English-Speaking Attorneys

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.

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.

Jonaka White Hall

Albuquerque, NM

Jonaka White Hall is the Chief Legal Officer for Ron Bell Injury Lawyers and Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers, as well as a practicing attorney for both firms. She is licensed to practice law in New Mexico, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio. She started her career serving as a Staff Attorney in Family Court, but now concentrates solely on Personal Injury Law. Jonaka has been a multi-state licensed attorney for over 15 years and has gained vast experience by handling various types of Injury cases and taking care of the needs of those clients. Jonaka works to ensure we provide the best quality service to those needing help on an injury claim. She manages the team that is responsible for connecting our clients with the person who fits their needs and oversees all communications involving the intake and sign up processes. She also works closely with Personal Injury Law Firms in multiple states and builds lasting relationships with them so that our firm is able to help clients who are injured in states outside of our practice area. Jonaka earned her Juris Doctor degree from Salmon P. Chase College of Law. When away from the office, Jonaka enjoys spending her time with her children, Ayla, Brantley, Grady and Arbor. Most of her free time is spent watching her children perform and participate in many different activities. Jonaka also enjoys the outdoors, and explores as much as she can.

Shant Kotchounian, Esq.

Sherman Oaks, CA

Shant Kotchounian, Esq. is a trial lawyer who has devoted his legal career to the area of employment law. As the Managing Attorney of MB&A’s Employment Law division, Mr. Kotchounian focuses his practice on all forms of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, defamation, and wage and hour compliance. The majority of Mr. Kotchounian’s early career was focused on representing both private and public employers in the field of employment law. He obtained several favorable jury verdicts and court decisions in his clients’ favor and, over the years, has built a reputation as a skilled advocate and a tenacious litigator. Mr. Kotchounian joined MB&A in 2019. His prior experience working on the employer side enables him to provide his clients with a unique perspective. He is well-equipped to deconstruct an employer’s litigation tactics and defenses. He is driven by finding solutions that can establish liability against an employer and maximize recovery for his client. Mr. Kotchounian has received recognition within his field based on peer reviews and professional accomplishments, including being named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers, and a “Top Attorney” by Pasadena Magazine. Most recently, in 2019, he was nominated and selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates’ (ABOTA) SideBar program for promising trial lawyers. Mr. Kotchounian also has written numerous articles on labor and employment issues and is frequently requested to lecture at employment law seminars.

Blake Huffman

Suwanee, GA

Attorney Blake Huffman obtained his Bachelor’s degrees with high honors from the University of Georgia before graduating from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in 2009. Since then, he has gained broad experience in several areas of legal practice, including but not limited to: real estate, estate/probate matters, personal injury, social security disability, criminal defense and civil litigation. Blake currently helps clients primarily in the firm’s deportation defense and drafting waiver departments. However, his practice also includes personal injury and criminal matters as well. Blake is passionate about fighting for his clients in order to obtain the best possible outcome available.

Christopher A. Yturralde

El Centro, CA

Attorney Chris Yturralde is fluent in Spanish and English, offering over 20 years of experience in criminal defense and civil law. He has served as a Deputy District Attorney, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, and a private attorney in San Diego and Imperial counties, possessing seasoned knowledge of the law and extensive trial and negotiation experience.

Matthew J. Poirier

Flagstaff, AZ

With over 15 years of experience practicing law in Arizona, Matthew J. Poirier concentrates on personal injury and criminal defense, providing dedicated legal representation to individuals facing life-changing challenges. As a solo practitioner, he believes in maintaining direct communication with his clients, offering the personal attention they need during stressful times. His commitment is to fight vigorously for their rights, ensuring they receive the justice and compensation they deserve. He began his legal career after being admitted to the Arizona Bar in 2006, following his Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law. Prior to law school, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Rice University. Additionally, being proficient in Spanish enables him to effectively assist a diverse range of clients, ensuring language is never a barrier to justice.

Richard G. Monaco

Bronx, NY

Richard Monaco is a native New Yorker who brings the city’s toughness to the table when representing clients against some of New York City’s biggest law firms. He graduated with honors from Iona College (economics, Summa Cum Laude) and Pace University School of Law (Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, member of Law Review). Rick is comfortable with personal injury and business cases, having won multi-million-dollar settlements and judgments. He is a commercial litigator with an impressive track record. Rick is a member of the bar in New York and Connecticut, and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts in New York, and the District of Connecticut. Outside of work, he is an accomplished martial artist.

Geoffrey A. Tabor

Norman, OK

I am a trial lawyer who primarily practices in the areas of contracts, personal injury, medical malpractice, insurance bad faith, employment law, and property disputes. I joined Glass & Tabor in 2016, and have litigated a wide range of civil cases. I aggressively represent my clients’ interests at all stages of litigation. Whether I am in the courtroom in front of a judge or jury, taking a deposition, or making strategic decisions on a case, my clients’ needs always come first. I am originally from Ardmore, OK, where I was a four-time state champion in the discus and shot put in track and field from 2005 to 2008. I then attended Stanford University, where I was a two time All-American and the 2011 PAC-10 champion in the discus. I received my Bachelors of Arts in both history and political science from Stanford in 2013, and returned home to Oklahoma to attend law school. I earned my J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2016. I enjoy litigation because it has many similarities to sports. Just like competing at the highest levels of a sport, litigation requires preparation, hard work, and patience. I often apply the principles and lessons I learned over the years competing at the highest levels of track and field to my law practice. In 2020, I was named to the “Top 40 Under 40” attorneys in Oklahoma by The National Trial Lawyers publication.

Linda Jacobson-Goldsman

Santa Ana, CA

Graduating Queens College in 1979, Linda quickly realized her dream was to go into law. Her passion and drive allowed her to graduate as a top 25% student from Southwestern Law, in which her emphasis was in Entertainment Law. During this time she clerked for Paramount Studios. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Linda is able to personalize her expertise to each and every client and treat every case as unique. Prior to working as a Plaintiff’s personal injury attorney, she had worked as an insurance defense attorney as a private and in house council for these large firms. She became a senior trial attorney for Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. This experience allows her to overcome tactics that defense lawyers will use during litigation. Linda plays a key communal role as a very active member of the Camino Health Center Auxiliary - a support group affiliated with Mission Hospital which fundraises for Health Care for low income families. Linda has also served a a member of the board of directors for a local private education institution.