Attorney Amaro Lopes was admitted to the practice of law in Wisconsin on June IO. 2013, State Bar No. 1091285.

On May 6, 2026, Lopez's license to practice law in Wisconsin was administratively suspended for noncompliance with the 2024- 2025 Wisconsin mandatory continuing legal education (CLE) requirements.

The Board of Bar Examiners (BBE) sent a Notice of Noncompliance for the 2024-2025 Reporting Cycle to Lopez, which notified him that an electronic filing of his CLE report and a $100 late fee must be submitted on or before May 5, 2026, or his license to practice law in Wisconsin would be suspended automatically on May 6, 2026.

After receiving the Notice of Noncompliance, Lopez tJ1istakenly set the due date in his calendar to submit the late foe and electronic filing of his CLE report as June l, 2026, instead of May 5, 2026.

On May 6, 2026, Lopez was made aware that his license to practice law was suspended when he received an email at 5:40 p.m. from the Wisconsin State Public Defender's Assigned Counsel Division.

On May 7, 2026, Lopez engaged in the practice of law while suspended by appearing in circuit court on two separate cases. Lopez also filed a Notice of Appointment and Demand for Discovery in a case and a Notice of Completion in another case. In each of his court appearances, Lopez admitted that he did not inform the court nor opposing counsel that his license to practice law had been suspended because he expected to be able to reinstate his license fairly rapidly and did not want to negatively impact his client's representation.

On May 8, 2026, Lopez paid his late fee to the BBE and signed a Petition for Reinstatement, which was received by the BBE on May 11, 2026.

On May 11, 2026, Lopez engaged in the practice of law while suspended by appearing in circuit court for a plea/sentencing hearing in two separate cases. In each of his court appearances, Lopez admitted that he did not inform the court nor opposing counsel that his license to practice law had been suspended because he already filed his petition for reinstatement with the BBE and expected to have his license reinstated al any moment without negatively impacting his client's representation.

During his court appearances on May 7, 2026, and May 11, 2026, Lopez made the intentional decision to knowingly conceal from the court and opposing counsel that his license was suspended.

On May 15, 226, the BBE reinstated Lopez's license to practice law in Wisconsin.

By practicing law in Wisconsin during a time period when his license to practice law was suspended, Attorney Lopez violated SCR 31.10(1), which states, "(1) If a lawyer fails to comply with the attendance requirement of SCR 31.02, fails to comply with the reporting requirement of SCR 31.03(1), or fails to pay the late fee under SCR 31.03(2), the board shall serve a notice of noncompliance on the lawyer. This notice shall advise the lawyer that the lawyer's state bar membership shall be automatically suspended for failing to file evidence of compliance or to pay the late fee within 60 days after service of the notice. The board shall certify the names of all lawyers so suspended under this rule to the clerk of the supreme court, all supreme court justices, all court of appeals and circuit court judges, all circuit court commissioners appointed under SCR 75.02(1) in this state, all circuit court clerks, all juvenile court clerks, all registers in probate, the executive director of the state bar of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin State Public Defender's Office, and the clerks of the federal district courts in Wisconsin. A lawyer shall not engage in the practice of law in Wisconsin while his or her state bar membership is suspended under this rule." Violations of SCR 31.10(1) are enforced under the Rules of Professional Conduct via SCR 20:8.4(f), which states, "It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to ... violate a statute, supreme court rule, supreme court order or supreme court decision regulating the conduct of lawyers."

By appearing in court on behalf of his clients when he knew his license to practice law in Wisconsin was suspended and then making the intentional decision to conceal from the court and opposing counsel that his license was suspended, Attorney Lopez violated SCR 20:8.4(c), which states, "It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to: ... (c) engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.

Attorney Lopez has no prior discipline.

In accordance with SCR 22.09(3), Attorney Amaro Lopez is hereby publicly reprimanded.