Meet Leticia Zecca Ross | Senior Attorney, Zecca Ross Law Firm P.C.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leticia Zecca Ross and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leticia, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born in Brazil in 1978 but part of a second-generation Italian immigrant family. I moved to the US in 2016, more specifically to Washington, D.C. for a Master of Laws Degree at Georgetown Law University. When I decided to get my LL.M in General Studies, focusing on international business transactions, corporate law, contract law and intellectual property, I was already an attorney licensed in Brazil, a Public Defender for 14 years, and had open my first business, a coffee shop (Btw, I love coffee! I really am a bit of a coffee snob!). Once I graduated from Georgetown University in 2018, I moved to San Diego, California and passed the California Bar Exam. At that time, I had invested half of the money that I had from an apartment that I sold in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in a logistic technology company (like “Uber” for moving cars) and was invited to be the Chief Strategy Officer for the company. My work consisted of doing research about possible competitors, develop market strategies and partnerships. Besides investing on this venture, on the same day that I was sworn in as a California attorney, I was asked to be the Chief Legal Officer of a company that was closing operations. As a Chief Legal Officer, I had to respond to employees’ demand letters, read all the company’s corporate documents and contracts, review financial reports and updates to investors, deal with compliance and discuss possible settlements with attorneys. As a wise senior attorney said to me: “Leticia, you have been baptized by fire”. I was able to develop a deep background in entrepreneurial law for early-stage startups. This opportunity helped form me into the attorney I am today.
Today, I am a corporate attorney and managing partner of Zecca Ross Law Firm P.C., a law firm that provides strong foundation to startups and compliance for businesses in general. We protect founders against nefarious investors, we help them raise capital and put together the C-Suite to acquire investment and finance. We also assist in corporate structure the initial stock allocation for the founders and stock options for employees, including employee’s compensation agreements. We have direct knowledge about board dynamics, breach of fiduciary duty claims, D&O policy insurance and related litigation, as well as Delaware derivative action lawsuit litigation experience.
I am truly lucky to have had many opportunities to work on complex cases throughout my career and deliver results even in the most challenging circumstances. As a lawyer and former public defender, I understand the importance of access to justice and its role in ensuring everyone’s rights are protected and their voices heard.
‍

What should our readers know about your business?
Zecca Ross Law Firm is a business-minded firm owned and operated by women. The attorneys at firm come from a family of business founders. They eat, drink, and sleep business seven days a week. Our team is always attending conferences as participants as well as speakers which makes us understand what is new in the industries that we represent and to have knowledge of the latest changes to better serve our clients. We offer services in California and Arizona, as well as Delaware. Because we are still a small organization, we can quickly redirect our attention to new matters for the benefit of our clients and focusing on providing clients with excellent results at a fair price and in a timely fashion. The law firm has four main areas of focus: Coporate law, Contracts, Compliance/Regulatory and Tax Law. We work with founders, business owners and people who likes innovation by providing strong business foundation and protecting them during all the business cycle. Through complex cases, we have learned a lot about various industries and were able to create a network and partners. We bring finance advisors, CPAs, tax preparers, market and business assessment partners to the table, giving us a broad overview to approach our client’s needs with precision.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As I said on the beginning, I love coffee. Thus, I always try to find coffee shops around me where I can have the pleasure to taste coffee from a professional barista. My favorites are Bully Brew (W Northen Ave, Peoria) are Driftwood Coffee (W Jefferson St., Peoria). I also like to mention The Valley Buzz (W Olive Ave, Peoria) where my husband and I can talk about business, and he can eat an açai bowl while I am drinking my coffee.
Also, with all the lakes and trails in Arizona, Saturdays you will be able to find me either on the lake, boating, fishing, or even paddle boarding, or on a trail. Going north to the high country for a few days, I always recommend Sedona for its art galleries and beautiful landscape photography. The next adventure is up through Oak Creek Canyon with a stop at the overlook and on up to the great downtown of Flagstaff. There are so many things to do in Arizona, but a week is not long enough – time to plan the next visit which on my calendar is the Grand Canyon.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Over the years, I have been surrounded by many people who have really kept me grounded and provided support in my endeavors.
My parents and my brother, who always thought me the importance of work and study, as well as to be committed to keep learning, be open to new ideas, have curiosity towards innovation and always respect other people opinions.
My husband, the love of my life, for letting me be his foundation, supporting me in all my endeavors and encouraging me to continue to learn new skills.
My most precious daughter who I love so much and everyday challenges me to become a better mom by making me improve my communication skills.
All of my stepdaughters (I have 3!), smart young women growing in their careers and allowing me to be part of their journeys.
All my professors that shared their knowledge and helped me shaped my career. I can mention a few of them: Professor Graig Hoffman (Georgetown University, DC), Professor John M. Facciola (Georgetown University, DC), Professor Michael Messinger (Georgetown University, DC) Professor Firly Nascimento (PUC-Rio de Janeiro), and of course, my friend Kevin J Greene (Southwestern Law School) who not only helped me understand more about contracts in general but guided me during the beginning of my career in the US, as a spiritual coach and mentor.
I also dedicate my shoutout to my law firm team, Karen Spencer, Maria Sarmadi, and Kendal McElfish who I have the pleasure to work with and learn every day how to become a better co-worker.
To all of my friends that were present during my struggles and were always willing to give me words of encouragement.

Website: https://www.zeccaross.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeccarosslawfirm/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zecca-ross-law-firm-p-c/

Twitter: @zecca_p6352

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Zecca-Ross-Law-Firm-PC/100088737607752/

Other: Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/02i2dcdjunjw0tj97cu6019dz9yigs/?actingBusinessId=1006413985387611790

Image Credits
1) Leticia Zecca Ross 2) graduation at Georgetown University 3) Leticia and her husband at Oak Creek Canyon, 4) speaker and Venture Café Phoenix, 5) attending conference in Boston for biotechnology and life science industry.