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Driven by a passion for solving problems and a deep sense of compassion, Mr. Fogarty has a commitment to help families navigate life’s challenges. The Heartland Law Firm helps families through life’s transitions, protecting and restoring order and well-being to clients. Throughout his career, He has guided countless clients through the complexities of estate planning, ensuring their legacies are protected and their wishes honored. Mr. Fogarty’s expertise extends to wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and elder law, with a particular focus on safeguarding client well-being through major life events.

After going on Medicare a few years ago he decided that if he could get the proper training and certification, he would like to help other people with the process of getting Medicare Supplements and plans. Mr. Gray specializes in helping both people going on Medicare for the first time as well as people who are already on Medicare navigate the Medicare maze and pick the best and most cost effective plan for their individual needs. The process is complicated but he helps make it simple and easy to understand. Besides meeting with clients he holds information Medicare 101 meetings in the local area at various venues, including Medical Centers, libraries and community centers. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Illinois University. Mr. Gray is a Registered Certified Public Accountant and is also a licensed insurance agent. He has over 40 years’ experience working with investment management organizations and financial distribution companies in leadership roles.

Ms. Moreno is a CELA (Certified Elder Law Attorney), an exclusive honor bestowed on a select group of attorneys by the National Elder Law Foundation. There are only 17 CELAs in Illinois providing creative solutions for clients who are faced with elder law issues. From complete estate and long-term care planning to addressing urgent and often expensive healthcare situations, she devotes her practice to advocating and helping individuals and families maximize the independence and quality of life of seniors and people with disabilities. Her practice focuses in estate planning, adult guardianships, estate and trust administration and litigation, including financial exploitation, will and trust contests, fiduciary disputes, issues of capacity, powers of attorney, undue influence, citations and fraud. Ms. Moreno also handles long-term care planning, Medicaid, Medicaid appeals, special needs planning and disability law. She is on the Board of Directors and is the immediate past president of the Illinois Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (IL NAELA), an organization closely involved in advancing legislation on behalf of elder law attorneys and their clients.

Mr. Pieper has been practicing law for over thirty (30) years, focusing his area of expertise in Probate, involving the administration and litigation of adult disabled estates, decedent’s estates, and minor’s estates. He is regularly appointed as a Guardian ad Litem, attorney for respondents in adult guardianship cases, and as a special administrator in the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Mr. Pieper also provides estate planning for his clients, including drafting wills, trusts and Powers of Attorney. In addition to probate matters, he also serves clients seeking residential real estate assistance. He has spoken on various topics, including assisting attorneys in the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation (“CVLS”) training program for Guardians ad Litem, and the Guardian ad Litem’s role in domestic violence situations. Mr. Pieper has been a member with CVLS for over 20 years. In 2002 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the CVLS in recognition of the pro bono work that he has done for the organization. In 2017, He received the Pro Bono Alumni Award from DePaul University College of Law. Joe was also one of the attorneys featured in the September 2011 issue of Chicago Lawyer in the magazine’s issue on pro bono work. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Pieper worked for Merrill Lynch Futures in its Commodity Operations Division at the Chicago Board of Trade for sixteen (16) years. He filled various management roles at Merrill Lynch. While working at Merrill Lynch, Mr. Pieper attended Northwestern University where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics graduating with honors as a Phi Beta Kappa. He then went on to DePaul University College of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor, and graduated with honors in the top ten percent of his class. Mr. Pieper continues to advocate for his clients with personalized and professional attention to all matters.

Mr. Story is a seasoned Estate Planner for a range of clients and a Special Needs attorney. He knows how to help elders using specific trusts for asset protection and receiving family support, where desired. Helping elders remain at home or age in place with family members is part of his goal for helping elders, in addition to offering Estate Planning documents to facilitate their care at home and prepare Advanced Planning documents. Special Needs beneficiaries may well need to live in a community of their peers to have a more fulfilling life than living with a skilled caregiver. While it is not perfect, planning to live abroad well before long-term care is necessary is a way to obtain quality healthcare and live in a culture that values older people culturally. Mr. Story has a son, Gabriel, whom he enjoys spending time with. They like to bicycle in the beautiful forest preserve trails in Illinois and enjoy the cultural and natural joys this Great Lakes region has to offer.

Ms. Collins is the President of the Container Recycling Institute (CRI) and has worked exclusively on recycling and sustainability issues for more than 30 years. She leads research projects for the Container Recycling Institute and works with environmental organizations, activists and state and federal governments throughout the United States and around the world to educate the public on the benefits of packaging recycling.

Founded in 1991, CRI’s mission is to make North America a global model for the collection and quality recycling of packaging materials. CRI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that plays a vital national role in assessing the economic, social and environmental impacts of container manufacturing, collection and disposal, and ensures that this information is shared with policymakers, regulators and the general public. CRI produces authoritative research, studies impacts of packaging reuse and recycling systems, and creates national networks for mutual progress.

Ms. Collins served as a board member of the National Recycling Coalition from 2010 to 2015, and again as board member and Treasurer from 2018 to 2021. She is also a past board member and current advisor to the California Resource Recovery Association.

Ms. Collins has testified before United States Senate, and the states of California, Connecticut, Nevada, Iowa, Vermont, Maine, Minnesota, Maryland, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and the territories of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Ms. Collins has appeared on the Diane Rehm show, National Public Radio, PRI’s The World, BBC radio, KNX radio, Maryland Public Radio, KQED, KJZZ, KCBS, KCRW and KPCC radio stations, AlJazeera’s Tech Know (TV) and KCET’s Emmy-nominated SoCal Connected (TV), and has been quoted in news stories in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Fortune, The Economist, Bloomberg News, Slate, Mother Jones, FiveThirtyEight, The Hill, Yahoo News, the San Francisco Chronicle, Scientific American, Fast Company, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Boston Globe, Orange County Register, Resource Recycling, Waste 360, Plastics News, Recycling Today and Beverage World, among others.

Ms. Collins holds degrees in Manufacturing Engineering (BSE) from Boston University and Business Administration (MBA) from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

Ms. Nair is a business litigator with a focus on the food and beverage sector. She advises food and beverage clients, startups, and other businesses on a comprehensive range of issues, including employment, trade secrets, partnership disputes, contract negotiations, and intellectual property. Ms. Nair focuses on finding creative, long-term solutions to business problems affecting companies of all sizes, from startups to publicly traded entities. She combines her litigation experience with a strategic perspective, so that legal decisions make sense on a business level. Ms. Nair has published extensively on business law and food and beverage legal issues for publications including Law 360, Daily Journal, Eater, California Lawyer, and Bloomberg BNA. Additionally, she writes a bi-monthly column for Modern Restaurant Management, covering legal developments that impact restaurants. In previous years, Ms. Nair was the head of the Food and Beverage practice group at TroyGould. She also spent five years at Foley & Lardner focused on white collar criminal defense and internal investigations. Ms. Nair is active in the community and serves on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Music and Arts School and the Harvard Club of Southern California.

Mr. King, is a city planner and has directed multidisciplinary teams around the country and world. He has served as the project director and prime author on over 200 plans for cities, towns, neighborhoods, and corridors. Mr. King was a Principal at Dover, Kohl & Partners for 18 years before creating his own firm, King Design Collaborative. He is also the co-founder of Able City East. Mr. King’s work has focused on social, economic, and climate change resilience. He authored two books: The Climate Planner: Overcoming Pushback Against Local Mitigation and Adaptation Plans (2021) and The Equity Planner: Five Tools To Facilitate Economic Development with Just Outcomes (2023). Mr. King’s work is also featured in numerous planning texts such as Sustainable Urbanism (2007), Form-Based Codes (2008), and Street Design (2014), and he has been interviewed by the New York Times, Planning Magazine, and National Public Radio.

Ms. King has over 24 years of experience in architecture and urban planning. She specializes in leading the design of illustrative plans that promote walkability and sustainability, collaborating closely with the public. Ms. King excels in directing multi-disciplinary teams, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, business owners, and residents to transform visions into reality. Her portfolio spans downtown and corridor vision plans, comprehensive plans, form-based codes, and community development strategies. Ms. King has navigated both public and private sectors, discerning the nuanced needs of each and how they can work together. Her guidance enables communities to secure funding through grants and other funding streams. Ms. King received her bachelor of Architecture degree and her master’s degree of Architecture in Suburb and Town Design from the University of Miami. She is a certified Charrette planner and is CNU accredited.

Mr. Klein, is a landscape and urban designer, he is passionate about crafting engaging public spaces that perform ecologically and socially. He brings a varied background that includes academic and professional experience in community sustainability, coastal resilience, environmental management, and active transportation planning to his role with the Waterfront Alliance. Mr. Klein first began working with the Waterfront Alliance as a WEDG Volunteer in 2017 and has been a WEDG Professional since 2019. He has since been actively involved in WEDG’s expansion, assisting in the launch of WEDG v3.0 as a WEDG Fellow and leading initiatives including the development of a WEDG Workshop in Denver which hopes to expand efforts in both the public and private sectors throughout the Colorado Front Rage. Mr. Klein is most compelled by large-scale projects that blend infrastructure and design. As a practicing designer, he has been fortunate to work on a variety of projects where human and non-human systems come together, rethinking the role of infrastructure in our cities.

Mr. Nechamen was the Floodplain Coordinator for the State of New York Department of Environmental Conservation for 21 years. During that period, he helped to promote higher floodplain standards in New York, including enacting a two foot “freeboard” requirement in New York’s building code, saving property owners millions of dollars in flood losses and flood insurance premiums. One of the founders of the New York State Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Association (NYSFSMA), a professional association with over 600 active members, He was their first Chair and currently serves the Association as its treasurer.

Mr. Nechamen has been a Board member of the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) at various times for 13 years. ASFPM represents over 15,000 professionals across the United States and internationally and is a key national voice in policies designed to reduce flood risk while preserving the natural and beneficial functions of floodplains. He served as chair (2013-2015), vice-chair (2011-2013) and treasurer (2008-2010) and is currently co-chair of the Floodplain Regulations Committee. Mr. Nechamen has received the ASFPM Meritorious Lifetime Achievement in Floodplain Management Award.
In his capacity as Floodplain Coordinator, he has led workshops and training sessions on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), floodplain management and regulations, understanding and interpreting flood maps, flood insurance and the Community Rating System.

Mr. Sutkowi leads the WEDG® (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines) program and oversees Waterfront Alliance’s resilience planning project in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. He brings significant experience in ports, offshore wind, climate resilience planning, economic development policy, and infrastructure. Previously, Mr. Sutkowi was a senior consultant at Karp Strategies, a New York City-based urban planning and economic development consulting firm where he led projects in infrastructure, real estate development, and sustainability. In previous roles, he worked with Living Cities on equitable procurement, a New York City Council member on transportation, the American Red Cross in disaster response operations, and the University of Michigan in foundation relations. Mr. Sutkowi resides in Queens, New York. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in public policy from the University of Michigan and a Master’s of Public Administration from New York University’s Wagner School. Mr. Sutkowi is a member of the Urban Land Institute’s New York City Infrastructure Product Council, co-chair of a committee of the New Jersey Coastal Resilience Collaborative, an Advisory Board Member for the National Working Waterfront Network, and a member of the New Jersey Association of Floodplain Managers.

Ms. Largent serves as a Practice Group Leader for the Rails to Trails practice group. Her primary focus is representing landowners nationwide whose property has been taken by the federal government without just compensation. In addition to establishing when the government is liable for taking land, Ms. Largent’s practice centers largely on establishing the value of the land taken. She also focuses her practice on appellate litigation and commercial disputes. Ms. Largent has assisted in drafting dozens of appellate briefs in the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Eighth Circuit, and Eleventh Circuit, as well as the Supreme Court and Appellate Courts of Illinois and Appellate Court of Missouri.

Mr. Olsen is a Senior Professional Land Surveyor with Engineering Design Source, Inc., a Civil Engineering and Surveying Firm based in Chesterfield, Missouri. He has more than 30 years’ experience as a professional land surveyor, beginning in the Chicago metropolitan area. Mr. Olsen is currently licensed as a land surveyor in Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Texas. He has been fortunate to have worked on numerous Highway Department/Department of Transportation horizontal and vertical control surveys, land acquisition and topographic surveys, County Transportation Department Plats of Highway, and Municipal Highway Department surveys. Mr. Olsen has also worked on many commercial and residential developments throughout northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana. He is currently enrolled in the University of Maine Graduate School in the Eng. D. (Doctor of Engineering) Engineering Technology/Surveying Engineering Program. Mr. Olsen has an MS in Engineering Technology/Surveying Engineering from the University of Maine and a BA in Mathematical Sciences. He has presented seminars and webinars previously with HalfMoon Education on topics including Law and Ethics of Illinois Land Surveying; Locating Land Boundaries on Paper (and on the Ground); Complying with Minimum Standards of Practice; Handling Ethical Issues in Land Surveying Practice; Complying with the Illinois Plat Act; Complying with National Society of Professional Surveyors Creed and Canons.

Prior to his service at TVA, Mr. Savage was in private survey practice for 10 years specializing in dispute resolution and expert witness services. He has surveyed several disputed state boundaries to resolve jurisdictional conflicts. Mr. Savage is an adjunct professor at Cleveland State Community College where he teaches courses in boundary law, geodesy, GIS, and surveying fundamentals. He has researched and retraced the historical surveys of Henry David Thoreau and has published several articles on the subject. Mr. Savage teaches exam review and continuing education seminars at various state and local conferences across the country.

There are very few eminent domain lawyers within the state of Missouri who are as accomplished and decorated as Mr. Wallach. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri on July 30, 1938, and received his education at the reputed University of Missouri. He secured a B.A in 1962, before receiving his J.D. in 1965. As an eminent domain lawyer, Mr. Wallach is highly knowledgeable in the fields of: Eminent Domain, Property Tax Appeals, Real Estate Litigation, Land Use, Zoning Law, and Municipal Law. He is a member of the Missouri Bar having served as Chairman on two occasions and is now part of the Eminent Domain Committee. Mr. Wallach is also a member of the Bar Association of St. Louis, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the highly selective American Property Tax Counsel. He has also served as Assistant Attorney General of Missouri between the years 1966 and 1967, as well as Special Assistant Attorney General of Missouri between 1967 and 1968. Mr. Wallach is held in high regard by the eminent domain lawyer community within the state. Despite his knowledge and expertise in various fields of law, He labels himself as an eminent domain lawyer before anything else. Over the course of his career, Mr. Wallach has devoted himself entirely to representing property owners engaged in various disputes regarding condemnation law and ad valorem tax appeals. He has provided sound legal representation for thousands of clients, presenting cases to juries and other administrative bodies. Mr. Wallach expertise as an eminent domain lawyer is not restricted solely to St. Louis and Missouri, having provided representation for cases in Kansas and Illinois as well. What makes him stand out as an eminent domain lawyer is his rare and carefully honed sense of judgment, especially in cases regarding property valuation. Moreover, he also possesses a keen ability to convey appeals effectively before judges, government agencies, and juries, lubricating the way towards securing fair settlements for all his clients. Mr. Wallach previously served as Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Missouri, a position, which gave him the insight and exposure that few other eminent domain lawyers possess. It is while he was holding these positions that he was able to develop his communication skills, which now allow him to convey the most complex cases in ways that anyone can understand. Mr. Wallach ability to simplify complex issues is the reason why he is regarded as a leading eminent domain lawyer within the state of Missouri. His expertise in condemnation and eminent domain law has been recognized both locally and nationally, indicated by his inclusion in the Woodward/White’s list of Best Lawyers in America, as well as St. Louis Magazine’s Best Lawyers in St. Louis list.

Mr. Krueger’s main areas of practice include Residential and Commercial Real Estate, Zoning, Land Use and Development, and Commercial and Consumer Bankruptcy. He is a member of the New York Bar Association, the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and the Monroe County Bar Association (Chair, Bankruptcy Committee). Mr. Krueger earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, from Canisius College of Buffalo, and his J.D. degree from Syracuse University College of Law.

With more than four decades of legal experience, Ms. Sigmond focuses her practice on construction and real estate industry matters, including arbitration, appeals, bid protests, contract preparation, mediation, litigation, receivership and suretyship. She represents clients in construction defect litigation relating to issues that arise when adjacent owners develop their properties, as well as expediting a builder’s construction project by ensuring that the proper contracts are in place.

As a seasoned practitioner, Ms. Sigmond has a history of litigating construction disputes for public works and buildings in both the public and private sectors. She also has extensive knowledge of preparing contract documents, including design-build, construction management, guaranteed maximum price, and fixed-price contracts. Additionally, Ms. Sigmond is an experienced mediator and arbitrator handling construction or real estate cases for the New York County Supreme Court Commercial Division Roster of Volunteer Mediators and the American Arbitration Association’s Roster of Construction Industry Arbitrators.

For several years, Ms. Sigmond has taken an active role in shaping the construction law community in New York. She is a former Vice President of the New York State Bar Association and a former President of the New York County Lawyers Association. Ms. Sigmond is also a frequent speaker and has authored a number of legal publications relating to construction law and publishes “The Co-Op Condo Help Line” in the monthly Mann Report. Furthermore, she was a member of Law360‘s 2020 Construction Editorial Advisory Board.

As a recognized leader, Ms. Sigmond was presented with the Boris Kostelanetz President’s Medal in 2024 by the New York County Lawyers Association, named among the Crain’s New York Business “Notable Women in Law” list for 2022, and the New York State Bar Association’s 2020 “Real Estate Section Award for Professionalism. In addition, she also received the Albert Nelson Marquis “Lifetime Achievement Award” by Marquis Who’s Who in 2019. She is also listed as “Top Rated” by New York Super Lawyers for Construction Litigation.

Ms. Adair is an associate in the real estate department of Branscomb Law, where she primarily practices in the areas of real estate and water law. She has experience in representing individuals and businesses in a variety of real estate and water rights transactions.

Ms. Adams represents a diverse set of clients, including commercial and residential real estate developers, electric utilities and cooperatives, and water utility districts. She is experienced in advising clients on regulatory matters and complex environmental litigation matters in both state and federal courts and in arbitration proceedings, including identification and mitigation of environmental risks, navigating the permitting processes, and defending clients in administrative enforcement actions. More specifically, Ms. Adams frequently assists land development and construction clients on policy, compliance, and enforcement aspects of state and federal programs, such as regulating stormwater discharges, wetlands, and jurisdictional waters, and protected species and resources. Additionally, she routinely counsels clients on administrative, transactional, and regulatory issues before the Public Utility Commission of Texas and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, including energy project transactions, regulatory proceedings, contested cases, rate cases, transmission line projects, and compliance matters. She is also experienced in analyzing environmental issues for renewable energy projects. Prior to joining Jackson Walker, Ms. Adams served as a Judicial Law Clerk for Justice Don Willet at the Supreme Court of Texas.

Ms. Binger as a member of the Water, Districts, and Energy and Utility Practice Groups, She assists clients with matters relating to certificates of convenience and necessity, water supply, water quality, and water rights, in addition to providing general counsel services to political subdivisions in Texas. Ms. Binger received her B.A. in Psychology from Texas Tech University in 2016 and a J.D. from the University of Notre Dame in 2020. Prior to joining Lloyd Gosselink, she practiced general
litigation in various positions in Central Indiana.

Mr. Buck received a B.A. in Music and Sociology from Austin College in 2007 and a J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2011. He has practiced law in a variety of fields since his admission to the State Bar of Texas in 2011 and is currently a member in the litigation department of Branscomb Law in San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Buck centers his practice on real estate litigation and has represented clients in title and boundary disputes, groundwater rights matters, rate-change cases at the PUC, and breach of contract and fraud cases involving sales of real estate. 

Dr. Mace in addition to his position at the Meadows Center, he is also a Professor of Practice in the Department of Geography at Texas State University. Dr. Mace has over 30 years of experience in hydrology, hydrogeology, stakeholder processes and water policy, mostly in Texas. Before joining Texas State University in 2017, Mace worked at the Texas Water Development Board for 17 years ending his career there as the Deputy Executive Administrator for the Water Science and Conservation Office. While at the Board, he worked on understanding groundwater and surface water resources in Texas; advancing water conservation and innovative water technologies such as desalination, aquifer storage and recovery, reuse, and rainwater harvesting; and protecting Texans from floods.

Mr. Porter has been named an expert in over 700 court and arbitration cases that have taken place since 1987. He recently served as chair of the Texas Real Estate Commission’s Education Standards Advisory Committee and serves as chair of the Advisory Council of the Briscoe Center for American History of the University of Texas at Austin. Over the past 15 years, he has taught as a visiting professor at St. Edward’s University in Austin. His most recent college text (his fourth) is Water Rights in the United States: A Guide Through the Maze.

Ms. Fortenberry is one of the area’s only crisis Medicaid planning attorneys, she saw a need for a firm focused on asset protection, estate planning, and Medicaid eligibility. Ms. Fortenberry founded Fortified Elder Law with expert strategies, know-how, and the experience of helping families become Medicaid eligible. Becoming an elder law attorney has allowed her to find her life’s work: helping clients preserve their life savings. Her greatest joy as an attorney has been to help keep a spouse from losing everything just because they can no longer keep their loved one at home. Oftentimes, her clients have been neglecting themselves and their own health because of the mistaken belief that they cannot afford to place their spouse in a nursing home. Others have spent almost every dime to keep someone at home. These are the clients that she loves to help. Ms. Fortenberry earned her B.A. degree from Missouri State University and her J.D. degree from Case Western Reserve University.

Ms. Kincaid earned a number accolades in the area of estate planning and elder law including being named by the Springfield Business Journal as a Trusted Adviser and being selected as one of five attorneys in the nation by the American Bar Association for a two year Trust & Estate Fellowship. She currently serves as the American Bar Association Long Term Care Committee Vice Chair and recently published an article in the national Probate & Property magazine on recent changes to Missouri’s guardianship statutes. Ms. Kincaid is a member of the Greene County Estate Planning Council, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Community Foundation of the Ozarks Professional Advisors Council, the Southern Missouri Women Lawyers, the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association, and the Missouri Bar Association. She was also a member of the 2014-2015 Missouri Bar Association Leadership Academy, a recipient of the 2017 Missouri Lawyers Weekly Up & Coming Award, a recipient of the 2016 Springfield Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 award, and a recipient of the 2019 Springfield Business Journal’s Trusted Advisers award. Ms. Kincaid graduated cum laude from Creighton University School of Law, where she served as President of the Student Bar Association, a member of the editorial staff of the Creighton Law Review, and was a founding editor of the Creighton International and Comparative Law Journal. Prior to attending law school, She obtained a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and a master’s degree in Business Administration, both from (Southwest) Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.

Mr. Nolan established his law firm in 1991 and his areas of practice include Wills, Probate and Estate Planning, Workers Compensation, Personal Injury and DWI & Alcohol related offenses. The firm serves the entire Metropolitan St. Louis area (including St. Louis County, St. Louis City, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, Franklin County and Madison and St. Clair Counties in Illinois). He earned his B.S and J.D. degrees from Southern Illinois University.

Ms. Overton has more than 17 years of experience advocating for those with special needs and navigating the state and federal agencies formed to help the disabled and elderly. At Paths Law Firm, her practice focuses on helping the elderly qualify for nursing home Medicaid, creating estate plans to protect beneficiaries, as well as a lot of time planning and forming businesses. Ms. Overton also enjoys helping clients form non-profit organizations and obtain 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. After attending law school at the University of Oklahoma, She began representing clients before the Social Security Administration. Eventually, her practice switched to federal court appeals and she spent years representing clients before the Eastern and Western District of Missouri, the District of Kansas, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Ms. Overton has since focused her practice on estate planning and elder law after watching clients struggle to find ways to financially care for loved ones with special needs or aging parents.

Ms. Schuster has practiced Elder and Disability law since 1999, having practiced health law since 1991. Her practice focuses on elder law issues, a growing area of law with few experienced practitioners. Ms. Schuster works with and advises social workers, geriatric and care managers, financial planners and accountants, psychiatrists and geriatric physicians about incapacity issues and financial exploitation. Her practice focuses on multi-disciplinary collaboration with these professionals to address the complex, myriad age and disability issues her clients face. Ms. Schuster personal experience with her mother and grandfather, both of whom had dementia, has given her insight into the stresses that caregivers and families endure when caring for a loved one with dementia, which led her to become a certified Elder and Adult Mediator. She assists families with facilitated conversation about difficult end-of-life issues when someone should stop driving, move to assisted living or a skilled nursing facility, delegate financial matters to someone else to high conflict matters involving contested guardianship, financial exploitation and the removal of appointees under Durable Powers of Attorney and trustees. Ms. Schuster is passionate about volunteering in the community. She is past president of the Breakthrough Coalition, a multidisciplinary group of senior care and disability community providers. Ms. Schuster is the past Vice President of Operations for Memory Care Home Solutions, past Board member for Brith Shalom Kneseth Israel, was the Co-chairperson of the BAMSL Elder Law Committee. She was a finalist as “Best Lawyer of the Year” in 2016 by St. Louis Magazine and is the “Face of Elder Law” in the June 2017 issue of St. Louis Magazine. Since 2014, Ms. Schuster has been the chairperson of an ad hoc committee of the Missouri Bar Association that has authored proposed legislation for the passage of the Designated Healthcare Decisionmaker Act.

After a successful career in the corporate realm, Mr. Smith decided to begin his own practice centered on serving people. He specializes in elder law, estate planning, special needs planning, mediation, and long-term care planning. Mr. Smith genuinely enjoys people and it shows – he listens to each person’s story and situation to help them develop a plan which best fits their family’s circumstances, financial position and life’s values. As a husband, father to five, and grandfather to a growing number, he understands the confusion that can sometimes occur in certain seasons of life. Mr. Smith believes each person is a masterpiece created to thrive in this life! Active in the legal and public community, He is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Academy of Special Needs Planners, and Elder Counsel. Mr. Smith is an accredited attorney by the Veterans Administration, which allows him to advise clients and families on benefits available to veterans. He enjoys active participation in local groups aimed in serving people in the Kansas City area as they age including Northland Professionals in Aging, Northland Shepherd’s Center (Board of Directors), and Good Samaritan Center of Excelsior Springs (Board of Directors). Mr. Smith earned his Masters in Divinity at the Nazarene Theological Seminary and his Juris Doctorate at the University of Memphis – Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.

Ms. Blanco is a senior associate in the Houston office of Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP. She represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including representation before administrative agencies and the early phases of litigation. In addition to her litigation experience, Ms. Blanco’s practice also focuses on counseling employers on day-to-day legal issues, including internal investigations, separation agreements, and non-compete agreements. She earned her B.A. degree from Harvard College, and her J.D. degree, with honors, from The University of Texas School of Law.

Ms. Cheeseman is the Co-Head of Litigation and Disputes in the Houston office of Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP. She is part of the employment and labor group and is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for Labor and Employment Law. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Cheeseman completed a one-year federal clerkship with the Honorable Martin L.C. Feldman of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. She earned her B.A. degree from Duke University and her J.D. degree, summa cum laude, from Tulane University Law School.

Gardner Employment Law helps clients solve workplace problems efficiently and strategically. The client’s career is first and foremost in our analysis. Professionals such as physicians, managers and executives prefer this approach because it resolves issues with minimal delay, controversy, and cost. Other employment lawyers persistently steer their clients first toward filing a lawsuit, launching a drawn-out, resource-draining process. If a lawsuit is required, so be it. Ms. Gardner has won many battles in the courtroom but she doesn’t file suit without first trying to resolve disputes so that both parties can put the matter behind them. Since graduating #1 in her law school class, She has successfully handled hundreds of cases and appeals during her 30+ years as a lawyer. Ms. Gardner’s peers consistently have voted her as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” in Employment Law, among other prestigious awards. She began her career as a judicial law clerk and afterwards went to Bracewell. Ms. Gardner spent the bulk of her career as a partner with Mandell & Wright in downtown Houston. In 2015, She established Gardner Employment Law. The firm has offices in Houston and Austin, Texas. Ms. Gardner earned her B.A. degrees from the University of Colorado and the University of Houston, and her J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law.

Ms. Hansen is board certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She specializes in litigation and trial work, with a practice area focus in labor & employment law matters and family law. She has twenty-four years of experience with jury trials and litigation. Ms. Hansen is admitted to practice in both Texas state and federal courts, including state courts of appeals and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. She  grew up in East Texas and attended Texas A&M University. Ms. Hansen then attended law school at the University of Houston Law Center and was licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of Texas in November 1998. After law school She worked as a prosecutor at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office where she gained valuable trial experience, and experience in supervising and training younger prosecutors in case evaluation and litigation before moving on to private practice with a prominent local law firm. Ms. Hansen then joined a local government entity where she was promoted to associate vice-president and assistant general counsel. In 2010, She decided re-enter private practice and went on to open her own law firm with a practice concentrating on labor and employment law and family law.

Mr. Hesse specializes in a broad range of employment law matters, and has represented both employers and employees. He has experience litigating class and collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act. Prior to joining Moore & Associates in 2009, Mr. Hesse served as a judicial intern under the Honorable Michael Schneider, Jr., 315th Juvenile District Court. During law school, he clerked for Gilman & Allison, L.L.P., a firm specializing in admiralty and maritime law. Mr. Hesse also has worked as a legal assistant clerk at Baker Botts, L.L.P. He is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard. Mr. Hesse was activated multiple times after September 11, 2001, and has received numerous awards, including the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, Presidential Unit Citation and Global War on Terror Service Medal.

Ms. McClennen Lorenz advises and represents employers in a wide range of labor and employment matters. She focuses her practice on matters involving employer interactions with administrative agencies such as OSHA, DOL, and the Texas Workforce Commission. Ms. McClennen Lorenz has experience litigating OSHA violations, discrimination claims, and regularly advises on workplace safety issues. Additionally, she handles OSHA whistleblower investigations concerning retaliation complaints made under the multiple statutes investigated by OSHA. She defends actions brought by whistleblower complainants for appeal to the Department of Labor. Ms. McClennen Lorenz has significant experience with Gig Economy concerns and regularly provides advice on matters involving independent contractors. She has experience in state and federal courts throughout Texas. Ms. McClennen Lorenz earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, from Southern Methodist University and her J.D. degree from The University of Oklahoma College of Law.

Mr. Absher is an attorney in private practice in the Woodlands, Texas. He represents investors and other business owners in a wide range of transactions, often with a focus on real estate contracts. Mr. Absher enjoys solving complex issues in transactions and eliminating confusion with plain-English contracts.

Ms. Smith’s practice focuses on a wide variety of agricultural issues, especially those involving cattle. She additionally spends a significant portion of her time on oil and gas title examination, farm and ranch transactions, and real estate litigation. Ms. Smith also assists clients with estate planning, probates, and business planning needs. She is a graduate of El Campo High School. Ms. Smith received her bachelor of science degree in Agricultural Science from Texas A&M University in 2009, and received her doctor of jurisprudence degree from South Texas College of Law in 2014. She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2014 and is also admitted to the Southern District of Texas. Ms. Smith is a member of the Wharton County Bar Association, formerly serving as president, and she is a member of the Texas Bar College. 

Mr. Barkhurst has extensive litigation experience in business and real estate disputes. He has developed a special concentration in the area of eminent domain, representing governmental entities as well as landowners in numerous lawsuits. Mr. Barkhurst has successfully represented numerous owners in ranch power line takings. He also represents governmental entities in construction disputes, and he has represented contractors and subcontractors in private disputes. He also has extensive experience handling complex business dissolution and injunction cases. Mr. Barkhurst has a B.A. degree, with honors, from Southwest Texas State University and a J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Texas Tech University, and he is a former USAF Captain and F-111 Aviator. 

Mr. Gittins practices primarily in the area of water law. He assists governmental entities, corporations, and private individuals in all aspects of water law, including water rights transactions, water rights analysis, water rights litigation, and applications with the Utah Division of Water Rights. Prior to joining Smith Hartvigsen, Mr. Gittins served as a clerk to the Honorable Justice Jill N. Parrish of the Utah Supreme Court.

Mr. Lauricella is passionate about property development law and transactions. He graduated from BYU as an English Major. Mr. Lauricella worked for two different real estate management companies while in college.

Mr. Smith has more than three decades of experience as an attorney, in which he has successfully handled a number of complex water disputes, land use disputes, takings claims, and other issues. He has argued over 30 appeals to the Utah Supreme Court. Mr. Smith has represented public and private parties in takings claims arising from land use decisions, represented numerous water users in successful settlement of instream flow claims on the San Rafael River, and won appeals for municipalities and water entities before the Utah and New Mexico Supreme Courts. His most notable projects include securing the water rights for Duchesne City through an act of Congress, successfully entitling and securing water rights for a multimillion-dollar resort in Kane County, and creating the first municipal natural gas utility in Utah. He is licensed to practice in Utah, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia. Mr. Smith earned his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Bringham Young University, and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Bringham Young University.

Mr. Snow represents clients in Arizona and Utah on matters related to water rights, real property, and resource development. He regularly appears before land and water agencies and in state and federal court. Mr. Snow’s clients include governmental entities, national and multi-national corporations, water companies, cooperatives, partnerships, and individuals. He has litigated numerous general adjudication claims in Arizona and Utah. Mr. Snow has also litigated quiet title, easement, right-of-way and condemnation claims in both states.

Mr. Farrell’s main areas of practice include Estate Planning and Probate, Civil Litigation, Business, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment Law and Real Estate. He earned his J.D. degree from Creighton University School of Law.

 Mr. Langdon works with companies in all aspects of employee benefits, including nonqualified deferred compensation, qualified retirement plans, and health and welfare benefits as well as general employment law matters. He is able to navigate the complex legal aspects of executive compensation, employee benefits, and employment law while simultaneously explaining those complexities in a clear and concise manner.  Mr. Langdon understands the importance of finding creative and effective solutions to complex problems. With a primary focus on employee benefits, including nonqualified deferred compensation, He guides his clients through the rules and regulations governing nonqualified plans and employee benefits more generally. This encompasses qualified retirement plans and health and welfare benefits.  Mr. Langdon has extensive experience in advising clients with deferred compensation packages, incentive compensation, and equity ownership. He consistently advises companies on the operation and maintenance of qualified retirement plans and health and welfare benefits.  Mr. Langdon earned his J.D. degree from Creighton University School of Law, and his LL.M. in Taxation from Villanova University School of Law.

Mr. O’Brien works hand-in-hand with clients to understand their wishes regarding their estate and helps them to achieve those objectives in the most tax-efficient manner. He helps clients with basic estate plans including a will, healthcare power of attorney, durable power of attorney, and a trust. Mr. O’Brien also counsels clients to create and accomplish complex wealth transfer or business succession plans. Upon the death of a loved one, He  works with families to ensure that the plans they had in place are executed properly throughout the probate process. With experience in trust disputes, guardianships, conservatorships, and Medicaid planning, he provides his clients advice and oversight on a variety of before-and-after-death planning problems that their families or their business might face. Mr. O’Brien earned his J.D. degree from Creighton University School of Law.

Mr. Pirsch has 20 years in the practice of law. He has an extensive background in business law, employment law, estate planning, litigation, government affairs, and has assisted hundreds of clients before state and federal courts, government body administrative hearings, and in negotiations, and mediations. Mr. Pirsch works with the owners or board of directors of numerous small businesses, nonprofit corporations, and charities, with families, and individuals who need competent and experienced counsel. He received his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from the University of Nebraska College of Law; a Masters in Journalism (M.A.) from the University of Nebraska; and his Masters in Public and Nonprofit Administration (M.P.A.) from George Mason University. During law school, Mr. Pirsch clerked for the Nebraska Department of Justice in Criminal Appeals and, following graduation, he was appointed as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Nebraska. Subsequently, he served as Legislative Counsel to Congressman Lee Terry, General Counsel to the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts, and Deputy State Treasurer and General Counsel to the Nebraska State Treasurer. Mr. Pirsch is licensed in both state and federal courts in Nebraska, the District of Columbia, the Court of Appeals for Veterans’ Claims, and the United States Tax Court. He is also the author of numerous business law articles, Attorney General Opinions, fiction, and his thesis, Blind Trusts as a Model for Campaign Finance Reform, was selected for publication by the William and Mary Policy Journal.

Ms. Swiniarski is licensed to practice in Nebraska and Iowa. She is a member of Wealth Counsel, the Academy of Special Needs Planners, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Nebraska Bar Association, Omaha Bar Association, and a member of the Omaha Estate Planning Council. Most recently she was editor in chief of the Nebraska Elder Law Handbook.

Elder Law of Omaha’s primary practice areas are Estate Planning include Trusts, Special Needs Planning, Asset Preservation Planning, and Probate and Trust Administration. Ms. Swiniarski received her Juris Doctorate from Creighton University School of Law in 1986. Since that time, she has practiced law in a wide variety of settings, from corporate to private practice. In addition, she has taught legal topics in various academic settings.

Throughout his legal career, Mr. Banas has made his mark as a leading attorney combing hard work and dedication with his courtroom skills and presence. He began his career as a prominent defense attorney representing large hospital systems, where he honed the skills necessary to succeed in representing severely injured plaintiffs in personal injury and medical malpractice cases. Mr. Banas uses his knowledge of the defense to anticipate and counter defense tactics throughout all stages of litigation and at trial. Since joining Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP, Rob has focused his time on representing victims of medical malpractice, including traumatic brain and birth injuries, wrongful death, motor vehicle and trucking crashes, and defective products litigation. He is an experienced trial lawyer and a fierce competitor that works tirelessly to obtain the best recoveries for his clients. Throughout his career, Mr. Banas has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star as both a Plaintiff and Defense attorney – a distinction given to only 2.5% of lawyers in the State of New Jersey. He has also been recognized in Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch, Marquis Who’s Who in America and The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40. Mr. Banas has been published in the New Jersey Law Journal on the topics of medical malpractice and professional liability. He is an active member of the New Jersey Association for Justice, the American Association for Justice, and the New Jersey State Bar Association Medical Malpractice Committee. Mr. Banas attended Robbinsville High School and then went on to obtain his undergraduate education at The College of New Jersey, where he received his B.S. in Business Management. He then attended law school at Rutgers University School of Law where he received his Juris Doctor. While attending Rutgers Law School, He was the Managing Editor of the Rutgers Journal of Law and Religion and participated in Hunter Moot Court. Mr. Banas was awarded the Best Oralist award for his public speaking abilities during law school. While in law school, he served as an intern to the Honorable Tonianne Bongiovanni, United States Magistrate Judge for the District of New Jersey. After graduating law school, Robert served as a law clerk to the Honorable Anthony M. Massi, J.S.C., in the Civil Division of the New Jersey Superior Court, Mercer County. Mr. Banas is licensed to practice law in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Mr. Bernstein, has over 35 years of experience in navigating through the complexities of estate law and elder law. His main office is in Parsippany, New Jersey. However, he has satellite offices from Bridgewater, New Jersey to Mahwah, New Jersey, in Bergen, Essex, Union, Passaic, Morris and Somerset counties for the convenience of his clients. His practice extends into the specialty areas of special needs planning and guardianships as well as same-sex estate planning. Mr. Bernstein is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and a member of the Trust and Estates and the Elder Law and Disability Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association. He is a former deputy attorney general of the state of New Jersey where he represented the Division of Taxation. Mr. Bernstein is admitted to practice in the States of New Jersey and New York.

Ms. Edwards is the founder of Edwards Estate & Elder Law in Watchung, New Jersey. Practicing law for 24 years, she has focused on estate and elder law for the last 18 years. She serves a variety of clients of all ages, and all levels of wealth, and health. Ms. Edwards’s passion is to compassionately navigate crisis and think outside the box to create plans to provide her clients with peace of mind that if and when a health crisis or death happens, their dignity, wishes, and assets are preserved. Ms. Edwards often creates plans and makes recommendations for her clients’ long-term care utilizing what she refers to as her “medicine cabinet of resources” to fully inform her clients on their options for living and care. She zealously advocates for her litigation clients to resolve their legal issues, and protect elders who may be taken for granted, or worse, taken advantage of. Ms. Edwards holds a B.A. in Political Science from High Point University, a M.S. in Justice from The American University, and a J.D. from Seton Hall University. She was admitted to New Jersey in 1999 and the Supreme Court of the United States in 2012. Ms. Edwards is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Trust and Estates and the Elder Law and Disability Sections of the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Ms. Ershow-Levenberg is a Partner of the Law Firm Fink Rosner ErshowLevenberg Marinaro LLC in Clark, NJ. She advises people who are aging, people with disabilities, and those who are caring for them. Clients seek Ms. Ershow-Levenberg’s advice to save their family home, pay for long-term nursing care, and to make arrangements to protect loved ones using trusts, wills, powers of attorney and guardianship. Special Needs Planning and Medicaid planning as well as probate and estates are a major part of her practice. She has been in the elder law field since 1995. Ms. Ershow-Levenberg was recognized by the Union County Bar Association in 2022 with its first Hon. James LaCorte Trusts, Estates and Elder Law Award She has always been an active mentor for young lawyers especially those who are starting their businesses. Ms. Ershow-Levenberg has been Certified (C.E.L.A.) in Elder Law since 1999 by the National Elder Law Foundation, the accrediting body which is recognized by the New Jersey Supreme Court and the American Bar Association and is a member of the National Academy of Elder law Attorneys (NAELA). She is the co-author with Peggy Sheehan-Knee of the Lexis-Nexis Practice Guide: NJ Elder Law, first published in 2008 with annual updates. Also, she has been selected each year as a “New Jersey Super Lawyer” in elder law by NJ Monthly Magazine/NJ Superlawyers Inc. Ms. Ershow-Levenberg has published articles on elder and disability law and is a frequent lecturer on elder law issues to professional and community groups. She received her B.A. magna cum laude from Douglass and her J.D. from Rutgers Law School-Newark. Ms. Ershow-Levenberg has been in practice in New Jersey since 1985.

 Ms. Koulosousas, is an Elder Law, Trusts and Estates attorney who assists her clients by crafting and implementing personalized estate plans. These include simple wills, complex trust structures, and everything in between. Part of Her planning and preparation services includes advising for individuals with special needs.  Ms. Koulosousas helps these clients by preparing special needs trusts and assisting trustees in the administration of these trusts. She represents clients in guardianships, including complicated, contested hearings and assists appointed legal guardians as to their ongoing obligations.  Ms. Koulosousas advises clients on asset preservation strategies for long-term care planning, including Medicaid planning and Medicaid applications. She represents clients in probate litigation, including will contests and fiduciary litigation.  Ms. Koulosousas also handles estate administration and serves as advisor for executors, trustees, guardians, and other fiduciaries. She herself has served as a court-appointed attorney, trustee, and guardian. She is admitted in New York and New Jersey.  Ms. Koulosousas’s practice has a particular focus on the needs of Greek American families. She is fluent in Greek and works closely with several professionals in the USA and in Greece to offer her clients full service, cross-border representation.

Mr. Lalas started in the insurance industry in 2004. He’s worked for several well-known corporations over the years but found his home as an Independent Agent based in Flemington NJ where he works to serve his clients instead of companies. In addition to NJ, He is licensed in: NY, PA, NH, NC, SC, FL, and NV. Mr. Lalas has spent the last 10 years dedicated to helping seniors navigate the “Medicare Maze” successfully. Through a fact-finding process along with education of their existing financial exposures, he will provide solutions which cap their costs and help bring peace of mind to his clients. As an Independent Agency, he works with all the major Insurance Carriers and offers all the plans available: Medicare Supplements, Medicare Advantage, drug plans along with dental, vision and hospital indemnity plans.

Ms. Tomlin is a partner at Hanlon Niemann & Wright, P.C. She focuses her practice on estate planning and estate administration for families who have a family member with a disability, creation of first party special needs trusts and third-party supplemental benefits trusts, guardianship, and accessing services from the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Division of Developmental Disabilities. She serves as a court appointed attorney to those alleged to be incapacitated and Court Appointed Guardian ad Litem. While in law school, Ms. Tomlin volunteered with the Domestic Violence Project and served as the Associate Managing Editor of the Rutgers Journal of Law and Religion. As a City Year Greater Philadelphia AmeriCorps Member, she spent a year tutoring in inner city schools. She volunteers her time with the Monmouth County SPCA. Ms. Tomlin is a graduate of Bucknell University and Rutgers University School of Law. She holds an L.L.M. in Taxation from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ms. Tomlin is an Adjunct Faculty member of the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Graduate Tax Department. She is also a member of the Elder Law Section and Disability Section and the Tax Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association, a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and a member of the Monmouth County Bar Association Chancery Practice Committee. Ms. Tomlin frequently lectures on a variety of disability-related legal topics.

Ms. Calareso joined Gleason, Dunn, Walsh & O’Shea in May of 2022, bringing her experience in elder law, guardianships, trusts and estate planning and administration, and special needs planning to the firm. She has practiced in these areas of law after graduating from Albany Law School in 2003. Ms. Calareso came to law as her second career, having graduated from Fordham University with an undergraduate degree in communications. After years in television and movie production in Manhattan and Los Angeles, she moved into a field where she could make an impact on peoples’ lives on a daily basis. Her dedication to her practice of law comes from her personal experiences within her family and her fervent belief in the need for planning and for family collaboration across the generations.

Ms. Peraza focuses her practice on estate planning and administration, Medicaid, and long-term care planning. As a law student, she interned for the Hon. Barbara Howe in Erie County Surrogate’s Court and worked in the Public Benefits Unit of Neighborhood Legal Services. Her previous experience includes residential foreclosures, public and private sector labor law, contract negotiations, probate matters, third party credit collections, and representation of clients in administrative hearings and arbitrations.

Mr. McLain is a retired Marine Corps military judge, and has been in the practice of criminal and military law since 1990. His first jury trials were tried in the deserts of Saudi Arabia during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Mr. McLain ended his Government service as a federal prosecutor in Dallas, serving in the child exploitation crimes, computer crimes, and general federal crimes sections. The Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC is headquartered in Dallas, Texas where he represents clients in state criminal cases in Texas and federal crime cases in courts throughout the United States. He has handled thousands of cases and provides aggressive and tenacious representation. Mr. McLain also has a separate military law practice with offices across the country. He earned his J.D. degree from the University if Texas School of Law.

Mr. Rosenthal is board-certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Criminal Law. He was a Collin County Prosecutor prior to founding Rosenthal Kalabus & Therrian. Mr. Rosenthal has tried over 200 jury cases – virtually all criminal. He has received Not Guilty verdicts at every level of State Court from first-degree felonies to serious misdemeanors. Mr. Rosenthal served on the Board of Directors for Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association (“TCDLA”), was two-time president of McKinney Bar Association, and is the current chairman of Collin County Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section. He is also a member of the Texas State Bar College. Mr. Rosenthal is currently the assistant editor for the Voice for the Defense publication. He frequently lectures on criminal defense topics including handling criminal emergencies and trial advocacy. He earned his J.D. degree from SMU Law School.

Mr. Westfall’s practice focuses on white-collar criminal defense and civil litigation. He has practiced criminal defense in Texas and nationally for 30 years, specializing in complex criminal litigation in State and Federal courts. Mr. Westfall has tried more than 100 criminal cases, many of them “high profile,” and handled more than 50 criminal appeals at all levels. In 2010, He added commercial litigation case work and has several civil trials and appeals among his experiences. Mr. Westfall has represented many individuals through federal investigations into, among others, alleged violations of EPA regulations, hiring undocumented aliens, health care fraud, antikickback and import/export violations, and government contractor fraud. He earned his J.D. degree, summa cum laude, from Texas Tech University.

Mr. Willett is one of only two double board-certified attorneys in criminal and juvenile law in Tarrant County, and one of only 12 double board-certified attorneys in criminal and juvenile law in the State of Texas. He has the unique perspective of successfully defending cases in the Texas state criminal courts, federal immigration courts and Texas civil juvenile courts. Mr. Willett is the author of three editions of his criminal law book. Ignorance of the Law is No Excuse and is currently working on the Silver Edition of this book. He earned his B.S. Degree from the University of Iowa and his J.D. degree from Memphis State University School of Law.

Mr. Coppola  has been an avid conservationist his entire life. He holds a BS in Biology from North Carolina State University and MBA from Wake Forest University. Mr. Coppola has worked in many diverse research environments, from Microbiology / Marine Biology labs working with free swimming phyto and zooplankton to Entomology Labs working with honeybees and Trachael mites. He supplements his diverse background with advanced certifications, licenses and continually seeking out continuing education in support of his environmental profession. Professionally, Mr. Coppola is the founder of GreenWorks Environmental, LLC (GWE), an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) investigative and correction firm that coined the phrase “Healthy Starts at Home”. GWE is known for their practical approach to managing how the Built Environment collides with the Natural Environment. In fact, Their M.O.M. Services help property owners’ deal with the three most common issues degrading IAQ: Moisture, Odor & Mold. Degraded IAQ is the Firm’s focus where most of their clients suffer ill health effects from degraded IAQ.

Mr. Lieberman is a founding member of Lieberman Blecher & Sinkevich with over 30 years of environmental and land use legal experience. He was a former state Deputy Attorney General, who represented the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Mr. Lieberman regularly uses his regulatory experience in advising property owners, industrial operators, gas station owners, dry cleaner operators, and many other companies, individuals, and governments of their environmental compliance responsibilities and issues. He has represented developers and community organizations before planning and zoning boards throughout New Jersey. These cases have involved use variances, land use board approvals, storm water issues, septic design issues, cell tower cases and billboard cases. Mr. Lieberman has represented neighbors in noise, flooding, and odor disputes, and many oppositions to proposed warehouses throughout New Jersey. He served as the Vice Chair, and then as Chair of the Board of Consultors for the State Bar’s Real Property, Trust, and Estate Law Section and is currently an active member of that organization. Mr. Lieberman serves on the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee. He is also currently associate counsel for the Association of Planning Board and Zoning Boards of Adjustment. Mr. Lieberman is the Chair of the Princeton Flood & Storm Water Commission. He also serves as a Board Member of Sustainable Princeton, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Ms. Paist-Goldman has more than 25 years of experience in water resource engineering with a particular focus in stream and wetland restoration and mitigation design. She is the principal and owner of Rippled Waters Engineering, LLC based in New Jersey. Her firm specializes in water resources engineering services for a variety of projects. She is an experienced hydrologic and hydraulic modeler and has worked extensively on design and analysis using a variety of hydrologic and hydraulic programs including HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, and HydroCAD. Ms. Paist-Goldman’s design expertise includes wetland restoration and mitigation; stream restoration; bridge repair and replacement; and dam repair, replacement, and removal. Specifically related to riverine systems, Ms. Paist-Goldman has extensive expertise with stream restoration, large woody debris, natural channel design and bioengineering stabilization techniques. Ms. Paist-Goldman has designed restoration projects of all sizes ranging from a few hundred feet to several miles of stream. These projects are planned for use as mitigation banks or serve as mitigation for development onsite. Working closely with restoration ecologists and landscape architects, Ms. Paist-Goldman has designed a variety of stream and wetland habitats including creation, enhancement, restoration, and preservation with a focus on sustainability and regulatory compliance.

Mr. Poling, President of PEA, has over 40 years of experience in the environmental consulting field and actively participates on every project we complete. This includes not only management but he often times is intimately involved in completion of tasks because of 1) his extensive technical background and training, 2) his vast experience in the environmental and consulting fields and 3) his attitude that each project is a reflection of himself. Besides his extensive education and training, He holds a multitude of licenses and certifications in the environmental consulting field. Those licenses include Licensed Site Remediation Professional (NJDEP) and Indoor Environmental Consultant (NJDH&SS).

Mr. Breedlove focuses his practice on water rights transactions and permitting, state and federal land permitting, mining, administrative law, and governmental relations. His experience includes a wide variety of water rights transactions (groundwater, surface water, and Colorado River entitlements), assured water supply permitting, consultation on compliance with active management area management plans, water rights due diligence and permitting, state land acquisition, and National Historic Preservation Act compliance. Mr. Breedlove has represented land developers, landowners, golf courses, ranchers, farmers, private water and energy utility businesses, government agencies, and private equity investment firms. He also served for five years as the legislative liaison for the Arizona Department of Water Resources, during which time he managed several bills that were enacted, including the 2007 Water Adequacy Amendments. Mr. Breedlove has experience with the Arizona legislative process, bill drafting, and government relations. He earned his B.S. degree from Western Washington University, his Master of Studies in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School and his J.D. degree from Vermont Law School.

 Mr. Burnside covers water rights and water quality as part of a broad-based environmental and natural resources law practice at Snell & Wilmer. Mr. Burnside regularly counsels and represents significant water interests in the State of Arizona, with a particular focus on mining and energy. He has extensive experience litigating contested water rights claims in Arizona’s Gila River General Stream Adjudication, including multiple arguments and trials before the Special Water Master. Mr. Burnside has in-depth experience with the complex legal and technical issues surrounding Arizona water rights at the intersection between groundwater and surface water.

Mr. Snow represents clients in Arizona and Utah on matters related to water rights, real property, and resource development. He regularly appears before land and water agencies and in state and federal court. Mr. Snow’s clients include governmental entities, national and multi-national corporations, water companies, cooperatives, partnerships, and individuals. He has litigated numerous general adjudication claims in Arizona and Utah. Mr. Snow has also litigated quiet title, easement, right-of-way and condemnation claims in both states.

Mr. Klaas is a partner at Friedman & Huey Associates, LLP. He specializes in fiduciary, estate and individual income taxation and working with large family groups. Mr. Klaas taught as an undergraduate/graduate tax instructor at Purdue University Northwest. He received his B.S. degree with concentrations in Accounting and Finance from Purdue University Northwest and received his M.S. degree in Taxation from DePaul University. He has spoken on various occasions presenting on taxation of decedents, estates and trusts. Mr. Klaas serves as a 1041 subject matter expert for a national tax software development firm, has edited various professional publications and is an active member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council, Illinois CPA Society, and AICPA.

Mr. Wirtz is a principal at Friedman & Huey Associates, LLP. He specializes in fiduciary, charitable and individual income taxation and working with large family groups. Mr. Wirtz received his B.S. degree in Accounting from Purdue University Northwest and received his M.S. degree in Taxation from DePaul University. He also is member of the Illinois CPA Society.