English-Speaking Attorneys

Gabrielle Thurin

Woodland Park, NJ

Gabrielle Thurin Esq. joined Bastarrika, Soto, Gonzalez and Somohano LLP as an associate in October of 2018. Ms. Thurin is a member of the firm’s family department, where she handles a variety of family-related matters such as child support and custody cases, divorce proceedings, and temporary restraining orders. She previously worked with the firm’s immigration department, handling both detained and non-detained removal proceedings before the Executive Office of Immigration Review, and immigrant visa petitions before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Ms. Thurin is a member of the New Jersey and Puerto Rico bars. She earned her juris doctor from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she served as an editor for the law review. She did her summer internship at Fiddler, Gonzalez & Rodriguez, P.S.C., gaining experience in litigation, corporate, and labor law. She graduated with high honors and earned her B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Political Science from the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras. During her time in college, she worked as a clerk for the foreclosures department of Fiddler, Gonzalez & Rodriguez, P.S.C. and interned with the professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP. Ms. Thurin is fluent in both Spanish and English.

Rigel Ariza

Painesville, OH

Rigel Ariza has almost 20 years of experience in workers’ compensation. His Juris Doctorate is from Cleveland Marshall, where he was the treasurer of the Hispanic Law Students Association. Rigel is bi-lingual, fluent in both Spanish and English. For that reason, he is frequently selected to handle cases for Spanish speaking individuals and companies.

Russell R. Hodges

Baton Rouge, LA

Russell Hodges founded Hodges Law Firm in 1996. He graduated from LSU Law School in 1987 and has over 37 years of litigation experience. He is a passionate family and criminal law attorney, handling matters such as divorce, child custody, and criminal defense. A former prosecutor, he is admitted to practice in Louisiana state courts and several federal courts, including the U.S. District Courts for the Middle and Eastern Districts of Louisiana and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. He is bilingual, speaking English and Spanish.

Anna V. Rio

MEDIA, PA

Anna V. Rio is a Certified Workers’ Compensation Law Specialist and a partner at the firm. She has over 30 years of experience exclusively representing injured workers and has appeared before various Workers’ Compensation courts, including arguing and winning the landmark case of McLaughlin v. WCAB. She is licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Jacqueline Boyzo

Peachtree Corners, GA

Jacqueline Boyzo is a Case Manager at The Scott Pryor Law Group. Fully bilingual in Spanish and English, she graduated with an associate’s degree in Political Science and Paralegal Studies, earning her Paralegal Certification concurrently. With 7 years of experience, Jacqueline manages personal injury cases from intake to settlement and is adept at handling complex cases, treating each client as family.

Yosef “Joe” Arviv graduated from The John Marshall Law School. Before joining Dworkin & Maciariello, Joe began his practice at a workers’ compensation firm handling a wide array of cases and has since dedicated his career to representing people suffering from work-related injuries. Joe views himself as the first line of defense for a client and feels it’s rewarding to go to court and fight for a worker’s rights to achieve positive outcomes. Joe also has the distinct honor of being an editor for The Review of Intellectual Property Law. He is known for being a tough litigator and strives to get large settlements for his clients. When representing a client Joe is zealous and persistent in pursuing every benefit his client deserves. Aside from representing the hard workers of Illinois Joe enjoys cooking, boxing, comic book collecting, and spending time with his family. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and Hebrew.

Christopher Tsitos

Miami, FL

Christopher Tsitos is a personal injury attorney specializing in Cruise Ship Accidents and Car Accidents. He has settled hundreds of personal injury cases totaling millions of dollars and has extensive experience in litigation, including Federal Court. He is known for his client-focused approach, treating clients like family and providing his personal phone number.

Martin Michalski graduated from Marquette University with a bachelor's degree in history and English literature in 2001. He earned his law degree from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law and a certificate in Global Legal Studies from Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. He is an active member of the Polish community and is fluent in Polish and French. Martin interned at the Auschwitz State Museum and began his legal practice as an intern at Gide Loyrette&Nouel, specializing in corporate law and business consulting. His passion outside of law is Military History, especially as it pertains to the plight of the Polish people throughout the centuries.

Jennifer LaRese

Southbury, CT

Jennifer LaRese founded LaRese Law in 2008, focusing exclusively on debt relief. She began her work in the debt world in 2004 and has over 15 years of experience. She is known for her compassionate and understanding approach, helping clients in Connecticut with bankruptcy, short sales, and foreclosure defense. She provides services in English and Spanish.

Jenifer Berki Merrill

Elyria, OH

Graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S. in Medical Technology in 2001 and received a Juris Doctorate from Capital University of Law in 2004, where she was an elite member of The Law Review and The National Mock Trial Team. She also received The Cali Award for Trial Advocacy Practicum. Upon Graduation she opened a highly successful law firm with the main areas of practice being Domestic Relations Law, Criminal Law. She Joined the distinguished Law firm of Gemelas Wilson Merrill & Fritz in 2025. Attorney Berki focuses her practice on litigation and trial work and has extensive experience with complex divorce cases, child custody cases, criminal murder and other serious criminal offenses.

Meryl Sanders Viener

Garden City, NY

Meryl is a graduate of Washington University in St Louis and obtained her Juris Doctor at Brooklyn Law School. She is the daughter of Phyllis and Stanley Sanders, the founding partners of Sanders, Sanders, Block, Woycik, Viener & Grossman P.C.. Her family is dedicated to securing justice for the firm’s clients. Ms. Viener has represented a multitude of children suffering from lead poisoning in claims against landlords. She successfully obtained over 30 million dollars for lead poisoned clients. She is currently a managing attorney of the firm’s Mass Torts Litigation group. Meryl and her husband Joseph are members of the active in the UJA Federation of New York which cares for those in need, strengthens the Jewish people, and inspires a passion for Jewish life and learning. The UJA provides crucial human services to all New Yorkers, whoever they are, and Jews everywhere. Ms. Viener and her husband have served as Chairs of the New Leadership Division and Ms. Viener is a Member of the UJA Board of Directors and the Long Island Steering Committee for the UJA. Meryl is the proud mother of three wonderful children.

Bradley T. Boffeli

Dubuque, IA

Bradley T. Boffeli practices law to help clients achieve the best practical advice and solutions, valuing the relationships built with clients and other professionals.

Brodie Miller

St. Cloud, MN

Brodie is a Shareholder who practices in the areas of Banking & Lending, Business Law, Construction Law, Real Estate Law, and Intellectual Property. Whether assisting clients in negotiating a transaction or navigating the complexities of applicable laws and regulations, Brodie strives to put his clients in the best possible position for accomplishing their goals. Brodie enjoys helping his clients achieve their vision by providing them with the necessary tools, whether that be documenting the formation of a new business venture, bringing in additional third parties, protecting trademarks through registration, structuring a key business transaction, or other business matters.

Larra Kitchens

Abilene, TX

Larra began her legal career in Ft. Worth, Texas. After 10 years of litigation work there, she came to the Hanna Law Firm in 1999. Larra is originally from Breckenridge, Texas, so moving to Abilene was like coming home. She has 30 years of paralegal experience handling cases from start to finish. She also has a vast understanding of the litigation process. Larra has handled all types of personal injury cases, from motor vehicle accidents to premises liability, to oil field injuries to medical malpractice. After spending a few years raising her son, she has rejoined Hanna Allen, PLLC as the Firm Administrator, assisting in the day-to-day operations. In her spare time, Larra enjoys visiting with friends & family, traveling and spending time at Possum Kingdom Lake.

Martha Ames

St. Cloud, MN

Martha is an Associate who practices in the areas of Business Law, Estate Planning, and Real Estate Law. Martha provides comprehensive legal advice to clients on a wide range of issues, including business formation, property transactions, and the creation of wills and trusts. Martha helps navigate complex legal procedures, ensuring her clients’ short and long-term interests are secured.

W. Clayton Donley

Baltimore, MD

W. Clayton Donley is a junior partner at Engel Law Group, P.C., with 9 years of experience. His practice areas include Criminal, Sports Representation, Contracts, Personal Injury, Workers' Compensation, Expungements, Collections, and Wills/Estates. He previously served as a Prosecutor at the Baltimore City State's Attorneys Office.

Erin Farley

Hoboken, NJ

Erin M. Farley is an Associate Attorney at Glugeth & Pierguidi, PC, licensed in New Jersey. She began as a law clerk while attending Rutgers Law School, where she was Research and Technology Editor of the Women’s Rights Law Reporter.

Jason Snyder

Rochester, NY

Jason learned early that he had a passion for assisting clients in preserving their wealth and planning for the future. His practice focuses on drafting Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, and Health Care Proxies; guiding clients through the Probate/Trust & Estate Administration process; and providing Medicaid planning. Jason also has extensive real estate experience, representing clients in residential and commercial purchase/sale transactions, family deed transfers, subdivision projects, and leasing. He has also advised companies, non-profits, fire departments, and municipalities in business matters.

Patricia D. Hatzopoulos

Lisle, IL

Patricia is a civil litigation attorney in our Chicago, Illinois office.

Lino H. Ochoa

McAllen, TX

Lino H. Ochoa is a tireless advocate for justice, known for his meticulous attention to detail and profound understanding of his cases. A 1996 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, he began his career clerking for a Federal Bankruptcy Judge before gaining experience at both defense and plaintiff firms. After 17 years of dedicated plaintiff work, he founded The Law Office of Lino H. Ochoa to champion individuals wronged by corporations and insurance companies. He uses his intimate knowledge of corporate operations to secure justice for his clients. He is fluent in English and Spanish and has over 25 years of experience.