English-Speaking Attorneys

Paul Yi

Los Angeles, CA

Principal shareholder Paul M. Yi, a Western State University College of Law graduate, shares Mr. Choi’s dedication to advocating for individuals. Mr. Yi has been instrumental in achieving significant settlements for his clients.

Attorney Terri Tran's practice focuses on motor vehicle accident injuries and personal injury litigation. With prior experience as a case manager, she transitioned to practicing law to make a greater impact. Terri is a compassionate and tough Houstonian attorney, fluent in Vietnamese, dedicated to providing individualized attention and strategic counsel to her clients.

Chris Sbrusch is an experienced personal injury attorney in Houston County, Texas, who has been helping clients achieve their legal goals across Texas since 2010. He is committed to innovation, attention to detail, compassion, and character, and fearlessly fights for complete compensation for clients’ injury claims.

Karen M. Wright

Mansfield, MA

Attorney Wright has been a member of the Massachusetts Bar since 1985. She concentrates her practice in real estate, probate, estate planning, and elder law. She is a Land Court Title Examiner and has testified as an expert witness. She represents buyers, sellers, developers, banks, and homeowners in real estate transactions. She also volunteers at the Norfolk and Bristol County Probate Courts Lawyer of the Day program and serves as Guardian Ad Litem for Probate cases.

Mitchell Cohen

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Mitchell Cohen is an associate attorney at Stok Kon + Braverman, focusing on commercial litigation and providing comprehensive legal services to businesses involved in disputes. He obtained his Juris Doctorate degree with honors from Florida International University School of Law and has experience from a prominent national law firm.

Mark A. Rosser

Knoxville, TN

Mark A. Rosser, a native of Knoxville, is a 1975 graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 1978 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law. He served four years as house counsel for a Knoxville lending institution and then spent over twenty years in private law practice concentrating on real estate, probate, representing lenders in commercial loan transactions and general commercial matters. While in private practice he was also a title insurance agent, represented a large title insurance carrier in claims litigation and appeared successfully before the Tennessee Supreme Court in mechanics and materialmans lien litigation. He joined a national title insurance carrier in 2003 and retired from there as Vice-President and Tennessee State Counsel Emeritus in 2023. He now serves as “of counsel” to the law firm.

Tahirah R. Payne

Orlando, FL

Tahirah R. Payne earned her bachelor of science in Psychology from Mercy College and her Juris Doctorate Degree from Fordham University Law School in 2005. She began her career at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office and later relocated to Florida in 2008, litigating various cases. She served as an Assistant Public Defender for the 12th judicial circuit. Ms. Payne brings 13 years of experience to the team of Corey Cohen & Associates.

Brandi Lewis

Lexington, KY

Brandi Lewis is a partner at Baldani Law Group, with a varied practice including criminal defense and family law. She graduated from the University of Kentucky with a B.A. in Psychology in 1999 and earned her J.D. from Salmon P. Chase College of Law in 2003. Brandi was sworn into the Kentucky Bar Association in 2003 and has served as a prosecutor with the Fayette County Attorney. She is admitted to practice in the United States Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. She has achieved numerous 'Not Guilty' verdicts in both state and federal courts. Brandi also handles all areas of family law and is an active volunteer with the Lexington Humane Society and the Animal Legal Defense Fund. She holds a BV Distinguished® rating from Martindale-Hubbell®.

Joshua Barnes

Louisville, KY

Joshua Barnes is an Associate Attorney at Cooper & Friedman, PLLC, where he represents clients in personal injury, workers’ compensation, civil rights, and criminal law matters. A Kentucky native, he graduated with honors from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. During law school, he gained valuable experience volunteering with the Kentucky ACLU, clerking at the Green Law Firm, and serving as a law clerk at Cooper & Friedman for two years. He also achieved a full acquittal in a trial during an externship with the Frankfort Department of Public Advocacy’s trial office.

Diego Merino is a criminal defense attorney at Piotrowski Law, known for his courtroom experience and dedication to justice. A native Spanish speaker from Lima, Peru, he holds a BS in Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida and a JD from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. He previously served as an Assistant Public Defender and has handled a wide range of cases from misdemeanors to complex felonies.

Hector Peña

Odessa, TX

Hector Peña is a local, bilingual attorney from Mission, Texas, and the founder of Law Offices Of Hector Peña, PLLC. He has a background working in the oil and refinery industries in West Texas, which gives him a unique understanding of his clients' challenges. He personally handles every case, providing dedicated, diligent, and immediate attention to legal needs, and offers bilingual communication in English and Spanish.

Leon Bassil

Dallas, TX

Leon started his law career on the corporate side, working as a workers’ compensation defense attorney for insurance companies and businesses. Driven by a profound sense of justice, he pivoted his path after two years, redirecting his focus solely towards championing the rights of plaintiffs. “I wanted to switch over to the plaintiff’s side to help people seek justice and make real changes in their lives,” Leon said. “When I represent injury victims, I take up their fight as if it is my very own.” Leon’s experience as a former defense attorney gives him valuable insights into the strategies of his opponents in personal injury cases, which is a powerful advantage for his clients. As an attorney who is committed to providing personalized representation, Leon makes it a point to listen to his clients’ concerns and address his needs in the best way he can. Leon was born in Lebanon and moved to the U.S. with his family at the age of 9. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Irvine. He later attended law school on a part-time basis while launching multiple business ventures with his peers. Leon earned his juris doctorate (J.D.) degree from Pacific Coast University School of Law. Now, Leon is licensed to practice law in California, speaking both English and Arabic.

Robert L. Cox

Clinton, MO

Robert L. Cox was a lifelong resident of Clinton, Missouri, practicing primarily in commercial law, banking, and real estate. He received his degree in Economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1972 and his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1975. He was a member of the Christian Church of Clinton, served on the Board of Equalization for the City of Clinton for over 20 years, was a past Prosecutor for Henry County, Missouri, and a past President of the Clinton Rotary Club.

Hasan Kaakarli

Troy, MI

As the son of Syrian immigrants, Hasan became intimately aware of the hard work and perseverance it takes to succeed in today’s fast-paced world. Growing up, Hasan played a number of sports that underscored his “team-first” attitude. His growth mindset drives his passion to be a better person, lawyer, and teammate every day. Breaking barriers and bridging gaps comes naturally to Hasan, a member of the Oakland University Women’s Basketball team (as a practice player) while in undergrad. His role as a point guard, executing the game plan and setting his team up for success, pervades his professions. As your teammate, Hasan will work closely with you to reach your ultimate goal. Hasan graduated from Wayne State University Law School in 2016, where he was a Presidential Scholar. He was selected to represent Wayne State at the ABA National Moot Court Competition in Boston and the Billings, Exum & Frye National Moot Court Competition in North Carolina. Hasan was also elected as a representative on the Student Board of Governors. As an Associate at Akeel & Valentine, PLC, Hasan continues his fight for justice and considers himself a foot soldier of the Constitution.

Rachel Yavelak

Lexington, KY

Rachel Yavelak, originally from Eastern Ohio, graduated Georgetown College with a B.A. with Honors in 1996 and obtained her J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2002. She was sworn into the West Virginia Bar in 2002 and the Kentucky Bar in 2003. Rachel is licensed to practice in both state and federal courts in Kentucky and West Virginia, and in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. She has 20 years of experience in criminal, family, and probate law, handling cases including divorce, child custody, criminal defense (felonies and misdemeanors, sexual assault, white collar crimes, murder), and appeals. Rachel focuses on client accessibility, providing her cell phone for emergencies. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Kentucky and West Virginia State Bar Associations, and the NADCL. She is also involved with Central Kentucky Riding for Hope and Football Boosters.

CLARISA BRAVO

Las Vegas, NV

Clarisa is one of our newest members to join Nevada Legal Group’s marketing team. She joined our team with only one-year experience from a previous personal injury and criminal law group and has five- years’ experience in customer service. With her extensive background and passion for helping other, she has been a great addition to our team. Clarisa graduated from Nevada State College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a minor in Counseling in May of 2022. Clarisa’s degree has given her the tools necessary to assist clients with care and compassion during difficult times. Clarisa is a first-generation college student who is fluent in English and Spanish. Clarisa passion to help the Las Vegas community encourage her to learn ASL. Her goal is to one day return to school and obtain her Juris Doctor. In her free time, Clarisa enjoys traveling with friends and family. While also keeping an active lifestyle by hiking and playing soccer.

Miwa Arai

Irvine, CA

Ms. Arai is an extraordinary immigration lawyer. She graduated from University of California at Berkeley and the University of Notre Dame Law School and has practiced immigration law exclusively for over 17 years. Ms. Arai is a familiar and respected attorney before the USCIS as well as in the immigration courts. She has handled a wide variety of issues from simple visas to complex asylum cases. She is fluent in English, Japanese and Spanish. Ms. Arai’s enthusiasm for immigration policies and procedures began as a direct result of her parents’ immigration to the United States from Japan. Consequently, she sees the potential immigrant as an individual--a mother, father or child as well as a client. This is an attorney who takes a personal interest in every client and who can be trusted to deliver the absolute highest level of legal assistance.

Caleb Payne

Winter Park, FL

Caleb co-founded Payne Law in 2019 to deliver swift justice and elite representation to policyholders across Florida. Since 2012, he has fought wrongfully denied and underpaid property-insurance claims statewide-ranging from single-family water-damage losses to condominium communities devastated by hurricanes-and has helped thousands of Florida homeowners recover the money their carriers owed under the policy. As Managing Partner, Caleb pairs disciplined case strategy with trial-ready advocacy and efficient negotiation to drive meaningful results. Beyond first-party property work, his practice experience spans First Amendment matters and international contract negotiations. He is admitted to practice in Florida and Washington, D.C., and in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Florida, and he is also a licensed FIBA agent.

Vicente Mendoza

Turlock, CA

Vicente Mendoza is an attorney fluent in English and Spanish, licensed in California and Mexico. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and holds three Master's degrees: one from Universidad de Deusto in Bilbao, Spain, and two additional Master's degrees (corporate law and tax law) from Tecnologico de Monterrey. He previously served as head legal counsel at Tecnologico de Monterrey and worked as an associate attorney for an Immigration Law Firm before joining the Law Offices of Axel B. Gomez. He is also a faculty member at Merced College, teaching Court Interpreting.

Mr. Purcell concentrates his practice in the areas of land use, planning and telecommunications law and is knowledgeable in all areas of local zoning law, and state development regulations including applications under the Highlands and Pinelands Preservation laws. Mr. Purcell is experienced in guiding projects through the redevelopment process and is an experienced affordable housing attorney. Mr. Purcell is also knowledgeable with respect to New Jersey’s Right-to-Farm law. Mr. Purcell has lectured and written widely on areas related to telecommunications, public rights-of-way, land use and municipal law. He serves as a trustee of the New Jersey Institute of Local Government Attorneys and as an editor of the New Jersey Local Government Law Review. Mr. Purcell is also an editor of the Land Use Citator, a yearly compilation of land use decisions published by the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education. He also formerly served as a Director of the New Jersey State Bar Association Land Use Law Section. He is treasurer of the Somerset County Bar Association, serves as co-chair of the SCBA’s Land Use Section and coordinates its annual land use symposium. Previously, Mr. Purcell served as Associate Counsel to the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.

Benjamin A. Ayala

Los Angeles, CA

Benjamin Ayala is an Associate Attorney at Brock & Gonzales handling Employment cases in our Spanish speaking department, and Personal Injury cases. Ben was born and raised in Southern California. Prior to joining Brock & Gonzales, Ben worked for an employment law firm, where he represented employees who were victims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. He also has experience representing clients who have sustained injury through no fault of their own. Ben is committed to his clients and zealously advocates for them in all phases of the litigation process. He understands the difficult nature of litigation and prides himself on defending his clients’ rights and bringing them closure. During his time at Loyola Law School, Ben was selected to participate in the Poehls/Hobbs District Attorney Practicum where he received intensive trial advocacy training. As part of the practicum, Ben also completed an externship as a Certified Law Clerk with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, where he conducted several preliminary hearings. Ben was also a member of La Raza de Loyola, a student association committed to giving back to the Latinx community, a mission Ben holds close to his heart. Following law school, Ben was selected to take part in the prestigious Victor E. Chavez American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Fellowship program.

Alexander Markman

Maitland, FL

Alexander Markman is an attorney and shareholder at Jackson Law International, with an office and practice in San Diego, California. His law practice focuses on immigration and civil litigation matters. Prior to joining Jackson Law International, he was in private practice since 1997. Born and raised in Baku, Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan, he is a native Russian speaker. He immigrated to California in 1991 and subsequently pursued a career as an attorney, graduating from Tulane Law School. He is licensed to practice law in California and admitted before various Federal courts.