English-Speaking Attorneys

Kesia Smith

Wichita, KS

Kesia Smith is an attorney at Patterson Legal Group with over 18 years of experience in personal injury litigation. She was born and raised in St. Joseph, Missouri, and earned her Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Missouri Western State University. After working as a claims adjuster, she pursued law, graduating from the University of Missouri Kansas City with a J.D. and LLM. She has practiced plaintiff’s injury and worker’s compensation cases in Kansas City, St. Joseph, and Overland Park, Kansas. She serves on the Board of Legal Aid of Western Missouri, advocating for legal assistance for those who cannot afford it. Kesia enjoys traveling, watching baseball, and listening to podcasts.

Larry Vandersnick

Rock Island, IL

Larry Vandersnick is a former Prosecutor, Judge, and State's Attorney. He uses his experience to aggressively defend clients, understanding both prosecution and judicial perspectives. He focuses on achieving dismissals or not guilty verdicts, negotiating pleas only when necessary and directed by the client.

Nicholas Rowley

Omaha, NE

Nicholas C. Rowley is a nationally renowned trial lawyer with over $3 billion in verdicts and settlements. He collaborates with Pesek Law to serve Nebraska’s negligence victims, especially in cases involving corporate negligence and medical malpractice. Raised in Iowa and Nogales, Arizona, he has a background in military service. He co-founded Trial By Human, a nonprofit training program for trial lawyers, and supports communities in the U.S., Costa Rica, and Kenya.

Royce V. Bicklein

San Antonio, TX

Royce V. Bicklein is a Shareholder licensed in Texas since 1998. He is Board Certified in Workers' Compensation Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2004 and has over 25 years of experience fighting for injured workers.

Bertha Faudoa

Austin, TX

Bertha Faudoa is an attorney licensed to practice in Texas, with extensive experience in immigration law and a strong focus on advocating for Hispanic and immigrant communities. As the daughter of an immigrant, she has always had a deep interest in helping the immigrant community navigate convoluted and complicated legal issues. She spent numerous years working in the practice area of immigration law but ultimately decided to change fields to where she could help a larger volume of people. Bertha decided to join the DJC Law team in 2023 to help advocate for personal injury claimants in Texas. Because of her fluency in both English and Spanish, she can help a large volume of Texans find justice regardless of language barriers. She graduated from Southwestern University and earned her Juris Doctor from New England Law | Boston, passing the Texas bar in 2019. She is currently pursuing an MBA from Rowan University. In her free time, Bertha enjoys spending time with her husband and their three babies, one humankind and two doggie-kind, and learning new skills like crocheting or building furniture.

Dmitriy Panchenko

Charlotte, NC

Dmitriy Panchenko is an attorney who emphasizes open and prompt communication with clients. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in Finance from UNC Charlotte and Cum Laude from Charlotte School of Law, where he was a Certified Legal Intern. He is admitted to practice in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Susan C. McGill

Florence, SC

Susan C. McGill is an attorney at Finklea, Hendrick & Blake, LLC, specializing in personal injury, criminal law, and family law. She received her Juris Doctor from Charlotte School of Law and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of South Carolina. She was admitted to practice law in North Carolina in 2013 and South Carolina in 2014. Prior to joining the firm, she served as a judicial law clerk and an Assistant Solicitor. She is a member of the Florence County Bar, Marion County Bar, South Carolina Women Lawyers Association, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Aaron Cohen concentrates his practice in the area of family law. He handles the full range of family law cases, including complex matrimonial litigation, mediation, child custody, child support, alimony, valuation of businesses and other significant assets, equitable distribution, prenuptial agreements, and domestic violence. He is particularly adept at representing parents of children with special needs. Mr. Cohen maintains a personalized, client-focused practice. He understands that every client is unique and requires patience, dedication, and zealous advocacy. He listens to each client’s objectives and offers guidance to help him/her reach constructive long-term resolutions. People with family law issues face some of the most difficult challenges of their lives. Mr. Cohen’s hands-on approach and ability to craft solutions help clients through inherently challenging times. Mr. Cohen is a Co-Chair of the Family Law Committee of the Bergen County Bar Association. In that role, he advances the practice of family law in Bergen County and liaises between the Bergen County Family Division Judges and Bergen County family law attorneys. He is also the Chair of the Bergen County Matrimonial Early Settlement Panel Program, wherein he is responsible for organizing and managing panels of over 170 volunteer attorneys and retired judges who assist the Bergen County Family Division in resolving divorce matters. In 2024, Mr. Cohen co-founded the Bergen County FD Settlement Conference Pilot Program to address the backlog of cases in the FD Docket of the Bergen County Family Division. FD Cases involve parties with at least one child in common but who were never married or married individuals who commence an action in family court without filing for divorce. Mr. Cohen recruited and continues to manage dozens of volunteer family law attorneys and retired judges who meet with litigants at the Bergen County Courthouse to help them resolve their cases. This settlement program is a first of its kind for Bergen County and has been immensely successful in resolving cases and reducing the backlog of cases in the FD Docket of the Bergen County Family Division. Mr. Cohen has been appointed by the Court as a Parent Coordinator for parents in high conflict cases. He has also been appointed by the Court as a Guardian Ad Litem of children involved in high conflict cases. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Cohen was a law clerk to the Honorable Ronny Jo Siegal, (Ret.). His time as a law clerk provided him with an in-depth, firsthand understanding of the family courts. He uses the knowledge gained as a law clerk to assist his clients with navigating the judicial system. Mr. Cohen also practices in the area of guardianship law. He represents individuals seeking to become guardians of the person and/or estate of their loved ones, who they believe are incapacitated. Mr. Cohen is regularly appointed by the Court as the attorney for alleged incapacitated persons in guardianship proceedings. Mr. Cohen is also a member of the firm’s land use department and represents commercial and residential developers in connection with land development and related issues. Mr. Cohen also represents condominium associations and cooperative associations. Mr. Cohen is actively involved in numerous professional and charitable organizations. He is currently a member of the District Fee Arbitration Committee for District IIA Northern Bergen County and has been serving on the Scholarship Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Foundation, which selects the recipients of various law school scholarships, since 2020. Mr. Cohen is a member of Bergen County Bar Association and the Barry Croland Family Law Inn of Court. He also provides pro bono legal services to indigent veterans involved in family law matters through Volunteer Lawyers for Justice. Mr. Cohen’s dedication to family law has earned him many accolades. In 2023, Mr. Cohen was included in the National Academy of Family Attorney’s (“NAFLA”) Top 10 Under 40 List for excellence in the field of Family Law in New Jersey.i He was included on the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list from 2018 to 2024.ii He was recognized by New Jersey Family Magazine by his inclusion on their list for Best Lawyers for Families in the field of family law from 2020 to 2024.iii Finally, Mr. Cohen was included on the Best Lawyers in America: Ones To Watch list for his work in family law from 2022 to 2024.iv

James R. Dutton

Griffin, GA

James Dutton is a partner at Dutton & Dutton Law Firm, LLC in Griffin, Georgia. He is deeply invested in his community and advocates strongly for his clients, having defended over 1,600 clients and lost only two trials. He turned down major Atlanta law firms to serve his hometown as a public defender.

Chad Lawrence

Kissimmee, FL

Chad Lawrence is an attorney with The Lawrence Law Firm, practicing in Kissimmee, Tampa, and Orlando, Florida. He specializes in Social Security Disability and workers' compensation law, handling initial claims and appeals. With experience as a former insurance defense attorney and an ex-adjudicator for the Social Security Administration, he brings a unique perspective to his cases. He has been peer-rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, placing him in the top 5 percent of attorneys nationwide, and holds a 10.0 Superb rating from Avvo. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1987.

Matthew A. Ryen

Rochester, NY

Matthew Ryen counsels individuals and businesses in a broad range of legal matters. He has significant experience in corporate and real estate transactions, as well as debtor creditor law. Matt works with clients on business acquisition, financing, municipal and development initiatives, formation of business alliances, stock and asset acquisition, tax exchanges, contractual arrangements, lending, collections, estate planning, real property leasing and development, and employment law matters.

Rick W. Thamm

Beaumont, TX

Rick W. Thamm specializes in personal injury defense, insurance defense, and commercial litigation. He has defended thousands of matters including general liability, products liability, and toxic torts. He graduated from the University of Houston Law Center in 1987 and the University of Texas in 1984. He has over 30 years of legal experience.

Antonio A. Gonzalez is the lead attorney and founder of the Law Office of Antonio A. Gonzalez. He has over 18 years of experience practicing law in New Jersey and New York, having graduated from Rutgers School of Law Newark in 2006. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey, New York, the District of New Jersey, the Southern District of New York, and the Eastern District of New York. Mr. Gonzalez has privately practiced family law, divorce law, personal injury, criminal defense, and DWI/DUI for over 10 years, focusing on providing exceptional legal services and client-oriented care.

Stephen Delk

Valdosta, GA

Stephen Delk previously defended hospitals, trucking carriers, insurers, and businesses in complex liability cases. Now, he represents individuals and families who have suffered serious injuries due to negligence, focusing on medical malpractice, transportation claims, premises, and governmental liability.

William W. Decker, Jr.

Asheville, NC

William W. Decker, Jr. is a seasoned trial lawyer with over 35 years of experience in Michigan, specializing in construction, contract, real estate, and bad faith insurance practices. He became licensed in North Carolina in 2021 and is recognized as a Super Lawyer and an AV Preeminent Peer Rated Lawyer by Martindale Hubbell.

Gina Szeto-Wong

Cupertino, CA

For more than a decade, Gina has successfully litigated family law, civil rights, and employment cases in state and federal court. Gina is bilingual (English/Cantonese) and is an active volunteer for civil liberties organizations.

Kelly L. Burnside

West Columbia, SC

Kelly L. Burnside is the founder of Burnside Law Firm and has been selected to the 2024 South Carolina Rising Stars list. She is a member of Injured Worker’s Advocates, South Carolina Association for Justice (SCAJ), South Carolina Women Lawyers Association (SCWLA), South Carolina Bar (SCBAR), and South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (SCACDL).

Jennifer Stuart

Mattoon, IL

Jennifer Stuart is a managing partner at Heller, Holmes & Associates, P.C. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Eastern Illinois University and her Juris Doctor from Southern Illinois University School of Law in 2011. She is an experienced litigator, having tried numerous jury and bench trials, appeals, and cases in federal district courts. Her practice areas include personal injury, medical malpractice, civil litigation, contracts, real estate, estates, estate planning, and family law. Jennifer is a member of the Illinois Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Coles-Cumberland Bar Association. She also served in the Illinois Army National Guard and was deployed to Iraq.

Lee Karina Dani

Casselberry, FL

Lee Karina Dani is the managing attorney of Korshak & Associates, P.A., joining the firm in 2004. She practices in probate, guardianship, wills, family law, civil litigation, personal injury, and real estate litigation. She received her B.A. from Florida State University in 2000 and her J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law in 2003.

W. Morris Kizer

Knoxville, TN

Morris Kizer, a native of Milan, Tennessee, graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1972 with a B.A. degree, and from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1975. Mr. Kizer was selected as a member of the Order of the Coif, and was the Case Notes Editor for the Tennessee Law Review. Mr. Kizer has served as a director and the chairman of Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation, a director and the secretary/treasurer of Knox Area Rescue Ministries, a director of the Mid-South Commercial Law Institute, a member of the Board of Governors of the Knoxville Bar Association and a member of the Board of Directors of the Knoxville Bar Foundation. As an adjunct professor, Mr. Kizer taught transactional law at the University of Tennessee College of Law for five years. He is a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Mediator and is listed as a certified mediator for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Mr. Kizer served as the Law Director for the City of Knoxville from 2004 to 2008.

David G. Waltrip

Saint Louis, MO

David G. Waltrip has been practicing law in Illinois and Missouri since 1984. He has represented thousands of clients throughout the United States in civil, criminal, and military matters. He served in the United States Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve, retiring as a Major in 1999. He was President of the St. Louis County Bar in 1995 and taught Business Law at Washington University.

Alyssa R. Segawa

Honolulu, HI

Alyssa R. Segawa is a native of Honolulu, Hawaii, and a Partner at Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman. Alyssa’s practice concentrates on asbestos litigation, personal injury, product liability, Roundup litigation, appellate and federal practice matters. She has a particular interest in helping victims of mesothelioma seek justice through the legal system. When Alyssa was 16, her grandfather, a retired pipefitter at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, passed away from mesothelioma. All she knew at the time was that his cancer was rare and was caused by asbestos. It was quite serendipitous when she was offered a position at the same law firm that represented her grandparents for their claims against the asbestos industry. She knows what the families of the Galiher firm’s clients are going through and works hard to make sure that they can enjoy their time with loved ones.

Robert F. Healey Jr.

Cincinnati, OH

My name is Robert Healey. My journey into the legal field started in law enforcement as a police explorer in high school for a few years. I was trained at Deer Park Police Department and later at Blue Ash Police Department. After graduating high school at St. Xavier in 1992 I went off to get a bachelor’s degree from Xavier University. Ultimately my Juris Doctorate came from The University of Dayton School of Law. My background in law enforcement really helped me understand how police officers think and react to different situations and has been invaluable in cross examining officers on the stand. I graduated at the top of my class for class participation during NHTSA DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), completed the NHTSA Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) Course, have participated in the Cincinnati Police Academy mock motion to suppress on an OVI case, taught an OVI refresher course at Butler Tech to police officers, presented at a continuing education seminar for other Ohio lawyers at the Ohio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Advanced OVI Seminar, spoken on Medical Marijuana Law at the Lawyers Club of Cincinnati, testified as a OVI expert witness in an arbitration case involving a Dayton Police Officer, had judges grant motions to suppress evidence, won multiple jury trials including a not guilty verdict from a jury on a felony fourth degree 6th OVI offense in 20 years, was named a Rising Star from Super Lawyers 2014-2018, named to the Top 40 Under 40 list for National Trial Lawyers, and been awarded the Avvo.com Client’s Choice Award ten years in a row! A substantial part of my practice has involved drunk driving or under the influence cases historically called DUI and now called OVI in Ohio. I have fought OVI cases in the following counties in Ohio: Hamilton, Clermont, Butler, Warren, Champaign, Brown, Highland, Clinton, Greene, Montgomery, Preble, Clark, Darke, Miami, Shelby, Mercer, and Allen. I also defend criminal and traffic cases in Boone, Kenton, Campbell, and Gallatin Counties in District and Circuit Courts in Kentucky.

Stephen D. Beam

Weatherford, OK

Stephen D. Beam is a sole practitioner in Weatherford, Oklahoma, with over 40 years of legal experience. He graduated from Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma College of Law. His practice focuses on litigation, business and commercial law, natural resources law, probates and estates, family law, and criminal law. Mr. Beam has held significant leadership roles within the Oklahoma Bar Association, serving as Vice President in 2003 and President in 2007. He has received multiple accolades, including the Golden Gavel Award, President's Award, Solo Lawyer of the Year, and the OBA Joe Stamper Distinguished Service Award.