Law Offices of Ambassador Jose Mariano Castillo



NEWS UPDATE: In March of 2009, Jose Mariano Castillo is honored with a school dedicated in his name in San Jose de Colinas, Honduras.



CURRICULUM VITAE OF AMBASSADOR JOSE MARIANO CASTILLO, ESQ.


Jose Mariano Castillo
I. BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Name: Jose Mariano Castillo
Place of Birth: Honduras
Occupation: Attorney at Law, California Bar#35869
Business Address: 1055 W. 7th Street 33rd Floor,
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Business Phone: (213) 622-6555
Business Fax: (213) 377-5771
email: castillo@castillolaw.com
Web Page www.castillolaw.com
Civil Status: Married to Nancy Ellen Castillo
Children: One daughter, Yvonne Marie Castillo
Citizenship: U.S.A./Honduras
II. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
A. HONDURAS
  • Elementary Education: ADr. Lucio Rivera Elementary School, Santa Barbara, Honduras.
  • Secondary Education: High School Instituto Nacional, Tegucigalpa, DC; Graduated with a High School Diploma
B. THE UNITED STATES
  • University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), BA Degree (political sciences and public administration)
  • Southwestern University School of Law, Graduated with a Juris Doctor ( JD ) 
  • California Bar Examination: Passed the Bar Examination and was admitted to practice law in the State of California.
III. ADMISSION TO THE FOLLOWING COURTS
  • Supreme Court of the State of California
  • All State Courts in California
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • Federal District Court for Central District of California
  • Federal District Court for Eastern District of California
  • Federal District Court for the Southern District of California
IV. MILITARY SERVICE
  • A. U. S. Army – 8th Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington and Alaska
V. PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
  • Associate with the Law Offices of Herman Sillas; General Practice of Law with emphasis in construction industry law.
  • Partner of Sillas and Castillo; General practice of law with emphasis on construction industry law, probate, immigration and business law.
  • Law Offices of Jose Mariano Castillo, 1975 to present; The firm has three lawyers and other associates. General practice of law with emphasis on international law, both governmental and private, corporate and business law, probate and other civil matters.
VI. SIGNIFICANT RECENT CASES
  • Chazan, St. Jude vs. Guidant, et al., U.S. District Court, Central District CV 98-10123R.
  • Gibson vs. Spanish State, U.S. District Court, Central District 99- 131 186 RSWL.
  • Groner vs. Groner, California 2nd Court of Appeal.
  • Lebon vs. Aerolineas Argentinas, Los Angeles Superior Court, BC 202 531.
  • Marchetta vs. Aerolineas Argentinas, Los Angeles Superior Court BC 202325.
  • Mas Mar Ltda. vs. D A Green, U.S. District Court, Central District, CV 96-3869 DT.
  • Acero Cobre Industrial vs. Crane Automotive, Los Angeles Superior Court, Case No. BC 227 268.
  • Japan Telecom Inc. vs. Japan Telecom America Inc., U.S. District Court, Central District, Case No. CV 99-04870 GAF.
  • Union Pacific Railroad vs. Metalurgica Burcena SA, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. MC 033080.
  • St. Jude Medical vs. Guidant Corp., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC 259119.
  • Industria Inborja vs Scholle Corp.. Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC 301477.
VII. PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Jose Mariano Castillo is a member of the following associations:
  • The State Bar of California.
  • The Los Angeles County Bar Association, with membership in the International Law Section.
  • The Los Angeles Lawyers Club.
  • The National Association of Immigration and Nationality Lawyers, having occupied the office of Treasurer for the Los Angeles Chapter.
  • The Mexican American Bar Association (MABA).
  • The Federal Bar Association.
  • Lawyer representative to the United States Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference (1993-1996).
  • Member of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society.
  • Member of the United States Supreme Court Historical Society.
  • Member of the Advisory Committee on Foreign Trade for the City of Los Angeles, California.
  • Member of the Advisory Committee for the Sheriff of Los Angeles County.
  • Lawyer Representative to the United States Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference for 2003 through 2006.
  • Member of the Committee of the Red Mass for the St. Thomas More Society.
  • Member of the Fraternity of Friends, a support organization for the Los Angeles Music Center.
  • Member of the Dean Circle – Southwestern University Law School.
  • Member of Inter Counsel, London, England.
VII. PRO BONO PUBLICO/COMMUNITY SERVICES
  • Founder of the Associacion Hondurena de Los Angeles, Inc., having been the first president.
  • Founder of the Argentine American Cultural Foundation, Inc. President of the Board of Trustees for the year 2002-2005.
  • Los Hambriados, Inc., a Mexican social support group for assisting an orphanage in Mexico.
  • Member of the Board of Directors of the of International Institute of Los Angeles, a United Way Agency. Served as president of the Board on two separate occasions.
  • Member of El Salvador - California Chamber of Commerce.
  • Founder and President of La Campanita International Club, a support entity for the Latin American Consular Corps in Los Angeles, California.
  • Former member of the State of California Commission of the Californians.
  • Former member of the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Commission, having served as President of the Commission for two separate terms.
  • Founder and President for the Foundation for Honduran Development, Inc., a California Non-Profit Corporation.
  • Founder of La Escuela Argentina de Los Angeles.
IX. LECTURES
  • Lecture on Immigration and Naturalization Law, University of California, San Diego.
  • Lecture on Immigration and Nationality Law, California Lutheran College, Thousand Oaks, California.
  • Lecture on the trial by jury in the U.S. Federal System, The Buenos Aires Lawyers Club, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  • Lecture on the General Principals of American Law, Collage de Abogados of San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
  • Lecture on the American legal system to visiting Argentine Federal Judges at Southwestern University School of Law.
  • Commentator in legal matters for CNN in Spanish.
  • Lecturer at the Seminar of the Asociacion Nacional de Abogados de Empresa de Mexico, November 2002.
  • Commentator on American legal matters for Cadena 13, a radio network in Argentina.
  • Sponsor and Lecturer at Southwestern University School of Law; "Abandoning the Inquisitor - Latin Criminal Procedure Revolution Symposium" - Jan 2008
X. SPECIAL HONORS AND DISTINCTIONS
  • Special Honor Certification by the City Council of the City of Los Angeles, 1972.
  • Special Award/Certificate presented by the Government of Ecuador for special services to the nation, 1974.
  • Special Honor Certification of Appreciation presented by the Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles County for services as President of County Parks and Recreation Commission, 1990.
  • Special Award/Certificate presented by the Government of Guatemala for services to the nation, 1989.
  • Two Special Award/Certificate presented by the Government of Honduras for services to the nation and to the Central American community of Los Angeles, (1990 and 1998)
  • Special Award/Certificate presented by the Government of Argentina in October, 1992 for services rendered to the Argentine nation and to the Argentine community in Los Angeles.
  • Knighted by His Majesty Juan Carlos I, King of Spain on June 23, 2001 with the Order of Queen Isabela the Catholic with the Rank of Officer's Cross for distinguished services for Spain.
  • Honored by the Government of Chile with the Order of El Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins with the Rank of Encomendador on March 27, 2003 for services rendered to the Government of Chile for the last 20 years as Legal Counsel for the Consulate General of Chile in Los Angeles, California.
  • Honored by the National Congress of Honduras in October 2004, with the Congressional Medal of Honor with the rank of Comendador for distinguished services rendered to the Government of Honduras in the United States and to the Honduran community in Los Angeles, California.
  • In March of 2009, Jose Mariano Castillo is honored with a school dedicated in his name in San Jose de Colinas, Honduras.
XI. SPECIAL INTERESTS
  • Member of InterCounsel, a consortium of select international business attorneys around the world
  • Member of The Fraternity of Friends, the men’s support group for the Music Center of Los Angeles
  • Southwestern University Law School, graduate and major supporter
  • The UCLA Soccer Program, founding athlete and major supporter of the Men’s Soccer Program
  • State of California Commission of the Californians, Former member
  • Foundation for Honduran Development, Founder and President
  • Commentator on legal matters for CNN en Espanol
  • Commentator on Honduran political matters on Univsion and Telemundo television
  • Commentator on American legal matters for Cadena 13, Argentine radio network
THE FIRM COUNTS AMONG ITS MAJOR CLIENTS THE FOLLOWING:
  • The Government of Argentina. Performing legal services for the Government of Argentina and its diplomatic posts for the Western region of the United States.
  • The Government of Spain. Represents the Spanish State and provides professional services for the Spanish Consulate General in California, the Spanish Embassy in Washington D.C., the Commercial and Trade Office of Spain in Los Angeles, and The Spanish Tourist Office in Southern California.
  • The Government of Chile. Represents the Government of Chile through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Santiago, the Embassy in Washington D. C. and the Consulate General of Chile, in Los Angeles, California as well as Pro-Chile (The Trade Office of Chile), Los Angeles, California.
  • Government of Honduras: Regional counsel for the government of Honduras in the Western United States and its Embassy in Washington D.C. and its Consulate General in Los Angeles, California.
  • Aerolineas Argentinas SA.
  • Grupo CYDSA S.A. de C.V., Monterey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
  • AMI (The Agencia Mexicana de Informacion), Mexico D.F., Mexico.
  • St. Jude Medical S.C., Inc. (USA).
  • Japan Telecom, Inc. (USA).
  • COVEX S.A. (Spain).
  • Technocorp A.I.E. (Spain)
  • Textron SA (Spain))
  • Grupo Cedva SA (Mexico)
  • La Universidad de Chile), (Chile).
  • Pan American Home Products (USA).
  • Mas Mar Ltd., (Chile).
  • Friosur S.A., (Chile).
  • Acero Cobre Industrial Ltd., (Chile).
  • First Regional Bank, Century City, California,(USA).
  • G.P. Global, Inc. & Plimon Grp. (Spain).
  • Bucher AG Motorex, Inc. (Switzerland).
  • Corporacion Flores SA (Honduras)
  • Banco Altas Cumbres (Chile).
  • Banco de Desarrollo Altas Cumbres (Rep. Dominicana).
  • Metalurgica Burcena SA (Spain).
  • Grupo Rayma (Spain).
  • Banco de Antigua (Guatemala).
  • Game Fisher SA, (Spain)
  • Industrias Inborja, ( Ecuador)
  • Cerveceria Centro Americana SA. (Guatemala)
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE CALIFORNIA
  • The Law Offices of Jose Mariano Castillo, in addition to having its Offices in Los Angeles, has affiliate offices in Mexico City. It has corresponding lawyers in Mexico, Honduras, Panama, Chile, Argentina, Spain, Ecuador, Guatemala and Germany.
  • In The United States, it has corresponding lawyers in Miami, New York and Chicago.
  • In Mexico City, Jose Mariano Castillo is associated with the Firm of Macedo, Ortiz Pinchetti and Carrillo on matters dealing with the Federal District of Mexico and with Lic. Almaquio Basurto Tovar y Asociados in matters dealing with the Federal Government of Mexico.
  • In Argentina, Mr. Castillo is associated with Drs. Rolando Villagra in Cordoba, and Martin Barrantes and Alejandro de Ibaretta of Buenos Aires.
  • In Panama, Mr. Castillo is in association with former Minister of Labor of Panama, Lic. Jorge Ruben Rosas of Rosas & Rosas.
  • In Honduras, Mr. Castillo is in association with former Foreign Minister Lic. Cesar A. Batres and Leonidas Rosa Bautista, at present the Procurador General de la Republica in Tegucigalpa, and with the former Appellate Court Judge, Lic. Rene O. Rivera, in San Pedro Sula.
  • In Chile, Mr. Castillo is in association with Warnier and Grant in Santiago.
  • In Spain, Mr. Castillo is in association with Miguel Domench in Madrid, Carlos Arasa in Barcelona and Jose Maria Ilardia in Bilbao.
  • In Germany, Mr. Castillo is in association with Leslie Williams in Berlin.
  • Jose Mariano Castillo is of counsel to The Sillas Law Firm in Los Angeles, California, and the law firm of Feldman Gale & Weber in Miami, Florida.
   Email: castillo@castillolaw.com