Gastesi, Lopez and Mestre hang their shingle in Miami Lakes

Three longtime friends and experienced attorneys with ties to Miami Lakes and its government have launched a new partnership.
It’s a dream come true for Miami Lakes residents Raul Gastesi, Raul Lopez and Ceasar Mestre.
Earlier this year they formed Gastesi,
Lopez & Mestre PLLC, at 8105 N.W. 155th St.
And to help give it a real hometown feel, most of their attorneys live in town or are former residents.
The trio, who all graduated from the University of
Miami’s law school, were senior partners at their former firms before they teamed up.
Gastesi said the friends decided that together, they could produce the best legal strategies for their clients.
“We want to take advantage of the synergy we create and basically support for each other and become practically a full-service firm,” Gastesi said in a press release.
Gastesi, 56, and Mestre, 57, have experience with town government.
Gastesi is currently the town attorney, and Mestre was a councilman and vice mayor who served from 2008 to 2016.
Mestre also served as acting mayor in 2013, when then- Mayor Michael Pizzi was arrested on federal bribery charges. A jury later acquitted Pizzi.
Mestre was term-limited and could not seek reelection.
The men’s friendship date back to the late 1980s.
Gastesi was admitted to the Florida bar 30 years ago. He specializes in personal injury litigation and also does appellate work.
Lopez, 62, whose law career spans 32 years, said he also specializes in personal injury cases as well as commercial disputes and family law.
Mestre handles zoning and land-use planning cases, litigation and family law. He also joined the bar three decades ago.
The firms’ roster of attorneys includes Miami Lakes residents Lorenzo Cobiella, who specializes in probate and guardianship law; Ruth Acevedo, who practices commercial litigation and Lourdes Ermer, who is a real estate attorney.
Attorney Jennifer Vazquez handles corporate law cases and is a former town resident.
Gastesi said the legal team is agile.
“With seven lawyers we believe that we are the ideal size,” he said. “We are large enough to immediately meet the needs of any of our clients on an emergency basis if necessary and can address very complex litigation.”
Gastesi also said he and his partners have the best legal minds in their profession.
“We constantly collaborate on cases, brainstorm and develop the most effective strategy possible to help our clients’ cases,” he said.
And besides, Gastesi added, “We really enjoy working together and get along well.”
Mestre said the three became friends before they finished law school.
“We were friends before we were partners, in fact, before we were lawyers,” said Mestre, who is also a former Hialeah police officer.
Lopez said connections between them go beyond even law school and courtrooms.
“Our families have known each other for many years,” Lopez said.