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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.

Mr. McWhirter has successfully tried over 100 criminal trials in Federal, state, and city courts. He is a nationally and internationally known speaker and author on trial advocacy, immigration law, and the history of the bill of rights. Mr. McWhirter is a frequent guest on Arizona Horizon and KJZZ as a Constitutional expert and historian. He is a Certified Specialist in Criminal Law, and for over six years, his peers have elected him to serve on the Arizona State Bar Board of Governors. Mr. McWhirter has published extensively the following:

• Fixing the Framers’ Failure: The 13th, 14th, And 15th Amendments and America’s New Birth Of Freedom (2022)
• Bills, Quills, and Stills: The History of the Bill Of Rights (2015)
• The Criminal Lawyer’s Guide To Immigration Law: Questions and Answers, 2nd Ed. (2006) and The Citizenship Flowchart (2007)

He has served on the American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section and on the Standard Committee writing the CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS and has published over 40 other articles in both English and Spanish on the history of the Bill of Rights, immigration law, and criminal practice. Since 2009, Mr. McWhirter has been named a Southwest Super Lawyer and is a 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient from Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. He is a 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient from the Barrett Honors College. Mr. McWhirter received the Frank X. Gordon Award for Excellence in the Practice of Law, Mohave County Bar Association in 2013 and the Saint Thomas More Award, Saint Thomas More Society in 2010. He has been a president of Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice. From March 2014 until July 2016, Mr. McWhirter was the supervising criminal attorney at the ASU Alumni Law Group, a teaching law firm serving underserved clients. He continues his private practice in criminal defense, civil rights, and testifies and provides expert advice on Immigration Consequences of Criminal Conviction and citizenship issues.

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.

Nesci & St. Louis, a DUI and Criminal Defense Law Firm. Mr. St. Louis is a Regent of the National College for DUI Defense. He is certified as a specialist in both criminal law (by the Arizona State Bar) and in DUI defense (by the National College for DUI Defense). Mr. St. Louis is a litigator, with a heavy pretrial motion and jury trial practice, defending people on charges involving everything but Rock n’ Roll – crimes involving alcohol, drugs, sex and violence. He likes to hear himself talk, and his vanity is easily appealed to, so he regularly speaks to State defense and State Bar groups, on a variety of topics. Mr. St. Louis has given presentations to groups in 19 states and has been voted a top 10 national speaker for his presentations for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, twice. His accomplishments include convincing judges to dismiss first degree murder charges in two separate cases and being one of four lawyers to convince a superior court judge to suppress the blood evidence in 11 consolidated felony cases. Recently, he was the primary writer on scientific issues in NCDD’s Amicus Brief filed in the United States Supreme Court case of Smith v. Arizona, No. 22-899, addressing surrogate analyst testimony. Mr. St. Louis greatest accomplishments, however, are convincing his wife Tania to stay with him for 27 years, his children Renee and Jack, and restraining himself from physically attacking a prosecutor or judge in 36 years of practice.

Ms. Dineen has been a paralegal for 34 years, first starting out in California and then in Spokane since 2000. For the past 23 years that she has been at EMLVO where she has assisted her attorneys with cases in criminal law, personal injury and business litigation. Her “super powers” are managing large volumes of discovery, preparing for trial and attending trial as a “Jodi of All Trades”.

Mr. Gonzales’s practice focuses on policyholder insurance coverage litigation and general commercial disputes. Prior to joining Corr Cronin, He practiced at law firms in both California and Washington, where he specialized in defending financial and insurance institutions in matters involving insurance coverage, insurance bad faith, and regulatory compliance. While pursuing his law degree at University of California, Davis School of Law, Mr. Gonzales served as a member of the UC Davis Immigration Law Clinic, representing immigrant families in asylum proceedings and affirmative change-of-status applications. He also completed a legal fellowship with the UC Davis Office of the Campus Counsel, where he advised University departments on issues ranging from medical privacy law to freedom of speech on campus.

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

Mr. Tollefson serves as a pro-tem judge for Pierce County Superior Court. Previously, he served as a judge for Pierce County Superior Court for more than 27 years. During his time on Superior Court, he was on the Executive Committee, served as presiding judge, and participated on a number of local Superior Court committees. He served on several committees in the Washington State Superior Court Judges Association and as a trustee on the Association’s board of trustees for five years.

Ms. Anders is an  practicing exclusively in family law. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and is currently serving as the Treasurer of the Virginia chapter of the AAML. Ms. Anders is also a member of the Virginia Beach Bar Association (VBBA), Virginia State Bar (VSB), Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (VTLA), and Virginia Bar Association (VBA). She has been very active with the VBBA, serving on various committees since 2003 and is currently the president. She has also been a member of the VBA Family Law Coalition since November 2015. Ms. Anders received her Juris Doctor in 2001 from Loyola University School of Law at New Orleans. After law school, Allison returned to Virginia and clerked for an Administrative Law Judge with the Department of Labor in Washington, DC for one year.

Ms. Dougherty focuses on family law, divorce, custody and visitation, support, equitable distribution, adoption, and estate law. She has continued to focus her practice on complex litigation involving families, to include same-sex divorces, contested adoptions, high asset divorces, and international custody cases involving the Hague Convention. Ms. Dougherty has served on the Young Lawyers Board with the Fairfax Bar Association and the Judicial Liaison Committee with the Prince William County Bar Association. She also served as Co-Chair of the Family Law Section of the Prince William County Bar Association wherein she was pivotal in coordinating and authoring engaging and interactive family law CLEs and mentorship opportunities for family law practitioners. Currently, Ms. Dougherty is President of the Prince William County Bar Association. She is an active member of the Prince William Virginia Women’s Attorney’s Association, serving as both President-Elect and President. Ms. Dougherty attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, followed by Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in Cleveland Ohio.

Ms. Ehlenberger’s practice is focused exclusively on all areas of family law. She is listed in “The Best Lawyers in America”, Washingtonian magazine’s Top Divorce Lawyers and Northern Virginia magazine’s Top Lawyer Listing. Ms. Ehlenberger is a member of the Family Law section of the Fairfax Bar Association and is on the Fairfax Bar Association’s Circuit Court Committee and Domestic Relations Subcommittee. She is also an associate member of the Loudoun Bar Association and member of the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar. Ms. Ehlenberger is also a Neutral Case Evaluator for Fairfax County Circuit Court. She received her B.A. degree from Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and her J.D. degree American University, Washington College of Law, Washington, District of Columbia.

As a bilingual certified paralegal from Puerto Rico, Mr. Figueroa helps both English and Spanish speaking clients. He manages the office as well as provides assistance in discovery, scheduling, case filings, and research. Mr. Figueroa also helps coordinate Hague family matters. He cares deeply about working in an efficient manner and making sure that legal services and accessibility are available at reasonable costs. Many clients have noted his patience, easy manner, and pleasant demeanor.

Mr, Taylor has focused his practice on family law matters over the past ten years, specifically with issues relating to divorce, equitable distribution, custody, visitation and support. He has been a member of the Chesterfield County Bar Association’s Executive Board for the last five years and is currently the President of the Chesterfield Bar Association. Mr, Taylor is also a member of the Metro Richmond Family Law Bar and was a representative for Chesterfield County on the Bench Bar Conference Committee in 2018. He earned his J.D. from the University of Richmond in 2009 and was a member of the inaugural class to receive the Family Law Certificate.

Ms. Echikson has been a paralegal working almost exclusively in family law for over 20 years and has been with Materese Family Law, since its inception. Prior to her time at MFL, she worked in the family law departments at the Greater Philadelphia area law firms of Dischell Bartle Dooley, Weber Gallagher, and Wolf Block. Ms. Echikson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Paralegal Studies from Peirce College and holds a Pennsylvania paralegal certification from the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations. She currently serves as President of the Montgomery County Paralegal Association. Along with Ms. Sheriff and other paralegals across the Commonwealth, Ms. Echikson is a founding Board member of the Family Law Paralegals of Pennsylvania (FLPP), a paralegal association dedicated to providing resources and support to paralegals practicing family law in Pennsylvania. She also currently serves as FLPP’s Vice-President and membership chair. In addition, Ms. Echikson is FLPP’s primary delegate to the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations, where she also holds the position of Secretary. She is also a member of various community organizations, including serving as an Area Leader for Free Mom Hugs of Pennsylvania, a Board member for the LGBT Equality Alliance of Chester County, and Secretary of Soroptimist International of Phoenixville.

Ms. Sheriff  has over three decades of experience as a family law litigation paralegal. She assists attorneys and clients in a variety of family law matters with an emphasis on complex property distributions and difficult custody cases. She is a PACE Registered Paralegal and a Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal. Ms. Sheriff received her paralegal degree in 1988 from Central Penn College (formerly Central Penn Business School) and subsequently returned and completed her Bachelor of Science Degree in legal studies. She is a past President of the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations and still serves on several of its committees. Ms. Sheriff is also a past president of the Central Pennsylvania Paralegal Association and has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2017. In 2019, she, along with six paralegals from across Pennsylvania, founded Family Law Paralegals of Pennsylvania (FLPP). FLPP is a practice specific paralegal association. Its goal is to provide family law paralegals throughout the state with better access to information and resources relating to family law matters. Through the collective skills of its members, FLPP provides a reliable resource for paralegals practicing family law. Ms. Sheriff is proud to serve on FLPP’s Board of Directors where she has held the position of President for the past year.

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.

Dr. Berry, J.D., is Department Chair and instructor for the Paralegal Studies Program Department within the Business, Social Science, and Public Services Division at McHenry County College (MCC). She is also the advisor of the Paralegal Students Association. Robin was born in Dallas, Texas. She attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas and received a BA in Criminal Justice and Political Science in 1987. Dr. Berry received her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas Tech University School of Law in 1991. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Texas (1991) and the State of Illinois (2011). Robin practiced in many areas of law, but mainly focused on criminal prosecution and defense, juvenile delinquency, and abuse and neglect. She was a special public defender for McHenry County Juvenile Courts from April 2011 to August 2021. Robin moved to McHenry in 2008 and began teaching as an adjunct instructor at MCC. Robin teaches the following courses: Business Law, Business Ethics, Introduction to Paralegal Studies, Legal Research and Writing, Civil Litigation and Discovery, Contracts, Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts, Torts, and the Paralegal Internship Program. She is also an active member of the McHenry County Bar Association, serving on the Law Day Committee. As such, Robin is involved with educating elementary school, middle school, and high school students about Law Day and the legal system. She has participated in the high school mock trials for the Law Day events. Robin is a regular guest speaker in various high school classes and events across the McHenry County.

Professor Cieslik joined the Illinois State faculty as an assistant professor of Legal Studies in the Department of Politics and Government in August of 2020. Cieslik earned his Juris Doctorate (2004) from Western Michigan University, Thomas M. Cooley Law School and his B.S. in Criminal Justice (2001) from Washburn University. From 2012 – 2020, Cieslik was the Program Coordinator and Professor of Paralegal and Criminal Justice Studies at South Suburban College in South Holland, Illinois. From 2007 – 2012, Cieslik was a partner at Barmann, Bohlen, Jacobi & Cieslik, P.C. in Kankakee, Illinois with an emphasis on insurance defense and criminal defense. He also served as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Kankakee County from 2004 – 2007. Cieslik’s research interests focus on criminal law and procedure.

Ms. Zia is an Associate Professor and Program of Paralegal Studies with Lewis University. a Licensed Attorney in the State of Illinois and served as an Assistant Attorney General with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office in the Criminal Appeals Division. During her time there, she argued cases before the federal district courts, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and filed motions in the U.S. Supreme Court. She also argued cases in all the state district appellate courts and frequently argued cases in the Illinois Supreme Court. In addition to bringing her law experience and expertise to students at Lewis, Ms. Zia obtained approval of the Undergraduate Paralegal Program by the American Bar Association for the university. She currently serves as a Sole Practitioner in Elmhurst and concentrates on Pro-Bono Cases.

Mr. Arnott is originally from Australia but has lived in St. Paul, MN since 1991. He has taught in the Legal Studies department at Hamline University since 2008, having previously taught family law and legal writing at William Mitchell College of Law and served as the legal instructor at the Minneapolis Business College. Professor Arnott is a past chair of the Minnesota State Bar Association Family Law Section and of the Ramsey County Bar Association Youth & the Law Committee. Before entering legal practice, He was a diplomat in the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, serving in Canberra and Nairobi. In his spare time, Professor Arnott umpires Australian Rules football and referees soccer.

Mr. Case focuses on civil litigation and municipal prosecution. Before joining our firm, Andrew clerked for several judges in Minnesota District Court and the Minnesota Court of Appeals. He is experienced in litigating a variety of complex civil matters involving appellate litigation, corporate liability and business disputes, medical malpractice and professional liability, real estate disputes, as well as employment litigation. Mr. Case is likewise experienced in prosecuting and defending criminal cases ranging from misdemeanors to felonies. He takes pride in serving his clients as a trusted confidant and devoted advocate. Mr. Case earned his J.D. from Mitchell Hamline School of Law and holds a business degree from the University of St. Thomas.

Ms. Edwards focuses on the firm’s family law practice. She brings years of legal experience from her previous positions with the Boulder County Court Clerk’s Office and the Boulder County Family Court Facilitator’s Office, as well as her previous work as a family law paralegal in Colorado. Ms. Edwards primary duties include calendaring, document drafting, financial documentation management and client file management. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and received her Post-Baccalaureate Paralegal Certificate from Arapahoe Community College.

Leondra Hanson joined the Hamline faculty in 2008 after several years teaching, training, and practicing law in the Twin Cities. She earned her BA from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and her JD from the University of Minnesota. Professor Hanson’s scholarly and professional work focuses on women and law, sexual assault and harassment, and legal education. Professor Hanson chairs the Legal Studies Department and directs the paralegal and graduate legal programs at Hamline. From 2010-2012, she served as the Hamline University Director of Learning Outcomes Assessment, overseeing the curriculum assessment strategies across all disciplines and helping educators improve their teaching by focusing on their goals. She also is the former Director of Hamline University’s Center for Justice and Law. In her law practice, Professor Hanson has tried jury trials and represented clients in civil litigation in a wide range of legal matters including sexual assault and harassment, real estate, and employment discrimination. She has provided counsel, risk prevention, and training to professionals in human resources, legal, advocacy, and real estate fields. Professor Hanson is a former board member of the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault and served on the Minnesota State Bar Association Alternative Legal Models Task Force. She has been an active member of the American Association for Paralegal Education. At home, she is the mother of three busy teenagers, a hockey fan, and the treasurer of the Wayzata Theatre Boosters. In the classroom, Professor Hanson believes in the importance of embedding professional skills in the context of the liberal arts. She focuses on teaching students to understand and interpret the complicated texts that make up the law and on giving them the tools to continue learning- as professionals or in other academic settings. She teaches a number of courses including Real Property, Law in the Lives of Women, Legal Research and Writing, and the department’s introductory course: Legal Systems. She has also taught First Year Seminars and Senior Seminars on topics related to juries, controversial judicial outcomes, and access to justice.

Mark J. Karon is an attorney and director of the University of Minnesota Student Legal Service. Prior to the University, he was an associate attorney with Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi, practicing in personal injury and mass tort litigation. He has experience in trial and legal counseling in consumer affairs, domestic relations, criminal defense, civil litigation and administrative law. He is also responsible for co-curricular and law-related educational programs at the University of Minnesota. Mr. Karon is also an adjunct professor of litigation practice and private practice practicum at Hamline University School of Law. In addition, he has been an instructor in torts, personal injury and product liability law, legal research and writing, case investigation and trial preparation at Hamline University in the legal studies program. Mr. Karon has also served as a professor at Inver Hills College and the Minnesota Paralegal Institute. He currently serves as international president of the National Legal Aid and Defenders Association Student Legal Services. He received his B.S. degree with high distinction from the University of Minnesota and his J.D. degree from California Western School of Law in San Diego. Mr. Karon is a member of the Hennepin and Ramsey County Bar Associations, the Minnesota State Bar Association, the State Bar of California, the American Bar Association (member, Litigation and Family Law Section), the Minnesota Association of Justice, the American Association of Justice, Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice and the National Legal Aid and Defenders Association. Mr. Karon is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education programs across the country.

Ms. O’Keefe has been named a Minnesota Rising Star by Super Lawyers for several years. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, where she teaches Advanced Family Law. Ms. O’Keefe has been invited to speak on a number of topics, including International Service of Process, Interstate and International Child Custody, and Establishing Child Support, among others. She also serves as co-editor of Minnesota CLE’s Divorce Practice Deskbook, a resource for family law practitioners across the state. In addition, Ms. O’Keefe serves as a board member for the Family Law League, a local non-profit organization focused on professional development and promoting collegiality among family law professionals. Her interest in and passion for helping families developed during law school when she began volunteering for Tubman, a family violence prevention organization. Ms. O’Keefe has continued her involvement with Tubman and regularly volunteers her time to Tubman’s legal clinics for self-represented litigants.

Mr. Willems is a litigator primarily practicing in business and tort litigation. His business litigation practice mainly focuses on the real estate and construction sectors, where he guides clients through construction defect, mechanic’s lien, contract and quasi-contract, commercial, and general liability disputes. As a tort litigator, Mr. Willems concentrates on complex cases that involve wrongful death, serious bodily injury, and substantial property damage.Mr. Willems has significant experience representing both individuals and companies during the course of litigation, and at mediation, arbitration, trial, and on appeal. He recently obtained a substantial jury verdict in favor of his client in an insurance subrogation action. He also successfully got a discrimination lawsuit dismissed against his client on summary judgment in federal court. Mr. Willems is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Construction Law Section Council and the Association of General Contractors Contracts Committee, He recently served on the executive board of the Minnesota State Bar Association. Mr. Willems is recognized as a Minnesota Rising Star by Super Lawyers in construction and personal injury, and has been selected as an Up & Coming Attorney by Minnesota Lawyer. He was also recently named a Top Lawyer by Minnesota Monthly in construction law. Mr. Willems serves as co-chair of Bassford Remele’s Construction Practice Group and is a member of its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Team and Pro Bono Committee.

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. Grove is an experienced and Board Certified Paralegal with a demonstrated history of working in the legal and medical industries. She is skilled in medical record summarization, drafting pleadings and discovery, e-filing, demand preparation, negotiation, subrogation and reductions.

Mr. Mazzola graduated from the University of Houston in 2006 with a B.S. in Kinesiology with a focus in Sport Administration. While at the University of Houston, He was accepted into the Sales Excellence Institute at the Bauer College of Business and obtained an advanced certificate in Professional Selling. After graduation, he went to work for a major insurance carrier for three years before embarking on law school. In 2012, he obtained a law degree from St. Mary’s School of Law in San Antonio, Texas. During law school, Mr. Mazzola served as a senator for the Student Bar Association, chair of the Young Alumni-Law Student Chapter, participated in numerous mock trial competitions, and was a member of the External Advocacy Program’s Competition Negotiations team. In addition, Mr. Mazzola was a staff writer on The Scholar: St. Mary’s Law Review on Race on Social Justice where his article on how the law often criminalized victims of human trafficking received Credit with Honors. Because of his experience as a staff writer, he worked as a TA in the Legal Research and Writing program.

Mr. Ragsdale’s law practice provides legal representation for individuals and families in serious personal injury and wrongful death cases. In law school, he studied to become the kind of lawyer who made an important difference in the lives of clients. He aspired to stand up to large corporate interests and others that were unwilling to take responsibility for injuries and damages they caused. Mr. Ragsdale now has more than 28 years of experience fighting for individuals and families in state and federal courts in Texas. He has handled thousands of cases and obtained millions of dollars in damages for injured clients. He was recently recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in North Texas. Mr. Ragsdale completed mediator’s training at the SMU Center for dispute resolution and conflict management, and he has have served as a mediator and successfully mediated the settlement of over 50 lawsuits.

Ms. Sadeghi has more than 17 years of experience providing legal services and representation to individuals and families, developing strategies and advocating for legal rights. Her experience includes litigating and advocating on behalf of a large, active client base focusing on complex civil litigation, family and probate law and elder law. Ms. Sadeghi formerly taught at the paralegal program for Suffolk University Law School and is currently a guest lecturer at Northeastern University Law School. In 2023, she received the Massachusetts Lawyers’ Weekly “Making a Difference” honor, part of the Top Women of the Law 2023. She serves as a Board of Bar Overseers lawyer licensing board discipline hearing officer as well as a certified Guardian Ad Litem by the Massachusetts Trial Court.

Ms. Bowman was born and raised in Farmington Hills, Michigan attending Farmington public schools. She next attended New York University and obtained a bachelor’s degree. Upon returning to Farmington, she took classes at Oakland University, earning a post-bachelor Certificate in Paralegal Studies. After spending several years working in various practice areas, Ms. Bowman ultimately landed with the regional insurance defense firm Kopka Pinkus Dolin in 2005. Over her 18-year career with KPD, she transitioned from trial paralegal to Litigation Manager, and was ultimately the legal operations manager in which she oversaw three Michigan offices and managed 70 direct reports. Ms. Bowman began the next phase of her career in January 2023 where she now serves as the program director of Paralegal Studies at Oakland Community College. She served on the Farmington Planning Commission from 2008-2015 before being elected to the Farmington City Council in 2015. She served as mayor on the Council from 2019-2023. Ms. Bowman lives in Farmington with her husband of 23 years. They share a love of motorcycles, golf and travel. Their son is an explosive ordnance disposal technician in the United States Navy.

 Mr. Erick focuses on commercial litigation and employment law. He has represented clients in both litigation and transactional matters that span across commercial law, labor and employment, real estate, consumer protection and general litigation including, but not limited to breach of contract, corporate trade secret theft, tortious interference, defamation, personal injury, fraud, and various other kinds of civil litigation. Mr. Erick is a member of the State Bar of Texas and Dallas Bar Association. He earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, from the University of Mississippi and his J.D. degree from Baylor School of Law.

Mr. Everts has practiced law for more than 44 years and has represented and counseled thousands of clients in family law matters. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a board-certified specialist in family law by the Arizona State Bar, and a board certified advocate in family trial Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Mr. Everts is asked to serve frequently as judge and commissioner pro-tem for the Family Law section of the Maricopa County Superior Court where he has served for 20 years. He has been selected for inclusion in Southwest Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America every year from 2010 to present.

Ms. Hickman Pierson is a law library faculty member at Brigham Young University. She is the head of Reference and Faculty Services for the BYU Law Library and is a professor for the first-year legal research courses at BYU Law. She happily joined the law library faculty at BYU in 2016 shortly after completing a J.D. degree at BYU Law and has since completed her M.L.I.S. from San José State University. Professor Hickman Pierson’s scholarship focuses on legal reference services, legal research instruction, legal education, and law librarianship. She is extensively involved in the law librarianship profession, serving as a chair of many committees through the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) and her regional AALL chapter WestPac. She is also serving a four-year term as an editorial board member of Legal Writing: The Journal of the Legal Writing Institute.

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.

Ms. Heisey  obtained her paralegal certification in 2002 she has practiced in many areas of the legal field. Her career focus for the last 5 years at KGR has been on business litigation. Ms. Heisey is a member of the IndyBar and serves as a Litigation Co-Chair and the Technology Director of the Indiana Paralegal Association.

Ms. Rogers has previous litigation experience vis a vis drafting and filing documents in state and federal courts, completing legal research, case management, and e-discovery. Before arriving at PLG, she worked at the Indiana Attorney General’s Office for five years, three of which were in the Complex Litigation Division focusing on the opioid crisis. Through her tenure, Ms. Rogers assisted in litigation and settlement to attain $12.5 million from one corporate marketing defendant, and $507 million from four opioid distributing defendants. She graduated from Ball State University, earning her Bachelor of Arts double major in legal studies and political science with a German minor, and her Master of Arts in international political science. Ms. Rogers was the President of the Legal Studies Student Association, as well as a member of the Mock Trial Team. She also remains active in the Indianapolis legal community by being a member of the Indianapolis Bar Association Paralegal Committee’s executive team. In her free time, Ms. Rogers is a proud member of Hoosier Burn Camp, a non-profit organization. She also loves spending time with her friends and family. She especially enjoys taking her two dogs, Tito and Rex, to dog parks or walking trails.

Ms. DeHart is a compassionate advisor and tenacious courtroom advocate with significant experience representing clients in challenging family law cases all over Texas. Her practice covers all aspects of family law, including divorce proceedings, complex marital property characterization and valuation, premarital and post-marital agreements, enforcement actions, child custody and support matters, modification proceedings, adoptions and other child-related issues. Ms. DeHart brings a creative and detail-intensive approach to helping clients reach the best possible outcome in every case, whether it involves a complicated marital estate with considerable assets and business interests at stake, or an emotionally-charged custody battle where the best interests of the children take center stage. Although she is ready to litigate aggressively when necessary, Ms. DeHart focuses on minimizing pointless antagonism between the parties and resolving disputes amicably before they land in the courtroom. During her final year of law school, Ms. DeHart served as a judicial intern in the 246th Family District Court in Houston. This experience gave her an inside look at how judges evaluate complex family law issues and effective strategies for delivering compelling arguments in the courtroom. She also worked as a criminal law paralegal for seven years while attending college and law school. She received her J.D., cum laude, from Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law and her B.A. degree from Texas A&M University.

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

Ms. Richardson’s practice focuses on all aspects of family law, including divorce proceedings, marital property valuation and characterization, premarital agreements, enforcement actions, child custody and support issues, modification proceedings, adoptions and other child-related issues. She graduated with a B.F.A. from the University of Houston and with a J.D. from the South Texas College of Law. Following law school she served as a clerk for Judge Larry Weiman, Texas 80th District Court, and for Judge Evelyn Keyes, First Court of Appeals of Texas.

Mr. Tsai began his career in a boutique litigation defense firm. In 2016, he switched from civil litigation to family law litigation at a medium-sized law firm. Mr. Tsai experience at that firm included managing his own docket of family law cases and first-chairing numerous trials, hearings, and a jury trial. He sat for the board certification exam in family law and later passed that exam. Mr. Tsai is board certified in family law as of December 2020 by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He received his B.S degree from Purdue University and his J.D. degree from Baylor Law School.

Ms. Wise completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin with honors, majoring in Psychology, and she earned her J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston. She was admitted to practice in Texas on February 8, 2001, and has been Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2011. Ms. Wise is a member of the State Bar of Texas, its Family Law Section, its Texas Technology Section, and then the College of the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Bar Association and its Family Law Section, the Fort Bend County Bar Association, and Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists.

Mr. Coe is a divorce and family lawyer known for his honest guidance, approachable demeanor, and high-conflict cases. Mr. Coe emphasizes collaboration and communication to understand and unravel his clients’ often complicated situations, relationships, and work toward the best possible outcome for each client. He is adept at managing cases involving divorce, child custody, modifications, and high-conflict disputes. Mr. Coe is experienced with the unique needs and issues that arise in a mid-to-high asset family law matters. He routinely represents young professionals, established professionals, business owners, executives, and stay-at-home spouses. Mr. Coe assists in matters involving children and can help establish plans that prepare for their future. He earned his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Drake University, and his J.D. degree from the University of Iowa College of Law.

Mr. Doner is a family law attorney with Arenson Law Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Her practice focuses on divorce, custody, and domestic abuse protective order matters, and she also works with some clients with cases in juvenile court. While she enjoys working on all types of family law cases, she takes particular interest in offering trauma-informed representation for clients who benefit from that approach. Ms. Doner likes to use technology to streamline the practice of family law and enjoys connecting with colleagues to share innovative ideas. She is a graduate of The University of Iowa College of Law and a member of the Iowa State Bar Association and the Linn County Bar Association. In the community, Ms. Doner serves on the Board of Directors for Iowa Humane Alliance, an organization that provides spay/neuter services to the community. When she’s not at work, she’s traveling, cheering on the Hawkeyes, or spending time with her loved ones and her Australian Cattle Dog, Maxine.

Ms. Koob enjoys a diverse practice of providing counseling and representation to individuals, companies, and Native American Tribes. Part of her practice includes advising individuals, companies, and insurance carriers in personal injury, products liability, construction defects and contractual disputes. She specializes in tribal law, including tribal representation in employment law, real estate transactions, contracts, administrative law, litigation, the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), taxation law, sovereign immunity and providing general oversight on legal matters. She has represented tribal interests in state courts, federal courts, and tribal courts. Ms. Koob has also lectured frequently on the Indian Child Welfare Act. Rounding out her diverse practice is her work in family law representing individuals in divorces, custody, paternity determinations, child support recovery issues, adoptions, and juvenile court matters. She is certified in collaborative law (an alternative approach to the traditional divorce process), mediation and as a parent coordinator. She earned her B.A. degree from Briar Cliff College and her J.D. degree from Creighton University.

Diane Murphy Smith practices in the areas of family law, guardian/ conservatorship, insurance defense, Indian Child Welfare Act and tribal law, and criminal law groups. Before joining the Heidman Law Firm, She was an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Iowa where she worked as conflicts counsel attorney, representing the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. Diane Murphy Smith was also lead counsel on issues relating to Tribal-State relations Indian Child Welfare Act enforcement. She successfully developed a method to streamline Tribal Customary Adoption in Iowa. Diane Murphy Smith represented the state on termination of parental rights appeals, subpoenas to DHHS, and complex child welfare cases. Prior to her work at the Attorney General’s Office, She worked for over 14 years as an Assistant Woodbury County Attorney specializing in juvenile law and child welfare matters. Diane Murphy Smith earned her B.B.A degree from the University of Iowa and her J.D. degree from Drake University Law School.

Ms. Shannon main area of focus is divorce and family law. She represents clients in divorce proceedings, domestic relations trials, contested hearings, contempt hearings, child support hearings, and the appellate courts. Divorce is often a new and difficult time for Ms. Shannon’s clients, and she works diligently to communicate and work with her clients to ensure their needs are met through their ongoing legal matters. She uses creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and a keen legal sense to help effectively resolve their issues. Ms. Shannon advocates for her clients in the courtroom as an adept trial attorney, having appeared in multiple counties across Iowa. However, she also understands the impact of litigation on her clients. For each case, she offers a pragmatic and strategic approach to help her clients obtain the best possible outcome, inside or outside the courthouse. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Ms. Shannon worked as a paralegal, earning her certification from Kirkwood Community College. She received her political science degree from the University of Iowa, and her J.D. degree, with honors, from Drake University Law School.

Ms. Graves handles all aspects of family law, including divorce, child custody, child support, modifications, paternity, visitation rights, and other related legal issues in California. After receiving an undergraduate degree in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley, she went on to receive her juris doctor degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. After practicing family law with a small law firm in Arcadia, Ms. Graves decided to start her own family law firm in Pasadena and Beverly Hills, The Graves Law Firm, and the rest is history. She is a professor at West Los Angeles Community College and a recipient of the “Teacher of the Year” award. Ms. Graves is also the former legal chair of the YWCA of Glendale. She is also involved in many organizations, including the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Beverly Hills Bar Association, Langston Bar Association, Pasadena Bar Association, the Black Women’s Lawyers Los Angeles, Inc. (past president), and the Loyola Law School African American Alumni Association.

Ms. Ross is the founder and CEO of All for the Family Legal Clinic, Inc, a nonprofit based out of Castro Valley that helps low income and modest means clients with family law and restraining order issues, by charging on a sliding scale starting at $15/hr. In addition to serving on the board of All for the Family, she also serves as a member of the Board of the Alameda County Bar Association (ACBA) and previously served as the chair of the ACBA Family Law Section. Since 2016 she has been selected to the California Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers. Since 2017 she has been selected as one of the Top 10 Family Law Attorney’s under 40 in Northern California by the NAFLA. In May of 2015 she was honored by VLSC as their Volunteer of the Year and in March of 2014 she was honored by Assemblyman Bill Quirk’s office as the District 20 Woman of the Year in Law.

Ms. Steeg’s  specialties include Family Law: Litigator, Mediator, Collaborative Practice, Consulting Attorney for Mediations, Pre-marital Agreements, Post-marital Agreements, Child Custody, Child and Spousal Support, and Division of Assets/Debt. Ms. Steeg received her B.A. degree in Economics and International Relations from Boston University and her J.D. degree from the University of California, College of Law, San Francisco.

Ms. Kumarachandran is a Baltimore divorce attorney. She enjoys being able to be a source of strength and solutions for her clients during what is usually one of the hardest times in their lives. Ms. Kumarachandran currently serves on the Military Law Committee of the Family Law Section of the American Bar Association. In that important role, in May 2017 she lectured to attorneys from around the country on the complicated subject of the “Survivor Benefit Plan” aspect in the military retired pay division. She is honored to represent members of the United States Armed Forces. Ms. Kumarachandran is a member of the American Bar Association (Family Law Section, Co-Chair, Diversity Committee, and Vice-Chair, Military Law Committee). Ms. Kumarachandran received her B.A. degree from the University of Maryland. She earned her J.D. degree from the University of Baltimore.

Ms. Robbins practices family law in Frederick and Montgomery Counties, Maryland. She is also an adjunct professor of law at the Francis King Carey School of Law and a member of The Collaborative Practice Training Institute, where she teaches collaborative practice. Ms. Robbins has been selected as a Super Lawyer every year since 2015. She is a member of the Military Law Committee of the Maryland State Bar and the Military Law Committee of the ABA Family Law Section. Ms. Robbins regularly presents and writes for the ABA on military family law issues. She produced and presented at the Military Divorce Symposium presented by the Family Law Section of the Bar Association for Frederick County, Maryland (2015). She is the past chair of the Family Law Section of the Bar Association of Montgomery County. Ms. Robbins is also a past co-chair of the Child Support Committee of the ABA Family Law Section, and she was a member of the ABA Family Law Section’s Continuing Education Committee. In her non-lawyer capacity, she is a family law facilitator at the Circuit Court for Montgomery County. Ms. Robbins is also a court-appointed mediator and a parenting coordinator for both Montgomery and Frederick Counties.

Ms. Botkin-Doty joined the United States’ ARMY Reserve Officer Training Corps at 17 to serve her country and have the opportunity to attend Capital University. She received a bachelor of arts degree with honors in 2006, double majored in both Sociology and Criminology, and minored in Military Science. Ms. Botkin-Doty went on to attend Capital University Law School and while taking classes, she signed up for the Adoption Legal Clinic, Foster Youth Legal Clinic, Veteran’s Wills Clinic and Family Advocacy Legal Clinic and contributed more than 200 pro bono hours. She received her juris doctorate degree in 2013, with concentrations in child and family law, and alternative dispute resolution. That same year she passed the Ohio State Bar Exam and was issued her license to practice law by the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio. In recent years, Ms. Botkin-Doty has been recognized for her hard work and dedication to the practice of law receiving Capital University Law School’s “Graduate of the Last Decade Award”, Capital University’s “Distinguished Young Alumnus Award”, and the Legal Aid Society of Columbus’ “Expanding Our Impact Pro Bono Award”. Today, Ms. Botkin-Doty owns and operates Hannah’s Legal Help and provides personal and affordable “Legal Help with Heart”. Ms. Botkin-Doty focuses her practice on helping clients with uncontested legal matters and offers free consultations and flat fees with payment plans for those in need.

With experience on both sides of the law and more than a decade of practice under her belt, Ms. Hirsch has developed a unique perspective that informs her client-centric values. As a prosecutor she advocated on behalf of women and children. As a criminal defense attorney, she honed valuable experience in litigation and family dynamics. These highly transferrable experiences have recently led her to the practice of family law. Her focus is on contested divorce, civil protection orders, domestic violence matters, and post-decree modification and enforcement. For Ms. Hirsch, lawyering is about people and relationships, not transactions. She knows no two cases are the same and that understanding her clients’ specific objectives is the most effective way to create a desired way forward. Whether she is addressing assets they have worked their entire lives to acquire or approaching the most precious of issues involving children and custody, she is a zealous advocate who prides herself on relatability and open communication.

Mr. Langhals began his legal career in 2001 as an assistant prosecuting attorney in St. Clair County, Michigan. He transitioned to private practice in 2009, and later moved back to Ohio in 2012 to open his own law office. The firm’s focus is divorce, dissolution, custody, mediation and criminal defense. Mr. Langhals is also a guardian ad litem, and Supreme Court of Ohio certified mediator and parenting coordinator.  As a practitioner in the rural counties west of Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Langhals has established a reputation for polite and straight forward legal advice. Mr. Langhals has also authored a book, Divorce & Dissolution:  11 Heavenly Tips from your Guardian Angel published by Braughler Books, which shows its readers how having the right perspective when ending a marriage leads to practical, and sometimes inspired, outcomes.

The divorce process is multifaceted. Not only are their dividing their property and determining what is best for their children, but they are dealing with all the emotions that accompany these changes. Having practiced exclusively in the area of domestic relations since the beginning of her career, Ms. Meis is particularly adept at taking a collaborative approach to guiding clients through all that the legal process may bring. Ms. Meis values being open and upfront with her clients and ensuring that they feel knowledgeable about every stage of their case. Ms. Meis practices in the areas of uncontested divorce and dissolution, stepparent or uncontested adoption, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and provides valuable drafting and trial preparation support to the firm’s litigation team.

Mr. Miller finds great fulfillment in assisting clients in meeting their legal needs during often challenging, sensitive and complex circumstances. Mr. Miller focuses his practice on family law, municipal law and education. He served as a county prosecutor and assistant attorney general prior to entering into private practice. Mr. Miller has advised and represented state, county, and township officials on various matters involving public records, open meetings, contracts, real estate, construction, zoning, levy and bond issues, bid packages, regulatory and compliance, policy and procedures review, employment matters, as well as litigation. He serves as special counsel to the Village of New Bremen, the Monroe Township Board of Zoning Appeals, and the Ohio Educational Services Center Association.

Ms. Saulnier joined Zashin Law in 2021. Her practice encompasses all aspects of domestic relations such as divorce, dissolution, property division, child and spousal support, and parental rights and responsibilities. A French national with law degrees from both the United States and France, Ms. Saulnier has a particular interest in all international family law issues, specifically custody matters implicating the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

Ms. Bowman was born and raised in Farmington Hills, Michigan attending Farmington public schools. She next attended New York University and obtained a bachelor’s degree. Upon returning to Farmington, she took classes at Oakland University, earning a post-bachelor Certificate in Paralegal Studies. After spending several years working in various practice areas, Ms. Bowman ultimately landed with the regional insurance defense firm Kopka Pinkus Dolin in 2005. Over her 18-year career with KPD, she transitioned from trial paralegal to Litigation Manager, and was ultimately the legal operations manager in which she oversaw three Michigan offices and managed 70 direct reports. Ms. Bowman began the next phase of her career in January 2023 where she now serves as the program director of Paralegal Studies at Oakland Community College. She served on the Farmington Planning Commission from 2008-2015 before being elected to the Farmington City Council in 2015. She served as mayor on the Council from 2019-2023. Ms. Bowman lives in Farmington with her husband of 23 years. They share a love of motorcycles, golf and travel. Their son is an explosive ordnance disposal technician in the United States Navy.

Ms. Savaya was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit. She has always had a passion for helping others. She attended Oakland Community College where she received her degree in Paralegal Studies in 2011. Shortly after, she began working in the legal field. Ms. Savaya has over 10 years of experience and knowledge working in civil litigation, criminal and traffic law, corporate transactional work, and Michigan no-fault litigation. She is hard-working, dedicated, and has a keen sense for organization. Ms. Savaya is committed to providing excellence both in and out of the workplace and loves what she does. She joined the Seva Law Firm in July 2016 with a primary focus on no-fault and bodily injury litigation. Ms. Savaya is the litigation manager at the Seva Law Firm, and in that role, she not only handles a full docket of cases, but also trains and teaches other paralegals how to handle their own dockets. On a given day, she will manage the firm’s calendar and docket, resolve most motions for the entire firm, and communicate with clients and defense attorneys. In addition, she manages all appeals, reviews court transcripts, and prepares all appellate court filings. Ms. Savaya also handles all paralegal assistance for trials. She is also a leader in the MAJ paralegal association and is active in many other paralegal associations. Ms. Savaya has hosted lectures at paralegal seminars. She is on the advisory board for the Macomb Community College Paralegal Program, and she is the vice chair for the Oakland County Bar Association paralegal committee.

Ms. Wernette teaches Ethics and Law Practice Management. Ms. Wernette is a dedicated public servant and educator with 30+ years of experience, including leadership roles in various settings. This includes positions as a middle school English and history teacher, manager for a multi-location healthcare company and paralegal at private law firms and Oakland Schools ISD supporting the legal needs of 28 school districts. Ms. Wernette has a bachelor’s degree in English from Oakland University and an ABA paralegal certificate from Oakland Community College.

Mr. Floyd is a trial lawyer with the firm and is licensed in Tennessee and Kentucky. He is a partner in the Nashville office and focuses his practice on the defense of individuals and companies across Tennessee, Kentucky, and surrounding states. Mr. Floyd has tried numerous jury and bench trials to verdict in state and federal courts, including many as lead counsel. He focuses his practice on the defense of health care providers and hospitals as well as products liability defense, commercial, and domestic litigation. Mr. Floyd’s experience defending health care liability cases involves all aspects from pre-suit investigation to verdict and appeal, and his clients include physicians and providers of all specialties. He has significant experience with cases involving claims of catastrophic injury involving brain damage, permanent disability and disfigurement, surgical negligence, and issues related to consent and battery. Mr. Floyd takes pride in working closely with experts to evaluate these cases early on and formulating a defense based on the evidence and science. He is often called upon to speak to providers and discuss risk management and legal developments in the health care liability field. Common to every successful defense is his experience in evaluating a client’s position and strategizing with the client to achieve a favorable and realistic outcome. Although many cases do not advance to verdict, Mr. Floyd draws from his trial experience when necessary to present a case in a concise and persuasive manner. In addition to health care defense, Mr. Floyd has successfully tried cases to verdict involving contractual disputes and defended companies in cases where their product is alleged to have injured someone. He also works closely with individuals who are experiencing high-conflict domestic issues involving marital estates, businesses, and interstate visitation.

Mr. Graham focuses his law practice exclusively on family law matters, including divorce, custody, alimony, child support, parental relocation and Juvenile Court matters. He was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 2018 and has practiced exclusively at Taylor, Bean & Hamer since. Mr. Graham brings a fresh perspective to the firm’s family law practice, with his experience in digital and social media so vital in today’s divorce cases. Mr. Graham is dedicated to working one-on-one with the firm’s clients to address the details that arise throughout their litigation. Mr. Graham graduated from the University of Memphis School of Law in 2018, cum laude, and received the prestigious CALI Award and Dean’s Award of Excellence. He attended East Tennessee State University and graduated with a B.A. degree in Political Science and minor in Legal Studies. He is an active member of the Memphis Bar Association Family Law Section and the Tennessee Bar Association.

M. Hamer focuses her divorce practice on high-asset, highconflict cases. Ms. Hamer believes that divorce should be handled with professionalism and discretion, and she works to diffuse destructive, expensive tactics from overly aggressive opposing counsel, always aiming to maintain the clients’ privacy while preserving assets for settlement. She draws from her extensive litigation experience, as well as her work as a trained mediator, to obtain results her clients can not only live with, that allow them to live well. A nationally recognized speaker for family lawyers, Ms. Hamer was recently invited to present to the ABA Family Law Section Spring Conference. She currently practices law in Memphis and Nashville. She is a Rule 31 trained civil and family law mediator, and she has also completed domestic violence mediation training. A leader in the legal community, Ms. Hamer is past chair of the Family Law Committee of the Memphis Bar Association, and she is an active member of the American Bar Association, the Nashville Bar Association, and the Association of Women Attorneys. She has successfully completed the prestigious ABA Family Law Trial Advocacy course at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, and she was a member of the inaugural class of Tennessee Leadership. Before becoming a family law attorney, she practiced with Bass, Berry & Sims, PLC, in Nashville and Wolff Ardis, P.C., in Memphis, handling complex commercial litigation. Ms. Hamer graduated from New York University School of Law in 1996 and with high honors from the University of Tennessee in 1989, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Mr. Lankford is an attorney in the Nashville Office. Mr. Lankford practices primarily in the field of domestic relations, assisting clients with divorce and post-divorce matters, including issues of child custody, child support, alimony, and financial and property disputes.

Mr. Mims, at 33 years old, brings over seven years of dedicated experience to the legal field, with a passion for family law that spans more than three years. His unique blend of legal expertise and a background in technology and mathematics enriches his approach to complex cases, allowing him to find innovative solutions and provide exceptional support to clients. Outside the courtroom, Mr. Mims enjoys immersing himself in the world of video games, indulging in the latest shows and movies, and pursuing self-development. His diverse interests reflect his commitment to continuous growth and his ability to adapt to various challenges in both his personal and professional life. Mr. Mims is a paralegal who thrives on the intersection of law, technology, and a genuine desire to help families navigate the complexities of the legal system.

Ms. Shepard graduated in 2013 from Brighton High School. She worked administrative jobs for several years after before landing at Miles Mason Family Law Group, PLLC in 2017 as a legal assistant. Ms. Shepard instantly fell in love with family law and knew it was what she was meant to do. Ms. Shepard also knew she wanted to be more involved and to learn as much as she could. From there she went to Rogers, Berry, Chesney & Cannon, PLLC, as a legal assistant. Ms. Shepard eventually worked her way up to paralegal with Rogers, Brackin & Davis, PLLC, and has been with the firm since its start in 2021.

Ms. Davis received her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from the University of South Florida and her Juris Doctor with Honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law. Ms. Davis is admitted to practice law in both Florida and Virginia, having been admitted to the Virginia Bar in 1996, and the Florida Bar in 2007. Ms. Davis began her career in 1996 in private practice in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she concentrated primarily in the fields of matrimonial and family law and personal injury. She formed The Women’s Law Group in 2009 with her law partner, Deborah Thomson. She is active in the legal community, and is a member of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar, The Family Law Section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, and is an elected member of the Executive Council of the Family Law Section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association. Ms. Davis is the co-chair of the HCBA pro bono committee. She also teaches legal studies class as an adjunct professor at The University of Tampa. Ms. Davis is a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, an organization dedicated to the promotion of collaborative divorces. She firmly believes that Collaborative Divorces promote family harmony both during and long after the divorce is final. Ms. Davis is a member of the Collaborative Divorce Institute of Tampa Bay. Ms. Davis also volunteers her time at the Bay Area Legal Services Family Forms Clinic. She is dedicated to helping her clients navigate through some of the most difficult times of their lives, and to helping them achieve the best possible outcome for themselves and their children.

Ms. Dienstag has focused her practice on marital and family law since 1989, and has expanded her specialization to include domestic partnership matters. She is a Florida Supreme Court-certified family mediator, and Martindale-Hubbell AV preeminent rated attorney. Ms. Dienstag has been chosen by Florida Trend Magazine as one of the Florida Legal Elite since 2006, and she has been named a Florida Super Lawyer since 2007. She was named Nation’s Top One Percent 2015 by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. Ms. Dienstag is a frequent lecturer on complex areas of family law. She received her J.D. degree from University of Miami School of Law.

Mr. Nickolaou practices almost exclusively in divorce, marital and family law. Mr. Nickolaou also handles record expungements and sealings. He and his partner, Ophelia Bernal-Mora Nickolaou, joined forces in March 2016 to form the unique and boutique husband and wife family law team at Bernal-Mora & Nickolaou, P.A. Together, they take a practical and team- based approach to all of their cases and clients to deliver the highest quality experience and representation. Mr. Nickolaou was born in Chicago, Illinois, and relocated to Florida as a teenager, where he has lived since. He graduated from the University of Florida, with honors, acquiring a bachelor of arts degree. He then proceeded to law school, where he earned his doctorate of jurisprudence degree from Barry University – Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law in Orlando with high honors in the top five percent of his class.

Ms. Roselló works exclusively in the area of marital and family law. She is admitted to practice law in both Florida and Pennsylvania and has received training and certification in both mediation and collaborative practice. Ms. Roselló received her B.A. in International Relations from Florida International University in 2006, and her J.D. from The Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law in 2010. Upon graduating law school. She was the Clinical Fellow at the Penn State Law, Family Law Clinic. After completing her fellowship, she accepted a position as a family law associate with the firm Engle & Engle, P.C. Ms. Roselló then served as the judicial law clerk to the Honorable Thomas K. Kistler of the Centre County Court of Common Pleas for nearly two years. In 2014, she moved to Tampa with her family where she began practicing marital and family law in Hillsborough County. In addition to practicing law, she has taught legal writing as an adjunct professor at the University of South Florida and has been a guest lecturer at the University of Tampa in the area of family law. Ms. Roselló is a past-president and board member for the North Tampa Bar Association, a board member of Enterprising Latinas, a non-profit organization dedicated to economic empowerment of low-income Hispanic women in Tampa Bay, a member of the Executive Council of the Hillsborough County Bar Association’s Marital & Family Law Section, and a member of the Executive Council of the Stann W. Givens Family Law Inn of Court.

Mr. Shemkus exclusively practices family law. As a Florida Supreme Court Board Certified Specialist in Marital & Family Law, he is committed to helping clients navigate family law proceedings with confidence and dignity, applying his knowledge in this field to seek the best possible result based on each client’s individual goals, needs, and concerns. Mr. Shemkus received his B.A. degree from Lewis & Clark College and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois College of Law. He joined Long, Murphy & Shemkus, P.A. in 2016 after working as an associate at a firm in Illinois. Mr. Shemkus’s practice includes all areas of family law and divorce, such as custody, support, domestic violence, and complex property allocation.

Mr. Forester, CPA, Attorney, practices in Beverly Hills, California in the areas Tax and Trust law, Personal Injury, Criminal Law. He also testified as an expert witness in various state and federal courts in California.  Mr. Forester is a Certified Public Accountant, Attorney, and Economist. As a CPA , he provides accounting, financial, and business valuation services. He received his M.A. in Economics and Finance, his Ph.D. Candidacy degree in Economics from UCLA, and his Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles.  Mr. Forester is an adjunct professor at California State University (CSU) and has teaching credentials in Accounting and Economics. He has taught tax, accounting, business law, statistics, and computer courses to graduate and undergraduate students. Mr. Forester is a Judicial Arbitrator of the Superior Court of the State of California for Los Angeles County as well as a mandatory fee arbitration for the State Bar of California. 

Mr. Givens is an associate at Best Best & Krieger LLP who focuses on telecommunications, land use and real estate. He regularly assists clients in California and across the country with a wide range of regulatory and transactional matters involving broadband and fiber networks, cable and telecom franchising, leases and licenses, wireless communications, and public-private partnerships. Mr. Givens primarily represents public agencies, cooperatives, nonprofits, and small competitive providers on a wide range of issues related to telecommunications infrastructure. While earning his law degree at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, Mr. Givens served as chief research editor for the Entertainment Law Review.

Ms. Karish is a partner at Best Best & Krieger LLP in Los Angeles who focuses on telecommunications, assisting clients in California and across the U.S. with a wide range of regulatory and transactional matters involving broadband and fiber networks, cable and telecom franchising, wireless communications and public-private partnerships. Ms. Karish’s clients are mainly public agencies, such as local governments, water districts and municipal utilities. Public agencies can serve a variety of roles in relation to telecommunications infrastructure – regulator, owner, service provider, customer, partner – and Ms. Karish’s clients come to her for advice and guidance on issues that arise in all these contexts. She also represents some cooperatives, nonprofits and small competitive providers. Ms. Karish’s telecommunications practice regularly involves regulatory advice and advocacy, negotiations and drafting agreements and litigation. Ms. Karish is licensed to practice law in California and the District of Columbia and is admitted to practice in the US District Courts of Northern California, Central California and Southern California; the US Court of Appeals in the Sixth Circuit, Ninth Circuit, Tenth Circuit and DC Circuit; and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Ms. Madikians is an associate at Nossman LLP in Los Angeles where she represents public and private sector clients through all stages of civil litigation primarily focusing on eminent domain and land use matters. She has advised numerous public agencies on complex property acquisitions for large public works projects shaping California’s infrastructure, including rail projects, roads, highways, stadiums, public utilities, and flood basins. Ms. Madikians’ experience includes working with expert witnesses; drafting pleadings, dispositive motions and written discovery; negotiating and litigating discovery disputes; managing large-scale electronic document reviews and productions; second chairing a trial; and preparing cases for trial. While in law school, Ms. Madikians served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Otis D. Wright II of the U.S. District Court, Central District of California.