-Large Member

Chris Alvarez is an attorney in Fisher Phillips’ Sacramento office. His practice focuses on representing employers in federal and state courts, in all stages of litigation. He also counsels and advises clients on labor and employment law matters. He received his J.D. from UC Davis School of Law.

Chris is the 2019 President of the Asian/Pacific Bar Association of Sacramento. He is also an Ambassador for the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce. In his spare time, Chris enjoys relaxing, trying new restaurants, and traveling with his family.

Ryan Reyes

At-Large Member

Ryan Reyes is a senior staff attorney with Project Sentinel, Sacramento County’s Fair Housing Agency. When he is not fighting housing discrimination, he is busy building a solo family law and immigration law practice that is dedicated to providing affordable legal services to the Filipino community. Mr. Reyes graduated from McGeorge School of Law in 2013. Mr. Reyes also attended school at the University of the Philippines College of Law.

Tyler Alsey

At-Large Member

Tyler is a Sacramento native whose practice covers business transactions, contracts, and outside general counsel services. Tyler has gained experience working with companies of all sizes, ranging from emerging companies to professional sports organizations and large companies. In addition to SacFALA, Tyler is also a member of the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California, Charles Houston Bar Association and the Sports Lawyers Association. Tyler earned his J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law.When Tyler is not working, Tyler enjoys spending time outside with his two dogs Jameson and Bailey or trying new local restaurants.

Jason Braun

Student Liaison

Jason is from Los Angeles and is a 1L at UC Davis School of Law. At King Hall, he is a member of the Business Law Journal, Environs Journal, and the Journal of International Law and Policy. He also serves as the liaison between the Filipinx Law Students Association and the Sacramento Filipino American Lawyers Association. He is also a member of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association.

Before law school, Jason established the UC Merced Law Clinic, the first official sub-department legal service available to all UC Merced undergraduates. He aspires to work within the field of Food and Beverage Law.

Andrew Mahinay

At-Large Member

As a first-generation lawyer with proud Filipino roots, I earned my law degree from McGeorge School of Law in 2020. Today, I am fully dedicated to managing my healthcare law practice, where I focus on assisting entrepreneurs in establishing medical practices.

Since relocating to Sacramento in 2017, I’ve cultivated a deep passion for connecting with new people, especially those aspiring to join the legal profession or currently navigating the demands of law school. Additionally, I am actively involved with an outstanding organization called Philia, which is committed to supporting individuals who have experienced homelessness in the Sacramento area.

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