English-Speaking Attorneys

Fielding Matkins grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana. He played baseball for Northwestern State University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from LSU in 2017, where he was inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa National Honor Society. He obtained his Juris Doctor and Diploma in Comparative Law from LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 2020. He is a Partner at Bianca | Matkins and was named 'Ones to Watch' by Best Lawyers in 2025.

David R. Teddy

Shelby, NC

A lifelong resident of Shelby, North Carolina, David Teddy was raised with a strong desire to help the people of the community he grew up in. He has been practicing law in Cleveland County more than 20 years. He is a partner in the Shelby firm of Teddy, Meekins & Talbert, P.L.L.C. He is a board-certified specialist in North Carolina Criminal Law since 1999, re-certified in 2010 and 2020. He is the author of the N.C. DWI Trial Notebook. He is the immediate past president of the criminal law section of the N.C. Advocates for Justice and a former President of the North Carolina Advocates of Justice. He served an 8-year term as a member of the North Carolina Indigent Defense Services Commission, chairing it in his final year. He received the John B. McMillan service award from the N.C. State Bar.

Matt Hurst

Rome, GA

Matt Hurst is an experienced trial and appellate attorney representing individuals and families who have suffered due to serious personal injury, medical / nursing home negligence, and wrongful death. He has represented clients at the trial and appellate levels in both state and federal courts. Matt graduated with honors from the Georgia State University College of Law. He is a member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. He is admitted to practice in all Georgia trial and appellate courts, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. Matt lives in Eastern Cobb County with his wife and two children.

Boris G. Samovalov

Chicago, IL

Boris Samovalov concentrates his practice in general civil litigation. He started his career as a collections attorney at Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit (KSN). While working at KSN, he transitioned into the firm's litigation department and successfully handled hundreds of litigation matters and complex collection cases. His diverse litigation experience includes all kinds of personal injury cases, medical malpractice cases, commercial disputes, trucking industry law and litigation, condominium and common interest community association litigation, personal injury, landlord-tenant litigation (both, commercial and residential), collections, foreclosures, administrative law litigation, building code disputes, and appeals. Furthermore, Boris has experience at every stage of litigation and has successfully handled numerous bench and jury trials. Throughout his career as a litigation attorney Boris has also represented a diverse group of clients, including board members, individual business owners, landlords, real estate investors, and corporations/LLCs. Based on his extensive and diverse litigation experience, in both state and federal courts, Boris is able to provide practical and cost-effective advice to his clients. He understands the importance of making sure that costly litigation is avoided in the first first place. However, when litigation is unavoidable, he is able to go to bat for his clients regardless of whether it requires defense or initiation of a lawsuit. Boris is admitted to the Illinois State Bar and the Federal Trial Bar in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Boris graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), where he majored in Political Science and minored in Spanish. After graduating from UIC, Boris attended Western Michigan University Cooley Law School and graduated in the top 10% of his class. While he attended law school, he participated in law review as an editor. In addition to English, Boris is fluent in Russian and Spanish, and has worked with numerous clients who speak those languages.

Joseph Perea

New York, NY

Joseph Perea is a graduate of Florida International University and Nova Southeastern University law school, a member of the Florida bar since 2007. He served four years in the United States Marines infantry, receiving an honorable discharge, which instilled discipline and dedication. He studied Journalism and Mass Communication at FIU and taught English before law school. Joseph has 16 years of experience litigating workers' compensation, employment, and wrongful termination cases, specializing in representing work injury victims wrongfully terminated or discriminated against. He also has experience in commercial litigation and Federal Court, representing plaintiffs for overtime and minimum wage claims, and personal injury plaintiffs. He is proud to have never represented an insurance company and is dedicated to representing individuals. Joseph is fluent in Spanish and English and is proud of his Colombian heritage, working to obtain justice for both Hispanic and non-Hispanic communities, particularly in denied workers' compensation cases in Florida. He is married with three children and lives in Miami.

Jon Norris

Danbury, CT

Jon Norris is an Injury Law Attorney specializing in Motor Vehicle Accidents, Premises Liability, Medical Malpractice, Product Liability, Workplace Accidents, and Wrongful Death. He successfully argued a unanimous reversal before the Connecticut Supreme Court in LaPointe v. Winchester Board of Education. He is admitted to practice in Connecticut and the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.

Mark A. Scott's practice areas include personal injury, semi-truck injury claims, insurance (including underinsured and uninsured motorist claims), and premises liability. He received his B.A. degree from the University of Kansas in 1990 and graduated from Washburn University School of Law in 1993. He is a member of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, the Kansas Bar Association, and the Wichita Bar Association. He joined the firm in 2009.

Mayron Gallardo

Miami, FL

Mayron D. Gallardo is a criminal defense lawyer based in Miami, Florida. As a Criminal Defense lawyer, he specializes in both adults and juveniles charged with all types of misdemeanor and felony crimes; seal and expunge; DIU and traffic charges; and White Collar crimes.

David J. Lopez is a personal injury attorney and founder of the Law Office of David J. Lopez PLLC. Hailing from Robstown, Texas, he was raised with strong Texas family values emphasizing community service and a strong work ethic, inspired by his hardworking family. He gained strategic and legal acumen working at large legal firms before dedicating himself to fighting for the underrepresented. Mr. Lopez treats each client like family, ensuring direct contact and tirelessly pursuing compensation and justice for victims of personal injury. He is committed to upholding clients' rights and well-being.

Christine Chao

Fremont, CA

Christine Chao is the senior paralegal and case manager of The Law Offices of Derek Lim. Ms. Chao joined the firm in 2008. With decades of experience under her belt, Ms. Chao is passionate about giving back to her community by helping clients to obtain successful immigration outcomes and secure fair personal injury settlements. Under attorney Derek Lim’s supervision, Ms. Chao has handled various immigration matters including L1, E1/E2, PERM, family-based petitions, and other nonimmigrant visas. Ms. Chao has extensive experience adding the attorney on complex immigration matters, such as Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) claims, I-601 waivers, and appeals to BIA and the Ninth Circuit. Although not the entirety of her legal experience, Ms. Chao provides invaluable assistance with the firm’s large personal injury cases, making hospital and home visits as needed, and helping injured victims and their family members through difficult times. Ms. Chao is also involved with the overall management of the firm and participates in the training of the legal team on the firm’s practices and procedures.

Jose Smith

Miami, FL

Mr. Smith graduated, with honors, from the University of Florida. After gaining considerable litigation experience, he founded his own firm in 1983. He was Board Certified from 1992-1997. After serving on the Miami Beach City Commission for 8 years, he was appointed City Attorney, serving until 2014. He then served as City Attorney in North Miami Beach until 2018. For over 30 years, Mr. Smith has also been involved in all aspects of local government law. He has developed a unique, well rounded expertise in identifying complex legal problems and finding practical solutions. He currently serves as a Special Magistrate for the City of North Miami. Mr. Smith has also lectured students on mediation techniques.

Thomas W. Costello

Brattleboro, VT

Tom has practiced law in Vermont for over thirty-five years, representing clients in a wide variety of civil, criminal and family litigation. He brings a vast amount of experience and knowledge to every case. In addition to his legal work, Tom is active in the community and has served on the boards of the American Legion, Brattleboro Area Habitat for Humanity and the Morningside Emergency Shelter. He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and served in the Vietnam conflict, earning a bronze star and a purple heart. Tom enjoys spending time with his two children and grandchild, following the RedSox, and reading.

Patricia Cleary

Bowie, MD

Patricia Cleary joined Byrd & Byrd in 2017 as Of Counsel, bringing over twenty years of experience in civil litigation. She is a member of the Maryland State Bar and the District of Columbia Bar, and is admitted to practice before the US District Court for the District of Maryland. Patty earned her J.D. cum laude from the University of Baltimore and a B.S. in Management Studies from the University of Maryland-University College. Her practice areas include personal injury, family law, complex civil litigation, business, and real estate matters.

Barbara Manes has been associated with the Sanders Law Firm since 1979. She specializes in all aspects of personal injury, matrimonial, real estate and family law. Ms. Manes is a graduate of the State University of New York at Binghamton and Brooklyn Law School. She is a member of the Nassau County Bar Association and New York State Trial Lawyers Association. Ms. Manes has excelled in cases involving the negligence of building owners for defective maintenance or inadequate security. Ms. Manes represented an elderly plaintiff who was injured when she walked through a tunnel separating two parking areas in a shopping center, tripped and fell on a speed bump. Through expert testimony from a professional engineer, she was able to demonstrate that a design defect caused the accident. Ms. Manes represented several young boys who were sexually abused by a security guard at their apartment building over a period of months. Ms. Manes ascertained that the guard had a criminal conviction and had been incarcerated for sodomy in his home state previously. Ms. Manes was able to show that the security guard company did not contact the guard’s references which would have raised a red flag about his fitness to be hired. Ms. Manes continues to represent the firm’s clients in premises liability, inadequate security and general negligence matters.

Leigh A. Raffauf

Wall Township, NJ

Leigh Raffauf graduated from University of Connecticut with a BS in Political Science in 1996 and received her law degree from Widener University in 1999. She clerked in Pennsylvania prior to representing insurance companies in personal injury matters and defending insurance companies in No-Fault PIP arbitrations. She later decided to represent Plaintiffs in personal injury matters and medical providers in New Jersey No-Fault PIP arbitrations. Over the past sixteen years she has specialized in PIP litigation, focusing on obtaining maximum recovery for her clients. She is a member of the Middlesex County Bar Association and NJAJ.

Annie C. Lu joined Easton & Easton in 2024 after spending more than 20 years in the legal arena helping injury victims in numerous capacities. Prior to her work in the private sector as a litigator, Annie worked with victims of sexual assault and domestic violence at non-profit organizations, including the Family Violence Law Center. After that, she became an experienced litigator who tackled complicated cases in both state and federal courts, obtaining millions of dollars in recovery for her clients over the years. Annie’s passion lies in helping clients through some of the most difficult times in their lives, which she does by being able to understand her client’s needs and then advising them on various options and risks so that clients can make decisions that are best for themselves and their families. Additionally, Annie has significant experience representing clients who have suffered a personal injury, and she draws on that experience to make an impact in every case that she takes on. When representing a client, Annie’s primary focus is ensuring her clients are made whole, healthy, and that justice is obtained for them. In 2008, Annie received two Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of California, Irvine, where she double majored in Criminology Law & Society and Political Science with an emphasis on law and jurisprudence and maintained her standing on the Dean’s Honors List during her tenure in college. Annie was a proud member of Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity, and a proud member of the honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha, which recognized high academic achievements. In 2012, Annie earned her law degree from the UC College of the Law San Francisco (formerly known as UC Hastings College of the Law). During law school, Annie earned a CALI award (highest score in her class) for Community Economic Development and continued her academic achievements by continuing as a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, as a contributing member of Phi Alpha Delta, one of the largest professional law fraternities in the United States and served as the technology editor for the competition committee in the Hastings Communication & Entertainment Law Journal. Fluent in Mandarin, Spanish, and English, Annie advocates for her clients and uses the vast experience and knowledge she has gained from her background to obtain results for each and every one of her clients.

Max J. Koeck IV

Metairie, LA

Max J. Koeck IV is an attorney with over a decade of experience in Louisiana, focusing on criminal defense (including DWI) and personal injury. He is known for providing zealous and compassionate advocacy, helping clients navigate legal challenges and regain control of their situations. He is fluent in English and Spanish.

Mother, wife, family law attorney, business owner, woman rights advocate and philanthropist are one of the few hats that Rania Arwani wears on a daily basis. After gaining her B.B.A. in Finance from Texas, she planned to be a stock market analyst, and after working in that field for a short period of time, she felt that something was missing and that’s not where her passion was. Shortly thereafter she relocated to Florida and attended Barry University School of Law, where her commitment to family law took root. Rania acted as a Research Assistant at Barry University School of Law and a Certified Legal Intern for the Children and Families Clinic. She trained with the Florida Center for Child Welfare to handle a variety of family law matters, including domestic violence, substance abuse and sexual abuse of children. Prior to co-founding Arwani Law Firm Rania was a Certified Legal Intern with the State Attorney’s Office in the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orange County where she gained valuable courtroom experience. As the manager of the family law division at the Arwani Law Firm Rania is dedicated to protecting the rights of parents and children.

Matthew Triet Vo

San Jose, CA

Attorney Matthew Triet Vo is a caring and confident attorney. He provides a wide range of legal services, specifically in Estate Planning, Family Law, Immigration Law, and Personal Injury. Matthew considers himself to be “the people’s lawyer” and is passionate about being an advocate for his clients when defending their rights.

Steve Renick

Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Stephen (Steve) Renick has been practicing law since 1987, focusing on workers' compensation. He is dedicated to protecting workers' rights and has handled various work-related injury cases for over 30 years. Steve is also an adjunct professor and a former high school Mock Trial Attorney Coach, with a strong reputation among legal professionals in Florida.

Rod spent the first 10 years of his law career with Scherr Legate before leaving to build his own successful practice for 14 years. Now, he’s back where he started but with much more experience, having practiced criminal and family law in addition to personal liability. Since returning to Scherr Legate, Rod has worked primarily on motor vehicle and premises liability cases. With his return to personal injury cases, Rod knows the plaintiffs he represents are unfamiliar with courtrooms and the legal process. Rod recognizes that so many clients have never been through this with insurance companies and takes pride in knowing that he can help guide his clients and solve problems for them. Rod who was born and raised in El Paso, followed his father and uncle into law. He earned his bachelor and law degree at the same school they did. When away from the firm, Rod spends time with his wife and three sons. He likes to be outdoors, whether it’s hiking, biking, running or snow skiing. All three of his sons are active in the Boys Scouts of America, where Rod is a former Scout Master. He is the current Adult Committee Chair for his sons’ Troop 59.

Payam Y. Poursalimi is the lead attorney and founder of the firm, with over 23 years of experience in personal injury and wrongful death cases. He graduated from the University of West Los Angeles, School of Law in 1997 and was admitted to the California bar. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers.

Jedidiah Bressman is a community safety lawyer at Bressman Law, known for his warrior mentality and relentless pursuit of justice for victims of corporate negligence and safety rule violations. He has secured multiple seven-figure results, including $6.75 million for an industrial amputation case and $1.75 million for a catastrophic three-vehicle collision. He graduated from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and Indiana Institute of Technology.

Jennifer Meksraitis

Tampa, FL

Jennifer Meksraitis is a native Floridian and the principal attorney at Heights Injury Law. She comes from a family of attorneys and was taught the importance of her Cuban heritage, including speaking Spanish. She holds a bachelor's degree in Finance and Economics from the University of North Carolina-Asheville and a Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law (2006). Prior to founding Heights Injury Law in 2012, she served as an Assistant Public Defender for three years, gaining extensive trial experience. Jennifer is known for her empathetic advocacy, strategic approach, and personal involvement in every case, fighting tirelessly for her clients in personal injury and criminal defense matters.