English-Speaking Attorneys

Mackenzie A. Bettle

Phoenix, AZ

Mackenzie A. Bettle is a Supervising Attorney at Rafi Law Group. A California native, he earned his undergraduate degree summa cum laude in Business, Law, and Economics from ASU's W.P. Carey School of Business in 2016. He then worked in investment banking, accounting, and supply chain management before obtaining his Juris Doctor from Seton Hall University in 2021, focusing on trial advocacy, litigation, and corporate law. Prior to Rafi Law Group, Mackenzie worked at two personal injury and civil litigation firms, where he developed a passion for fighting against insurance companies. He has secured multi-million dollar settlements for clients. In his free time, he enjoys rugby, reading, spending time with family and friends, and his two Havanese puppies. He is dedicated to community involvement, both locally and abroad.

James Eric Gabrielson

Sartell, MN

James 'Jim' Gabrielson is the Managing Partner at Gabrielson Law Offices, LTD. He has worked at the firm since he was 16, and after earning a B.S. in Business Economics from the University of St. Thomas, he served as office manager before obtaining his legal degree from the University of St. Thomas School of Law. He handles personal injury and wrongful death claims. He is admitted to practice in Minnesota State Courts, the Federal District Court for the District of Minnesota, and the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, and outdoor activities like hunting, gardening, and landscaping. He is active in social and environmental charitable organizations and is a fan of Minnesota sports.

Christopher J. McNally

Newport, RI

The ocean is and always has been a central part of my life. I have been unable to escape it, though I have not really tried all that hard. I am always drawn back to the sea. I have studied, sailed, fished, explored, played and worked on the ocean throughout my life. I have come to respect and cherish the ocean, its inhabitants and our interactions and dependency upon the world’s oceans. Eighty percent of the world’s population lives in close proximity to the shore, and that population places significant burdens upon the dynamic systems at the interface between land and sea. I understand the conflict that exists between natural systems and our desire to live, play and work close to the ocean. I was born overseas and traveled extensively with my family as a child and then while working as a professional mariner until discovering Newport. My wife, two boys and I have made Newport our home since 2000. Newport, and Rhode Island in general, are special. Rhode Island leads the way in facing the challenges of living at or near the shore. Our extensive coastline, fantastic harbors, and prestigious maritime history in both commercial and recreational seagoing endeavors furthers our connection and interdependence on the ocean. Accordingly, we have extensive regulations managing almost all of our interactions between the land and the sea. As a Professional Mariner licensed by the U.S.C.G. and the Royal Yachting Association / Maritime and Coastguard Authority (RYA/MCA) I remain actively involved in many aspects of the Maritime industry. I maintain and sail on both my U.S.C.G. 500 Ton Master and R.Y.A. 200 Ton Yacht master licenses, both with Oceans Endorsements. My passion and understanding of the ocean combined with my knowledge of maritime and coastal law and regulations allow me to provide sound advice and counsel for my clients and to advocate vigorously on their behalf when necessary.

Sean Campbell

Atlanta, GA

Attorney Sean Campbell grew up in the Atlanta area and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia, followed by a law degree from Georgia State University College of Law. He began his legal career at a personal injury firm in Alpharetta, GA, gaining valuable experience. Sean joined Wood Craig Miller in early 2016, where he focuses on representing individuals and litigating cases to maximize client recovery.

Samir Hadeed

Pittsburgh, PA

Samir Hadeed is a Pittsburgh criminal and injury lawyer with over 15 years of experience, practicing since 2008. He is a multilingual advocate, fluent in English, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, and Italian, ensuring clear communication and personalized legal guidance for his clients. Known for his compassionate, client-focused service and calculated legal strategies, he is dedicated to fighting for fair treatment and achieving results in criminal defense, personal injury, auto accidents, and traffic ticket cases.

David A. DiBrigida is a personal injury attorney and a member of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Bars since 1992. He exclusively practices plaintiff personal injury law, having personally handled thousands of cases and secured over $75 million for his clients. He is committed to providing a stress-free process and personally handles each case from start to finish.

Chris Palermo

Huntington, NY

Chris Palermo has been a partner at Palermo Law, P.L.L.C. since 2004. He takes a caring yet forceful approach, effectively aiding New Yorkers through significant life changes. He prides himself on counseling clients with extensive legal knowledge and fights relentlessly for their future security, often negotiating favorable agreements due to his tenacity in the courtroom.

Eric L. Toscano

San Francisco, CA

Eric brings over twenty years of entrepreneurial and legal experience to his role as Chief Executive Officer of Tenant Law Group, a firm recognized by the San Francisco Business Times as one of the Fastest Growing Private Companies in the Bay Area in 2024; by Law Firm 500 for the past six years as one of the 100 fastest growing law firms in the United States; by Inc. 5000 in 2022, 2024, and 2025 as one of the fastest growing private companies in the country; and by Great Place to Work® every year since 2021 as a Great Place to Work. In less than ten years, Eric has grown Tenant Law Group from a de facto solo practice to the largest law firm in California (and arguably the United States) dedicated exclusively to tenant representation. Named Super Lawyers® Rising Star every year from 2015 to 2019, and Northern California Super Lawyer® every year since 2021, Eric is passionate about entrepreneurship, litigation, and social justice. Although he practiced as an attorney at the firm from 2016 to 2020, he now dedicates 100% of his time to running it. As Chief Executive Officer, his primary focus is on leading a team of nearly forty legal professionals, recruiting and retaining top-tier legal talent from around the world, attracting and onboarding new clients, building the firm’s technology infrastructure, overseeing all finances, and continuing to scale the firm to serve approximately 17 million tenants in California. Born in the South Bay and raised in the Central Valley and Wine Country, Eric earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Stanford University, where he was actively involved in Stanford Student Enterprises (an organization of student entrepreneurs); studied abroad in Florence, Italy for a quarter; and played on the Stanford Rugby Team. Before attending law school, Eric spent three years living in Italy. There, he founded an English language school (The English Language Institute of Montebelluna) in Montebelluna, Italy, and launched an online company that helps people with Italian ancestry be recognized as Italian citizens (Italian Citizenship & Genealogy Services). He earned his law degree from UC Davis School of Law, where he was President of the Student Bar Association, a member of the Moot Court Board, and one of ten students in his class selected to be a member of The Order of Barristers, a national honor society dedicated to excellence in oral advocacy. During law school, Eric also worked as an intern in the Government Division of the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office, and as a judicial extern for the Honorable Morrison C. England, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. After law school, he spent two and a half years working on behalf of large technology companies as a patent litigator for an international law firm. Although he found the work interesting, he was frustrated by the lack of skilled management and clear expectations (beyond billable hours) and by a culture he felt was driven by organizational hierarchy and office politics. When he founded Tenant Law Group (originally, Toscano Law Group) in January 2016, his goal was to build a different kind of law firm: one that fostered critical thinking and innovation; one focused on the personal, professional, and economic growth of its team members; one operated by clearly documented policies, systems, and procedures; one that offered a positive and supportive environment and took no team member for granted; and one that was committed to growing rapidly to serve an expanding and underserved clientele-in this case, tenants. While an attorney at Tenant Law Group, Eric dedicated 100% of his practice to tenant rights. He defended tenants in unlawful detainer (eviction) proceedings and pursued cases against landlords on behalf of tenants arising from illegal rent-controlled apartment evictions, harassment, unsafe conditions and repair issues, rodent and other pest infestations, and floods and fires. Eric has given back to the legal community through his involvement with his alma mater, UC Davis School of Law (King Hall), the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF), and the San Francisco Eviction Defense Collaborative. In July 2025, he was elected President of the UC Davis School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors. As President, Eric will work with the Board to strengthen connections among the Law School’s approximately 8,800 alumni worldwide; support current students through mentorship, networking, and professional development; and celebrate and amplify the achievements of the UC Davis Law School alumni community. He regularly returns to King Hall as an alumni panelist in the school’s Legal Research and Writing and Lawyering Process courses. He served on the Barristers Club of the BASF Board of Directors for two years (and was Vice President of the Board for one of those years), and was named Barrister of the Year in 2014. From 2015 to 2019, he served on the Board of Directors of the Eviction Defense Collaborative, a San Francisco nonprofit that helps low-income tenants defend themselves in unlawful detainer lawsuits. He has also given talks to UC College of the Law (formerly UC Hastings) students on entrepreneurship and tenant law.

Evan W. Horner

Carrollton, TX

Evan Horner is a strong litigator who was selected for the Order of Barristers, an honor society for trial advocacy, during law school. He has obtained many “not guilty” verdicts for clients in criminal trials. He is a dynamic young attorney with more than a decade of combined experience in delivering results for clients in personal injury, criminal defense and other litigation.

Christopher Bandas

Corpus Christi, TX

Based in Corpus Christi, Chris Bandas successfully puts his experience to work for plaintiffs, consistently obtaining substantial recoveries against big business nationwide. A native Texan, Chris’s legal skills have been called on across the state and across the nation. Having practiced defense litigation for the first half of his career in some of the state’s most prestigious law firms, Chris has insight into the tactics and strategies of corporate giants and their insurance companies. Since then, Chris has successfully put his experience to work for plaintiffs, consistently obtaining substantial recoveries against big business. He speaks fluent Spanish and has a reputation for keeping his clients informed and empowered. He was also an Associate Editor for the University of Houston Law Review from 1992-1993.

Joel Roettger

Knoxville, TN

Mr. Roettger is a shareholder with the firm. He represents individuals, fiduciaries, entities, and charities in the areas of estate planning, estate administration/probate, trust law, taxation, business succession planning, tax-exemption issues and charitable giving. He frequently speaks to professionals and lay groups on issues related to estate planning and estate administration. He has been certified as an Estate Planning Law Specialist by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils since 2013.

Cheryl E. Heffernan

Hamden, CT

Attorney Heffernan was born in New York City, has lived in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Vermont, all before moving to Connecticut to attend law school the University of Bridgeport School of Law, now Quinnipiac University School of Law. Having come to love the State of Connecticut she chose to establish herself and her practice here. Attorney Heffernan has been a trial attorney for over thirty years, working tirelessly to obtain justice for her clients, whether they are accused of a crime, injured as a result of negligence, or pursuing the dissolution of a marriage. Attorney Heffernan practices in our State and Federal Courts, handling a wide range of matters from murder cases to insurance disputes to custody cases. More than comfortable with the idea of going to trial, Attorney Heffernan's primary goal is to obtain the best result for her client, however that outcome might be achieved through our legal process.

Christopher Hedges

Charleston, WV

Chris Hedges joined Calwell Luce diTrapano PLLC in 2013 and works mainly in the areas of employment law, toxic torts, consumer law, products liability, and personal injury. Chris has extensive experience in matters relating to product defects, unfair discrimination, complex consumer fraud, and wrongful death. Before joining the firm, Chris was Senior Assistant Attorney General at the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s office where he focused on product defects, consumer fraud, consumer credit, and pharmaceutical law. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to litigation matters against manufacturers, medical providers, financial companies, employers, and other companies which harm and injure ordinary citizens due to carelessness, discrimination, and fraud. Chris lives in Charleston and enjoys traveling, spending time with his son, and the outdoors.

David A. Kaufman

La Jolla, CA

Attorney David A. Kaufman is a native of San Diego, California. He earned his B.A. in History from Claremont McKenna College in 2001 and his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Madison School of Law in 2009. Admitted to practice in California in 2011, he gained experience in construction, contract legal services, and healthcare contracting at UCSD and Rady Children's Hospital. He transitioned to civil litigation, focusing on employment and personal injury cases, and founded the Kaufman Firm in 2018, which later became the Law Offices of David A. Kaufman, APC in 2019. His practice areas include personal injury, employment litigation, civil litigation, real estate, probate, and insurance issues, with a dedication to representing victims and fighting for justice.

Jack E. Gritton, II

Murfreesboro, TN

Since 1995, Attorney Jack Gritton has represented clients throughout his community with distinction. Throughout his career as a Murfreesboro personal injury lawyer, he has helped his clients secure damage awards in the millions of dollars, earning a reputation for relentless advocacy when it counts. He has handled hundreds of cases and has brought lawsuits against some of the nation’s largest insurance carriers. Jack is a graduate of the Nashville School of Law, and he has a background in economics. This background helps him evaluate his clients’ situations more accurately to help them obtain the best possible outcome for their situation.

Jeff Diamond

Lakeland, FL

I started my career representing the county of Pinellas in 1995. After almost five years, I entered the private sector working for a statewide law firm representing large corporations and insurance companies. This was a great experience for me, as I worked hard and learned a great deal about the practice of law. I did, however, feel like something was missing. I eventually changed course and began representing those people who were injured. One of the biggest reasons was so I could help people. Helping people, I learned, was the element missing from my practice. I found it difficult working hard to minimize people’s losses and vigorously representing my clients while devaluing the claims of those who were hurt. In representing those who are injured, I am able to seek full value for their claims. I fight against the insurance companies, the entities with all the power that can afford to spare no expense. Attorney Diamond views the attorney-client relationship as a partnership. While he does not experience the physical pain they are enduring, he does feel the immense difficulties their injuries have caused in their lives. He is passionate about helping his clients through the incredibly difficult times they are facing and believes that the cases he handles are not about him or the firm but about the clients. Attorney Diamond believes it is a privilege to help people and strives to effectively represent his clients’ best interests against the interests of large corporations and insurance companies. In addition to drawing on his extensive trial experience, Attorney Diamond makes a conscious effort to connect with each and every one of his clients. His goal is to be there for them, keep them informed, and remain reliably available for them throughout a very challenging time. To prepare a case, Attorney Diamond takes the time to get to know his client, learn about their medical history and care, and understand any unique issues affecting the case. When it comes to fighting for justice, he believes that he and his clients are in it together.

Robert Carroll III

San Francisco, CA

Robert is an associate at Phillips, Erlewine, Given & Carlin. He graduated in 2013 from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. His practice focuses on entertainment, commercial, and intellectual property litigation and transactional work. Prior to joining the firm, Robert worked as an associate attorney for several years at a commercial litigation firm in San Francisco, where he represented business, personal injury, and real estate clients. Robert is licensed to practice law in California. In addition to representing musicians and music industry professionals in his law practice, Robert’s varied catalog of original music has garnered millions of streams, and he performs internationally as a session and touring guitarist.

Daniel J. Libbey

Ladera Ranch, CA

Daniel J. Libbey is a partner at Strongin, LLP, specializing in toxic tort, personal injury, and auto accidents. He has a track record of securing high-value settlements, including a recent $1,000,000.00 settlement, and has assisted in multiple successful trials. He previously clerked for judges in Arizona and California and provided contract administration for Samsung Semiconductor.

Robert D. Karl

Cincinnati, OH

Robert D. Karl is a Cincinnati trial lawyer with over 30 years of experience, specializing in criminal defense, DUI, domestic relations, workers’ compensation, and personal injury. He previously served as an assistant prosecuting attorney and is fluent in Spanish.

Kirill Lavinski

Los Angeles, CA

Kirill Lavinski is an attorney at Blair & Ramirez LLP, focusing on personal injury, wrongful death, and employment law cases throughout California. He has experience in all stages of litigation and is dedicated to helping individuals recover maximum compensation. He is a graduate of Penn State Dickinson School of Law and served as a communications specialist in the United States Army.

Jean-Claude Labady, Esq. is an experienced trial attorney in various complex civil litigation fields but has focused his practice for the past thirty years mostly on personal injury and insurance defense litigation. He has joined this firm as one’s of its senior attorneys and is proud to be a part of its high-caliber representation of clients, as well as its trial-oriented and results-producing practice. At the firm, his practice is focused on personal injury matters and other complex civil litigation matters. Mr. Labady attended Rutgers University where he obtained a bachelors degree with honors in political science and French. He later obtained a Masters degree with honors in international relations, after which he taught various courses at Hudson County Community College. Mr. Labady graduated from Seton Hall Law School in 1992.

Boleslaw Gubernat is an experienced lawyer with an emphasis in automobile, workers compensation, medical malpractice, family law, and traffic cases. He is dedicated to representing those unfamiliar with the legal system and standing up for the injured and abused. Boleslaw graduated cum laude from the John Marshall Law School, where he was a member of the Law Review and received a CALI Certificate of Excellence for Civil Procedure. His passion for law began in his native Poland, where he graduated from the University of Maria Sklodowska-Curie School of Law with an "excellent" diploma. Before becoming a licensed attorney, he worked as a paralegal, assisting in hundreds of personal injury, workers' compensation, and family law cases. His philosophy is that clients come first, balancing effective settlement strategies with proactive litigation and a personal approach.

Jonathan Foster

Orlando, FL

Jonathan Foster is a Florida native who grew up in Orlando. He holds a B.A. in History from the University of Central Florida and a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida, Levin College of Law. During law school, he served as Moot Court Director for the Southern Regional Black Law Student Association and volunteered at a legal clinic for Veterans. He previously worked at a large insurance defense firm and a medical malpractice/nursing home defense firm before focusing on representing injured individuals. He is known for being an organized and aggressive litigator.

John F. Hussell IV

Charleston, WV

John F. Hussell works with individual and institutional clients in multiple stages of estate planning and asset protection planning. He is a well-respected and successful corporate attorney focusing on “peace of mind strategies” - both in helping his clients pass assets to the next generation and in executing and litigating when contests arise. John is adamant that no single client “gets more attention than another,” indicating that estate planning, wealth protection and planning for the future are personal, fluid processes. He takes great care in developing relationships with each client and leveraging relationships with other trusted professionals to find solutions that fit the needs of the individual. That philosophy - combined with “24/7 accessibility” - puts his clients at ease and is a trust factor in addressing individual administrative and legal needs. John focuses his law practice on helping individual and institutional clients with estate planning, trust and estate administration, charitable giving, and asset protection planning. He has a broad range of experience in advising institutional fiduciaries and is frequently called upon to create and advise tax-exempt organizations. John has developed an extensive practice in all aspects of trust and estate litigation, including will contests, will construction actions, and fiduciary litigation. He also assists clients with elder law issues such as advanced health care directives, guardian and conservator appointments, and planning for incapacity. John’s experience in handling estate and trust matters, as well as his thorough understanding of the legal issues encompassed by estate planning and wealth protection, have enabled him to serve as an expert witness in civil actions, providing him with yet another perspective to bring to the table when assisting his own clients.