Mr. Antonioli aims to continue serving as a beacon of hope for those facing "insurmountable" challenges and advocating for those who do not have a voice in society.
WASHINGTON, DC, May 16, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Ralph Antonioli was included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected based on current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all considered during the selection process.
While his career is filled with inspiring highlights, Mr. Antonioli takes the most pride in never shying away from a challenge as well as his enthusiastic commitment to excellence in everything he does, including going above and beyond to seek out practical solutions. Nothing makes him happier than making a positive difference in the lives of others. Though hard work and dedication brought him far, he credits his success to his faith and tenacity.
In April 2010, he suddenly suffered three simultaneous brain hemorrhages (later complicated by other acute conditions) that permanently impacted him and his family. The incident left him in a coma for six weeks and the doctors gave him less than one percent chance to live. He was also told he would never walk much less practice law again. However, backed by his steadfast faith, he not only survived—learned to walk and talk again—but continued to excel and became a fearless apostle for those in need and facing "impossible" hardships.
Indeed, through his incomparable fighting spirit, decades of professional expertise in civil and common law, and working in different continents and languages, Mr. Antonioli now thrives as a Staff Attorney with Sidley Austin LLP (Sidley Austin) in Washington, D.C. Presently, he works with the firm's Global Arbitration, Trade, and Advocacy practice. In this capacity, he primarily represents Latin American sovereign nations before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes of the World Bank. Similarly, Mr. Antonioli serves as a member of the firm's Automotive and Mobility sector team, where he supports its presence in the Latin American and European markets due to his English, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese fluency. As an accomplished multicultural and versatile professional, he routinely helps Sidley Austin litigation and regulatory teams across the world.
A fearless and devoted advocate for "lost causes," Mr. Antonioli earned his first professional degree from Universidad del Norte in Paraguay in 2000, at the age of 21. He graduated from Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Illinois as a foreign exchange student. This experience helped shape his love for the United States and ignited his desire to make the country his home. Mr. Antonioli and his wife Hari ultimately relocated to the U.S. in 2004 with nothing but faith and hope of a better life. In 2014, they became naturalized United States citizens, fulfilling a life-long dream of becoming part of the American family.
Professionally, in 2008, Mr. Antonioli expanded upon his goal to practice law in the United States by earning a Master of Laws from Duquesne University's Thomas R. Kline School of Law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and—after overcoming the above health challenges—by being admitted to the District of Columbia Bar.
Driven to remain abreast of changes in the field, and to make a palpable difference in the law and society, Mr. Antonioli is currently affiliated with the American Bar Association, the American Society of International Law, the Hispanic National Bar Association, the Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia, the National Italian American Bar Association, the National Italian American Foundation, and the Italian Cultural Society of Washington, D.C.
As a member of Sidley Austin, Mr. Antonioli also dedicates a significant portion of his work to pro bono cases. He recently assisted a family of Latin American asylees with securing Permanent Residence in the United States and is currently advocating on behalf of disabled children in foster care and another family seeking asylum in the United States. As a first-generation immigrant, giving back to the community plays a vital part in the life of Mr. Antonioli.
In 2021, Ralph was featured in Sidley Austin's Illuminating Excellence Series in celebration of the 31st anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act. Since relocating to the D.C. area, he is actively involved in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee at Sidley Austin. Specifically, as part of the firm's Disability Diversity Alliance, he is a tireless champion for initiatives that seek the inclusion of disabled individuals in the legal profession. Ralph also enjoys mentoring diverse young lawyers and law students as they begin their careers in law.
Prior to being promoted to his current role at Sidley Austin, Mr. Antonioli worked as a senior litigation paralegal at the firm's Chicago office. Similarly, he served as a business immigration professional with other law firms in Chicago. During the early stages of his legal career in the United States, he gained valuable expertise in the field of immigration law with firms in Pittsburgh and in Cleveland, Ohio. Exposure to this field helped develop his passion for helping immigrants from all over the world in their journey to work and live in the United States. In his native Paraguay, he worked for the Ministerio Público, the country's equivalent to the U.S. Department of Justice for almost a decade. His last role with the institution was as assistant prosecutor.
It is worth emphasizing that between 2009 and 2010, Mr. Antonioli participated in successfully defending a legal action against executives of a professional Italian football/soccer club. In recognition of this representation, as well as other relevant work in furtherance of the preservation and promotion of Italian prestige abroad, the President of Italy conferred the title of Cavaliere dell'Ordine della Stella d'Italia (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy). He remains involved in activities that promote the Italian culture in the United States through the National Italian American Bar Association, the National Italian American Foundation, and the Italian Cultural Society of Washington, D.C.
Mr. Antonioli fervently argues that his journey is evidence that the American Dream is alive and well. Within the next five to 10 years, Mr. Antonioli aims to continue serving as a beacon of hope for those facing "insurmountable" challenges and advocating for those who do not have a voice in society. True to his relentless character, his favorite quote is: "I intend to live forever, or die trying," by Groucho Marx.
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