English-Speaking Attorneys

Kenneth Ratley

Augusta, GA

Kenneth Ratley is from Charlotte, North Carolina. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of North Carolina School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. While practicing law in North Carolina, Mr. Ratley focused on the areas of criminal defense, business formation, employment and labor law policy, trademark, intellectual property, and civil litigation. He worked as a contract attorney for Clifford Chance, LLP and Bank of America in complex civil business litigation cases, advocating for victims of the BP Deep Horizon Oil Spill. When he moved to Augusta, Georgia, Mr. Ratley worked for Mrs. Jeffords and then became an Assistant Solicitor General prosecuting misdemeanor cases and successfully trying DUI cases. He is a former prosecutor for the State Court Accountability Veteran and Drug Court Team in Richmond County. Mr. Ratley returned to the Law Offices of Tanya D. Jeffords as an associate in 2017. He is experienced in trying felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, drafting criminal appeals, forfeiture actions, and complex civil litigation. He is married to Dr. Nadirah Ratley and has two children. He is passionate about giving back to the community and helping young people.

Aivet Lopez

Austin, TX

Aivet Lopez is a Litigation Paralegal with over 6 years of experience in personal injury law, including motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death, and premises liability cases in both State and Federal Court. Born and raised in Fredericksburg, Texas, she is fluent in Spanish and dedicated to helping clients with their legal matters.

Emily Rivadeneira

Los Angeles, CA

Emily Rivadeneira is a litigation associate at The Sentinel Firm where she advocates for employees in both state and federal court in individual cases involving discrimination, harassment, unpaid wages, and wrongful termination. Ms. Rivadeneira grew up in Ecuador and speaks fluent English, Spanish and Portuguese. She received her law degree from Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) and was a member of the USFQ's Law School Clinic specializing in Human Rights and Public Interest, where she assessed human rights cases that were later brought before national and international tribunals. Ms. Rivadeneira also published a legal thesis, “The Nature of the Parking Contract”, uniquely supervised by the Dean, which explores comparative law concepts from both common law and civil law systems to offer theoretical and practical solutions relevant to Ecuadorian law. The combination of Ms. Rivadeneira's academic studies and extracurricular engagements propelled her towards a legal career in litigation. Upon graduating from USFQ, Ms. Rivadeneira moved to the United States and obtained a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Southern California (USC) Gould School of Law, where she received the Dean's Excellence Award Scholarship. At USC, Ms. Rivadeneira served as Vice President of the International Attorneys Association (IAA).

Elizabeth Downey Barber

Prospect, KY

Elizabeth Barber focuses her practice on the complex legal and emotional matters involved with family law and criminal defense cases. Her approach emphasizes thorough preparation and carefully developed strategy to effectively counsel clients.

Todd Stanage

Macon, GA

Todd Stanage is an attorney with significant litigation and transactional experience, and extensive history with government and administrative law. He is a graduate of Denver University School of Law and the University of Georgia. He served in the US Air Force and reserves, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019, where he also served in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps. He began his legal career in District Attorney offices in Colorado and Alaska.

Dennis Fortin

Decatur, GA

Dennis Fortin serves in an 'of counsel' role with Conoscienti & Ledbetter, LLC, specializing in criminal defense. He earned his JD from Potomac School of Law and has practiced criminal defense in Georgia since 1980, including a tenure as an assistant solicitor for the City of Atlanta and a prosecutor for the Gwinnett County Solicitor General’s Office.

Richard Ross Bartels

Warrenton, VA

Mr. Bartels' practice focuses on representing companies, contractors and builders in commercial disputes. His goal is achieving great results without harming their goodwill. He files and defends commercial disputes, real estate disputes, and federal IP and criminal disputes. Mr. Bartels also assists small businesses in managing diverse portfolios of contracts and intellectual property filings, while responding to actual or threatened litigation. He applies his corporate and technology background to all manner of commercial and complex civil matters.

With a deep foundation in civil defense and over 25 years of combined legal and business experience, Arash Yaghoubzadeh brings keen insight to Tofer & Associates. Having previously defended insurance companies in high-stakes personal injury and premises liability cases, Arash understands the tactics insurers use to minimize claims.

Casey Leier

Colorado Springs, CO

Casey Leier champions the rights of employees, specializing in administrative law and public sector employee protections. He gained experience bringing cases to positive resolution before the State Personnel Board and other courts. Casey began his legal career at the Colorado Civil Rights Division, investigating workplace complaints. He has been named one of Colorado’s “Rising Stars” by Colorado Super Lawyers twice and holds Avvo’s “Client’s Choice” award. He is known for hard work, careful analysis, and client communication.

Paul J. Russo

Warwick, RI

Paul J. Russo was a partner at Kirshenbaum & Kirshenbaum, focusing his practice on Family Law. He was admitted to the Rhode Island Bar in 1964 and received his J.D. from New England School of Law. He is mentioned as 'In Memoriam'.

Andrew Tarry

Cape Girardeau, MO

Andrew Tarry is the founding attorney with over 20 years of legal experience, including four years as a local prosecutor. He is skilled in anticipating and countering opposing arguments, enhancing negotiations, and developing effective strategies for success.

Citlali Mascorro is an associate at Weiss Ortiz, where she concentrates her practice on civil litigation, family law, and immigration. She brings a strong foundation in both advocacy and legal support, having previously served as a paralegal at a Chicago law firm specializing in commercial litigation, real estate, finance, and corporate law. Ms. Mascorro earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Forensic Science from Loyola University of New Orleans in 2016 and her Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law School in 2022. During law school, she worked with Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) in El Paso, Texas, where she supported legal efforts on behalf of unaccompanied children in custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Fluent in English and Spanish, Ms. Mascorro is committed to serving clients from diverse backgrounds with compassion and diligence.

Thomas P. Gay Jr.

Taunton, MA

Attorney Thomas P. Gay Jr. serves as the Managing Partner of our esteemed firm, bringing a legacy of legal excellence spanning three generations. As the grandson of our founder, Peter B. Gay, and the son of Thomas P. Gay Sr., Thomas’s dedication to providing exceptional legal services is deeply ingrained in our firm’s history. Thomas joined our office in 2012 as an associate and has since demonstrated outstanding leadership and legal acumen. His practice areas encompass Municipal Law, Real Estate Development and Conveyancing, Zoning, Estate Planning, Landlord Tenant matters, Civil Litigation, and Probate and Trust Administration. Thomas’s comprehensive understanding of these areas allows him to provide strategic counsel and representation tailored to meet the diverse needs of our clients. In addition to his role at the firm, Thomas has served as associate Town Counsel and Assistant City Solicitor for various local municipalities, further enhancing his expertise in municipal and governmental matters. Outside of his legal practice, Thomas maintains a passion for real estate investment and development, leveraging his knowledge to contribute to both personal and community projects. He also enjoys spending leisure time with his family, whether it’s relaxing at the beach, by the pool, or out on the boat. An avid reader and traveler, Thomas values these experiences as opportunities for personal growth and rejuvenation. Thomas P. Gay Jr. is committed to upholding our firm’s tradition of integrity, professionalism, and client-focused service. His blend of legal proficiency, leadership capabilities, and commitment to community involvement makes him an invaluable asset to our team and a trusted advocate for our clients’ legal needs.

Matthew L. Skinner Sr.

Rapid City, SD

Matthew L. Skinner Sr. has been a practicing attorney in South Dakota for over 25 years. He has made a name for himself in both the law and his personal life in the surrounding area. Matt Sr. has nine children, two of which work in his law office, and another one currently in law school. He has made it a priority in his firm to make sure that his clients receive the care that is needed for their individual cases. Although Matt Sr. has been an attorney for over 25 years, he knows that there is a reason his profession is called the practice of law, as an attorney you are always practicing and always trying to be a better attorney than you were the day before.

Lucy Freeman

Hoover, AL

Lucy Freeman is an associate attorney at Abogados Centro Legal, evaluating and investigating personal injury, workers' compensation, and immigration cases. She has prior experience as a paralegal assisting immigrants with immigration courts and USCIS, specializing in Adjustments of Status and Waiver Petitions. She obtained her J.D. from Cumberland School of Law and a double major in Psychology and Latin American Studies from UAB. Born in Dothan, Alabama, and having lived in Latin America, she is bilingual and bicultural, committed to serving the Hispanic community.

Mona Amini earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California at Riverside and her J.D. from Whittier Law School with a Concentration in Business Law. She volunteered at Legal Aid Society of Orange County and served as a judicial extern. Ms. Amini has litigated numerous consumer rights cases, including individual matters and nationwide class actions against major corporations, under various consumer protection statutes.

Andrew P. Dunning

Las Vegas, NV

Andrew P. Dunning is a Business Law Attorney with a strong connection to Nevada. His practice covers complex commercial litigation, consumer fraud, business disputes, tort cases, and transactional matters. He served as a judicial law clerk for the Eighth Judicial District Court and a judicial extern for the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. He earned his J.D. from William S. Boyd School of Law (2015) and a B.A. from the University of Nevada, Reno (2012). He is recognized by Nevada Business Magazine and Super Lawyers.

Joe Whitcomb

Denver, CO

Joe Whitcomb is the founder and president of Whitcomb, Selinsky, PC (WSM). He manages the firm and heads the Government Procurement and International Business Transactions Law sections. He served as a U.S. Army Ranger and a non-commissioned officer in the Air Force. He earned a Bachelor’s in Social Sciences and a Master’s in International Relations. He attended law school at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and is authorized to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC).

Eber Bayona

Beverly Hills, CA

Eber grew up in New York City and loves to travel to new places at every opportunity. He has one son, who also loves to travel. Eber sits on the board of the Biddy Mason Charitable Foundation of the First A.M.E. Church, the oldest black church in Los Angeles. Eber has practiced law Pro-Hoc Vice in several other states, such as Florida, Arizona, Washington, New York, and Illinois.

Matt Courteau

Kingston, TN

Attorney Matt Courteau is a Tennessee native who is proud to work alongside and demand justice for other Tennessee residents. He is a Roane County High School graduate, who went on to graduate from Tennessee Technological University. He later earned his law degree from the prestigious University of Georgia School of Law. Matt Courteau returned to Tennessee to practice law at his very own practice located in the East Tennessee area. He assists clients primarily in Knox, Roane, Loudon, and Morgan counties.

Paola Ramos

New Port Richey, FL

Paola Ramos is an innovative and dynamic attorney, born in Maryland and raised in Orlando, Florida. She received her Bachelors of Science in Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida and her Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law. She assisted the probate court of Richland County in translating rules to Spanish. She began her career representing Hispanic clients in various legal matters and later became a Personal Injury Attorney in Kissimmee, Florida. Prior to Kemp Law, she litigated and took cases to trial at a prominent law firm in Central Florida. She is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Brooke was born and raised in Southwest Louisiana, and followed in her father and grandfather’s footsteps to become the third generation to practice law at the Roach Law Firm. Before becoming an attorney, Brooke received her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources from Louisiana State University in 2016, then went on to Southern University Law School where she received her Juris Doctorate Degree in 2019. While at Southern University Law Center, Brooke served as an editor of the Law Review and graduated with Magna Cum Laude Honors. After law school, Brooke served as law clerk to Chief Justice Ulysses G. Thibodeaux, at the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeals, where she learned invaluable lessons that still aide in her practice of law today. After her clerkship, Brooke joined the Roach Law Firm where she has found her role in protecting her clients from big truck drivers and negligent motorist, as well as fighting insurance companies who do not uphold their end of the bargain when damage occurs to her clients’ homes as a result of a hurricane or other natural disaster. Brooke takes pride in what she does as an attorney because of the deep-rooted principles of service that were instilled in her at a young age. Brooke is committed to fighting for justice for her clients no matter what the case may be.

Janny Alvarez

Manassas, VA

Janny Alvarez is an Executive Assistant at The Parrish Car Accident & Personal Injury Law Firm. With over ten years in customer service and sales, she transitioned to the legal field as a legal assistant, where she managed insurance follow-ups, case materials, and client communication. She holds a major in nutrition and tutors in English and Spanish. Janny values creativity, continuous learning, and community connection.