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Mr. Speck serves as associate professor and Paralegal Program Coordinator at Tulsa Community College, where he is dedicated to advancing paralegal education and promoting access to justice. Mr. Speck’s academic credentials include a J.D. degree from Southern Illinois University and both B.A. and M.A. degrees in Philosophy from the University of Oklahoma.

In addition to his academic role, Mr. Speck is of counsel at C. Craig Cole & Associates, where he represents clients in state and federal courts, administrative bodies, and arbitration and mediation proceedings. His practice areas encompass commercial and consumer litigation, insurance defense, employment law, contract disputes, premises liability, personal injury, and landlord-tenant matters. Mr. Speck is admitted to practice in Oklahoma, as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Oklahoma and the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts for the Western and Northern Districts of Oklahoma. He is an active member of both the Oklahoma County and Oklahoma Bar Associations. Mr. Speck’s scholarly contributions include co-authoring an article on Washington’s limited license legal technicians and their impact on access to justice, published in the Tulsa Lawyer.

Mr. West’s practice encompasses a variety of legal areas including family law, guardian ad litem work, civil litigation, estate planning, and municipal law. Mr. West attended Texas Christian University and graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Psychology in 2015. He was a member of the John V. Roach Honors College and the TCU Wesley Foundation. Mr. West worked as an extern at the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office before working as a legal intern for NICHOLS | DIXON. He passed the bar in 2018 and became an associate attorney. Mr. West is licensed to practice law in all municipal and state courts, the Western District of Oklahoma, and several tribal courts. He is invested in his legal community and served on the Cleveland County Bar Association Executive Board, including as president for the 2022-2023 term. Mr. West has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2023 and 2024 following nomination and voting by his peers. He also currently serves on the Board of Governors for the Oklahoma Bar Association.

Ms. DeSana is a partner with Merel Family Law. She is a skilled and compassionate attorney who is dedicated to helping her clients navigate difficult situations. Ms. DeSana received a B.A. degree in Political Science from Wayne State University. She continued her education at UIC Law School where she received her J.D. degree and a certificate in Trial Advocacy. While studying at UIC Law School, she spent her time working with the school’s Pro Bono Clinic helping underserved communities by representing individuals in bankruptcy and foreclosure proceedings as well as victims of excessive force in Federal Court. While in law school, Ms.DeSana also clerked at the Cook County Public Defender’s Office Juvenile Justice Division. During law school, she tried two jury trials in Federal Court with the school’s Pro Bono Clinic and numerous bench trials at the Public Defender’s office. Following law school, she spent a year of service with Americorps VISTA where she worked at First Defense Law Aid and personally assisted the organization in greatly expanding its volunteer network and formed partnerships with law schools, large law firms and the Cook County Public Defender’s Office. After her year of service, she began her career in family law at another boutique family law firm where she worked on hundreds of family law matters.

Ms. Fitzpatrick is a partner with Merel Family Law. She believes that a large part of her job is being a problem solver. Ms. Fitzpatrick also understands that people are often misunderstood. She has a unique ability to collaborate with family law clients by listening to her client’s concerns, evaluating multiple courses of action, and ensuring that they have the tools they need to be successful and comfortable after litigation ends. Ms. Fitzpatrick is also frequently appointed by the Court to serve as a child representative or guardian-ad-litem, representing children in high-conflict domestic relations matters. In addition, she is approved to serve as a parenting coordinator in Cook County, Illinois—a role that allows her to assist parents in implementing and complying with parenting plans, resolving disputes, and focusing on the best interests of the children. Ms. Fitzpatrick has written and published articles on numerous issues, including financial support, grandparents’ rights, and immigration issues for unaccompanied minors. She has also given presentations on a variety of family law topics. Ms. Fitzpatrick practices in Cook, DuPage, Will, McHenry, and Lake Counties. She is licensed to practice in the State of Illinois, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the United States Supreme Court. She is an active member of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI), the Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.

Mr. Lapidus is a partner with the Law Office of Russell D. Knight. He graduated from University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana majoring in Integrative Biology and matriculated to the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana’s College of Law earning his J.D. degree. Mr. Lapidus is licensed in both Illinois and Florida, and he practices family law in both states. He specializes in complex litigation and has completed the eight-day National Family Law Trial Institute’s Kolodny Trial Skills Course. Prior to specializing in family law, Mr. Lapidus defended prison medical providers from Constitutional claims brought under Section 1983 in Federal Court.

Mr. Markey is Principal with the Law Offices of Patrick Markey P.C. He helps clients minimize the destruction of divorce whether it be through the collaborative law model, the court process or mediation. His focus is on complex family law cases and representing professionals and their spouses who value a proactive solution orientated approach to their divorce. Mr. Markey is a strong advocate of the collaborative law and mediation dispute resolution methods for their ability to custom-craft solutions, minimize conflict and usually reduce the time of a case. Not only is the firm experts on family law, but they understand the impact of divorce on children and help the client’s develop co-parenting relationships. Mr. Markey was selected as an Illinois Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine for 2024. This distinction is limited to the top five percent of
lawyers in each practice area.

Ms. Onorato is a partner with Beattie|Onorato Family Law, LLC. She grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a dual degree in Psychology and Gender Studies. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Onorato worked in the non-profit sector as the director of a group home for abused and neglected adolescents. She graduated from DePaul University College of Law in 2004 with a certificate in family law and has since concentrated her practice exclusively on family law matters, including: negotiating and litigating complex divorce and custody matters; drafting prenuptial and postnuptial agreements; and appellate work involving complicated child and spousal support issues, civil unions, child custody and removal (relocation) and distribution of marital assets. Ms. Onorato received a certificate in divorce mediation from Northwestern University, and she is a frequent author and lecturer on family law subjects. Nicole serves on the DePaul University Family Law Advisory Board, and volunteers with the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic (Ascend Justice).

Mr. Rakowski is principal attorney at LSR Family Law Group. For more than 30 years, Mr. Rakowski has been providing compassionate, yet aggressive, family law representation to his clients. Mr. Rakowski has earned his reputation as a skilled trial attorney and a talented negotiator, offering proficiency in both litigation and alternative methods of dispute resolution, including collaborative law, to solve clients’ legal challenges. Mr. Rakowski began his legal career in 1990 after earning his law degree from John Marshall Law School and being admitted to the Illinois State Bar. In addition to his ability to practice law in all Illinois state courts, he has admittance to practice in the courtrooms of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. As an author and lecturer, he is a valued member of numerous organizations, including the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Cook County Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, the Decalogue Society, and the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois. Mr. Rakowski is a member of the Family Law Section Council of the Illinois State Bar Association. In that capacity he reviews and provides critical analysis on legislation impacting the practice of family law.

Ms. McQuilliams has been a litigation defense paralegal/medical consultant for 29 yrs, specializing in medical malpractice, pharmaceutical, medical device, toxic tort and product liability. She has attended and managed 30-40 trials in Texas and Oklahoma. In addition to her paralegal background, she has been a Licensed Paramedic for 23 yrs. Ms. McQuilliams experience as a paramedic, including many years in the ER, allows her to assist attorneys and claim professionals with medical record review/analysis, witness/expert interviews, liability/damage determinations and medical research.

Ms. Pingenot Key exclusively practices family law. She has been selected for inclusion in Texas Monthly “Rising Stars” each year since 2006. Prior to practicing law, Ms. Pingenot Key was the program director of a supervised visitation facility for families in Austin as well as an elementary school teacher with the non-profit program, Teach for America. She received a B.A. degree in Psychology, with honors, an M.S. degree in Social Work, with honors, and a J.D. degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Ms. Pingenot Key is board certified in family law and speaks and writes frequently on issues in family law.

Ms. Posadas, MBA, TBLS-BCP is a Board-Certified Paralegal through the Texas Board of Legal Specialization with dual certifications in Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Law and is an Instructor for the Paralegal Certificate Program through the Center for Professional Development at the University of Texas at Austin. She has been a paralegal for 15 years with experience in litigation in the areas of insurance defense, personal injury, construction defects, products liability, medical malpractice, physician license defense, and appellate matters. Throughout her career, Ms. Posadas has participated in multiple trials at all court levels from small claims/justice courts to state-level district court, and federal court trials. She serves as an Investigator for the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, District 9 provided by the Supreme Court of Texas, actively participates in quarterly pro bono clinics related to estate planning for the cancer community and has held multiple Board and Committee Chair positions with the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas and local central Texas paralegal association, Capital Area Paralegal Association for the past 12 years. Previously, Ms. Posadas also served on education Advisory Boards with the University of Texas at Austin and Texas State University and served as a Guardian ad Litem for CASA of Travis County.

Mr. Smaby is retired as the Executive Director of the Texas Center for Legal Ethics in Austin, a position he has held since July 2009. The Center promotes the ethical practice of law by attorneys and educates the public regarding legal ethics and the justice system. Prior to being selected as Executive Director, Mr. Smaby practiced law in Dallas, where he was the managing shareholder of Roberts & Smaby, PC. He formerly served as Chair of the Consortium on Professionalism Initiatives for the American Bar Association and was a longtime member of the Advertising Review Committee of the State Bar of Texas. More recently, he served on the Succession Planning Workgroup for the State Bar of Texas that resulted in the creation of a webpage and forms by which attorneys can designate a custodian-attorney in advance in case of their disability or death. Mr. Smaby is the editor and prima author of the popular “Ethics Question of the Month” column in the Texas Bar Journal, which is the second most popular feature in the Journal per a recent reader survey. He is a frequent speaker, primarily on the topics of legal ethics, professionalism, behavioral ethics, and implicit bias. Mr. Smaby has spoken at events sponsored by the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, the University of Texas Law School, the NAACP, and numerous local bar associations throughout Texas. He is a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas and a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. Mr. Smaby is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and the University of Michigan Law School, and he is licensed to practice law in Texas and Minnesota.

As an associate, Ms. Tremie is dedicated to leveraging the knowledge and skills she acquired during her clerkship to provide compassionate and effective support to her clients, particularly those navigating the complexities of divorce and family law matters. She earned her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center, where she actively participated in various advocacy competitions and served as a student attorney in a highly complex criminal case. This experience not only honed her client interaction skills but also provided her with valuable insights into the lifecycle of legal cases, from initial client intake to final judgment. In addition to her legal education, Ms. Tremie brings a wealth of operational and upper-management experience from her previous career. This background equips her with a unique understanding of her clients’ business and financial needs, enabling her to identify practical solutions and pathways forward during challenging times while protecting what matters most to her clients.

Ms. Franklin is an experienced Paralegal with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry. She is skilled in nonprofit organizations, operations management, coaching, government, emergency management and guardianship. Ms. Franklin is a strong legal professional with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) focused in Social Sciences from Florida State University. She is a Florida Registered Paralegal.

Ms. Jordahl is a litigation paralegal at Weinberg Wheeler Hudgins Gunn & Dial. Ms. Jordahl is CLE Chair and immediate past-President of the Central Florida Paralegal Association (CFPA), and Secretary/Treasurer for the Paralegal Section of the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA). She is a member of the Florida Registered Paralegal (FRP) Enrichment Committee. She authored two chapters of the 2019 NALA Certified Paralegal Exam Fundamentals book (Torts and Clarity of Expression).

Ms. McAllister is an Associate in the firm’s West Palm Beach office. She is a trial attorney that generally practices in the areas of trucking accident litigation, wrongful death, catastrophic and personal injury, security negligence, medical malpractice, premises liability, commercial litigation, vehicle negligence, business/commercial law, consumer law, and more. She advises commercial parties in the midst of highly-contentious matters across the state of Florida and has successfully tried cases to verdict and prevailed on summary judgment. In addition to her business litigation practice, Ms. McAllister has represented clients on a pro bono basis in a variety of contexts.

Ms. McAllister was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel, which is the highest title of honor bestowed by the Governor of Kentucky as recognition of an individual’s noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to their community, state, and nation. Prior to joining CSK, Ms. McAllister worked at the Southern Legal Counsel and clerked for the Honorable Spencer D. Levine of Florida’s 4rth District Court of Appeal. In law school, Ms. McAllister was on the Dean’s List, was a CALI award recipient, proudly served as an editor on the law review, and worked as a research assistant where she produced cutting edge legal research.

Ms. Peter has worked as a paralegal for Ms. George since 2003 and is a Florida Registered Paralegal. Ms. Peter obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University in Social Science and Political Science. Ms. Peter received her Master of Professional Studies in Paralegal Studies from George Washington University in August 2020.

Ms. Barrios is a member of the Business Litigation practice group and focuses her practice on healthcare provider defense in medical liability cases. Prior to moving to Hawaii, she worked for a full-service law firm in Los Angeles where she handled a variety of civil litigation matters involving insurance defense, premises liability, products liability and breach of contract. Ms. Barrios has experience in all aspects of litigation from pre-litigation investigation through trial and post-trial motions practice. She earned her B.A. degree from Life Pacific University and her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Southwestern Law School.

Mr. Markham is a partner with Chee Markham & Kato. He has been practicing law in Hawaii for over 37 years. With a focus on insurance defense, under many types of policies, coverage subrogation and other business and commercial litigation. Mr. Markham is a lecturer at Kapiolani Community College in the area of torts, interviewing, negotiation and advocacy and a lecturer at the University of Hawaii, West Oahu in the area of Risk Management and Insurance. He was past President to the Board of the Hawaii Justice Foundation and a commissioner on the Access to Justice Commission. He has significant civil litigation experience in a wide variety of practice areas, including coverage analysis, personal injury, property damage, subrogation, products liability and construction law disputes. After graduating cum laude from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Mr. Markham earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Colorado Law School in 1983. He has been admitted to practice in Hawaii, the U.S. District Court for the Ninth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Markham is an active member in a number of legal associations, including the Hawaii State Bar Association (President 2015), the American Bar Association, Hawaii Super Lawyers and Outstanding Lawyers in America. Mr. Markham is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and was named 2023 Insurance Lawyer of the Year by the State of Hawaii.

Mr. Perrault is the Managing Partner with Perrault|Alvarez. He focuses on contested custody cases and complex divorces. Mr. Perrault also prosecutes and defends temporary restraining orders (TRO’s) because domestic abuse frequently affects a parent’s custodial rights. He is passionate about protecting children and achieving justice for his clients. Mr. Perrault earned his A.B. Degree from Harvard University and his J.D. degree from UCLA School of Law.

Ms. Richelieu is the former Chief Disciplinary Counsel for many years. She also was with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division and Real Estate Commission and a per diem hearings officer for the State Departments of Labor and Land and Natural Resources while simultaneously serving as a legal ethics expert, consultant, and instructor. Ms. Richelieu has made numerous presentations on legal ethics, client protection, practice management, and professionalism, as well as authoring many articles and contributing to numerous manuals. She has served as a Supreme Court appointee to the Chief Justice’s National Action Plan (producing the first one in the nation), the Committee to Review the Code of Judicial Conduct, the Committee on the Certification of Legal Specialists, and the Committee on Unbundling Legal Services/ Unauthorized Practice of Law. Ms. Richelieu continues to serve on the Board of Examiners in various capacities and the Commission on Professionalism. She is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation and a member of the American Bar Association Center for Professional Responsibility, American Bar Association (where she held a number of positions), and Hawaii State Bar Association (on which she has served on many committees).

Mr. Roeca is a partner with Roeca Luria Shin LLP. His main areas of practice include medical malpractice, insurance defense, legal malpractice, personal injury, premises liability, bad faith litigation,

Directors & Officers liability, toxic torts and aviation litigation. Mr. Roeca is admitted to practice in California, Hawaii and the District of Hawaii, and before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He earned his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Southwestern University.

Beginning in 2005 at Ardalan & Associates, Maryam Ardalan worked her way through virtually every position in the legal field – from receptionist and file clerk to legal assistant, bookkeeper, and office manager. After earning her Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School, she became an attorney in 2016 and eventually rose to managing partner at Ardalan & Associates. In 2024, she founded her own personal injury firm, Swift Justice, Inc., where she continues to advocate for clients. Beyond her legal practice, our speaker shares their wealth of knowledge with other firms through Ecasa Education, providing consultation on efficiency, protocols, morale, and office culture.

Jesse Danoff is a managing partner with Mitchell & Danoff. His main area of practice is plaintiff’s personal injury. He is the type of attorney that will go the extra mile to get justice for his clients, no matter the size or strength of the opposition. Mr. Danoff is also the type of skilled negotiator that gets his clients the best deals they could possibly achieve thanks to his quick wit, vast knowledge of the law, and sense of humor, which helps smooth things over for clients in tough situations. Mr. Danoff previously managed a law firm with offices in San Francisco and New York. Prior to becoming a plaintiff’s personal injury attorney, Mr. Danoff worked in-house for small and large corporations, making major deals in a variety of different areas of business. Mr. Danoff’s clients even included 30 members of the Fortune 50. He is known as the “get-it-done” guy for his analytical skills and tenacious attitude, as well as his ability to perceive cases from a variety of different angles to help find his clients extra dollars where they might not even have looked. Mr. Danoff graduated from The Ohio State University Moritz School of Law and is licensed to practice law in California, New York, and New Jersey.

Mr. Suits has been a practicing attorney for 20 years and focuses his practice on representing individuals who have been severely injured in a wide range of accidents. He also serves as a Mediator for the Civil Early Settlement Conference Program for the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Before starting his own firm in 2012, Mr. Suits worked as an Attorney for Robinson and Wood, Inc. and Tharpe and Howell, LLP. He also served as a Law Clerk for the Civil Liability Division of the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office. Mr. Suits obtained his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1997. He subsequently obtained his law degree from the University of Southern California Law School in 2003. Mr. Suits is a member of the State Bar of California.

Mr. Hirschhorn is considered one of America’s most prominent criminal defense trial attorneys. He has been named to Best Lawyers in America since its first edition 38 years ago. Mr. Hirschhorn focuses his practice on the defense of white collar, criminal and civil matters. He received his B.A. degree from the University of Connecticut and his J.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin School of Law. Mr. Hirschhorn is a fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers (President 2003), a past president of the Wisconsin Bar Non-Resident Lawyer Division, a life fellow of the Wisconsin Law Foundation, served as a board member on the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and for three years on The State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors. He is also a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the Litigation Counsel of America. Mr. Hirschhorn is a member of the Miami-Dade County Bar Association, the First Amendment Lawyers Association (a founder and past president) and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is admitted to The Florida Bar, The State Bar of Wisconsin, U.S. Supreme Court, and all Federal Courts of Appeal except the District of Columbia. Mr. Hirschhorn has been admitted pro hac vice to 39 U.S District Courts in addition to practicing in all Federal Courts in Wisconsin and Florida. He has also handled matters in 34 different States’ Courts. Mr. Hirschhorn has also provided advice and counsel to US and non-US citizens and lawyers in many foreign countries throughout his career.

The mission of Lee law Firm LLC is “to speak up for and ensure justice for the individual.” Born in an abandoned barn in a third-world country as her parents fled from war and genocide, Ms. Lee’s family’s story of survival is living proof that there is justice in this world. Decades later, she would choose to use the trials of her past to be a voice of empowerment for the people she speaks up for. Ms. Lee is an educator at heart. She began her professional career as a teacher, then later working in higher education. She eventually pursued law to voice education in the arena of the legal justice system. She began law school while being a mother of five children! Attorney Lee shares this as encouragement that it is never too late to pursue your dreams. Ms. Lee began her legal career as an assistant district attorney at the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office. She has handled thousands of criminal cases as well as divorce, child support, and custody matters. Ms. Lee has been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, a professional organization composed of top trial lawyers. Membership is by invitation only and is extended exclusively to trial lawyers. She is a member of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National College for DUI Defense. She also has earned the 2020 Avvo Client’s Choice Award. Ms. Lee earned her J.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Mr. Martinez founded Martinez & Ruby, LLP, with Attorney Cole Ruby in 2008. He practices criminal defense exclusively, and specializes in defending individuals facing charges of homicide, attempted homicide, domestic abuse and sex-based crimes involving adults or children. Mr. Martinez is an accomplished trial lawyer, having tried cases throughout Wisconsin on charges at all severity levels. He also has an extensive history of negotiating dismissals short of trial, which has saved many of his clients the anxiety, risk and expense associated with trial. Together with Cole Ruby, he is a two-time recipient of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Hanson Award. Each of these awards were issued for winning a not-guilty verdict in a jury trial involving a charge of first-degree intentional homicide, the most serious crime under Wisconsin law. An Arizona native, he graduated from Northern Arizona University in 2004 with a B.A. degree in Philosophy. After college, he attended law school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was a senior managing editor of the Wisconsin Law Review. Mr. Martinez earned his J.D. degree from the UW in 2007. Mr. Martinez is a member of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (WACDL) and has served as a speaker to educate the law community at numerous WACDL seminars. He is a native Spanish speaker and has represented Spanish-speaking clients throughout his career.

Mr. Zachar is among Wisconsin’s most accomplished criminal defense lawyers. He specializes in defending people charged in serious and complex criminal prosecutions including homicide, sexual assault, and felony drug offenses. He is a five-time recipient of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyer’s (WACDL) Martin Hanson Advocate’s Prize for clients acquitted of homicide at jury trial and one of a single-digit group of attorneys in Wisconsin to secure a jury acquittal for a client charged with homicide by drug delivery. Mr. Zachar is an experienced trial attorney who regularly tries cases before judges and juries, stemming the full spectrum of criminal offenses from simple misdemeanors to Class A felonies and has secured many acquittals for clients facing serious charges. He serves on the Board of Directors for WACDL, an organization of more than 500 criminal defense attorneys, and has presented at numerous professional conferences with a focus on litigating scientific and medical evidence, trial advocacy, and pardon applications. Mr. Zachar has successfully litigated hundreds of pretrial and suppression motions in trial courts across the state, regularly litigates appeals in the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, and has argued before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. He is admitted to practice in federal court and represents clients charged federally as a member of the Western District of Wisconsin CJA panel. Mr. Zachar graduated in the top ten percent of his class at the University of Wisconsin Law School and spent the first ten years of his career as a trial attorney in the Black River Falls and La Crosse trial offices of the Wisconsin State Public Defender. In 2017 he founded Zachar Law Office, dedicated to protecting people who have been charged with crimes in Western Wisconsin. In 2023, he received the Dan Berkos Award from the Wisconsin State Public Defender, an honor given to just one criminal defense attorney statewide in recognition of their contributions to criminal defense over the course of a career. Mr. Zachar and his cases have been featured on Court TV, the Washington Post, USA Today, A&E Network, Law & Crime, National Public Radio, the Wisconsin State Journal, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and throughout the La Crosse area media market.

Ms. Abernethy joined The Noble Law employment law firm in January 2018 following more than 15 years in the defense bar at large international law firms. Ms. Abernethy has represented clients in matters arising under Title VII, the North Carolina Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act (“REDA”), the North Carolina Whistleblower Statute, the North Carolina False Claims Act, the North Carolina Wage & Hour Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and other state and federal employment statutes. Ms. Abernethy has extensive background and experience as a litigator in class and collective action cases. She has also developed significant experience with navigating the regulatory frameworks surrounding medical practice and related industries. She also has extensive experience in arbitration, mediation and in courts of appeals. She is admitted to practice before the State Bars of both North Carolina and Illinois, and in the United States Courts of Appeals for the Third, Fourth, Fifth and Seventh Circuits. She has written and presented on topics relating to e-discovery, civil procedure, insurance coverage and the Medicare payment process. Ms. Abernethy received her J.D. degree from Washington University School of Law in 2001. She graduated Order of the Coif (top 10% of law school graduating class), and was an articles editor for the Washington University Law Quarterly. She has a B.A. degree in History from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. While practicing as an employment attorney in Chicago, Ms. Abernethy was named a “Rising Star” by SuperLawyers Magazine in 2010 and 2011. She was named a North Carolina “Super Lawyer” in 2022.

Ms. Harris established The Law Office of Neubia L. Harris, PLLC, in August 2018, and she brings a wealth of experience in education law and civil litigation. Before launching her own practice, Ms. Harris served as an associate attorney at a local education law firm and as a staff attorney at Legal Aid of North Carolina. Her firm reflects her commitment to protecting children and her passion for entrepreneurship. She earned her undergraduate degree in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law. She is licensed to practice in the State Courts of North Carolina and the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina. An active member of the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA) and the Wake County Bar Association (WCBA), Ms. Harris was inducted into the NCBA’s Leadership Academy in 2017, one of only 16 lawyers selected statewide. She is a published author in the fields of diversity, equity, inclusion, and education rights, and she regularly teaches continuing legal education courses and speaks at community events on education law topics.

Mr. Hood is a trial attorney in a wide-ranging civil practice with over 200 jury trials to his credit. His concentration includes business disputes, construction law, personal injury and collections. He is also a certified mediator, helping to settle cases pending in both state and federal court and served as president of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys, the organization for lawyers representing business interests in civil litigation. Mr. Hood’s involvement in the legal community includes service on the Section Council for both the Insurance Law and Dispute Resolution Sections of the North Carolina Bar Association, and on the boards of the UNC Law Alumni Association and the Equal Access to Justice Foundation. In his local community, he serves on the Board of the Historical Association of Catawba County and has served on the county’s Board of Elections for 25 years, including four years as board chair.

Mr. Litrenta is a litigator who focuses his practice on commercial litigation, construction law and defects, general liability, governmental and municipality liability, premises liability, transportation and professional liability matters. His litigation background spans both prosecution and defense, bringing a comprehensive perspective to each case he handles. Mr. Litrenta began his legal career as a prosecutor, where he gained significant courtroom experience conducting multiple jury trials. His ability to build and present cases in court led him to transition to criminal defense, where he effectively leveraged his trial skills and knowledge of evidence to defend his clients. This diverse background has equipped him with a deep understanding of both sides of the legal process, which he now applies to his civil litigation practice. With trial experience in multiple states, Mr. Litrenta is committed to achieving favorable outcomes for his clients. He is known for his tireless work ethic and strategic approach to litigation. In addition to his practice, Mr. Litrenta is passionate about teaching and regularly presents on topics such as jury selection, evidentiary issues, and trial advocacy. He earned his J.D. degree from Barry University and holds a B.S. degree in Anthropology and History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Ms. Viera’s intimate knowledge of the North Carolina family court system began as a child amidst a domestic violence and child abuse situation. Although tumultuous, she was inspired by her childhood to pursue the goal of a legal career helping families in similar situations. She conducted her undergraduate studies at George Washington University in Washington, DC. She pursued her law degree at the University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill where she was able to hone her skills as an orator, writer, and legal thinker. As a family law attorney, Ms. Viera utilizes the tools of negotiation, mediation, and litigation to find solutions for families navigating the legal system. She was named a Top 40 Young Lawyer by the American Bar Association in 2020, a North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Power List Attorney in Family Law in 2022, and has received the designation of Super Lawyers Rising Star, Best Lawyer Ones to Watch, and Legal Elite by Business North Carolina. Modern Legal is based in the South Park area of Charlotte, and her team provides legal, mediation, and arbitration services to clients in North Carolina and South Carolina. Learn more at ModernLegalNC.com.

Ms. Weyandt’s practice focuses exclusively on family law, including issues related to child custody, child support, spousal support, equitable distribution, and domestic violence, as well as the issues of alienation of affection and criminal conversation. Ms. Weyandt is a magna cum laude graduate of Auburn University. She earned her J.D. degree from Wake Forest University School of Law, where she served as Senior Notes and Comments Editor of the Wake Forest Law Review. While in law school, Ms. Weyandt was also a member of the Moot Court Board, where she competed as a member on the Gabrielli National Family Law Moot Court Team; worked as a research assistant for Dean Suzanne Reynolds in researching and editing her North Carolina Family Law treatise; and served as a teaching assistant and Academic Engagement Group Leader for various subjects.

Ms. Banerjee is a member at Boodell & Domanskis, LLC where she leads her firm’s practice in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, and guardianship. Before joining Boodell & Domanskis, she gained experience in highly respected law firms in the collar counties of Chicago. She has extensive courtroom and litigation experience in probate and guardianship, including appearing before the Third District of the Illinois Appellate Court for oral arguments. A magna cum laude law graduate, she earned her degree at 42 as the mother of two young children.

Paloma Holloman (née Hospedales-Mohammed) is an Illinois attorney and is the founder of PHM Law, LLC. Ms. Holloman went to DePaul University for her B.A. degree in Political Science. At DePaul, she was a Community Service Scholar and minored in Community Service Studies. She received her J.D. degree and Master of Laws degree in Estate Planning from UIC John Marshall Law School. Ms. Holloman is an adjunct instructor at Waubonsee Community College, teaching courses on estate planning/ probate and legal ethics. Ms. Holloman has always had a passion for helping others to achieve their goals. She enjoys estate planning because she can help others preserve and maximize the results of their hard work and success. Ms. Holloman is the first attorney in her large, Trinidadian family. She was born and raised in Illinois and loves giving back to the community. While she was in law school, she interned at John Marshall Law School’s Domestic Violence Clinic, assisting domestic violence survivors with housing, employment, debt, and tax-related matters. Through her previous and current work and volunteer experiences, she has interacted with and served individuals of all different backgrounds. She possesses a strong ability to empathize with others and truly enjoys connecting with new people.

Ms. Lukaszewski is a counsel attorney in the Private Wealth practice at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, in Chicago, where she focuses her practice on post-death estate and trust management. She regularly advises corporate and individual fiduciaries and beneficiaries on all aspects of probate practice, complex estate and trust administration, and conflict resolution. Ms. Lukaszewski’s practice includes significant experience preparing and filing federal and state estate tax returns, representing clients before the Internal Revenue Service and Illinois Attorney General on reporting questions, valuation issues, and audits, and appearing in court on contested probate and chancery matters. Prior to joining Katten, she worked in the private wealth departments of several major law firms. Ms. Lukaszewski graduated magna cum laude from DePaul University College of Law as a member of the DePaul Law Review and Order of the Coif.

Kerry R. Peck is the managing partner of the Chicago law firm Peck Ritchey, LLC. He is the past president of the 22,000 lawyer Chicago Bar Association. His clients have included families, hospitals, banks, the State of Illinois, County of Cook, and City of Chicago. Since 2006, he has been selected by his peers in statewide surveys of Illinois attorneys as a “Super Lawyer”, an attorney to whom other attorneys would refer their family, and he was named a member of the Leading Lawyers Network. Mr. Peck is the recipient of the 2014 Justice John Paul Stevens Award, the Chicago Bar Association’s highest honor. He was also selected by IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law as one of their 125 Alumni of Distinction. In 2021, Mr. Peck was appointed chair of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Elder Justice. Mr. Peck was retained by the City of Chicago Department of Aging to rewrite the State of Illinois Elder Abuse and Neglect Act. Mr. Peck is the co-author of Alzheimer’s and the Law and Don’t Let Dementia Steal Everything, both published by the American Bar Association. Mr. Peck has written articles for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, Chicago Bar Association Record, Illinois State Bar Journal, and various other journals and newspapers. He teaches attorneys and healthcare professionals across the country and is a former adjunct professor at John Marshall Law School’s Elder Law Studies program.

Anthony S. Barilari is an of counsel attorney at Lagerlof, LLP, in the trust and estates department focusing his practice on estate planning and trust administration. Mr. Barilari’s legal career began when he graduated from UC Hastings (now UC Law San Francisco) in May of 2008 and was admitted to the California Bar in December of that year. After several years practicing bankruptcy and civil litigation, Mr. Barilari turned his attention to trusts and estates, first as a solo practitioner, and then as a partner in the firm, Barilari & Williams, LLP. He built a small firm from the ground up and served as managing partner of the same before bringing his practice to Lagerlof, LLP. Mr. Barilari is a member of the Pasadena Bar Association, and he has a passion for preserving generational wealth by ensuring that families have effective estate planning, efficient trust administration, and strategic planning to avoid costly disputes.

Uzzell S. Branson IV is a senior attorney in RMO LLP’s San Diego office. Mr. Branson brings over a decade of experience in probate litigation. His practice focuses on representing heirs, beneficiaries, fiduciaries, creditors and other interested parties in litigated probate, contested conservatorship, and financial elder abuse cases. Prior to RMO LLP, Mr. Branson headed the trust and estates practice at his previous firm, where his work included litigating probate disputes in State courts throughout California and Federal courts in the Southern and Central districts of California. Beyond litigation, Mr. Branson also has substantial experience in estate planning and private and trust administration. Mr. Branson brings that experience in guiding clients through the probate pre-dispute, litigation, and appellate processes. Mr. Branson has also taught Trusts and Estates at the University of San Diego School of Law as an adjunct professor.

Verlan Y. Kwan is a partner at Keystone Law Group, P.C. with her primary focus on trust and estate administration and litigation. With over a decade of litigation experience, Ms. Kwan has represented trustees, executors, administrators, creditors, heirs and beneficiaries in complex disputes with assets ranging from several hundred thousands of dollars to tens of millions of dollars. With her broad knowledge and compassionate approach to matters, Ms. Kwan has successfully litigated and settled countless matters to her clients’ satisfaction. In addition to disputed matters, Ms. Kwan also specializes in advising fiduciaries in high– net worth estates and trusts. Furthermore, Ms. Kwan has acted as the administrator of estates for foreign heirs and beneficiaries, allowing her to proficiently advise executors, administrators and trustees on estate and trust administration matters. Ms. Kwan regularly appears in courts throughout California, including but not limited to, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, San Mateo County, Ventura County, San Bernardino County, Orange County, and San Francisco County.

Sean D. Muntz serves as Managing Partner of RMO LLP. Mr. Muntz is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer, with litigation experience spanning a broad range of subject matters, including banking, general commercial, employment, probate, real estate, securities, intellectual property, maritime and environmental disputes. Mr. Muntz has litigated matters in state and federal courts throughout California, and in alternative dispute resolution forums, including AAA and JAMS, and before the NASD/FINRA and Pacific Stock Exchange.

Mr. Muntz’s practice focuses on representing beneficiaries, professional and corporate fiduciaries (administrators, executors, trustees, conservators, and guardians) in contested trust, estate and probate litigation.

Mr. Muntz previously was a partner at an international law firm in the firm’s commercial litigation group, where he represented international financial institutions in litigation matters.

Mr. Muntz worked as in-house counsel for a Fortune 100 aerospace manufacturer. There, he represented the company in internal and external investigation and compliance matters. While there, Sean represented the company as a victim of espionage, in the criminal matter of U.S. v. Chung, in which the U.S. District Court handed down the first conviction under the Economic Espionage Act of 1996. For representing the company’s interests, Sean received a commendation from the Los Angeles Field Office of the FBI and the FBI Director.

Mr. Muntz also has worked for a Fortune 100 financial institution as in-house counsel, where he managed and directed national litigation strategy, overseeing hundreds of cases.

Mr. Dean currently serves on the Board of the Bennington County Bar Association, as a director of the Vermont Bar Foundation, as chair of the Vermont Bar Association’s Court Users Group, and as president and trustee of the Samuel Blackmer Law Library Fund. Mr. Dean draws from many areas of legal experience and clerked for the late Honorable Kathy C. Qasim in the New Jersey Superior Court’s Chancery Division. In 2017, he provided legal aid to clients throughout the Northeast as part of the South Royalton Legal Clinic. In law school, Mr. Dean served as the senior managing editor of the Vermont Law Review and as an active member of the National Moot Court Team. He has taught workshops for legal writing, civil procedure, and constitutional law. Mr. Dean’s practice areas include personal injury, appellate practice, contract disputes, debtor’s and consumer’s rights, professional licensing defense, and general civil litigation. He also serves on the board of SPEAK, Inc., a Vermont 501(c)(3) providing public speaking and debate workshops to students and incarcerated individuals.

Mr. Adams has used his experience as an insurance defense attorney to become a proficient and successful plaintiff’s personal injury attorney. He understands how insurance companies work and think, and he uses that knowledge to get the best possible outcome for his clients. Mr. Adams was trained in a litigation/trial firm and is not afraid to take a case from inception to trial. His goal is to help his clients recover from their injuries. His main areas of practice include personal injury, family law, and mediations and arbitrations.

Jill L. Coil was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. She graduated with honors from Brigham Young University with a B.A. degree in Political Science. She received her J.D. degree at Texas Southern University in Houston. She is dually licensed in both Texas and Utah where she has focused her practice on Family Law. Ms. Coil founded CoilLaw in December of 2014 with the goal of empathizing, protecting, and advocating for families through legal representation. She has received many awards in Utah for her on-going work in family law cases and her avocation for her clients. Ms. Coil also has a tech startup called Simpleending.com bringing affordable quality online divorce technology to the public without the need to hire an attorney. She also recently launched a female led personal injury firm, Moxie Law Group. She is the bestselling author of the book No One Dies from Divorce – How to Survive and Thrive when Your Marriage Ends and the host of the podcast with the same name. She is actively engaged in her community through charitable work through The Coil Foundation which she started with her husband. She also volunteers her time on many projects to help inspire, motivate and help other woman pursue their passions. She is also a business coach and motivational speaker. She is a mother of four children and when possible, loves to travel the world. Ms. Coil has been a practicing attorney for over 15 years. She has grown CoilLaw in Utah to be one of the biggest family law firms in the state.

Ms. Couser practices family law, adoption, assisted reproduction, and LGBTQIA+ law, and she is regularly appointed by the courts as a private guardian ad litem. She is the owner and managing attorney of a small firm in downtown Salt Lake City, Jess Couser Family Law. She believes that family law matters require legal skill and strategy, but that they also require compassion, creativity, and fortitude. Family law attorneys should have specific knowledge of child development, trauma, communication and coping mechanisms; and should be prepared to advocate for and educate every client on the legal and practical matters they may be facing. While Ms. Couser excels in negotiation and prioritizes settlement opportunities whenever possible, she is also an accomplished trial attorney. She has completed more than 50 domestic trials and evidentiary hearings, litigating the entire spectrum of contested domestic matters from high-asset and complex financial divorce to high conflict and difficult custody disputes, contested adoptions, and terminations of parental rights. Ms. Couser earned her B.A. degree from the University of Utah and her J.D. degree from Gonzaga University School of Law.

Gabrielle Jones is the managing attorney with CoilLaw, LLC. During law school, she interned for the American Civil Liberties Association of Utah and externed for the Honorable Judge Ann Aiken of the U.S. District Court of Oregon. After law school, Ms. Jones moved back to Utah to be closer to family and to serve the people of her home state. She began her legal career by providing low-cost legal services to low-income and at-risk populations all over the state of Utah. Ms. Jones is a Private Guardian ad Litem and an active member of the AFCC. She graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law, located in Eugene, Oregon in 2019.

Ms. Bernton focuses her work on all types of commercial disputes, with an emphasis on complex real estate litigation. She advocates for multinational companies, regional companies, and local businesses to help them achieve their goals through trial and dispute resolution. Ms. Bernton represents businesses in state and federal courts, as well as in administrative settings including private mediation and in judicial settlement conferences. Prior to joining Tonkon Torp, she was an attorney with the Eugene, Oregon, law firm Gleaves Swearingen LLP. Ms. Bernton attended the University of Oregon School of Law where she graduated Order of the Coif and served as editor-in-chief of the Oregon International Law Review. She was also an O’Connell Fellow with the Public Law and Policy Program and a recipient of the Laird Kirkpatrick Book Prize.

Ms. Brittle grew up in SE Portland, Oregon, and is a third-generation native Oregonian. She attended Portland State University, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, graduating with high honors. In 2002, she began law school at Lewis & Clark Law School. Throughout college and law school, Ms. Brittle worked full time in the Portland legal community. She spent five years working at the Oregon Law Institute, where she supported Assistant Dean Elizabeth Stephens in organizing continuing legal education seminars for local professionals. This afforded her the opportunity to work with well-respected attorneys and judges and solidified her love of the law. Ms. Brittle spent her last year of law school clerking at the Department of Justice in the Family Law Section. She appeared in court on behalf of the State of Oregon in cases involving the termination of parental rights, child support enforcement, and mental health issues. This allowed her to gain a unique insight into the challenges faced by Oregon families in the family law arena. Ms. Brittle began her private practice in 2006, which has focused on helping families as they transition through a divorce, or as they modify their agreements post-divorce or post-separation. Her passion is helping clients make good decisions as they reform their families, or as they make adjustments to prior agreements that support their children’s best interests. She is also passionate about protecting children and providing access to the legal system for women and minorities. Her pro bono work as a court-appointed attorney for children in high conflict cases allows her to support families in yet another way.

Mr. Burke brings 24 years of experience as a litigation attorney in Oregon, Washington, and federal courts. Since retiring from law, he has embraced his role as a senior paralegal, where his legal insight continues to benefit clients and colleagues alike. Mr. Burke has also served as a pro tem judge for the Beaverton Peer Court for seven years and has held directorships with several nonprofit organizations.

Erika-Leigh “E-L ”Goodwin is a seasoned paralegal with experience handling divorce, custody, parenting time, child support and psychological parent and third-party cases, complex legal issues, and a wide range of clients, all of which contributed to her professional growth and expertise. Ms. Goodwin believes that paralegals should demonstrate attention to detail, strong research skills, and the ability to work well under pressure, all of which are crucial when handling complex legal cases, which often involve extensive documentation, multiple parties, complex legal information, and a significant amount of evidence. She earned an AAS Paralegal from the ABA-approved program at Portland Community College. With a robust background in family law, immigration law, and federal criminal defense, Ms. Goodwin is a highly skilled and dedicated paralegal professional with over 15 years of experience in the legal field. After more than 6 years and as the lead paralegal for Kramer & Associates in Portland, Oregon, Ms. Goodwin began Pragmatic Paralegal Services and now works as an independent contract paralegal. She successfully completed the rigorous curriculum and testing by the Oregon State Bar to become a Licensed Paralegal authorized by the Supreme Court of the State of Oregon to perform limited legal services within a defined and endorsed scope of practice (Family Law) and was admitted to the Bar in May 2025.

Mr. Kramer specializes in family law and civil litigation including personal injury, civil rights, and employment cases. He has more than 35 years of trial experience and extensive experience in family law issues ranging from adoption and contested custody to grandparent and psychological parent rights. Mr. Kramer serves as a pro-tem judge for the Multnomah County Circuit Court. As co-counsel for the Oregon State Judiciary Committee and in private practice, he drafted family law legislation that is now Oregon law. Mr. Kramer is the author of several articles about family law and is a frequent speaker on the subjects of grandparent and psychological parent rights. He graduated with honors from Cornell University and then received his law degree from Northeastern University. Mr. Kramer has completed a 40-hour mediation training through Clackamas County Resolution Services; 40 hours of advanced mediation training through Multnomah County Family Resolution Services and further training through Mediate.com. Mr. Kramer is a member of the Oregon Mediation Association and the Oregon Academy of Family Law Practitioners. He co-founded the Domestic Relations Alliance of Mediators and Attorneys. Mr. Kramer is listed as a 2025 Distinguished Attorney by Martindale-Hubbell.

Mr. Laidlaw’s main areas of practice include family law, mediation and collaborative law. He is a member of the Clackamas County Bar Association and is admitted to practice in Oregon and before the United States District Court, District of Oregon. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of California and his J.D. degree from the University of San Diego School of Law.

As an associate in the Litigation Department with Sussman Shank LLP, Ms. Marino focuses on business and employment litigation. She is involved in every stage of the litigation process, from conducting legal research and drafting motions to managing discovery and preparing cases for trial. Ms. Marino also provides strategic support throughout the case, ensuring detailed preparation and a focused approach at each phase. In addition to her work in employment law, she gained significant experience in immigration law during her time in law school, which enhances her ability to navigate intricate and sensitive legal issues that intersect with her clients’ livelihoods. Her deep understanding of the complexities of civil matters is further enriched by her experience updating the Wright & Miller Federal Practice and Procedure treatise during her time at Lewis & Clark, providing her with a comprehensive grasp of federal litigation practices. Ms. Marino earned her B.S. degree, summa cum laude, from Loyola University Chicago and her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Lewis & Clark Law School.

Ms. Ward specializes in insurance defense. With over a decade of experience, she has developed expertise in personal injury, employment law, domestic relations, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), and comprehensive trial preparation. In her current role, Ms. Ward is responsible for document drafting, case management, and conducting legal research. Throughout her career, she has worked on complex matters, including ERISA long-term disability cases and intricate personal injury claims. Ms. Ward is certified in Westlaw and LexisNexis, enhancing her legal research capabilities and ensuring the precision and efficiency of her work. Additionally, she is committed to mentoring and training the next generation of paralegals, sharing her extensive knowledge and fostering professional growth. Outside of her legal career, Ms. Ward is an avid barrel racer, demonstrating the same dedication and competitive drive she brings to her professional endeavors. She is deeply motivated by the continuous opportunities for growth and learning within the dynamic field of law.

Samah (“Sam”) T. Abukhodeir was born and raised in Lake Wales, Florida. Following high school, Ms. Abukhodeir moved to Tallahassee, Florida, to pursue a B. S degree in Psychology with a minor in Arabic and Child Development at Florida State University. Ms. Abukhodeir obtained her J.D. degree from Florida International University College of Law, where she was on the Dean’s List and earned two CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Islamic/Sharia Law and Judicial Externship. While in law school, Ms. Abukhodeir worked as a graduate assistant to law professor Cyra Choudhury and was a judicial intern for the Honorable Marisa Tinkler Mendez, Circuit Court Judge in the Criminal Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade, Florida, and the Honorable Maria M. Korvick, Circuit Court Judge in the Probate Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade, Florida.

Ms. Daddino focuses her practice on elder law, estate planning, and guardianships. She developed her passion for assisting the elderly due to her upbringing surrounded by aging family members, including being raised with the help of not only a great-grandmother, but also her maternal grandparents. Ms. Daddino attended Wake Forest University School of Law and is licensed in both North Carolina and South Carolina. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and serves on the board of the North Carolina Chapter. She is also a member of the North Carolina Bar Association Estate Planning and Fiduciary Law Section and serves as a council member for the North Carolina Bar Association Elder Law Section. In South Carolina, she is a member of the South Carolina Chapter of NAELA and serves on the South Carolina Bar Elder Law Committee.

In 2024, Ms. McKinney officially launched the Garlock & McKinney, P.C.’s beach office where she spends most of her time. Although she still takes on clients in the mountains, she now offers legal services in her practice areas to the residents of the Greater Topsail Island, Sneads Ferry and surrounding areas. In her more than 20 years of practice, Ms. McKinney has very unique experience as an attorney. She was a probate clerk in both Wake and Buncombe Counties where she audited and approved estate filings, assisted attorneys, and presided over hearings as an “ex officio Judge of Probate” as an extension of the elected Clerk of Court’s authority in those counties. She also served as assistant legal counsel to all the Clerks of Court and their staffs statewide in her practice areas. Ms. McKinney attended Univeristy of North Carolina Wilminton to obtain her undergraduate degree in Communication Studies. She received her law degree from North Carolina Central School of Law and was licensed to practice law in 2004. Ms. McKinney is a member of The Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce and ANEW, A Network Empowering Women. She is also a trained Christian mediator and conflict coach. She offers those services through PeacePoint Ministry.

Ms. Simpson started Simpson Law Firm because she wanted to create a premier estate planning firm that was unique and stood apart from the pack. Her main strategies were to call clients back (attorneys are notoriously bad at this), treat clients with as much kindness as they receive at Chick-fil-A (my pleasure!), and to provide outstanding, smart, efficient legal services so that families can protect their assets and their loved ones. With plenty of elbow grease and some great mentors, Ms. Simpson is accomplishing her goals with the help of the most amazing attorneys and outstanding law firm staff in all of North and South Carolina. Simpson Law Firm continues to grow and strives to be the kindest and largest premiere estate law firm in the Carolinas.

Ms. Buckley is the prior president of the San Francisco Bar Association Paralegal Section and continues to sit on the board. She taught family law for two semesters at San Francisco State in their paralegal program. Since obtaining her paralegal certificate from Cañada College in 2011, Ms. Buckley has worked exclusively in family law. Prior to becoming a paralegal, she taught English at middle and high schools across the country. During her free time, Ms. Buckley enjoys reading Victorian novels, trashy true crime, and taking her Golden Retriever, Jolene, on swim dates. She has presented multiple CLEs over the years, mostly focusing on discovery.

Swanson & McNamara LLP is a trial and appellate law firm specializing in high-stakes criminal, civil, and regulatory defense and internal investigations. Prior to joining Swanson & McNamara, Ms. McGuigan worked for the Federal Public Defender in the Northern District of California for 15 years where she assisted in several trials including four complex death penalty cases, one of which resulted in an acquittal. She is a certified eDiscovery specialist holding multiple ACEDS eDiscovery certifications, as well as certifications in Cellebrite mobile forensic fundamentals (CMFF), and digital forensics, and she has over 21 hours of digital forensic training in FTK. Ms. McGuigan is the acting president of San Francisco Paralegal Association, chair of the San Francisco Bar Paralegal Section, and the director of the San Francisco Chapter of Women in eDiscovery. When she isn’t working, she enjoys spending time crafting and hanging out with her four dogs. She will be presenting at the NALA Boston conference in July, on ethical considerations in criminal law cases, text and smartphone evidence for paralegals – how to identify, preserve, collect, and produce and assisting at trial.

Ms. Skaggs serves as the president of San Francisco Legal Professionals Association (SFLPA) and has served the SFLPA Board consecutively for the last 10 years. She also serves on the Continuing Education Committee as the webinar co-chair for Legal Professionals, Inc. (LPI), where she arranges and moderates continuing legal educational webinars with a dynamic team. Ms. Skaggs is working on the Summer Court Series where courtroom clerks in both federal and state courts all over California present for one hour two to three times per month. When serving as the SFLPA Education chair, she organized a three-day legal professionals workshop at San Francisco State University, which allowed all levels of legal secretaries and paralegals to earn a certificate showing that they completed the class. Ms. Skaggs has presented on a panel with an attorney about the California Rules v. the Local Rules of the Court in the presentation, “Cracking the Code,” as well as on a panel of attorneys and a paralegal at the Bar Association of San Francisco Paralegal Section called “50 Days to Trial.” She is a Bay Area native and earned her bachelor’s degree with a major in English and a minor in Political Science from the California State University, East Bay, where she returned several years later to obtain her Paralegal Certificate. Ms. Skaggs is committed to continuing education and enjoys being a part of any organization with the commitment to supporting that cause. She recently studied for, and successfully passed, the intense 8-hour exam to become a California Certified Legal Secretary (CCLS) in 2019 and is honored to add those four initials at the end of her name. Ms. Skaggs looks forward to continuing her passion through learning, teaching, or mentoring others while contributing to their personal growth and success.

With a robust legal career spanning across litigation in various legal areas, probate, estate planning, and in-house counsel roles, Ms. An offers a wealth of experience and practical expertise. She has previously represented numerous clients in high-stakes commercial disputes, personal injury cases, complex probate cases and estate planning matters, and she now focuses her practice in probate and estate planning. Ms. An received her J.D. degree in 2017 from the University of Houston Law Center. She also received her B.S. degree in Psychology, summa cum laude, from the University of Houston in 2011. She is a current member of the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Bar Association, and the Asian American Bar Association in Houston. She is admitted to practice before all Texas State Courts.

Ms. Barr founded Barr Law, PLLC, after serving as managing attorney of RMO LLP’s Houston office for almost two years. After seeing how she could run a satellite office of another firm, she decided to venture out on her own and hang her shingle. As a seasoned litigator, her areas of practice include defending and prosecuting causes of action against fiduciaries in probate, trust, guardianship, and power of attorney proceedings. Ms. Barr also handles guardianship, probate, and trust administrations to stay abreast of any statutory changes and court requirements. As a part of this type of litigation, she has experience handling several commercial real estate transactions (including acreage), commercial and dram shop liability litigation, equitable and statutory bill of review proceedings, and appeals. Ms. Barr defends fiduciaries wrongfully accused but she also prosecutes fiduciaries who have abused their positions. Her extensive experience in discovery disputes, either defending privilege and objections to prevent production of certain documents and compelling documents, allows her to advise clients on the pitfalls of discovery. Ms. Barr earned her J.D. degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

Mr. Coufal is a Texas licensed attorney and his areas of practice are elder law, estate planning, and Medicaid planning. His goal in practicing law is to make complex legal challenges easier to understand and provide the support and education his clients need to relieve the financial and emotional stress associated with long-term care expenses. Mr. Coufal is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). He is also a member of the Elder Counsel, a group of attorneys dedicated to the elder law practice. In addition, Mr. Coufal is a full member of the Texas Bar College, an honorary society of lawyers who are among the best trained attorneys in Texas. Members are qualified attorneys who are interested in both high ethical standards and improved training for all Texas attorneys. He has a J.D. degree and an LL.M. degree from the Duke University School of Law. He is also a graduate of Texas A&M University Mays Business School and Dallas Baptist University. He and his family are actively involved in church ministry in north Texas.

Ms. Hoggatt concentrates her practice in estate planning and probate law, business planning and tax law. Her practice includes estate planning, providing estate administration and probate services to executors, trustees, heirs and beneficiaries in matters involving probate, estates, and trusts, general business matters, formation and financing of business ventures, entity choice and formation considerations for business entities, asset protection, and tax planning for businesses and their owners. Ms. Hoggatt received her LL.M. degree in Taxation in 2012 and her J.D. degree in 2008, both from the University of Houston Law Center. She received a B.A. degree in Government from The University of Texas at Austin in 2005.

Ms. Pierson’s main areas of practice are estate planning and probate. She realizes that a well-planned estate can mitigate a lot of the burdens families face when they lose someone they love. Ms. Pierson believes her clients deserve a plan that goes beyond the legal documents and ties up both legal and non-legal loose ends in order to give her clients’ families a path forward through their grief. She helps her clients create estate plans that do not just transfer assets. The wills and trusts she creates take a load off the survivors, prevent familial conflict, and protect future generations. Whether clients need a will, a trust, or a vehicle to protect their assets, Ms. Pierson can prepare a customized plan that will help them to achieve their goals. She enjoys counseling her clients on how to use their estate plan to protect their legacy and provide for loved ones in the event of death or incapacity. Ms. Pierson graduated with honors from the University of Texas School of Law.

Ms. Sarah E. Sibley joined Ford + Bergner in 2024. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Sibley was with the Office of Chief Counsel for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission where she primarily focused on guardianship law. Ms. Sibley has also represented mortgage lenders and servicers in mortgage-related litigation on both the plaintiff and defense side. Ms. Sibley has gained wide ranging experience in the areas of real estate, probate, mortgage litigation, and creditor bankruptcy over the course of her career. Ms. Sibley graduated with a B.S. degree from Texas A&M University in 1999 and received her Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law in 2002. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is licensed in the United States District Courts and the United States Bankruptcy Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas. Ms. Sibley also has her guardianship certification from the State Bar of Texas.

For more than a decade Mr. Ence has represented clients throughout Massachusetts in a variety of civil and criminal matters. He is committed to providing personalized counsel that focuses on each client’s goals and obtaining the best possible outcome. He moved to Boston to attend law school after living in the western U.S. After graduation he stayed in Boston and began working with a downtown law firm. Over ten years ago, Mr. Ence opened his own practice and moved to Western Massachusetts.

Mr. Gutbezahl has a proven track record of success in Massachusetts state and federal court. In addition to handling contentious, high stakes cases, Mr. Gutbezahl counsels his clients on the importance of developing best practices to avoid litigation and mitigate risks. After nearly a decade of representing private sector businesses and individuals, he now represents municipalities in a wide array of litigation matters. Mr. Gutbezahl is a recognized thought leader on the legal implications of generative artificial intelligence (“Gen AI”) on the workplace and is a member of multiple steering committees and task forces concerning the use of Gen AI. He has been a featured speaker for numerous associations and organizations concerning the intersection of Gen AI and employment law and is the author of a monthly newsletter on the topic, “ChatAdamG.” Mr. Gutbezahl was recently recognized by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as an Up & Coming Lawyer as part of its Excellence in the Law series. In 2024, he was also recognized as a Top Lawyer by Boston Magazine, as well as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers and the New England Real Estate Journal. Mr. Gutbezahl is also a 2024 graduate of the Boston’s Future Leaders Program, which is a 10-month leadership initiative conducted by Harvard Business School and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

Ms. Salsburg focuses her practice in the areas of business litigation, corporate advice and counsel, and white-collar criminal defense. She represents corporations, small businesses, and individuals in contract and business disputes, False Claims Act matters, State Ethics Commission inquiries, and government and internal investigations. Ms. Salsburg also advises closely-held businesses on corporate and employment matters. Prior to joining Laredo Smith & Kane, she was a litigator at a large international law firm, in its Florida and Boston offices. Her work at the firm focused on litigation at the federal and state levels involving breaches of contract, corporate dissolution, fraudulent transfer claims, commercial foreclosures, and patent infringement. She also handled FINRA arbitrations on behalf of broker-dealers. Ms. Salsburg’s pro bono experience includes several successful CORI-sealing petitions, petitions for asylum, an appeal from an inmate on Florida’s death row, litigation and appeal to assist a not-for-profit foundation, and invoking Hague Convention protection to return a child wrongfully removed to the United States by a parent. She was also a bar advocate for criminal matters at the Boston Municipal Court (Central).

Ms. Emory is a senior associate in Morris, Manning & Martin’s Commercial, Class Action and Product Liability Litigation practices, with a specialization in insurance coverage defense. She brings extensive experience and a proven track record in handling complex legal matters, drafting legal documents, and representing clients in complex insurance coverage and general liability cases. Additionally, she has experience managing cases solo in both the Superior and Magistrate Courts and drafting motions involving complex federal jurisdiction issues. Ms. Emory currently serves as the newsletter co-editor for the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia where she plays a crucial role in distributing important legal updates and supporting the professional growth of fellow attorneys. Additionally, she is a 2020 graduate of the State Bar of Georgia’s YLD Leadership Academy. Ms. Emory holds a J.D. degree from the University of Georgia School of Law as well as a B.S. degree from the University of South Carolina.

Mr. Lyon advises and represents clients in a broad range of insurance coverage and commercial litigation matters, including commercial general liability, property damage, property liability, and personal injury. He assists clients in evaluating the legal and factual issues in first-party and third-party insurance coverage disputes, including interpreting policy provisions. He also defends clients in complex litigation in federal and state courts. Before joining Cozen O’Connor, Mr. Lyon was a litigation associate with a law firm based in Atlanta. As an associate, he handled a wide variety of civil litigation matters, including representing domestic and international insurers in coverage disputes and construction defect claims and defending insureds against personal injury and property damage claims. He has additional experience in complex corporate matters, liability defense, real estate, and contractual disputes. Mr. Lyon earned his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Oglethorpe University and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from the Mercer University of Law, where he was the editor-in-chief of the Mercer University Law Review.

Mr. McElhone is a pragmatic litigator with a focus on serving families in crisis. He started his legal career as a domestic violence prosecutor in Cordele, Georgia and now practices family law at Eittreim Martin Cutler in Atlanta. He served as a representative for the Young Lawyer’s Division of the State Bar of Georgia from 2021-2023, has been published in the YLD Review, and received the YLD’s Award of Achievement in 2023. Outside of court, he is a runner and musician.

Ms. Modi is an associate in King & Spalding’s Atlanta office and is a member of the Trial & Global Disputes practice group. Ms. Modi ‘s practice focuses on representing businesses in high-stakes commercial litigation, complex business disputes, and product liability litigation. She is a team member on several matters, including representation for Fortune 500 companies such as Coca-Cola, R.J. Reynolds, and Boehringer Ingelheim.

Ms. Sabulis has been defending professional liability lawsuits involving hospitals, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers and entities since 2012. She has defended allegations of medical malpractice, ordinary negligence, assault and battery, fraud, and premises liability in all stages of litigation from pre-suit management through trial and appeal. In addition to representing clients in civil litigation, Ms. Sabulis has represented physicians in investigations and hearings before the Georgia Composite Medical Board, hospital credentialing committees, and insurance companies. Ms. Sabulis also has experience managing the claims side of litigation for hospitals, as well as providing professionals and organizations with risk management advice and preventative education for their personnel. More recently, Ms. Sabulis has focused on aspects of litigation away from the courtroom, including witness preparation, complex written discovery and document production, and motions practice. In her new role with the firm, she manages formal and informal education and training for attorneys new to the firm and/or medical malpractice litigation, as well as human resources issues specific to or involving attorneys.

Ms. Smith’s practice focuses on the defense of cases of alleged medical and dental malpractice, long-term care and assisted living malpractice, premises liability, automotive and transportation liability, products liability, insurance, and business litigation. Prior to joining Huff Powell Bailey, Ms. Smith was a partner at two medical malpractice and insurance defense firms, and an attorney for a leading communications, media and automotive services company handling commercial, media law, and intellectual property disputes and litigation. Her clients include physicians, dentists, medical and dental group practices, hospitals, long-term care and senior living facilities, commercial vehicle insurers, small businesses and national corporations. Ms. Smith has successfully defended medical malpractice, premises liability and automotive liability cases at trial and through the appellate phase of litigation. She also represents professionals before state licensing boards.

Ms. Augustin practices elder law, probate litigation, estate planning, estate administration, and family law at Augustin Law Offices, PLLC, in East Lansing, Michigan. She is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Law and serves on several committees and council roles, including board member of the Ingham County Bar Association, member of the ICLE Elder Law Advisory Board, co-chair of the Ingham County Bar Association Probate Section, and State Bar of Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Council member. Ms. Augustin is also a member of the Greater Lansing Estate Planning Council and Michigan State University Inn of Court.

Mr. Boey is an associate in the Detroit office dedicated to representing clients in all areas of domestic relations and matrimonial law, including high-asset divorces, complex custody cases, child and spousal support matters, pre-marital and post-marital agreements, and enforcement actions. With a focus on designing comprehensive and personalized solutions for his clients, he navigates his clients — ranging from corporate executives to stay-at-home parents to physicians to business owners to other professionals — through the profoundly personal nature of family law cases. Mr. Boey devotes himself to minimizing the emotional toll on his clients’ families, especially children, while maintaining strict confidentiality and ensuring results-driven representation. He takes a practical approach to his client’s matters — maintaining a focus on obtaining favorable results outside of the courtroom, whether through informal settlement or at mediation, while at the same time being prepared to fully litigate the matter through trial. Throughout the case, Mr. Boey is dedicated to listening, connecting, and working with his clients by giving them the clarity they require to reach optimal outcomes through personalized solutions.

Ms. Boutell is an attorney in Taft’s Domestic Relations practice group. Her practice centers around all aspects of domestic relations law, including divorce, separation, custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, paternity, post-nuptial and pre-nuptial agreements, change of domicile, post-judgment modifications, and other domestic relations matters. She is also a dedicated advocate for reproductive rights, with a particular focus on issues surrounding family building. Ms. Boutell practice encompasses cases involving assisted reproductive technologies, surrogacy, and parental rights, working to ensure equitable access to these services and to protect the legal rights of all parties involved. She maintains a personalized approach, working with men, women, and families to provide domestic relations and related guidance and advocacy.

Mr. Keeler is a lifelong Michigander, raised in Plainwell, just north of Kalamazoo. He earned his undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University, majoring in History with a minor in Social Studies Education. After a brief period working at the high school level, Mr. Keeler pursued his passion for law, graduating from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2014. Initially starting his career in family law, he explored other practice areas but quickly realized that his background in education uniquely positioned him to support clients navigating divorce and custody matters. Mr. Keeler ability to explain complex legal concepts in a clear, compassionate manner has been invaluable to families facing emotionally charged situations. For the past several years, he has focused exclusively on family law, where he leverages his skills to help clients resolve issues efficiently and thoughtfully. Mr. Keeler is a solutions-oriented attorney who understands that no two families are alike. His approach is tailored to each client’s specific circumstances, recognizing the need for flexibility and creative problem-solving. Having a brother who is a combat veteran and children with special needs has made these issues deeply personal to him, driving his commitment to advocacy and support for families in challenging times.

Ms. Shadowens is a partner at Varnum LLP. Her practice is entirely devoted to family law matters, specializing in divorce, child custody and family law litigation including change of domicile, interstate and international child custody matters. Ms. Shadowens is also a trained mediator and collaborative lawyer. She adamantly advocates for her clients in Kalamazoo, Kent, Allegan, Berrien, Van Buren, St. Joseph, Barry, Calhoun, Eaton, Ionia, and surrounding counties. Her 26 years of experience lends itself well to complex high-asset cases involving closely held family businesses, and challenging child custody matters. Her knowledge of the law, diligence and tenacity help her accomplish her client’s goals in their family law matters. Ms. Shadowens has litigated cases in all levels of the court system, including the Michigan Supreme Court. Media outlets call on her to share her expertise. She is a former council member of the State Bar of Michigan Family Law Section and currently serves as a board member for the Girls on the Run of Greater Kalamazoo.

Mr. Williams practices in the Southfield office of Foster Swift as a member of the litigation practice group, focusing on family law cases including divorce, child support, and spousal support, criminal defense, and criminal and family law appeals. Mr. Williams is a former Chicago violent crimes prosecutor where he prosecuted first-degree murders, child sexual assaults, aggravated driving under the influence, and other violent offenses. Mr. Williams is a co-author of the Physical and Scientific Evidence chapter of the Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education publication Introducing Evidence at Trial, and he is a regular contributor to Foster Swift’s Family Law Advocate blog. Mr. Williams is also a former presenter on DUI issues for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. He is an active member of the State Bar of Michigan’s Family Law Section and the Oakland County Bar Association. Mr. Williams is licensed to practice in the state courts of Michigan, Illinois, and California.