Kessia C. Cericola, Esq.

I am honored to be one of the few attorneys licensed to practice law in the U.S. (Ohio) since 2013 and in Brazil (member of the OAB/SP) since 2009, being ranked as a Rising Star by SuperLawyers Magazine since 2020, and as a Top Lawyer by ColumbusCEO Magazine, both in the business and immigration categories.

I focus on business and immigration law, and assist international businesses and families with complex legal needs in the U.S.

Many of my U.S. business clients are minority-owned businesses. I also have had the privilege of helping clients from all over the world, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, China, England and India.

My solution-oriented approach brings great value to my clients.

My global perspective, soft skills, broad network, and solution-oriented approach add great value to my clients.

I was born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, and have been living in the U.S. for 14+ years. I spent my childhood living inside my parents’ nonprofit compound in the city of Mauá-SP, which helped recover hundreds of men facing homelessness and addiction.

My mother is a Chilean immigrant in Brazil, and I witnessed first-hand the strength and resilience required to thrive in another country. My upbringing shaped the way I see the world and is the reason why I am an attorney.

More About Kessia

  • The Ohio State Moritz College of Law, LL.M. (Master of Law) with concentration in Business Law, 2012
  • Faculdade de Direito de São Bernardo do Campo, LL.B. (Bachelor of Law), 2009
  • Supreme Court of Ohio, Ohio Bar, 2013
  • Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil (OAB/SP 290608), Brazilian Bar, 2009
  • Supreme Court of Ohio, Provisionally Qualified Court Interpreter, 2017
  • Columbus State Community College, Nonprofit Management Certificate, 2013
  • Alive in My Heart, Co-Founder and Board Member
  • The Ohio State Moritz College of Law, Co-Chair of the International & Graduate Affairs Advisory Council
  • Women for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD), Member and Speaker
  • Council of Brazilian Citizens of Washington, DC (Conselho de Cidadãos de Washington DC), Member
  • Columbus Bar Association, Member
  • American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Member
  • Columbus Council on World Affairs, Member
  • Greater Columbus Sister Cities, Board Member and Co-chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, 2017–2020; Chair of the Curitiba/Brazil Committee, 2015–2016
  • Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Franklin County, Guardian ad litem, March 2010 – August 2015
  • Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Choosing Life After Loss, March 2025.
  • National Business Institute, Advising Business Clients on Artificial Intelligence, November 2024.
  • National Business Institute, Ohio Business Law 2024, December 2024.
  • WELD – Women for Economic and Leadership Development, track speaker in the 2024 National Leadership Conference.
  • The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Foundations of U.S. Law & Practice – Summer Program, Lecturer, 2023 and 2024.
  • The Ohio State University, Impact of COVID-19 on US and Brazil-US Relations, delivered key insights on navigating U.S.-Brazil relations during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on legal and business implications, May 2020.
  • BRASCON 2018, Getting Involved in the Brazilian Community, June 2018.
  • National Business Institute, Ethics for the Contracts Attorney, April 2018.
  • Greater Columbus Sister Cities, Inc., organized and participated of several events as a volunteer and board Member.

“I had the best experience working with Kessia, from fast communication to being able to breakdown or explain things I wasn’t sure about and everything in-between! I am so beyond thankful for her and her services to help me purchase my business! When I say I could not have done it without her, I mean it wholeheartedly!”

– Kristen

ColumbusCEO Magazine Logo
Rising Stars logo featuring Kessia C. Cericola, Esq.

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