Today we’d like to introduce you to Gianni Mendes Toniutti.
Gianni, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My name is Gianni Mendes Toniutti, and I am an Italian and Brazilian lawyer who has been living for more than fifteen years in the United States. I grew up in Italy, in the city of Bologna, and moved to Miami right after graduating in International Law at the University of Bologna, the oldest university in the world, as well as one of the leading academic institutions in Italy and Europe. I moved to the U.S. with no intention to permanently immigrate to this country. My goal was gathering a master’s degree at the University of Miami and then going back to my country. Needless to say, I immediately fell in love with the lifestyle and mentality of this city and, after so many years, I am still here happy to have made the decision to stay.
Today, along with my Italian partners and, most of all, best friends, I am glad to say I have founded one of the most recognized Italian law firms in the U.S., with offices in Miami, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Rome and Milan. Tosolini, Lamura, Rasile & Toniutti LLP, shortly TLRT, has been named in the last years by the Italian media as one of the most respected Italian American law firms in the east coast. This is an extreme honor for all of us, being TLRT, a relatively young law firm created by young attorneys, who are all foreigners.
At TLRT, we specialize in the most diverse areas of the law, including commercial litigation, real estate, trust and estate, family law, business law, and immigration. I am the head of the immigration department and am specialized in representing business investors and individuals in the entertainment, including models, actors, singers, painters, and athletes.
I love being in contact, especially with my clients in the entertainment business, as I consider myself an artist as well, having played the Spanish guitar (Flamenco) since very little. At a certain point of my life, I have also performed professionally, having played in Europe with the famous Gypsy Kings and with Flamenco artists of great calibers, such as Enrique de Melchor. And this is where I believe to differentiate from any other lawyer around… and where my story really becomes interesting!
I am a sort of “Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde” (a good version of it lol), who during the day, as Gianni Toniutti, is a professional lawyer working at a respectful law firm, but then, when he leaves the office, becomes Gianni Mendes, a person who feels free to express his feelings and emotions without being worried of being “too serious”. Around two years ago, I decided to portray this persona on the media, almost as a joke, finding out that people really loved my contents and motivational messages. In my Instagram account, @gianni.mendes, I send out positive messages, create funny videos, and invite people to study in order to become wealthy and successful. My motto is “The Power is in Your Hands”, exactly because I believe people have the power to reach any goal they wish, as long as they really want it!
So… who is Gianni in one sentence?… That serious guy who has never stopped dreaming!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been easy at all. I remember that after being granted my Master’s in Law degree and passing the Bar exam, I was sure hundreds of law firms who have killed themselves to hire me. I sent, I think, a hundred resumes. Received a hundred letters thanking me for the application and rejecting me. Then, almost by chance (or destiny, depending how you call it), I got a call from a law firm in California, which saw my resume online (!) and needed an Italian American lawyer to work on a temporary project in Los Angeles, In a week, I was in Los Angeles starting my first job, living an amazing experience, and enjoying one of the best years of my life. What the chances!
Please tell us more about your practice.
See before! If I can add something, I may say our Firm is catered to provide a 360-degree service to foreigners, whether they come to open a business, buy a property, or perform a rock tour. We speak several languages, including Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and French and have represented clients from all over the world.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I have two main goals. The first one is at a professional level: strengthen and enlarge even more our Firm; open new offices in the U.S. and become even a bigger reality. We are a boutique law firm but I can see TLRT reaching a team of 100 lawyers not so far from now.
The second one is personal, and it involves my music. Playing the guitar and composing has always been my passion and I definitely do not want to have regrets in the future. I have a big project coming up in regards to this, but I cannot tell you anything else at this moment. It will be a surprise!!
Contact Info:
- Address: Tosolini, Lamura Rasile & Toniutti LLP
407 Lincoln Road, Suite 11-C
Miami Beach FL 33139 - Website: www.tlrtlaw.com
- Phone: 3055340420
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @gianni.mendes
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TLRTLaw/
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