English-Speaking Attorneys

Zhanna Sanamyan is an experienced attorney in the area of personal injury. Ms. Sanamyan went directly to law school, never attending high school and college in the USA. She put herself through a three- and half-year night program while working full time at a law office where she started as a file clerk. Ms. Sanamyan’s unique skills of research, knowledge of three foreign languages, organization, dedication and management of her time, enables her to obtain good results for her clients. Ms. Sanamyan has extensive experience in personal injury starting from client intake up until a settlement or a jury trial. Her primary focus is obtaining justice for her injured clients with a compassionate yet firm approach at litigating cases. She is committed to consistently giving each case personal attention and making sure her clients feel at ease throughout the legal process.

Abasi Major

San Antonio, TX

Abasi Major represents people who have been injured through no fault of their own. He is an advocate for victims of car accidents, 18 wheelers accidents, and assaults, focusing on representing individuals against large insurance companies. Prior to focusing on plaintiff injury claims, Abasi handled complex civil and criminal litigation in state and federal courts, giving him unique insight into investigating claims and building compelling cases for injured clients. He is a top-rated Personal Injury attorney, consistently delivering exemplary legal services and personalized solutions.

Jeffrey E. Foster

Kailua-Kona, HI

Jeffrey Foster is the Founding Partner of Foster Law Offices LLLC in Hawaii and The Law Offices of Jeffrey E. Foster PLLC in Washington state. Mr. Foster's practice is focused on representing injured victims and their families in automobile accidents, slip/trip and fall, pedestrian accidents, premises liability and nursing home negligence. He has recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of those injured and financially harmed. He is a member of Hawaii and Washington Bar Associations as well as the American Association for Justice, Hawaii Association for Justice and the West Hawaii Bar Association. He graduated from Seattle University School of Law and Central Washington University. He has over 20 years of experience in personal injury law.

Vincent A. Petersen

Excelsior, MN

Vincent A. Petersen is a leader in workers’ compensation litigation, serving injured workers in Minnesota. Licensed in Minnesota since 2000, he focuses on Workers' Compensation, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Dog Bites, and Premises Liability. He is rated by Super Lawyers and is a member of the Hennepin County Bar Association and the Minnesota Association for Justice.

Alice Bagirova

Bellevue, WA

Alice Bagirova is a Washington state attorney practicing in King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties. She obtained her juris doctorate degree in law at Seattle University in 2014. Her professional focus is in the areas of family law, personal injury, traffic tickets, and DUI’s. She has extensive experience litigating matters in court and works tirelessly to secure the best possible outcome for her clients.

Joe Weir

Smyrna, TN

A life-long Middle Tennessean, Joe utilizes his unique life experience and background to be a highly effective advocate for the injured. In 2005, Joe began his law career in Nashville working for the insurance companies defending cases against injury victims. He saw firsthand how often the insurance companies mistreated injury victims who were only seeking justice. During his time working for the insurance companies he learned how insurance companies approach risk management and how they value cases. Most importantly, he realized he was called to serve people not corporations. In 2009, after relocating from Franklin to Smyrna, Tennessee, Joe realized Rutherford County did not have many local injury law dedicated lawyers. So, the Law Office of Joseph Weir, PLC was born. In three short years, his passion for the injured helped grow his law practice, and he partnered with his colleague Tony Kestner becoming Weir & Kestner Injury Lawyers in 2012. Today, Joe uses his unique background and life experiences to put himself in the shoes of his clients and apply effective strategies for maximizing results as one of Middle Tennessee’s top personal injury attorneys. Joe’s philosophy is that every case (regardless of size) is important because he represents people, not corporations. Joe and his family live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee where his passion for defending the rights of injury victims reaches across the entire Volunteer State. Joe’s unique background began before he was born. His mother emigrated from Colombia, South America and met Joe’s Pennsylvania-born father while both were working in the medical field in Nashville. On top of the different cultural backgrounds, Joe’s parents had seven children. Growing up in a big family blending cultural backgrounds, taught Joe the importance of independent thought and effective communication. In his early years, Joe grew up in Bellevue, Tennessee. Around middle school age, Joe’s family moved to South Nashville near Southern Hills Medical Center. Joe’s first and only car accident happened in high school coming down the hill next to Southern Hills Medical Center. A simple miscommunication with the other driver caused the accident to happen. Joe became fascinated by driver behavior in an effort to understand how accidents happen. Joe attended high school at Lighthouse Christian School where he was a standout athlete winning various all-state and all-tournament awards for basketball and baseball. Joe also claims his formative years coincided with Nashville’s best shopping mall years. He claims the original Bellevue Center was built in his backyard, took his first job at the Caster Knott in Harding Place Mall, spent way too many hours at the Wilson’s in Hickory Hollow Mall, , and also claims Cool Springs Galleria was the ultimate mall game-changer. After high school, Joe enrolled at Middle Tennessee State University to complete his undergraduate studies all while working full time in Nashville at the American Red Cross off Charlotte Avenue. After graduating from MTSU, where he majored in print journalism and minored in history and political science, Joe was offered a management position at The American Red Cross. He moved to West End Avenue and began his management position. Being the youngest management level employee by about 20 years, Joe learned many invaluable lessons, including how to work as a team with people from different backgrounds. After two years Joe decided to attend Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa. Before leaving Tennessee Joe was lucky enough to meet his future wife in Nashville. Joe was able to survive three Iowa winters receiving a J.D. with honors from Drake. After graduating from Drake in 2005, he moved back to Nashville, completed the bar exam, and accepted a position with a Nashville insurance defense firm located in the L&C Tower. In 2007, Joe and his wife decided to open a franchise health club in Smyrna, Tennessee. Joe and his wife relocated from Franklin to Smyrna and the gym officially opened in 2008. Joe believes he got as much of an education selling gym memberships as he did in his three years of law school. In 2015, Joe and his wife welcomed the birth of their son and moved to Murfreesboro in 2016. They planted roots in Murfreesboro and cherish being a part of the the local Middle Tennessee community. Joe is eternally grateful for the opportunity to put his unique skillset to work for his clients each and every day.

Belinda Z. Theam

Long Beach, CA

Belinda Theam is a Partner at Nguyen Lawyers, ALC. Alongside Minh T. Nguyen, she has second chaired multiple trials to verdict and obtained settlements in excess of $21 million on behalf of her clients. Recent results include Minh and Belinda obtaining a $6 million settlement in 2018 for a young woman who sustained a brain injury in a truck versus automobile crash, and a $4 million settlement in 2017 for a man who was injured in a construction site incident. She attributes her passion for helping injured people to having lost her parents at a young age under tragic circumstances. In March of 2019, California State Assembly member for the 70th District, Patrick O’Donnell selected Belinda as a 2019 Woman of Distinction for having made a significant contribution and meaningful impact in the community and recognized her along with other honorees in her hometown of Long Beach. Belinda is the daughter of Cambodian-American immigrants and speaks Khmer. She has served as a community liaison for the U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia, William Heidt. In her spare time, she enjoys being an auntie to her two nephews and seeking new eateries with her friends.

Axel J. Dumas

Lutz, FL

Axel Dumas is a Partner and Managing Attorney at Dumas & Sanclemente Law. Axel was born in Paris, France and moved to Florida in his early teens. Axel's military school education set the tone for his committed and disciplined approach to all of his endeavors. A standout tennis player, Axel attended and played tennis at Florida State University before obtaining a bachelor's degree in Economics in 2009. Shortly thereafter, Axel decided to pursue his legal education at St. Thomas University undertaking their rigorous joint J.D. and MBA program. Furthermore, while at St. Thomas, Axel was a member of St. Thomas' nationally recognized law school trial team. Prior to co-founding Dumas & Sanclemente Law, Axel gained valuable experience as a defense attorney. Axel's experience as a defense attorney allowed Axel to excel at a recognized personal injury law firm virtue of his knowledge and anticipation of defense attorney strategies and tactics. In his spare time, Axel enjoys watersports, powersports, and traveling.

James Prescott

Issaquah, WA

James Prescott transitioned to law after years as an EMT and small business owner. He interned at the King County Department of Public Defense and now focuses on personal injury, particularly estate issues in wrongful death claims. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and leads the firm's Chinese division, Zhulin Law.

Bryan Blackwell

Mesa, AZ

Bryan Blackwell, Esq. is a founding member of Blackwell Ruiz Injury Law. He initially defended insurance companies but later decided to fight for victims, gaining an advantage by understanding their tactics. He was recognized as a 'Rising Star' by Super Lawyers from 2015-2020 and 'Legal Elite' by Nevada Business Magazine during those years. He focuses on personalized, client-focused practice.

Jenny Xu

New York, NY

Jenny Xu grew up in Los Angeles, California, where she attended the University of California, Los Angeles and earned a degree in Political Science and Chinese. The Big Apple won her heart, which prompted her to move to New York City, where she obtained her Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School. After law school, Jenny practiced in the insurance defense industry, which allowed her to learn the ins and outs and strategical practices of the insurance industry. This knowledge and experience equipped her with great insight in fighting for plaintiffs. Jenny focuses her practice on construction accidents and has immense knowledge of Labor Law. She zealously fights for those who have been wronged and injured by negligent and greedy companies taking shortcuts to keep more money in their pockets. She is a strong and passionate litigator, who works endlessly for her clients. She is admitted to practice in New York, and in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York federal courts.

Melissa D. Carter

Seattle, WA

I’ve never been willing to accept that some things in life just “aren’t fair,” or that “they are the way they are.” I’m hard wired to speak up when something isn’t just, to fight for what’s right and to fiercely protect the people I care for. This instinct is what led me to the law and now, as a mother and Partner at Adler Giersch, has defined my life’s calling. After graduating from UW and attending law school at Suffolk University in 1999, I was fired up to get into the courtroom, so I accepted a job as trial counsel for a prestigious insurance defense firm, defending large cases involving catastrophic injury, wrongful death and insurance coverage disputes. It was one of the best ways to build up courtroom experience, (something many attorneys don’t have), because we fought so many claims. To succeed as an insurance attorney, I had to convince myself that every case I defended involved some level of fraud or exaggeration to justify my “win” for the insurance company (which always meant a loss to someone who was injured). I saw firsthand how insurance rules are stacked against victims. People who are hurt by someone else’s bad choices often get robbed of a fair shot because they simply don’t have the money and resources that the insurance companies do. Seeking inspiration and meaning in my work, I looked to my hero Ani DiFranco who wisely said, “When you sit right down in the middle of yourself, you’re gonna wanna have a comfortable chair.” Then I took all that experience and knowledge of how insurance companies work and I switched sides. Almost instantly, I knew I was home.

Thomas M. Clark

Santa Fe, NM

Thomas Matthew Clark was born in 1967 and was raised in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. He attended and graduated from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri in 1989, with a B.A. in Political Science. Mr. Clark attended the University of Arkansas School of Law and graduated with a J.D. in 1993. Mr. Clark moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1994 and opened his law practice in 1995. He is a partner with Clark & Ruyle, Attorneys at Law, LLC. Mr. Clark’s practice consists primarily of representing individuals who have been charged with criminal offenses. These cases include murder, sex crimes, all drug offenses, general felonies, domestic violence, DWI and license revocation. In addition, Mr. Clark represents people who have been injured or killed in all types of accidents, as well as those who are victims of civil rights violations. Mr. Clark has successfully represented numerous clients in high profile criminal and civil cases in his more than 22 years as an attorney. He is known for his zealous representation, respectful demeanor, compassion for his clients, honesty and relentless hard work. His peers have recognized his legal excellence with a Martindale-Hubbell rating of AV, the highest possible rating for a lawyer to achieve. Mr. Clark is licensed to practice law in New Mexico and Arkansas, as well as the United States District Court. He is also a member of the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the Oliver Seth American Inn of Court.

Anthony Livingston

Gainesville, FL

Anthony Livingston joined Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers in February 2023, bringing years of experience in litigation and insurance matters. He graduated Cum Laude from Stetson University College of Law in 2006 and holds a Baccalaureate degree from Eckerd College. His background includes handling large loss subrogation and recovery for major insurance companies, and he is a member of the Florida Bar.

Cynthia Lee Valenzuela is an associate attorney with the firm and the daughter of Esteban Valenzuela. She supports both English and Spanish-speaking clients in personal injury, wrongful death, and workers’ compensation cases.

Reese Ingram

New Orleans, LA

Reese Ingram is an attorney in the Personal Injury Division at Scott Vicknair, bringing Louisiana roots and dedication to advocating for clients. He graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and earned his Juris Doctor from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in 2024. During law school, he served on the editorial board of the Maritime Law Journal and was involved in the Sports and Entertainment Law Society.

Scott W. Sheen

Saint Charles, IL

Scott W. Sheen is the Founding Partner and Attorney at Law, licensed since 1993. He has extensive experience in civil and criminal trials, appeals, and contested motions. He is active in various bar associations and community organizations.

Kevin Valdez

Phoenix, AZ

Kevin Valdez is an attorney in our personal injury department. He completed his undergraduate education at the University of Maryland and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. After law school Kevin was selected for a national fellowship with the Public Defender Corp, a national program focused on improving trial advocacy for public defenders in southern states. Upon completion of his fellowship, Kevin moved to Maryland where he practiced as a Public Defender and was awarded the In re Gault award from the Maryland Office of the Public Defender for excellence in advocacy for juvenile clients. Upon moving to Arizona with his partner, Kevin began working as a personal injury attorney and now brings his extensive experience as a trial attorney to Shapiro Law where he provides zealous representation to his clients both in and outside of the courtroom.

Victor M. Arellano

Sacramento, CA

Victor M. Arellano is a bilingual Partner/Shareholder at Arellano & Phebus, S.C., focusing on personal injury, employment, criminal, and immigration law. He is recognized for his legal ability and ethical standards.

L. David Rahmanan

Bronx, NY

L. David Rahmanan is a seasoned attorney with over 30 years of experience representing plaintiffs in negligence and medical malpractice actions. He earned his Juris Doctor from New York Law School in 1992 after a career in construction and development, bringing a unique perspective to his legal practice. Mr. Rahmanan completed his undergraduate studies at SUNY Binghamton in 1986 and is admitted to practice in both New York State and Federal Courts. Fluent in English, Spanish, Hebrew, Farsi, and French, he is dedicated to serving a diverse client base and advocating for those impacted by personal injury and medical malpractice.

Sheldon Tepler

Lewiston, ME

Personal injury attorney Sheldon Tepler graduated from State University of New York at Binghamton in 1976. He went on to complete a master’s degree at Columbia University and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1981. He clerked for the Honorable Richard Arnold of the Federal Eighth Court of Appeals (Little Rock, Arkansas), after which he moved to Maine and worked for the Attorney General’s office. He joined the team of Lewiston and Portland personal injury lawyers at Hardy, Wolf & Downing in February of 1984 and has been a partner since 1986. Sheldon has litigated hundreds of personal injury and car accident claims throughout Maine. He has been honored both by civic groups and the Maine Bar Association.

Timothy M. McLemore

Knoxville, TN

For more than thirty years, Tim has represented businesses and business owners in complex and sophisticated commercial, corporate, and business transactions. He graduated with high honors from the University of Tennessee College of Law where he was selected to be a member of the Order of the Coif and served on the editorial board of the Tennessee Law Review. Mr. McLemore also earned a post-graduate law degree (LL.M) in Taxation from New York University School of Law. While there, he served as a Graduate Editor of the NYU Tax Law Review. For many years, Mr. McLemore served as an adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Tennessee College of Law teaching courses in taxation, contract drafting, the representation of entities, advocacy and legal writing. Mr. McLemore has been a frequent presenter at continuing education seminars, and serves on various boards, including Emerald Youth Foundation, Second Harvest Food Bank, and Emerald Charter Schools. Tim has previously served as a director of Knox Area Rescue Ministries and Knoxville’s Habitat for Humanity. Mr. McLemore was a member of the 2008 class of Leadership Knoxville and is a member at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church.

Mike Warren

Chillicothe, OH

Attorney Mike Warren, Of Counsel, has been practicing law for more than 30 years. He is committed to using his legal knowledge to help personal injury victims get the compensation they deserve. He graduated from Indiana University School of Law in 1992 and is licensed to practice law in Ohio and Indiana. Mike meets personally with clients and is active in the Chillicothe community, volunteering on the Board of Directors of several local civic groups.

Robert S. Nix

Philadelphia, PA

Robert S. Nix is an attorney at MyPhillyLawyer with over two decades of experience. He previously worked for the Philadelphia Bar Association and Pepper Hamilton LLP. He served as a law clerk to Hon. Dolores K. Sloviter and Federal Judge Clifford Scott Green. He earned his J.D. cum laude from Temple University School of Law in 1997 and holds B.S. degrees from Texas Christian University (1986) and the University of Maryland (1994). He is fluent in Spanish and is a board member and chairman of the government relations committee for the Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He has received awards including 'Top Newsmakers of 2008' by Al Día Newspaper, 'Delaware Valley’s Most Influential Latinos' in 2006, and was listed in 'Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, Rising Stars Edition' in 2005.