Mount Olive, NC

Russell Johnson joined Diener Law in 2015 after a decade as a principal litigator at Howard, Stallings, focusing on serious injury cases and complex commercial litigation. He is a Board Certified Specialist in Workers Compensation Law in North Carolina and is also licensed in California, Arizona, and Texas. He graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Law, where he was Executive Editor of the First Amendment Law Review and a member of the Broun National Trial Team. He earned his undergraduate degree summa cum laude from West Virginia University.

Richard “Bert” Diener

Richard 'Bert' Diener served four years in the United States Marine Corps. He earned his law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was selected for the UNC National Trial Team. He co-founded Diener Law and is passionate about helping immigrants and advocating for the under-represented. He authored the book 'The Truth About Immigrants & The Law'.

Desiree De Jesus-Roman holds a bachelor’s in communications and a Juris Doctor from the University of Puerto Rico. She began her legal career in 2014 as a Hearing Officer in Puerto Rico and managed a law firm there. After relocating to the D.C. area in 2017, she began practicing immigration law, successfully representing clients in asylum, adjustment of status, and naturalization cases. She is native in Spanish and barred in Puerto Rico.

Italia Lima specializes exclusively in U.S. Immigration and Nationality Law. She graduated Dean’s List from the University of California, Davis, and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois, Chicago in 2015. She served as a judicial extern and was President of the Latino Law Student Association. Ms. Lima has extensive experience in various immigration matters and has been recognized as a Super Lawyer’s Rising Star for four consecutive years (2022-2025). She is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants and the first in her family to attend college and law school in the U.S.

Marcela Harper, originally from El Salvador, has been a licensed attorney since 2014. She holds a master’s degree in pedagogy. Practiced family and civil law in El Salvador. After moving to the U.S. in 2019 for an LL.M. at St. Mary’s University, she was admitted to the Texas Bar in 2022. She focuses on supporting the immigrant community, particularly unaccompanied minors seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. She is fluent in Spanish.

Kathleen 'Kat' Moscato, originally from Maryland, majored in International Relations and Political Science at Boston University (2007-2011). She earned her JD from Elon University School of Law (2011-2014), focusing on immigration law. After practicing immigration law in Charlotte, NC, she worked as a Social Security Disability attorney for seven years before rejoining immigration law at Diener Law in 2023.

Gabriela 'Gabi' Jacob started her career as a corporate lawyer in Brazil. She moved to the U.S. in 2015, earning an LL.M. in U.S. Law magna cum laude in 2019. Admitted to the Washington Bar in 2020, she previously worked at a non-profit, successfully representing individuals for defensive asylum. She is native in Portuguese and barred in Brazil.