Raquel A. Guzman
Attorney Raquel Guzman (formerly Salas) is the founding partner and managing member of Avanti. She has spent nearly two decades fiercely defending her clients’ rights. As the head of Avanti’s criminal defense practice, Raquel is known for her strategic, thorough, relentless, and compassionate representation. She also brings valuable experience in business, family, and immigration law.
Fluent in both English and Spanish, Raquel is a powerful advocate in and out of the courtroom. Her ability to serve diverse communities with cultural fluency has become a defining strength of her practice. She also serves as a legal commentator on criminal defense matters for Univision, the largest Spanish-language television network in the world—sharing her insights on high-profile cases and legal developments with a global audience.
Raquel has a well-earned reputation as a fearless straight-shooter. She is a thoughtful negotiator who seeks resolution when appropriate, but never hesitates to go to trial to protect her clients’ rights. Her creative problem-solving, tenacity, and results-driven approach have led to numerous successful outcomes in and out of the courtroom.
She represents clients in felony and misdemeanor cases across the state of Michigan, with a focus on:
- Criminal Sexual Conduct (CSC)
- Child Abuse & Child Pornography
- Domestic Violence
- Drunk Driving
- Fraud & Theft Offenses
- Drug Crimes
- Gun & Weapons Offenses
- Accidents Involving Death
- Homicide
Raquel is also committed to mentoring the next generation of attorneys. She regularly teaches and trains new lawyers as part of the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) and serves on the MIDC Special Assignment Counsel Roster, where she is appointed to handle complex and high-stakes criminal cases.
Raquel’s professional excellence and leadership have been widely recognized. Her honors include being named one of Michigan Weekly’s Women in the Law, a Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Star, a member of West Michigan’s 40 Under 40 Business Leaders, and a multi-time honoree on the Grand Rapids Business Journal’s 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan.
Her national recognition includes invitations to the White House—first in 2008 as a guest of President George W. Bush, and again in 2015 by President Barack Obama to participate in a national policy briefing for civic and legal leaders.
In addition to her legal work, Raquel writes and lectures on topics related to law, business, and entrepreneurship. Her work has been published in respected legal and business journals.
Raquel earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from Michigan State University College of Law, and is licensed to practice in both Michigan and California.
Before founding Avanti, she practiced in the family law, litigation, and business groups at Warner Norcross & Judd LLP, where she assisted in the representation of prominent clients including Whirlpool Corporation, Alticor, Macatawa Bank, Fifth Third Bank, and East Jordan Iron Works, just to mention a few.
Raquel was born in the Dominican Republic and brought her strength, resilience, and bold spirit with her when she immigrated to the United States. A natural-born entrepreneur, she is also an avid investor in real estate and the food industry, combining business savvy with a passion for building and uplifting communities.
A fearless adventurer, Raquel is always ready to explore—anywhere, anytime. She has traveled to over 61 countries across six continents, immersing herself in cultures and landscapes around the world. As an avid hiker, she has hiked some of the world’s most iconic peaks, including Mount Fuji in Japan, Pico Duarte in the Dominican Republic, Dead Woman’s Pass on the Inca Trail in Peru, and the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
Beyond her professional and personal pursuits, Raquel is deeply committed to her family. She is married to Rene, proud mother to Laura, and stepmother to Julissa and Kelvin. She is also a devoted grandmother to three grandchildren. Raquel beams with pride as her daughter Laura follows in her footsteps—currently in her second year of law school at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.
