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John Bahe is a partner with Bahe Cook Cantley & Nefzger PLC in Louisville, Kentucky. He is a former corporate and insurance defense litigation attorney who now uses this experience to help the injured effectively prosecute their claims at Bahe Cook Cantley & Nefzger PLC. Mr. Bahe maintains a national practice focusing on civil trials, medical product and pharmaceutical liability claims, and catastrophic personal injury cases of all types. He is also well-versed in contract disputes, business litigation, nursing home negligence, civil rights actions, and consumer protection claims and has effectively prosecuted several claims for insurance bad faith, both first and third party. Mr. Bahe has also been a lecturer on several different legal topics for both the Louisville Bar Association (LBA) and the Kentucky Justice Association (KJA) and the University of Louisville’s Brandeis School of Law. Mr. Bahe is experienced and highly knowledgeable in helping people who bring their cases in an individual capacity and those whose legal matters are part of a class-action or multi-district litigation (MDL). Mr. Bahe earned his juris doctor degree from the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville. While at Brandeis School of Law, Mr. Bahe was elected by his peers as Student Bar Association representative and also was the president of the school’s chapter of Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity, International. Prior to law school, Mr. Bahe earned his undergraduate degree (B.A.) from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. He is past-board member of the Kentucky Justice Association (“KJA”) – a statewide organization of trial attorneys as well as a KJA committee chairman for the past 15 years. Mr. Bahe is also a member of Leader’s Forum of American Association for Justice (“AAJ”), the largest national organization of plaintiff’s lawyers.

H. Gera Meyman is the principal of Meyman Law in Lexington, Kentucky. Her areas of expertise include administrative litigation as well as family law and employment law. Her employment law experience primarily centers on wrongful termination as well as unlawful discrimination and retaliation. Ms. Meyman’s administrative litigation experience primarily centers on Social Security Disability and Kentucky Retirement Systems. Her family law experience centers on divorce, child support, and maintenance matters. She is also experienced in the areas of criminal expungement, probate estate management, debt collection, and fraudulent conveyance. She is licensed to practice in Kentucky state courts as well as the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. She has also been listed as an attorney of record in a Sixth Circuit case. Ms. Meyman graduated summa cum laude from Virginia Tech with a double major in English and Psychology. She earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Kentucky College of Law.

Robert Thompson is an attorney with Thompson Legal LLC. Throughout his legal career, he has focused on a wide range of practice areas, with a particular emphasis on employment law, constitutional law, and personal injury cases. His passion and dedication to his clients drive his results, as he tirelessly works to achieve favorable outcomes in every case. Whether it’s navigating complex employment disputes, defending constitutional rights, or advocating for individuals injured through negligence, Mr. Thompson is committed to delivering exceptional representation and fighting tirelessly on behalf of his clients. He is a native of Louisville, Kentucky and pursued his undergraduate studies at Western Kentucky University, earning a degree in Political Science and Entrepreneurship. After completing his undergraduate studies, he pursued a J.D. degree from Northern Kentucky University graduating cum laude.

Franklin S. Yudkin is the principal of Yudkin Law in Louisville, Kentucky. He practices primarily in collections and debtor/creditor matters. Mr. Yudkin has been a frequent speaker on collection topics, and also searches the internet and various data bases to locate debtors. He is a member of the Louisville, Kentucky and Indiana State bar associations; Commercial Law League of America and National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys. Mr. Yudkin earned his B.A. degree from Indiana University and his J.D. degree from the University of Louisville.

Jane Binder is the owner of Binder Law Offices, P.A. Throughout her career, she has tackled a wide range of family law issues, including divorce, child custody and parenting time, property division, spousal maintenance, and domestic violence. She has a comprehensive understanding of the legal complexities and emotional dynamics involved in family matters. As a mediator, Ms. Binder acts as a neutral third party, helping parties communicate effectively and reach mutually acceptable agreements. Through her skillful facilitation and calming demeanor, she helps find creative solutions that consider the unique circumstances and priorities of each party. Ms. Binder also serves as an arbitrator, where she makes legally binding decisions when parties are unable to reach agreements. Her strong analytical skills and deep understanding of family law enable her to render fair and informed decisions, helping parties avoid the potential pitfalls of lengthy court battles. Ms. Binder is highly regarded for her compassionate approach and her ability to guide and support parties through the often challenging and emotionally charged process of family law disputes. Her dedication to achieving fair outcomes for all parties involved makes her a valuable asset to those seeking alternative methods to traditional litigation. Every year since 1996, she has been recognized as a Super Lawyer. Ms. Binder has also been named one of the top 50 Women Attorneys in Minnesota. She has twice been named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in Family Law in the Twin Cities. She is a fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, where she served as the president of Minnesota Chapter. She serves on the Minnesota ADR Ethics Board, and she frequently lectures on family law topics. Ms. Binder is admitted to practice in the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Charley Good is an attorney in Pemberton Law’s Alexandria office. He focuses his practice on family law which includes divorce, child custody, spousal maintenance, post decree motions, child support, school choice issues, parenting time, adoption and all related issues. Mr. Good is a rule 114 certified neutral and enjoys mediating family law cases. Additionally, he handles Guardian and Conservatorships. He graduated magna cum laude from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota with a B.A. degree in Legal Studies and Philosophy. He received his J.D. degree from William Mitchell in St. Paul, Minnesota, graduating cum laude. While attending William Mitchell, he made numerous appearances in district court as a certified student attorney logging over 300 hours of courtroom experience. Mr. Good is a past president of the Douglas County Bar Association and has co-authored and updated Chapter 13 of the Minnesota Civil Practice Deskbook on Depositions.

Katie Kelley is a partner with Chestnut Cambronne, practicing mainly in the firm’s Family Law Practice Group. Admitted to the bar in 2017, she has experience throughout the family law spectrum, including domestic abuse orders for protection, marital dissolution, post-decree matters, custody and parenting time disputes, third party custody, and financial support. While in law school at Loyola University Chicago, she worked as a student attorney on the domestic violence team at Chicago’s Legal Aid Society. Ms. Kelley represented exclusively Spanish-speaking clients there and continues to represent the Spanish-speaking community in her current practice. She majored in International Studies and Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Ms. Kelley strongly believes in making the legal system as accessible as possible. She volunteers with Tubman and the Volunteer Lawyers Network and has regularly been named a North Star Lawyer by the Minnesota State Bar Association for her pro bono service. Ms. Kelley is also involved in the local family law legal community. She is the past-president of the Family Law League organization and involved with the Family Law Council of the newly merged MSBA/HCBA/RCBA family law sections. She has been named a Rising Star attorney by Super Lawyers since 2021.

Carole Pasternak is a partner at Klampe Law Firm and has been with the firm since 1999. Her practice focus is family law, a dynamic field involving all aspects of divorce, custody, child support, parenting time, step parent adoption, and domestic abuse. She is Rule 114-neutral providing family mediation services. While attending law school, Ms. Pasternak was associate editor of the Seton Hall University School of Law Constitutional Law Journal and authored Victims Once Again: The New Jersey Supreme Court’s Unwillingness to Provide all Marital Tort Victims the Right to a Jury Trial. She was selected to be a research assistant to Professor Jack M. Sabatino, Deputy Presiding Judge for Administration, New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division. During law school, Ms. Pasternak worked with the State Division of Mental Health and Guardianship Advocacy involving the rights of children in juvenile psychiatric civil commitments. She interned for The Honorable Donald W. de Cordova as an assistant law clerk and clerked for Honorable Herbert S. Glickman; both positions focused exclusively on family law matters. Ms. Pasternak was active in the Center for Social Justice at Seton Hall and represented underprivileged clients in family law matters as a student attorney through a mentorship program. She also served as a mediator in the special civil part of the district court handling landlord/tenant issues and other conciliation court matters. Ms. Pasternak earned her B.A. degree from Rutgers University and her J.D. degree from Seton Hall University School of Law.

Nicole J. Tabbut is a partner at Pemberton Law’s Detroit Lakes office. She is a member of the Family Law group and primarily practices in the areas of divorce, child custody and parenting time, spousal maintenance and child support, adoption, and family law appellate matters. Ms. Tabbut also maintains a neutral practice where she is a Rule 114-qualified mediator, parenting time expeditor, parent consultant, and custody evaluator. She also practices in the areas of Guardianship and Conservatorship. Ms. Tabbut is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association and the MSBA Family Law Section where she has held the positions of vice chair and chair of the statewide Family Law Section. She is also active on the Board of Directors for A Place to Belong, having held the position of vice president and president. Ms. Tabbut is a member of the Otter Tail and Becker County Bar Associations and has held the positions of secretary/treasurer, vice president, and president in Becker County. Additionally, she mentors law students from Mitchell Hamline School of Law’s hybrid program. Ms. Tabbut is a past member of the Minnesota Lavender Bar Board of Directors and helped plan the MLBA’s annual conference for several years. She has earned the distinction of North Star Lawyer since 2018 and has been named as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers since 2021. A native of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, Ms. Tabbut graduated summa cum laude from Minnesota State University (Moorhead) with a Bachelor of Social Work degree. She then attended Mitchell Hamline School of Law, where she was an associate and senior editor on law review, served as vice justice and justice of the Monroe Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, and Chairperson of the Student Bar Association’s Social Committee. Ms. Tabbut was named to the dean’s list every semester during law school, received numerous CALI awards, and graduated summa cum laude.

Matthew Yost is an associate attorney at Chestnut Cambronne, PA, representing clients in all types of family law cases. He prefers a creative, collaborative approach and prioritizes case resolutions based in certainty and equity. Mr. Yost obtained his B.A. degree in English from the University of Minnesota and his law degree from Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Before entering private practice, he worked as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Richelle M. Wahi in Minnesota’s First Judicial District. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Mitchell Hamline, assisting a tenured professor in Constitutional Law and Civil Procedure courses. Mr. Yost serves on a number of boards and organizations, including the Family Law League and the Association of Family and Conciliations Courts, and he is a volunteer attorney with Tubman and the Children’s Law Center.

Ms. Brown is a 2024 vLex Fastcase 50 honoree, recognized for her contributions to integrating technology and ethics into legal education. She is also the recipient of the 2024 AALS Section of Technology, Law & Legal Education Technology & Ethics Award. Ms. Brown holds a J.D. from Seattle University School of Law with an emphasis in intellectual property law, an M.S. in Library and Information Science from Drexel University, and a B.F.A. from DePaul University. She is a frequent CLE instructor on legal ethics, artificial intelligence, legal technology, process optimization, and legal research. She has taught law school courses including Legal Technology for Practice and Art of Advocacy, in addition to several courses on artificial intelligence, and various specialized legal research topics. Ms. Brown is an active member of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL). She has held numerous leadership positions within the organization, including serving on the AALL Executive Board from 2011 to 2014. Her research interests include intellectual property, acting skills for lawyers, legal technology in education, and artificial intelligence. She is co-author of the forthcoming book Strategic Tech Integration in the Legal Academy: A Comprehensive Guide for Aligning with ABA Standards and Modern Legal Practice.

Amy Cann brings over two decades of practical experience in business, human resources, and safety to her legal practice, providing clients with common-sense legal guidance, often during stressful and difficult situations in people’s lives. She has a law degree and a Certificate in Information Privacy Law from the University of Maine School of Law, two graduate degrees in Business and Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University, and privacy and cybersecurity certification from IAPP and ISC2, respectively. She is active with many professional organizations, including the New Hampshire Bar Association, the New Hampshire Women’s Bar Association, and SCORE. Additionally, she teaches for the University of New Hampshire and Franklin Pierce School of Law. Ms. Cann also presents for local and national audiences on employment law and AI, data privacy, and cybersecurity, including for the National Business Institute. She formed Cann Law as a registered NH benefit corporation, reflecting her commitment to social responsibility through her pro bono work with 603 Legal Aid. She enjoys hiking with her dogs, family and friends, playing soccer at Seacoast United and supporting the Pope Memorial Humane Society, FURRR, SAFER, the Center for Wildlife, and the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation.

June Hunter is a technical enablement lead for legal software company, DISCO, where she works daily to train individuals on legal technology. Before joining DISCO, Ms. Hunter worked as a paralegal/IT services provider/e-discovery Specialist at CGS3, LLP, a boutique real estate firm in San Diego. She is equipped with a powerful combination of IT systems expertise and legal experience and has a unique capability for recognizing and resolving the complex technology issues encountered in a law firm environment. A graduate of the ABA-approved Paralegal Studies program at UC San Diego, Ms. Hunter has worked in the legal field for 34+ years in roles such as legal secretary, paralegal, litigation support, and computer software trainer. Her industry experience and talent has made her a go-to provider of clear, hands-on training for other legal professionals on effectively using legal software.

Luke Rushing is an attorney with Huth Reynolds LLP and is admitted to practice in New York and California. He graduated from Columbia Law School in 2018 where he was a Kent Scholar and took one of the first legal classes to be offered in machine learning techniques. As a practitioner, Mr. Rushing has represented numerous major figures in the entertainment industry in IP work, as well as many major retailers in COVID-related maritime cases. He has written on AI adoption by the legal industry, taught AI usage to legal professionals, interviewed numerous leading figures in the AI tech industry, and has twice been appointed vice chair of the ABA Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.

Cari L. Sheehan is an assistant general counsel with Taft Stettinius & Hollister, LLP. With over 15 years of legal experience in civil litigation, conflicts of interest, and professional responsibility, she serves as the firm’s assistant general counsel with Taft Stettinius & Hollister, LLP. In this role, she advises firm attorneys with respect to ethics compliance, risk prevention, and conflicts of interest. In addition, she assists in the review and negotiation of outside counsel guidelines, conflict waivers and engagement letters, and other items with ethical implications. She also assists in providing ethical training and education within the firm to its attorneys and staff. Ms. Sheehan is an adjunct professor at the IU Robert H. McKinney School where she teaches Professional Responsibility. She is also a former assistant clinical professor of Business Law and Ethics at the Kelley School of Business. She is passionate about promoting ethical awareness, integrity, and professionalism in the legal and business fields and contributing to the advancement of knowledge and practice in these domains. Ms. Sheehan is a frequent presenter and author on ethics and professionalism in the legal industry. She is a recurring author with the Res Gestae regarding the ethics curbstone and has been quoted in publications for her knowledge on ethical topics. Ms. Sheehan is also an avid speaker, having given over 200 seminars on ethics and professionalism for various local and national platforms. Her primary area of research is regarding the ethics of AI and how it affects the legal and business community.

Ms. Anderson has dedicated her professional career to fiercely advocating for children and adults in complex civil rights litigation cases. Her practice focuses on matters involving solitary confinement, sexual abuse, excessive force, prisoner rights, and wrongful death. As a litigator, her focus is on client-centered, collaborative, and empowering approaches to hold powerful institutions accountable. Ms. Anderson earned her juris doctor degree at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Among other achievements, she participated in the school’s prestigious Civil Rights Clinic for two years where she represented clients in civil rights and prisoner rights cases. Prior to law school, she earned her bachelor of arts degree in Psychology and minor in Child and Family Studies from the University of Tennessee. While earning her B.A. degree, Ms. Anderson also worked closely with her community as a volunteer in non-profit organizations.

Ms. Butler focuses her practice on civil rights and employment discrimination, and she is is committed to fighting for justice on behalf of her clients. Prior to joining Rathod | Mohamedbhai LLC, she served as a judicial law clerk for two years for the Honorable Philip A. Brimmer on the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. Ms. Butler started her clerkship shortly after graduating from Columbia Law School. While in law school, she was an executive editor of the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law and on the executive board for the Environmental Law Society. She also interned with the Queens County District Attorney’s Office where she prosecuted misdemeanor domestic violence cases. Ms. Butler earned distinction in law school as a James Kent Scholar and a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. She graduated from Colorado College with a bachelor of arts degree in Geology.

Ms. Moskwa specializes in real estate finance, development, joint ventures, acquisitions and distressed asset workouts. As a member of Gibson Dunn’s Real Estate Practice Group, she provides counsel on complex transactions, back-leverage financing and leasing. Since May 2024, Ms. Moskwa has been seconded to KKR & Co. Inc., where she focuses on real estate, compliance and general risk mitigation, and collaborates closely with external counsel to upgrade and streamline the client’s risk management efforts. In this role, she led the rollout of updated best practices, including enhancements to billing processes. Drawing on her legal tech expertise, Ms. Moskway has developed innovative solutions tailored to the client’s needs. Ms. Moskwa earned her juris doctor degree, summa cum laude, from New York Law School in 2021 while working full-time with Giorgio Armani Corporation and later with the New York City Mayor’s Office. During law school, she served as staff editor of the New York Law School Law Review, externed with the New York Attorney General’s Office, and was affiliated with the Center for Real Estate Studies and the Innovation Center for Law and Technology. Notably, she presented her legal tech app to Microsoft’s Legal Operations Technical Sharing Committee, showcasing her commitment to integrating technology into legal practice. She is a recipient of the prestigious Trustees’ Prize. Ms. Moskwa holds a bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies, with highest honors, from Roma Tre University in Italy. A former legal assistant and Italian thespian, she is fluent in Polish, Italian, and French. Ms. Moskwa is admitted to practice in New York.

Mr. Oh-Willeke has had mixed litigation and transactional practice since 1995. He was a cum laude graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. He is admitted to the practice of law in Colorado and New York State. He has previously been an associate professor of estate planning, a law partner, and has been of counsel in law firms with four to seven hundred lawyers.

Yvonne Sell is an attorney with SJJ Law. Her main areas of practice include Insurance Coverage Disputes and Insurance Appraisals and Litigation. She represents companies and individuals against insurance companies who have wrongfully denied or delayed paying a claim. Prior to her insurance practice, she spent the early years of her career in real estate and civil litigation. Ms. Sell earned her B.S. degree from University of Saint Mary and her J.D. Degree in addition to her Master’s in Legal Administration from Sturm College of Law.

Ms. Barker brings over three decades of dedicated paralegal experience to her clients. Starting her career in 1989, Ms. Barker has a rich background in litigation across civil, family, and criminal law. She has attended numerous criminal trials at counsel table and has managed family law cases through both court processes and mediation. Her experience includes thorough document preparation, individual client meetings, and maintaining client relationships without direct attorney supervision. Later in her career, Ms. Barker transitioned into estate planning, assisting with trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and deed transfers into trusts. Her extensive experience spans working with one firm from 1989 to 2012, two firms from 2012 to 2018, and providing contract services to attorneys from 2018 to 2023. In 2024, she retooled her business model to extend her services directly to individuals, making her valuable legal support more accessible. Ms. Barker holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Her educational background enhances her ability to support clients, especially those facing stressful legal situations.

Ms. DeBernardis has worked all over the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of New Hampshire, and she has a vast amount of experience in many areas of law. Ms. DeBernardis has worked with clients from all walks of life ranging from representing indigent clients through appointment by the Court to private clients in all areas of law in lower and higher Courts throughout each state. Over the years, she has been a member of the Essex County Bar Advocates, Inc., and a panel attorney for the Appellate Division of the Committee for Public Counsel, providing counsel to indigent defendants. Ms. DeBernardis’ practice focuses on family law, criminal law, and appellate law in Massachusetts and family law in New Hampshire. Ms. DeBernardis earned her B.S. degree in Psychology and Law at the College of New Jersey (formerly Trenton State College) in 1996. She continued her education at the New England School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts, where she earned a juris doctor degree in 1999. Attorney DeBernardis was admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1999, the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts in 2003 and the State of New Hampshire in 2007.

Mr. Gabor has extensive experience in human resources, litigation, and alternative dispute resolution. His human resources practice includes compliance, drafting policies, preparing manuals, conducting training, handling workplace investigations, conducting auditing, and counseling clients in all aspects of the employee-employer relationship. Mr. Gabor’s litigation practice includes employment discrimination, harassment, employee classification, wage and hour, unfair competition, non-compete, and ERISA matters. He conducts regular seminars, workshops, and webinars on matters concerning employment law and human resources. Mr. Gabor has been recognized as a Best Lawyer in America and Super Lawyer in New York, Massachusetts, and New England. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of Michigan and his J.D. degree from Touro College, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center.

Mr. McMahon’s main areas of practice include personal injury, employees’ rights and probate controversies. He was most recently an attorney with Rath, Young and Pignatelli. Mr. McMahon earned his B.A. degree from Boston University and his J.D. degree from the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law.

Ms. Brown has been exclusively practicing family law since 2011 with experience specializing in divorce, modifications, custody cases and other family law-related matters. While attending law school she was awarded a certificate in Family Law. Ms. Brown has been nominated as a Georgia Super Lawyer every year since 2017 an accolade awarded to fewer than 2.5 percent of lawyers in the state. Additionally, she has also been nominated by Georgia’s Trend Legal Elite every year since 2018. Ms. Brown is an active member of the Cobb Bar Association and State Bar of Georgia. She serves on numerous boards and is heavily involved in Kennesaw Business Association and the Kennesaw Public Safety Foundation.

Ms. Fodor is an experienced divorce attorney who has been practicing law since 1998. She provides compassionate, yet aggressive representation for clients facing divorce, as well as custody and child support disputes. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Fodor was a stockbroker/financial advisor for Prudential Securities, Inc., and then Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Her experience has helped her understand the complexities of finance and securities. In addition to divorce, child support and custody issues, she provides legal counsel to individuals and companies in such areas as business and securities law. Ms. Fodor is a member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia and the State Bar of Arizona. In addition, the Supreme Court of Georgia appointed Ms. Fodor to serve as a mentor for beginning lawyers in Georgia. Ms. Fodor is also a Member of the Cobb County Bar Association, where she is involved in the Family Law Section. Ms. Fodor graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1998. She excelled in academics, won trial competitions, and earned her degree with honors. She also wrote articles for the University bar journal and worked two internships her final year: one for the Arizona Public Defender’s Office and one for the Arizona Corporation Commission, Securities Division.

Gary Graham is a partner with Stern Edlin Graham Family Law, P.C. His main areas of practice include high net worth divorce, complex custody cases and family law matters. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a member of the State Bar of Georgia.

Mr. Naggiar is a top rated attorney by Georgia legal leaders and has received the Client Distinction Award from Martindale-Hubble, an accolade bestowed on less than four percent of the 900,000 attorneys on Martindale-Hubble. Mr. Naggiar has an AV Preeminent rating, meaning that his peers have rated him at the highest level of excellence. In addition, he has earned the honor of being named to Superlawyers and the honored distinction of making the Superlawyers Top 100 in Georgia. Mr. Naggiar has also been named as one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite. He represents clients in the full spectrum of family law cases, including contested child custody, drafting of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and modifications of custody, alimony and child support. Due to his entrepreneurial background and corporate work prior to practicing family law, his expertise is sought out specifically for high asset cases involving the division of businesses and complex financial assets. Mr. Naggiar graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 2000. After working as a consultant in the commercial real estate and entertainment industries in California, Mr. Naggiar’s desire for more meaningful and solidly ethical work spurred him to change course and became a Judge Advocate General (JAG) in the Army. He served as Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia and prosecuted cases for the Army in Federal Court. Mr. Naggiar served nearly four years on active duty before being honorably discharged at the rank of Captain. He then took over as Chief of Legal Assistance in the Department of the Army as a Civilian Attorney, serving over 30,000 service members, their family members, and retirees in all aspects of family law. During his tenure, the office won the Chief of Staff Legal Assistance award, and he was awarded the Superior Civilian Service Award. As a military officer and as a civilian attorney, Mr. Naggiar represented clients in thousands of family law, criminal law, and estate planning cases for both active duty and military retirees in the Atlanta area. With his military background and understanding of the unique issues that confront military personnel, his legal expertise is frequently sought by service members and retirees from all branches of the U.S. Armed Services, as well as their families. Mr. Naggiar continues to give back to the military community by volunteering his services for the Georgia State Veteran’s Clinic and speaking at continuing legal education seminars regarding military/family law issues. Mr. Naggiar is admitted to the State Bar and State Supreme Court of both Georgia and California. He is also admitted to the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia. He is also certified by the State of Georgia in both domestic and civil mediations.

Ms. Palmer earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama then attended law school at Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida. She previously worked as in-house counsel for a real estate investment company and was the managing attorney of a law firm in Midtown Atlanta. Ms. Palmer is a partner at Oxendine Law, LLC, practicing in all areas of domestic litigation, divorce, child custody, paternity and legitimation, and modification actions. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia Family Law Section and the Gwinnett County Bar Association Family Law Section.

Ms. Birt is a seasoned family law attorney, mediator, and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) with over 20 years of experience in family law and child advocacy. As the founder of Birt Family Law and creator of the signature Restorative Divorce™ process, Ms. Birt focuses on guiding families through resolution-focused divorce and co-parenting while minimizing court involvement. She is a sought-after speaker on ethics and best practices in family law, known for her practical insights and child-centered approach.

Ms. Dunn is a certified mediator, award-winning, and trained in collaborative divorce, and she has been appointed by judges to represent the interests of minor children in custody disputes. She was named a member of the illustrious Forty Under 40, a peer-reviewed selection of the finest young attorneys in Chicago. She has extensive knowledge of family law issues, including divorce and custody disputes, child support payments, alimony matters, prenuptial agreements, domestic violence cases, adoption proceedings and other types of family disputes. Ms. Dunn practices exclusively in family law and has done so since 2008.

Mr. Field has been practicing matrimonial and family law in Illinois for 24 years. He currently serves as the Head of Beermann LLP’s Family Law Practice Group and he is an experienced litigator specializing in custody disputes, relocation actions (including interstate and international matters under the Hague Convention), post-dissolution conflicts, and the negotiation and drafting of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. In 2010, Mr. Field was named one of Illinois’ Top 40 Attorneys Under Forty by Law Bulletin Publishing Company and has been recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine every year since 2009.

Mr. Gordon works exclusively in the area of family law. He has significant experience dealing with both parenting-related and financial litigation. In addition, Mr. Gordon has expertise conducting settlement conferences, drafting marital settlement agreements, parenting agreements, and pre and post-nuptial agreements. Furthermore, he is a skilled appellate advocate, having litigated numerous family law cases at the Appellate Court level. In 2012, Mr. Gordon’s book, Pre-Nuptial and Post-Nuptial Agreements, was published by the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE). He also authored the 2022 edition of the book, and it remains their most comprehensive authority on the drafting and enforcement of pre and post-nuptial agreements.

Mr. Maurer has over two decades of experience in all aspects of divorce and family law. As a trained guardian ad litem, Mr. Maurer has been appointed by judges to investigate contested custody cases, to be “the eyes and ears of the court”, and to give guidance and recommendations to the court as to what is in the best interest of the children. As a trained and certified mediator, he has been appointed by the courts and retained by private parties to act as a neutral third party to facilitate settlement agreements between parties to divorce and parenting disputes. Mr. Maurer handles cases in DuPage County, Cook County, Kane County, and other counties in the Greater Chicagoland Area. He has focused his practice in the area of family law, including divorce issues (contested and uncontested divorces, complex financial divorces), parentage cases, preparation of prenuptial agreements and postnuptial agreements, custody disputes, establishing visitation or parenting schedules, child support calculation and maintenance determination, grandparent rights, relocation disputes regarding removing children from Illinois, and enforcement or modification of court orders.

Ms. McGuan received her J.D. degree, summa cum laude, from the Northern Illinois University College of Law in 2010, where she graduated first in her class. Prior to attending law school, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish Language and Literature from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a Certificate in Paralegal Studies from William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, Illinois. An attorney in private practice, Ms. McGuan is a member of the Adjunct Faculty in the Legal Studies Program at the College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, where she teaches Introduction to Legal Research and Writing, Family Law, and Immigration Law. She is the author of The Illinois Family Law Paralegal (Carolina Academic Press, 2024).

Mr. Aronfeld was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Wichita, Kansas. He graduated cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law in 1991. Upon graduation, he founded his own firm in Coral Gables, Florida. He has dedicated his life to representing individuals against corporate giants, such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruise Lines, Disney Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Holland America Cruise Lines, the Bayer, Johnson & Johnson, Stryker, Target, Publix, Walmart, Mt. Sinai Hospital, State Farm Insurance Company, United Automobile Insurance Company, Baptist Health South Florida, South Miami Hospital, and International Airplane Leasing. Mr. Aronfeld earned international recognition after his first jury trial, when an Orlando jury awarded his Uruguayan clients a $100,000 verdict against Walt Disney World. Before trial, Disney had offered his clients only $1,200. That verdict remains one of the largest in a personal injury case against the Mouse and his legal battle was recounted in the book, Disney, the Mouse Betrayed. Mr. Aronfeld graduated from the Trial Lawyer College, a non-profit institution founded and directed by legendary trial lawyer, Gerry Spence in Dubois, Wyoming. Lawyers are admitted by invitation only and learn how to try cases on behalf of the people. Mr. Aronfeld has since returned as part of the faculty and has joined Spence on several of his nationwide book tours. Mr. Aronfeld lectures frequently across the country to both lawyers and law students. He has appeared on Dr. Phil, The Doctors, NBC’s Today Show, Court TV, Primer Impacto, Univision, Montel, Tyra, Dateline NBC, America’s Most Wanted, The Insider, Cristina, Sevsec al Fondo, CNN and HLN with Jane Velez-Mitchell. Mr. Aronfeld is Board Certified as a Civil Trial Lawyer by both the Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Board Certification was established in 1982 by the Supreme Court of Florida. It provides clients with the assurance in the selection of legal counsel. A lawyer who is Board Certified by The Florida Bar has demonstrated ability and experience in the field of practice and has earned a reputation for professionalism with the legal community. Furthermore, a lawyer who is Board Certified by The Florida Bar exhibits outstanding character and ethics. Mr. Aronfeld is an active and prominent member of The Florida Bar and has substantial experience in his areas of specialty cruise ship passenger accidents, car and truck accidents, slip and falls, personal injury cases, defective products, dangerous medical devices, and recalled prescription drugs. He has been recognized as one of Florida’s Super Lawyers and was named one of the “20 Most Intriguing Floridians” by Florida Magazine. In addition to the Florida Bar, he is admitted to practice in Federal Court, the Southern and Northern District of Florida, the District of Columbia and the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of American Justice Association, Miami-Dade Justice Association, Trial Lawyers for Public Justice and an Eagle Member of the Florida Justice Association. His firm is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell.

William P. Galione has been in practice for more than 25 years. He practices in the areas of child injury, including child abuse and neglect, defective toys and equipment, and pediatric medical malpractice, in addition to personal injury, auto collisions and slip and fall accidents. Mr. Galione is a member of The Florida Bar (former member of Continuing Legal Education Committee, former member of Solo & Small Firm Section, former member of Trial Lawyers Section). He earned his B.S. degree from the University of Florida-Warrington College of Business and his J.D. degree from the University of Florida-Fredric G. Levin College of Law.

Carol Goraczko has worked on civil litigation cases from inception through trial. Ms. Goraczko started her legal career doing medical malpractice defense, and found her home in plaintiffs’ personal injury working with clients who have been catastrophically injured or who have lost a loved one as a result of malpractice. In her more than 15 years of experience doing catastrophic personal injury, she has honed her skills and utilized her tech savviness to create compelling damage presentations that have contributed to the resolution of cases in the eight figures. Ms. Goraczko is the president of the Broward Chapter of the Paralegal Association of Florida, and a member of the Paralegal/Legal Assistant Section of the Florida Justice Association.

Michael Levine represents people and families across Florida in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. Prior to joining Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi & Cain, he was a law clerk to US District Court Judge Paul C. Huck and an associate in the litigation group at Bilzin Sumberg. Mr. Levine graduated, with honors, from the University of Florida and summa cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law. During his eight and a half years with STFBC, he has secured over $125 million in recoveries for his clients. Mr. Levine has served on the Board of Governors of the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, as co-chair of the Personal Injury Committee for the Miami Dade Bar Association and on The Florida Bar’s Civil Procedure Committee. In 2022, he was elected to the American Law Institute, a leading national organization producing scholarly work to clarify, modernize, and otherwise improve the law. He was proud to have played a part in drafting Andrew’s Law, an anti-hazing bill that made hazing a third-degree felony and included lifeline provisions, with the hope of preventing future deaths. He has lectured to college students across the state to educate them on the bill, which was passed unanimously by the Florida Legislature.

Kasey Wagner is an experienced trial lawyer who has represented people injured by the negligence of others for more than 20 years. Specifically, she takes on nursing home neglect and abuse cases, along with medical malpractice and other catastrophic personal injury cases. Ms. Wagner has obtained multiple 7-figure verdicts, and her favorite part of her job is being in the courtroom. She earned her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Wake Forest University and her J.D. degree from Wake Forest School of Law.

Peter L. Wechsler is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator and practices in Pinecrest (Miami), Florida. Mr. Wechsler is also a Florida Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator and concentrates his practice in civil litigation, mediation, e-discovery, electronically stored information (ESI), product liability, personal injury and wrongful death, insurance disputes, complex commercial litigation, motor vehicle crashworthiness, and accident reconstruction, and has been appointed by the courts numerous times as a Special Master in e-discovery disputes. He earned his J.D. degree from Suffolk University Law School in Boston. Mr. Wechsler is board-certified in civil trial advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and he is a member of The American College of Board Certified Attorneys. He has been consistently selected by his peers as a Florida Super Lawyer®, including 2016 – 2020 in personal injury and products defense. Mr. Wechsler finished his five-year term on the Florida Board of Bar Examiners, and is now an emeritus member. He has been appointed to the Professionalism Committees of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, and is a member of the Florida Supreme Court Standard Jury Instructions-Civil Committee. Mr. Wechsler is a fellow in the American College of e-Neutrals, a life member of the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM), the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the Florida Defense Lawyers Association (FDLA), the Brain Injury Association of Florida, the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan (JSAE), and many other societies and organizations. He has been dealing with Frye and Daubert matters for many years, and has been involved in qualifying and disqualifying experts in various fields at trial. Mr. Wechsler has used most types of experts in trial, including accident reconstruction, biomechanical, medical and mental health.

Ms. Anderson primarily practices in the areas of domestic and family law, criminal law, and bankruptcy. Ms. Anderson’s over 12 years of experience in these areas of law has given her a unique ability to not only achieve results but to assist clients though difficult, complicated and sometimes incredibly emotional events. She received her bachelors degree in Political Science from the University of Central Florida and a J.D. degree from Barry University School of Law, where she received a certificate for completing a concentration in the areas of children and family law. Ms. Anderson has worked in the legal field since 1997 and since then has worked at all levels within private law firms. Ms. Anderson has been involved in the following organizations and affiliations: American Bar Association, The Florida Bar (Family, Criminal and Young Lawyers Division), and Orange County Bar Association. Additionally, Ms. Anderson is an adjunct professor for Seminole State College as well as Bryant & Stratton. Ms. Anderson was a former adjunct professor for Barry University, Kaplan University and Everest University.

Ms. Beebe practices exclusively in the area of marital and family law. She is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by The Florida Bar, and she is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL). Ms. Beebe is a member of the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar, the Palm Beach County Bar Association, Florida Association of Woman Lawyers and the Palm Beach County Greenberg Gamot Family Law American Inn of Court. Ms. Beebe is a past chair of the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar (2018-2019). She was elected to the Executive Committee of the Family Law Section in 2015 and served as the secretary from 2015-2016; treasurer from 2016-2017; the chair-elect 2017-2018; and chair 2018-2019. She also served on the Executive Council from 2010 until her appointment on the Executive Committee. Ms. Beebe currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, where she began her legal career in 2006. She has been recognized as Florida Rising Star from 2017-2019 and a Super Lawyer from 2021 to present.

Ms. Hernandez represents high-net-worth individuals in complex marital and family law matters. She assists individuals in the dissolution of marriage, equitable distribution, alimony, child support, parenting and time-share issues, paternity, and prenuptial agreements. Ms. Hernandez has obtained the AV Preeminent peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell. In addition, she has been selected for inclusion in the Super Lawyers list since 2014, including Top 100: Miami Super Lawyers in 2018, 2020- 2022 and Top 50: Women Florida Super Lawyers in 2015 and 2018, The Best Lawyers in America list since 2019, Florida Trend’s Legal Elite list, and South Florida Legal Guide’s Top Lawyers list. In addition, Ms. Hernandez is a Fellow of The American Bar Foundation and is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law.

Ms. Kay assists Florida’s families as a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law and Appellate Mediator and a collaborative attorney. She also extends her expertise to solo and small firms throughout Florida with freelance research, writing, and consulting services. Ms. Kay served as the chair of the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar during its 50th anniversary year (2023-2024), as president of the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers (2017-2018), president of the Hillsborough County Bar Association Leadership Institute Class of 2013, and the co-chair of the Hillsborough County Bar Association 5k Pro Bono River Run Committee in 2013 and 2014. Ms. Kay is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by The Florida Bar and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML). She holds a J.D. degree, a master’s degree in Education and a master’s degree in Business Administration.

Cecily Barclay advises clients on land use and entitlements, real estate acquisition and development, and local government law matters. She assists with land use application processing, drafting and negotiating purchase and sale agreements, and negotiating and securing the approval of development agreements. She also handles general plan amendments, annexations, initiatives and referendums, and tentative and final subdivision maps. Ms. Barclay’s projects include redevelopment of land for market rate and affordable housing, life science campuses, hotels and resorts, and transit-oriented mixed-use development projects. She has significant experience in processing entitlements for redevelopment and expansion of regional retail centers, resort hotels, entertainment centers, biotech/R&D campuses, large mixed-use master-planned communities, and multifaceted reuse of former military facilities and other infill development sites. Her work involves advising on land use initiatives, negotiating school fee mitigation agreements, preparing conservation easements to mitigate for loss of biological resources, and drafting affordable housing programs, Williamson Act contracts, and related issues pertaining to agricultural properties. Ms. Barclay works with local agencies on drafting ordinances relating to updating general plans and housing elements, planned development zoning, specific plans, mitigation fees, affordable housing, and growth management. She focuses on how agencies and developers can apply state housing laws, particularly antiNIMBY (Housing Accountability Act) and density bonus laws. Ms. Barclay is a lead author of Curtin’s California Land Use & Planning Law, a publication summarizing the major provisions of California’s land use and planning laws. She also co-authored Development by Agreement, an ABA publication providing a national analysis of laws and practices concerning various forms of development agreements. Ms. Barclay regularly speaks and writes on topics involving land use and local government law, including programs and articles for the American Bar Association, American Planning Association, Urban Land Institute, and other state and national associations and conferences.

Ms. Graham has practiced law in the area of real estate transactions and litigation for over 30 years, and has served as a mediator for over 15 years. Her law practice focuses on transactional real estate law and civil appeals. Ms. Graham’s mediation practice emphasizes business and real estate matters. She has also mediated personal injury, unlawful detainer and civil harassment disputes. Ms. Graham is an author of a chapter of the CEB treatise Neighbor Disputes: Law and Litigation, which she continues to update annually. She also edits chapters CEB’s California Easements and Boundaries: Law and Litigation. Ms. Graham has been a panelist at various California State Bar and local bar events on the topics of easements, neighbor disputes, contract issues, elimination of bias and advanced negotiation skills. Ms. Graham has a background in title insurance and liability insurance. She litigated an insurance bad faith matter which ultimately went to the California Supreme Court. She served as a mediator for the Los Angeles Superior Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Panel, serving on both its pro bono and pay panels during which time she mediated contract, business, real estate, unlawful detainer, personal injury and civil harassment matters, as well as private mediations. Ms. Graham has served as a member of the Executive Committee of the California State Bar Real Property Section and as a member of the Board of Trustees of Santa Monica Bar Association. She is an active member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association Small Firms and Solo Section and presently serves on its executive committee. Ms. Graham trained as a mediator with the Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution of Pepperdine University School of Law. She holds a B.A. degree in English from UCLA and a J.D. degree from Loyola Law School.

Lauren Layne is a shareholder at Baker Manock & Jensen, PC, in Fresno, where she chairs the firm’s Business Department and leads the firm’s Water Law and Public Agency practice groups. Her law practice focuses on general water and environmental law, including CEQA and NEPA compliance, and includes various business transactional matters in the areas of water rights, water quality, public agency law, agribusiness, and real property. She also assists clients with land acquisitions and eminent domain proceedings. In addition to representing private farming clients, she serves as general counsel to various irrigation and water districts, flood control districts, and a number of groundwater sustainability agencies. Ms. Layne attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where she majored in Soil Science, and earned her J.D. degree, with distinction, from McGeorge School of Law. She is a native of Porterville and has an agricultural background that includes farming and raising sheep. She was very involved in both 4-H and FFA, is a past 4-H Leader, and received her American FFA Degree. She is currently serving as vice chair of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Cal Poly College of Agriculture Food and Environmental Sciences and as immediate past president to both the Cal Poly Alumni Association and the McGeorge School of Law Alumni Association. She is the chair of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) State Legislative Committee and serves on the ACWA Legal Affairs Committee. Ms. Layne is co-chair of the Fresno County Bar Association Ag Law Section and is a member of Fresno County Farm Bureau.

Mr. Offord graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 2005. Thereafter, he remained in Santa Barbara to work at a general litigation firm before attending law school at Santa Clara University and earning his J.D. degree in 2009. As a student at Santa Clara, he was named top of his class (receiving the CALI or the Witkin Award) in four of his courses, in addition to graduating on the Dean’s List. Mr. Offord joined the firm in 2009 after clerking for a law practice that primarily focused on real estate litigation and transactions. His experience includes law and motion practice and all stages of civil trials, including serving as lead counsel in many bench and jury trials. He has participated in State and Federal trials. He is heavily involved in the local real estate community, with an active role in several local real estate associations. He has also obtained his Real Estate Broker’s License from the California Department of Real Estate and also manages a real estate brokerage. He is regularly asked to be a speaker for local real estate organizations and brokerages, including SILVAR, Santa Clara County Association of Realtors®, Shasta County Association of Realtors and San Mateo County Association of Realtors®. He has also guest lectured at Menlo College for the Real Estate Law and Introduction to Law courses. In addition, Mr. Offord has been a speaker for both the Santa Clara County and San Mateo County Bar Associations. At Brewer Offord & Pedersen LLP, Mr. Offord works on matters representing real estate professionals and homeowners involved in neighbor and property disputes, as well as on commercial property matters.

Pallamary & Associates is owned and operated by Michael J. Pallamary, a professional land surveyor licensed by the State of California. Mr. Pallamary has 42 years experience in the land surveying, land planning, land use consultation and engineering professions. He is a nationally recognized authority on land surveying and local land development regulations. Mr. Pallamary is a founding member of the Land Surveyors Advisory Council on Technical Standards (LSACTS). He writes a regular column for The American Surveyor magazine. He owned and operated Precision Survey & Mapping from 1983 to 1999. Mr. Pallamary has also been the owner and president of Land Survey Service of La Jolla since 1983. He is recognized as the preeminent authority on the redevelopment of property in La Jolla and San Diego’s coastal regions. Mr. Pallamary is also the owner and operator of www.tiepoints.com, the state of California’s premiere Land Surveyor Resource and Research Site. This site is also used as a tool to locate City of San Diego Tie Points. Pallamary & Associates specializes in land use litigation and the processing of complex land use permits, land planning, discretionary permits and coastal development permits issued by the City of San Diego and the California Coastal Commission. The company also provide project management services and land development consultation services for conventional projects and also in connection with insurance matters. As the owner of Land Survey Service of La Jolla, Mr. Pallamary owns the largest private collection of property records and survey maps of La Jolla properties. Mr. Pallamary is also a former member of the City of San Diego’s Board of Zoning Appeals in addition to having spent many years as a member of a variety of planning organizations including a term as the elected chairman of the Clairemont Mesa Planning Group, an elected member of the North Bay Project Area Committee and an appointed member of the Mission Bay Park Committee and Mission Bay Park Planners. In these capacities, he has co-authored the Mission Bay Park Master Plan, the Clairemont Mesa Community Plan and the North Bay Redevelopment Master Plan. Mr. Pallamary is also a co-author of the City of San Diego’s Mapping and Land Title Document Preparation Manual.

Since 1995, Mr. Alexander has proudly represented the victims of negligence. He only represents those people who are injured, mostly by big corporations and hospitals. He is proudest of his work representing children who have been injured at birth and have been left with profound brain damage and the victims of sexual abuse. Mr. Alexander concentrates his practice on representing the victims of catastrophic injuries in the areas of medical malpractice and complex personal injury litigation.

Mr. Banks is the principal attorney at Banks & Associates, PLLC, a Houston-based law firm focused on meeting the needs of government and construction contractors throughout Texas. He is a trusted advisor for licensed professionals, CEOs and managers in construction firms, and government contractors. Mr. Banks was licensed as a CPA in 2003 and has more than 20 years of experience as a lead accountant and CFO for successful government contractors. He earned his B.B.A. degree with a double major in Accounting and Finance from the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston and secured his J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law. Mr. Banks is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Association of Corporate Counsel and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He is a member of the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Ms. McCarthy is a trial attorney at Schwartz Jambois and focuses her practice in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse and neglect, as well as other catastrophic injuries. She has tried in excess of 100 jury trials to verdict, has successfully argued and achieved reversal before the 7th Circuit United States Court of Appeals, as well as in the First District Appellate Court, and obtained hundreds of settlements for both individual and corporate clients. Ms. McCarthy is a leader in the Chicago legal community. In 2020, she was named to the highly-selective Illinois Super Lawyers list, and voted as #1 of the “Top 10 Emerging Lawyers” and also voted as #1 of the “Top 10 Emerging Women Lawyers” by her peers in a survey conducted by Leading Lawyers. Ms. McCarthy was named by Crain’s as one of the “Most Influential Women Lawyers in Chicago” in 2017, as an “Emerging Lawyer,” in 2016, and one of the “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch” in 2014 by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.

Mr. DeSalvo, a Chicago native and DePaul University graduate, has been a fiercely independent Plaintiff’s Personal Injury lawyer for more than 25 years. He is the son of a catastrophically injured truck driver whose injury case dragged on for more than 17 years and has dedicated his career to fighting for the rights of injured people. A real trial lawyer, Mr. DeSalvo is a graduate of the Gerry Spence “Trial Lawyers College”, as well as the prestigious “The Keenan Edge” advanced programs for trial lawyers, post-law school curricula than not one in 100,000 lawyers has mastered. He brings his working class work ethic and a ‘tell it like it is’ approach to the thousands of clients he has helped, and continues to help from his Oak Brook and Chicago offices.

Ms. Niles has handled over 4,000 cases throughout her career, where she fought tooth and nail to achieve the best settlements possible for her clients. She has gone to trial nearly 300 times and boasts an impressive 93% winning record in appealed cases. She is one of the hardest working women in Illinois, evident from the beginning of her law career when she put herself through law school at IIT-Chicago Kent College of Law. During Ms. Niles’s very first job out of law school, she tried the Smith Case that became the seminal reference for the proposition that an employer cannot create a job and artificially inflate a wage just to avoid paying an 8(d)(1) wage differential. From there she has gained over 24 years of experience, working on both sides of workers’ compensation law. Her experience provides insight into how the defense thinks and allows her to anticipate their arguments, thus making her clients’ cases stronger in advance.

Ms. Annest is a Seattle native, she graduated cum laude and with high honors from Dartmouth College in 2000, where she captained the women’s volleyball team and was a visiting student at Oxford University. Ms. Annest received her J.D. with honors from the University of Washington School of Law in 2003 and served as a Notes and Comments Editor of the Washington Law Review. She spent the first 16 years of her career at Mills Meyers Swartling, P.S., and gained substantial litigation experience representing large and small businesses in a variety of contract, insurance, product liability, and real property matters. Ms. Annest served as President of the Western Washington chapter of the Dartmouth Alumni Association for years, and continued competing in volleyball tournaments with her USAV team. After adopting her daughter in 2008, she began building her family formation practice. Adoption, assisted reproduction, estate planning, and probate matters filled an increasingly large percentage of her time. Particularly after she and her husband adopted their son in 2010, the kids also filled an increasingly large percentage of her time. In 2015, Ms. Annest became a Fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (fka the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys). In 2019, she joined the experienced adoption and estate planning team of Albert Lirhus and John Keckemet. Ms. Annest’s practice now includes all types of adoption, including complex situations involving ICWA and ICPC, step-, second-, and third-parent adoptions, contested adoptions, and birth parent representation. In addition, the 2019 revisions to Washington’s Uniform Parentage Act opened new possibilities for families pursuing assisted reproductive technologies. Surrogacy and gamete donation contracts represent a growing portion of her work.

Ms. Buie is the founder and CEO of Elise Buie Family Law. Her practice focuses on family law and serving as a guardian ad litem, advocating for children’s best interest in high-conflict divorce and dependency matters. Ms. Buie’s practice involves all aspects of family law: preparation of postnuptial and separation agreements, parenting plans, child support, simple and complex financial cases, relocation, and blended families. She is collaboratively trained and has had 40 hours of mediation training. Ms. Buie is an active member of the Washington Bar, a voluntarily inactive member of both the Minnesota Bar and the Louisiana Bar, and the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana. She is a member of the King County Bar Association (Family Law Section, Collaborative Law Section), the Snohomish County Bar Association, the Washington State Bar Association, (Family Law Section, CLE Committee), the Washington Women Lawyers, the National Association of Women Lawyers, The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) (incoming president 2019 Washington Chapter), and the American Bar Association (Family Law Section and GP Solo Division, Family Law Committee, Juvenile Law Committee, Commission on Women in the Profession). She earned her J.D. degree from Loyola School of Law.

Mr. Hawthorne is a paralegal and Limited License Legal Technician with Just-in Case Family Law. He has been a paralegal for more than 11 years and was admitted to the Washington State Bar as an LLLT in 2021.

Mr. Khan’s practice emphasizes family law, bankruptcy, general litigation (including personal injury), and drafting simple wills. He is an experienced family law mediator and has published several articles, including co-writing the Family Law Deskbook chapter on prenuptial agreements. Mr. Khan has served as a pro tem family law commissioner at King County Superior Court. He is a former adjunct professor of family law in the paralegal program at Edmonds Community College. Mr. Khan is a member of the Illinois and Washington State Bars. He is also a member of the Washington State Bar Family Law and Bankruptcy Law sections, and King County Bar Association (and Family Law and Bankruptcy Law sections). He earned his J.D. degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology and his LL.M. degree from the University of Washington School of Law. 

Korey Twombly has been an experienced paralegal with Envision Family Law since February 2024, with prior paralegal roles at Morris | Sockle | Posadas and at the Washington State Department of Health as a Health Services Consultant. Ms. Twombly holds an associate of arts and sciences degree in Paralegal Studies from South Puget Sound Community College and an associate’s degree in Hospitality and Hotel Restaurant Management from Anne Arundel Community College. She is currently working towards a bachelor’s degree at The Evergreen State College.

In May 2022, Ms. Cole opened Cole Family Law Firm, a boutique family law firm in Las Vegas. In addition to serving the Las Vegas metropolitan area, Ms. Cole also serves the Ely, Nevada, community and she has a second office there. Previously, Ms. Cole practiced with Willick Law Group, a premier Las Vegas family law firm, for seven years. She attended the Houston Family Law Trial Institute program in 2019 to build her trial advocacy skills, and she is well versed in complex litigation. Ms. Cole practiced in Elko, Nevada, from 2011-2015, and she served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Dan Papez and the Honorable Steve Dobrescu in the Seventh Judicial District Court of Nevada in White Pine, Lincoln, and Eureka Counties in 2010. Ms. Cole is a graduate of Gonzaga University School of Law where she earned a Cali Excellence Award in Legal Research and Writing. She is admitted to practice in the State of Nevada and the U.S. District Court, District of Nevada.

Ms. Haseebullah is a 2014 graduate of UNLV’s William S. Boyd School of Law. While in law school, Ms. Haseebullah gained experience in the family law arena, externing at Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, interning with the Honorable Judge William Gonzalez, and clerking at a local family firm where she worked with divorce, custody, and bankruptcy clients. Upon admission to the Nevada State Bar, Ms. Haseebullah accepted a position as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Frank P. Sullivan in the Family Division of the Eighth Judicial District, where she specialized in child abuse and neglect court. She later joined Kelleher and Kelleher, practicing domestic cases exclusively until 2018, when she began practicing in abuse and neglect matters. In 2022 Ms. Haseebullah was certified as a national specialist in child welfare law.

Ms. Resch has been practicing since 2013. She obtained her bachelors degrees in Political Science and Drama from the University of California, Irvine, and attended the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. After graduating, Ms. Resch was a judicial law clerk for a family court judge in the Eighth Judicial District Court of Nevada. Ms. Resch is a skilled trial attorney and graduate of the National Family Law Trial Institute in 2017 where she worked directly with nationally renowned forensic, business, and child custody experts. Due to her experience and knowledge, Ms. Resch spoke for American Institute of Certified Public Accountants at the Forensic Valuation Services Conference and the Expert Witness Skills Workshop. Prior to partnering with Gonzalez Law Firm to run the family law department, Ms. Resch was a partner at Naimi & Cerceo, where she worked side by side with fellow specialists, as well as with Fellows with the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers.

Ms. Urfalyan has dedicated her entire legal career to complex divorce and child custody matters. She is admitted to the State Bar of Nevada and is currently in the process of being certified as a family law specialist. She has co-authored the Hague Convention Chapter for the American Bar Association (ABA) in 2017; The Codex of Family Law Manual to assist new attorneys with specific statutes and case law for the Family Law Conference in Bishop, California, in 2018; the ABA publication for Foreign Discovery in 2020; and the State Bar of Nevada divorce information guide in 2023. She has also been distinguished by the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada for her legal contributions and community service. In 2022, Ms. Urfalyan served as a co-instructor for a State Bar of Nevada Continuing Legal Education (CLE) class for over 50 family law attorneys. Attorney Urfalyan received her juris doctorate degree from Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, California in 2017. While in law school, she received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for Children and the Law, the Witkin Award for Family Law Procedure and Practice, and the Wiley W. Manuel Certificate for Pro Bono Legal Services by the State Bar of California.

Joshua Arnold is a founding partner in the law firm of Fortune, Beard, Arnold, Graham, & Arnold, LLP, in Columbiana, Alabama. He has represented clients in civil, criminal, domestic, estate and probate matters since 2010 and has extensive trial experience in state courts. Over time, his focus shifted to the area of state and local government law, and he currently serves as City Attorney for a number of cities in Shelby and Chilton Counties. Mr. Arnold earned his B.S. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Montevallo, his M.Ed. degree from the University of Montevallo, and his J.D. degree from Birmingham School of Law.

Joey Barlow is an attorney with Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys in Birmingham. Mr. Barlow began his legal career interning with the Honorable Laura Petro at the Circuit Court of Jefferson County while pursuing his undergraduate studies. Following his internship, he gained valuable experience working as an assistant, focusing on family law, bankruptcy, personal injury, and criminal cases. After earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Mr. Barlow continued his education at Liberty University, where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology, followed by a J.D. degree from the Birmingham School of Law. In 2018, he joined Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys as a paralegal, where he handled various personal injury cases, acquiring invaluable experience that now drives his dedication to serving clients. Attorney Barlow is committed to fighting relentlessly for his clients, ensuring their rights are protected and justice is served. He now focuses his practice on personal injury law and civil litigation.

Lindsay Demers is an attorney in Gulf Shores who has cultivated a diverse range of legal expertise since establishing her own law practice. Specializing in civil litigation, domestic relations, real estate, and criminal defense, she has consistently demonstrated her dedication to her clients and the legal profession. Whether navigating complex contractual disputes or advocating for individuals’ rights in personal injury cases, Ms. Demers’s courtroom acumen and negotiation skills have proven invaluable. In the realm of domestic relations, Ms. Demers provides comprehensive legal guidance and representation in divorce proceedings, child custody disputes, and spousal support matters, prioritizing the well-being and best interests of her clients and their families. Her proficiency in real estate law encompasses a broad spectrum of services, from residential and commercial transactions to property disputes and landlord-tenant issues. As a staunch advocate for justice, she is committed to defending the rights of individuals facing criminal charges. Ms. Demers earned her undergraduate degree from Suffolk University, and her J.D. degree from Massachusetts School of Law at Andover.

Emily Yeager is an associate attorney with Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys in Birmingham. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Birmingham-Southern College and her J.D. degree from Birmingham School of Law.

Sheli Fulcher Koontz practices with the law firm of Johnson May in Boise. Ms. Koontz provides clients with concierge legal services, helping them access and navigate the courts, and securing long-term stability and success for themselves and their families. She has practiced law since 2002. She was named Idaho Trial Lawyers Association President 2015-16 and is one of only four women to serve in that office in over 50 years. Ms. Fulcher Koontz’s legal practice includes estate planning, probate, family law (divorce, custody, asset & debt division), personal injury, and family law mediation. She founded and managed Fulcher Koontz Law PLLC in 2008, and joined the firm of ANGSTMAN JOHNSON PLLC, now known as JOHNSON MAY, in July 2018, after 10 years of independent practice. She is currently the managing partner JOHNSON MAY with offices in Boise and Twin Falls. Ms. Fulcher Koontz is also an adjunct professor at the University of Idaho College of Law in Boise, where she teaches Family Law. She received her BS degree in Molecular Biology from Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho, her graduate degree in Forensic Sciences from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and her J.D. degree from University of Idaho College of Law.

Katherine Meier is a partner with Cosho Humphrey, LLP, in Boise. She is a general practice attorney with an emphasis in family law. She received her undergraduate degree from the College of Idaho and her J.D. degree from Gonzaga University School of Law. Ms. Meier was admitted to the Idaho State Bar in 2014, and she is licensed to practice before all state and federal courts in Idaho.

Abigail Morehouse is the owner of Morehouse Law firm in Boise. She is an Idaho native having grown up in Boise. Ms. Morehouse has extensive litigation experience and is a skilled trial attorney. She is a dedicated attorney that focuses on ensuring her clients are well informed and understand the complicated legal process, and she fights to get the best legal outcome possible in every case. After graduating from Boise State University, she attended Concordia Law where she served on the Board of Law Review as managing editor, volunteered in the Housing Clinic where she assisted clients that faced eviction and other housing issues, and served as research assistant to the Dean. After being admitted to the Idaho State Bar, Ms. Morehouse went to work at the Ada County Public Defender’s Office. During her time as a public defender she handled cases ranging from basic misdemeanors to serious felonies. Since opening Morehouse Law, she has expanded her practice to include family law.

Denise Penton at Penton Law Offices, Pllc, in Boise, is skilled is skilled in all aspects of legal representation. She is a former prosecutor and public defender, and she has been in private practice for over 20 years. She has been a practicing attorney for over 25 years. Ms. Penton brings all of her years of legal experience for her clients’ exclusive benefit. She gives each client her personal attention and commitment and ensures her clients will receive the very best representation. She provides efficient, aggressive, and experienced representation to resolve her clients’ legal issues. Ms. Penton was born and raised in Boise, Idaho and graduated from Boise High School. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho. She went on to earn her J.D. degree from the University Of Idaho College Of Law in 1996. Ms. Penton practices with an emphasis in legal representation in immigration law and family law.

Robert J. Taylor is an attorney and mediator with Taylor Law & Medication PLLC. He opened Taylor Law & Mediation PLLC in Mountain Home in 2013 and expanded into Boise, Idaho, in 2020 and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in 2022. His main areas of practice include divorce, will and estate planning solutions and adoptions. In addition to practicing law, Mr. Taylor also serves as an engineer officer and public affairs officer in the Idaho Army National Guard. Prior to commissioning in 2008, he spent six years as a paralegal specialist for the Idaho Army National Guard. Mr. Taylor graduated from Mountain Home High School in 2002 and attended the College of Southern Idaho. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho in public relations; a master’s in sports administration from American Military University; and a J.D. degree from the University of Idaho College of Law.

Ms. Buchanan has handled trucking crash cases, wrongful death, catastrophic injury, and employment cases in more than 20 jurisdictions. As former BigLaw and in-house counsel to a Fortune 500 company, she traveled the country advising corporate executives and litigating multi-million dollar disputes for insurance companies and large corporations. Now she teaches other lawyers about how to take on these big companies using her training and experience from the other side. Ms. Buchanan is board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in trucking crash cases, making her one of the first few women in the nation to achieve that honor. In 2024, Ms. Buchanan was elected to the American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group Executive Board, which oversees motorcarrier and owner-operator liability legal matters in accordance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

Ms. Padilla’s legal practice focuses on issues involving family relationships, including adoption, divorce, and child custody. Ms. Padilla received her J.D. degree from The University of New Mexico School of Law. Previously she served as an associate attorney at Atencio Law Office, an attorney with Wolf & Fox, PC, and an attorney with New Mexico Legal Group, P.C.

Ms. Palomares has worked with RMC since 2016. She graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2015. She briefly worked as an Assistant District Attorney in the Second Judicial District, prosecuting domestic violence and DUI cases. Ms. Palomares has extensive experience in litigation in domestic relations, criminal, and children’s court matters. She is committed to ensuring that clients receive the expert guidance they deserve. She manages a diverse caseload, handling everything from litigation and motions practice to negotiation in domestic relations, guardianship proceedings, conservatorship proceedings, and guardian ad litem work. Ms. Palomares is fluent in Spanish and, in her spare time, she performs and records New Mexico Spanish music and performs with Mariachi Calor.

Mr. White is a frequent guest lecturer to his peers on his representation of victims of heavy truck crashes and oilfield, pipeline and industrial incidents. His practice focuses heavily on catastrophic truck wrecks and oilfield/pipeline incidents in New Mexico and Texas. Mr. White has never advertised as he believes his work is his advertisement. This has led him to receive client referrals from judges, from jurors that have sat in cases he’s tried, from defense lawyers he’s done battle against, from experts that have been hired in past cases, and from other lawyers. More importantly, a significant portion of his work at Liles White is focused on representing people referred to him by his current and past clients, who are proud to spread the word about his work for them. The best compliment he’s gotten as a lawyer is that he doesn’t act like, talk like, or dress like a lawyer. Despite his primary office being in Texas, Mr. White was asked to author the New Mexico Truck Crash Law Overview for the AAJ Interstate Trucking Litigation Group.

Ms. Huey has been fighting for businesses and individuals for more than 20 years in both state and federal courts. After a career with a major regional law firm representing businesses ranging from multinationals to small local companies, Ms. Huey turned her attention for a number of years to serving those going through divorce and living with its aftermath. She was chosen to serve as a member, then panel chair and finally district chair of the District 6 Grievance Committee of the State Bar of Texas. In addition to business litigation, her practice now focuses on legal ethics and professional responsibility. She helps lawyers navigate the disciplinary process and counsels law firms and individual attorneys on matters of professional responsibility and malpractice. She brings to this practice the same commitment to excellence and the needs of her clients that she has always brought to business and other cases. Ms. Huey is the author of the “Legal Ethics Today” blog found at legalethicstoday.com. She is also a frequent speaker on ethics and professionalism issues to local and national bar associations. She is the web content editor for the Ethics and Professionalism Committee of the American Bar Association Litigation Section and the program coordinator and immediate past chair of the Dallas Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Section.

Mr. Hunt is a Board Certified Civil Trial lawyer with more than 35 years of trial experience in state and federal courts. He has a national ADA and FHA consulting and defense practice representing real estate developers, retailers, restaurants, shopping centers, banks, apartment owners and managers, hotels, single family developers and governmental entities in ADA and FHA accessibility litigation and administrative proceedings. Mr. Hunt speaks frequently on ADA and FHA accessibility issues to both national and local organizations, including the International Council of Shopping Center Developers, the Society of Exchange Counselors, the National Retail Tenants Association and similar groups. He has been interviewed for and quoted in articles appearing in Forbes, The Economist, and other publications. His consulting practice includes private client training and public webinars on avoiding and winning ADA and FHA lawsuits. He has served as an adjunct professor of Disability Law at the SMU Dedman School of law and as an adjunct professor of Trial Advocacy at the former DFW School of Law. His blog, Accessibility Defense serves as a national resource for hundreds of attorneys, accessibility experts and others involved in ADA and FHA litigation.

Ms. Khan’s practice is 100 percents devoted to representing healthcare providers. She is currently a partner in Cooksey Khan Quiñones, PLLC, where she represents doctors and hospitals all over Texas. She previously worked for a defense boutique representing hundreds of doctors in lawsuits and before the Texas Medical Board. Ms. Khan attended the University of Houston Law Center and graduated cum laude in 2003. She also holds a master’s degree in Medical Humanities from the University of Texas Medical Branch. She has been licensed to practice law since 2003. She has volunteered for the State Bar of Texas on the CLE Committee and on the Law Practice Management Committee. Outside of work, Ms. Khan enjoys spending time with her family and giving back to her community. She is a member of the inaugural class of Leadership CFISD, a leadership program for the third-largest school district in Texas. She is a Patroness of the National Charity League, Cypress Belles chapter. Finally, she serves as the Finance Vice President for Multiples of America, a national support organization for parents of twins and triplets.

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.

Mr. O’Toole’s practice is focused on business litigation, as well as construction matters. He regularly handles cases involving issues such as shareholder or partner disputes, real estate matters, and contract disputes. Mr. O’Toole has represented clients in the Austin business community for over thirty years. In addition to being Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, he is a former Certified Public Accountant. This unique combination of skills and expertise positions him exceptionally well to represent clients in litigation involving complex accounting and financial transactions. Mr. O’Toole is also honored to have been admitted to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He has also participated as lead litigation and counsel in contested administrative proceedings with The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, The Texas Lottery Commission, The Racing Commission, The Texas Department of Banking, and The Texas Public Utility Commission. Mr. O’Toole earned his B.B.A. degree from the University of Oklahoma and his J.D. degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law.

Mr. Barnard assists clients in many areas of civil litigation with an emphasis on serious personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death. He is a graduate of Texas Christian University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. Prior to joining civil practice, he worked as an assistant prosecutor in Platte County, Missouri, where he was able to grow his passion for the courtroom by taking several jury trials to verdict. Mr. Barnard also supervised Platte County’s Mental Health Court treatment program and served as the main author and attorney for the creation of the county’s first diversion program. He currently serves as Chair of the CLE Committees for the Missouri Bar Young Lawyers Section Council and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Board of Directors. Mr. Barnard is also a proud member of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys.

Mr. Crompton specializes in complex civil cases across the United States. He has led numerous large-scale litigations, obtaining significant verdicts, settlements, and results on behalf of his clients. A native of Herrin, Illinois, he grew up in a hardworking, union family. Mr. Crompton’s family and close family friends have worked in heavy, dangerous industries, trades and services including railroading, agriculture, mining, natural resources, manufacturing, construction, labor, maintenance, machinery, transportation and trucking, towing/road service, electrical linemen, structural/steel, teaching, and engineering. He has successfully taken on some of the largest, most aggressive corporations and industries, including pharmaceutical, agricultural, asbestos, petroleum/oil, banking, automotive, and manufacturing. Mr. Crompton’s cases have been featured in various media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Time, CNBC, MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, Law360, New York Times, LA Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Missouri Lawyers Media, St. Louis Post Dispatch, St. Louis Business Journal, and the St. Louis Record, to name a few. Additionally, his legal writings, teachings, and materials have been published in and widely circulated by well-known industry publications. He has received numerous awards and recognitions, including a Martindale-Hubbell preeminent AV rating (5.0/5.0), a Top 100 Trial Lawyer, in the Global Directory of Who’s Who (Top Lawyers), a designation by Super Lawyers, and being ranked in the top 5% of private practice attorneys nationwide by Best Lawyers in America.

Ms. Crompton is an experienced trial attorney and dedicated advocate for justice. Her passion to try cases led her to join the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s office prosecuting some of the most serious and egregious offenses in St. Louis City. Ms. Crompton tried over 40 jury trials and countless bench trials during her 11+ year tenure, having an impressive record of felony convictions. It was during her time there that she sought justice on behalf of many women and children who were survivors of sexual crimes and domestic violence. Standing up and giving a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves is the reason she chose to attend law school. Ms. Crompton continued her career at a woman owned plaintiffs law firm concentrating her practice in the areas of catastrophic trucking cases, product liability, wrongful death, medical negligence, employment litigation, and personal injury. Just prior to joining the firm, she operated in a business role as Director and Counsel for a private legal services company. There she managed all services to facilitate resolution of civil litigation matters. Additionally, she was accountable for training and management of employees and independent contractors, marketing, sales, purchasing, budgeting, and ultimately viability. She also created and managed a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program offering insight on a wide range of legal topics to lawyers and other professionals across the country. Ms. Crompton is committed to assisting many causes and organizations including the Missouri Bar and local affinity bar associations. She is a past President of the Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater St. Louis (WLA) and currently serves as Vice President for the Missouri Bar. Ms. Crompton is actively involved with many committees furthering the missions of access to justice, women in the profession, and educational outreach including past Chair of the Government Lawyers Committee, Chair of the CLE Committee and co-Chair of the ADR Committee. She serves as an adjunct professor of law at St. Louis University School of Law teaching courses on Mediation and Trial Advocacy.

Mr. Kurtz practice includes wrongful death personal injury, products’ liability, medical malpractice probate law, elder law, wills and trusts, business and tax law, and real estate. His personal injury practice allows him to help people who have been seriously injured or lost a loved one in an accident. Mr. Kurtz has extensive trial experience and works hard to get clients the compensation they deserve. He is admitted to practice in Missouri, Kansas, and before the U.S. Federal Courts. Mr. Kurtz earned his A.B. degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia, his M.A. degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and his J.D. degree from the University of Missouri Columbia School of Law.

Ms. Longfellow is a civil trial lawyer with more than 20 years of experience in civil litigation. She is admitted to practice in both Missouri and Kansas. Ms. Longfellow regularly defends companies and individuals in lawsuits in state and federal courts, including class action litigation. She also routinely defends employers facing charges of discrimination filed with local, state and federal agencies. Ms. Longfellow’s clients include companies in a variety of different industries, including real estate development, entertainment districts, construction, as well as the retail and service sectors.
In addition to her litigation practice, she regularly trains, counsels, and advises her clients on various employment issues, workplace policies, and compliance with local, state and federal laws. Ms. Longfellow understands the importance of providing practical and preventative advice to assist her clients in assessing and minimizing their risks in a cost-effective and efficient manner. She regularly prepares policies, employee handbooks, employment agreements, including non-compete, non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements, as well as severance agreements for her clients. Ms. Longfellow is a frequent speaker on a wide range of employment-related topics both regionally and nationally.

In over 35 years of practice, Mr. Monsees has handled cases in over 20 states. In the past, he worked for law firms specializing in defense of insurance companies and product manufacturers. That experience now helps him understand his opponent, since he restricts his practice to representing victims of wrongdoing. Mr. Monsees is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he attended both undergraduate and law school. A Kansas City, Missouri native, he returned home to practice law upon graduating law school in 1981, where he graduated in the top 10% of his law school class and was awarded the distinction of “Order of the Coif.” In 2011, he was honored to become a member, by invitation, to the American Board of Trial Advocates, the most prestigious organization of trial attorneys in the United States. In 2021, Mr. Monsees was recognized by Missouri Lawyer’s Media, the publisher of the primary legal publication for Missouri attorneys, as an “Icon” of the profession, recognizing his career achievements in the practice of law. A year later, he was similarly honored by the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association as a “Dean of the Trial Bar.” In 2013, Mr. Monsees published Preparing For a Personal Injury Case, a quick and comprehensive guide to the most commonly asked questions about personal injury cases and what to expect. It continues as a solid reference to the kinds of questions clients can and should ask as they choose an attorney and venture into personal injury litigation.

Mr. Uhrig’s firm focuses on auto and truck crashes, personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, nursing home abuse, and workers’ compensation claims. He is a renowned personal injury attorney with over 24 years of experience in representing clients who have been harmed due to the negligence of others. His unwavering commitment to justice and his compassionate approach to client care have made him a trusted advocate in the legal community. Mr. Uhrig earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri after completing his undergraduate studies also at Mizzou. Early in his career, Mr. Uhrig worked with Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, where he honed his skills in litigation and victim advocacy. This foundation laid the groundwork for his successful career in personal injury 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. Cabrera was born and raised in Miami, Florida, has been committed to serving her community from a young age. Starting her legal career at 16, she gained early experience that confirmed her passion for law. Ms. Cabrera earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Florida International University in 2002 and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law in 2005. Licensed to practice law in Florida since 2006, she specializes in Probate and Guardianship, with additional experience in Family and Real Estate Law. Fluent in English and Spanish, she effectively serves a diverse client base. In addition to her legal practice, she previously owned her own firm, showcasing her leadership and entrepreneurial skills. Ms. Cabrera is committed to helping individuals and families navigate complex legal issues, particularly in the areas of probate and guardianship, where her experience and personalized approach make her a trusted advocate for her clients.

Ms. DiLella Freidzon focuses her practice on the administration and litigation pertaining to estates, trusts, and guardianships, in addition to performing estate planning. Born and raised in New Jersey, she relocated to Florida to attend the University of Miami School of Law, graduating cum laude in 2015. Prior to joining FLPFL, Ms. DiLella Freidzon worked as a law clerk and thereafter an associate attorney, practicing in the areas of probate, guardianship, and trusts. Additionally, she was an Assistant State Attorney, prosecuting an array of criminal offenses and trying misdemeanor and felony cases to verdict. She focused much of her time prosecuting violent crimes of domestic violence and has maintained an interest in advocating for vulnerable families in our community. Ms. DiLella Freidzon is admitted to practice in Florida and New Jersey.

Ms. Gross has focused her legal practice on trusts and estates for more than thirty years, which includes the drafting and administration of wills and trusts as well as probate administration. Additionally, she has been serving other law firms as Of Counsel since 2011 where she handles estate planning and administration as well as represents individuals and businesses in connection with integrating estate planning with asset protection plans. Ms. Gross graduated with a B.A. from the Florida International University. She went on to receive her law degree from New York Law School in 1992 and her Masters in Law (LL.M.) in the Heckerling Program in Estate Planning from the University of Miami, School of Law in 1993. Ms. Gross is currently admitted to the New York and Florida bar. Since 2010, she has served as an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University where she currently teaches Trusts, Estates and Probate for the Legal Assistant Program. Ms. Gross serves on the many boards for the South Florida Jewish Federation and Trustbridge Hospice Foundation of Broward. She is also a member of the Greater Boca Raton Estate Planning Counsel.

Born, raised, and educated in South Florida, Mr. Leon attended Florida International University where he earned a degree in International Relations from the School of International and Public Affairs. Upon completing his undergraduate studies in 2010, Mr. Leon enrolled in the Florida International University College of Law where, while completing his Juris Doctor, he clerked for the Honorable Maria M. Korvick, the Administrative Judge for the 11th Judicial Circuit Probate Division. He has been involved in the Probate and Guardianship community since before his admission to law school. Upon his graduation and licensing, he continued practicing in the areas of Estate Planning, Probate, and Guardianship until eventually starting his own law firm to better serve his clients in late 2016. Mr. Leon also served as a Supervising Attorney/Adjunct Professor for the Florida International University College of Law Clinical Program in the areas of Probate, Guardianship, Elder Law, and Special Needs. He is personally involved with all the cases in the firm, from start to finish, and thoroughly discusses each specific need with any prospective client prior to accepting representation.

Ms. Mallol was born in Cuba, and she migrated to the United States at the age of 4 with her parents. She graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science, a major degree in Criminology and a minor degree in Sociology from Barry University in Miami Shores, FL. After graduating college, Ms. Mallol worked closely with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office as a Victim/Witness Counselor and working there confirmed her desire of attending law school and becoming an attorney. Thereafter, she attended Florida International University College of Law and obtained her Juris Doctorate in 2017. While in law school, Ms. Mallol was a probate law clerk for a solo practitioner, where, with the oversight of an attorney, she worked cases such as estate planning, probate administration, guardianship administration, and trusts and estates litigation. After graduating from law school, Ms. Mallol passed the Florida Bar and began practicing as a Trusts, Estates, and Family attorney. She practices in the areas of Estates, Trusts, Guardianships, Estate Planning, and Family Law. Ms. Mallol is fluent and highly proficient in speaking, reading, and writing English and Spanish.

Mr. Aragon specializes in litigating complex, nationwide class actions on behalf of plaintiffs. Before joining HBSS, he handled initiative, referendum and redistricting matters, including representing the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission in lawsuits related to Arizona’s congressional and legislative redistricting . Mr. Aragon has also represented candidates from all levels of state and federal government and every major hospital in Arizona state. In addition to his private practice , he is committed to pro bono and community service. Mr. Aragon has represented numerous pro bono clients in the areas of rights of publicity, insurance, immigration, family law, and contract law, and served as the chairman of EMPACT-SPC (one of Arizona’s largest behavioral health organizations).

Ms. Mayer is an Advanced Certified Paralegal in Trial Practice and Criminal Litigation with over 30 years’ experience in the legal field. She works for the Yavapai County Public Defender’s Office in Arizona. Ms. Mayer is a member of NALA and serves on NALA’s Professional Development Committee. She enjoys writing articles that relate to the paralegal field and help paralegals obtain information to enrich their professional and personal wellbeing. In her free time, Ms. Mayer enjoys spending time with her husband and son, cooking, volunteering, and watching sports.

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. Moss earned her B.A. in Communication Studies from the James Madison University Honors College in 2018. In 2021, she graduated from the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law with a Juris Doctorate. Ms. Moss joined Attorneys for Freedom in 2020 as a law clerk, where she assisted the firm’s attorneys with criminal cases and postconviction relief matters. In January 2022, she was licensed as an attorney in the State of Arizona and rejoined the firm as a criminal defense attorney. Ms. Moss is proud to have defended clients in state misdemeanor and felony cases, as well as helped clients regain their civil rights in court.

Mr. Sapelli focuses his practice primarily on domestic relations. He offers experience representing clients in all family law-related matters. These include divorce, with or without children, and all issues that may arise in both types of cases. Mr. Sapelli effectively and compassionately advances his clients’ interests in matters involving legal decision-making, parenting time, child support, division of property and debts, spousal maintenance, and other issues. Mr. Sapelli also has experience in complex divorce matters including complex custody and property issues. Aside from divorce matters, his practice also focuses on paternity issues and third-party rights issues, such as grandparents’ rights, step-parents’ rights, and other non-parental rights for children. Giancarlo attended The S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah. In law school, Mr. Sapelli was the assistant to the editor of the Utah Journal of Family Law. He earned a Bachelor’s in Political Science, with a History minor from the University of Arizona. Mr. Sapelli also has a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University, where he graduated with distinction. After an eight-year term of teaching junior high school, Mr. Sapelli’s love for family and children inspired him to work in family law. That same passion continues to inspire him today.

Mr. Turk has thirty years of litigation experience which he uses on behalf of businesses and business owners in commercial litigation, including contract disputes, trade secrets, unfair competition, and other business torts. Whether representing a doctor, a family business, or a large company, he believes in developing relationships and works closely with his clients to achieve their goals. Importantly, Mr. Turk’s experience allows him to help clients explore all their available options and allows him to recognize when traditional litigation will not meet a client’s needs. Mr. Turk has served as a volunteer judge pro tem since 2000. In that capacity, he has presided over more than 15 jury trials, scores of civil, criminal, and juvenile hearings and over a hundred settlement conferences. Mr. Turk brings the experience gained as a pro tem to bear when serving as a neutral in private mediations and arbitrations, providing alternative dispute resolution services in a wide range of matters. He assists parties to resolve disputes arising from torts, professional malpractice, and business disputes, including business “divorce.”