Many years ago, before network television series broached the subject of surrogacy, my spouse and I dreamt of having a family. With few professionals available or willing to speak with us, I decided something needed to change. It is for this reason our law firm exists.

Eliseo began his work in the assisted reproduction technology field in 2003, holding a financial analyst position at a Los Angeles-based surrogacy agency. Eliseo earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Relations and Spanish, with a minor in French and his legal experience spans multiple practice areas. He is a licensed attorney in a number of states and has argued constitutional matters in several jurisdictions. A Texas native, Eliseo has resided in Los Angeles since 1998.

Brooke is an alumni of the Syracuse College of Law, University of Southern California Gould School of Law, University of Hawaii at Manoa Shidler College of Business, University of Southern California Marshall School of Business and Punahou School. Born and raised on the island of Oahu, she holds a Juris Doctorate, Masters of Studies in Law, Masters of Business Administration and Bachelors of Science. Mrs. Hasegawa-Nakaoka was the recipient of the Syracuse College of Law Pro Bono Scholars Award and the Arthur T. Ueoka Memorial Award, given by the Maui County Bar Association. Mrs. Hasegawa-Nakaoka provided 821 pro bono hours while serving at Legal Aid Hawaii from 2020-2021.

After experiencing setbacks before having her son, Melissa gained an appreciation and understanding for how significant these journeys are for both intended parents and surrogates. Prior to IRLG, Melissa worked for another international law firm specializing in surrogacy and estate planning. Melissa also supported local governments with their homelessness policy while working at a national non-profit and has spent time working and living in China and Cambodia. Melissa holds a JD and MBA from the University of San Francisco and a BA from the University of California Los Angeles. She speaks Khmer and beginning Mandarin, and in her free time she enjoys exploring new places with her husband and son. She is a Bay Area native, currently living in sunny San Diego.

Catherine holds a French Maîtrise in Legal and Economic Sciences. Her background is in international business counseling. Prior to joining IRLG, she worked with the law office Fredricks & von der Horst in Los Angeles, where she helped European clients enter the US market and coordinated cross-border probate and estate matters. With Deloitte & Touche in Germany, she guided her clients from Asia, Europe and the US through fiscal audits and VAT matters. Catherine grew up bilingual French and German. She entered a bi-national study program of German and French Law with venues in both Germany and France. She further earned a Master’s Degree in German and Foreign Law by writing a comparative thesis on legal child protection in Germany and France. Catherine gained her first professional experiences, among others, with the French Chamber of Commerce in China and the German Embassy in Uruguay. She is fluent in German, French, and English.

As a San Diego native, Rachael received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Public Administration from San Diego State University and Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law. In law school, Rachael obtained a Concentration in Child, Family & Elder Law and co-founded the organization, Children’s Advocacy Law Society. During law school, Rachael served as an Intern for San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, assisting in high conflict child custody, visitation and domestic violence cases. Before joining our team, Rachael worked for a renowned firm that specializes in family law and also worked for a civil litigation firm. Rachael previously served as a Committee Chair for the American Bar Association, Section of Family Law.

Jessica was born and raised in Spain. She holds a Law Degree with Honors from the prestigious Faculty of Law of Barcelona. Boasting an impressive linguistic repertoire, she is fluent in English, Italian, French, and written Portuguese, while also exhibiting bilingual proficiency in Catalan and Spanish. Additionally, she completed a master’s degree in Spiritual Psychology in the United States. Prior to joining IRLG, Jessica served as the VP of International Development at a premier surrogacy agency in the US, where she spearheaded the development of key markets in Europe, Canada, and Latin America, leveraging partnerships with top-tier IVF clinics and legal firms worldwide to provide her clients with a range of program options. Her extensive professional background includes leadership roles within the entertainment industry, real estate, and she also worked as a civil litigator at Piqué Abogados, one of Spain’s foremost law firms. Jessica’s personal interests include a passion for culinary exploration, as well as a deep-rooted love for the strategic game of chess.

Angel is a proud Bay Area native. Angel received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa and her Juris Doctor from Tulane University Law School. During law school, Angel served as a student attorney in the Tulane Domestic Violence Clinic. She also worked with the ACLU of Louisiana and Legal Aid at Work in San Francisco in the Racial Economic Justice Program. Angel was an active member of the Tulane Black Law Students Association and the Tulane Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. Prior to joining IRLG, Angel worked with the Children’s Law Center of California, where she provided legal representation for youth impacted by abuse and neglect.