El Extranjero.es: A Cuban lawyer who opens doors to immigrants in Spain

Emigrating is never an easy decision. For those who arrive in another country, legalizing their immigration status, finding work and starting a new life can be very complicated.

Roilan Somarriba, a young Cuban lawyer based in Spain, is well aware of this. That’s why at the end of 2020, he opened the law firm El Extranjero.es. Based in Barcelona, he provides services and attends to the needs of immigrants who wish to reside, start a business or study in Spain.

“One of the reasons why this company was born is because over the years in Spain, I met many people with incredible human and professional potential, who had not received adequate advice and were unable to fulfill their dreams because they were in an ‘irregular situation,’ something that was holding back their lives and those of their families. Immigration law has a very human component and sensitivity is also part of exercising Law. I feel that this is my way of contributing to society,” he explains.

El Extranjero.es started out as an Instagram account providing legal information and some useful advice based on Roilan’s personal experience of arriving in Spain.

However, as a result of COVID-19, which sparked many changes in the regulations surrounding the entry and exit from different nations, digital platforms played a key role in providing fast and clear information. When Roilan saw how popular his account had become, he realized he had found a niche market to work in.

“The idea of setting up my own professional office was always a dream, and I think it is a dream shared by many colleagues in the profession. But it is complex given that the legal sector in Spain is increasingly competitive, with specialized profiles sought after in each branch of Law.”

Through this office, Roilan has found a way to help those who, like him, want to work or start a business as foreigners.

“I can assure you that it is not easy. Personally, I think entrepreneurship is a long-distance race in which you have to believe, to commit firmly to a project and be driven by that dream every day. You cannot be afraid of failure and you must be aware that the beginnings are always hard. In a Law degree they don’t teach you how to set up your own office, nor do you learn anything about marketing, accounting, social media management and other tools that are essential when it comes to entrepreneurship. Not everything is based on having a thorough knowledge of the Law and mastering the procedures.”

One of Roilan’s goals is for the company to grow and create more jobs. His idea is to incorporate new procedures depending on the needs of his clients and to support at least 4 fundamental branches: Civil, Immigration, Criminal and Commercial Law.

“To be recognized for something that you have created since its inception is extremely satisfying. You develop a multitude of skills that you did not learn in your degree and that serve you not only in your professional, but also in your personal life. In addition, the freedom in time management is something I have always wanted. The era of digitalization has allowed me to serve my clients, both from Spain and from any other place in the world where I am. We currently have clients from more than 40 nationalities. Becoming experts in this area will likely produce positive results and we will be able to position ourselves as a leading national and international law firm.”