German-Speaking Attorneys

Albert J. Alvarez is an attorney with experience in both public and private sectors, including serving as a law clerk in the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division. He has extensive experience as a defense attorney litigating criminal matters, DWI defense, and civil litigation including contract disputes, debt collection, and landlord-tenant matters. He is fluent in Spanish and German.

Bill Wirkus has been licensed to practice law since 2011 with a background in business, real estate, civil litigation, insurance, and elections law on behalf of businesses, individuals, and governmental entities. He has zealously represented clients in state and federal court and provided confidential, trusted counsel to clients in numerous, often sensitive, matters. Bill is committed to providing cost-effective and skilled representation to clients for all their business and real estate needs, including but not limited to setting up LLCs and corporations, reviewing and drafting contracts, and assisting with buying and selling business, real estate, and personal property. Bill offers free initial consultations and would be happy to meet with you to discuss your legal needs. Bill is married with four children and lives in Menomonee Falls, WI. He enjoys traveling, being outdoors, and spending time with family on Big Cedar Lake.

Jill Dawkins

Charlotte, NC

Jill had the privilege of moving to different states as a child because her father was in the military. After her father retired, her family ended up in Roanoke, VA where Jill attended middle school and high school. It was in Roanoke where her interest in foreign language and cultures was cultivated. Jill studied German during middle school and high school. Jill’s teacher was extremely influential in her career. Her teacher ensured her students never forgot history and worked to ensure all people are treated with respect and dignity. After high school Jill attended East Carolina University where she earned a BA in German. The professors at ECU were as influential in the pursuit of Jill’s career as her high school German teacher. Although Jill spent the majority of her time in the Foreign Language Department while a student at ECU, she also took a few political science classes. In addition to her time on the ECU campus, Jill had the wonderful opportunity to study abroad in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, as part of the University of North Carolina Exchange Program. Jill’s educational background in foreign language, culture and history led her to the legal field. She attended law school with the intention to help people who aren’t able to speak up for themselves. She attended law school in North Carolina and I have been licensed to practice law in North Carolina since 2015. The lessons she learned from middle school through the first 8 years of practicing law led her to the United Kingdom where she attended the University of Leicester in pursuit of a Master of Laws in International Human Rights Law. Her graduation is pending. I started learning to type on a computer in 1987.

Peter Nickl

Maitland, FL

Peter Nickl is a Partner at Jackson Law International, admitted to the bar in Germany in 1996 and a member of the Nürnberg Bar Association. He founded his law practice in Regensburg, Germany, in the same year. He represents clients throughout Germany in a variety of civil matters, particularly for medium-sized companies and private clients, and assists in U.S.-German cross-border legal matters. He holds three bar-certified specialist titles in Transport and Freight Forwarding Law, Employment Law, and Construction and Architectural Law. He is bilingual in English and German, having spent a year as an exchange student in the U.S. and interned at a law firm in Southern California.

Nikolaos Keffalonitis

Downey, CA

Nikolaos "Nikos" Kefallonitis was born and raised in Athens, Greece. He attended the National Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Law, graduating in 2016. He completed a legal traineeship and passed the Greek Bar Examination. He holds a Master of Arts degree from Panteion University and an LL.M. from the University of Virginia School of Law (2020). He is licensed in Greece and California and is currently an Associate Attorney at The Law Offices of Gavril T. Gabriel.

Anchorage personal injury attorney Claire Crowson is deeply committed to using her legal education and experience to help level the playing field between insurance companies and injured Alaskans. Claire is a Swiss American citizen who is fluent in French, German, Italian and English. She graduated from St. Lawrence University and leveraged her language skills for the US Army prior to going back to school to get a master’s degree in business. Although Claire was happy using her languages and business experience for large, multinational companies, her desire to help ensure that everyone receives fair and equal treatment led her to pursue a law degree and to focus on serving injured Alaskans. Claire has been part of Crowson Law Group for over 20 years and has helped with all facets of the business. In her free time, Claire enjoys spending time with her family, running on the Anchorage trails, and playing with her English Bulldog, Jack.

Cassandra Pillonel is the Chief Operating Officer of Harper Law Firm, a licensed litigator in Texas and Arizona with over a decade of experience in law, leadership, and business strategy. She oversees firmwide operations and is a board member of the Travis County Women Lawyers Association.

Hannah C. Bloom

Ionia, MI

Hannah C. Bloom was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 2018. She is a certified civil and domestic relations mediator and is proficient in German.

William D. Bolte

Madison, WI

William Bolte joined Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C. in 2022. He focuses on estate planning, probate, and representing businesses. Previously, he practiced in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and served as an administrative law judge. He was recognized as a 2024 Wisconsin Super Lawyers Rising Star.

Kinzie L. Randall

Logan, UT

Kinzie L. Randall focuses her practice on family law (divorce, custody), criminal defense, and estate planning. She graduated summa cum laude from Utah State University and magna cum laude from Creighton University School of Law. She is fluent in German.

Flavia Bazzon focuses her practice on bankruptcy and debt relief, bringing a diverse background that includes experience as an Honors Hire Attorney for the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where she gained expertise in federal tax law and financial regulations. She also co-managed an insurance and financial services company and operated a successful real estate business. Flavia is licensed to practice law in both Brazil and the United States, and her international training and multilingual fluency (English, Portuguese, Italian, conversational Spanish, working knowledge of French and German) allow her to serve a wide range of clients in Central Florida.

Dr. Isabel Saulnier

New York, NY

Dr. Isabel Saulnier is a Senior Attorney with Urban Thier & Federer, P.A., based in the Houston office. She is admitted to practice law in Texas and Germany. Her practice focuses on Business Law, Family Law, and Estate Planning/Probate in an international context, assisting European clients with US business establishment and cross-border divorce/custody matters. She holds an LL.M. from NYU School of Law (Fulbright Scholarship) and law and doctorate degrees from the University of Heidelberg (summa cum laude, Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes). She previously worked at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and the European Commission.

Caren Bennett

Panama City, FL

Caren Bennett, P.A. uses knowledge gained from years serving as a Florida assistant state attorney. This experience provides insight into how police conduct investigations and how prosecutors, judges, and juries think, which is used to the client's advantage.

Janis A. Eisl joined Petro Cohen Petro Matarazzo law firm as an associate in the workers’ compensation department. He has more than four years of workers’ compensation experience. He attended Lafayette College, graduating with honors and earning dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in German and English. In 2010, he received a Juris Doctorate degree from Rutgers University School of Law, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He speaks fluent German.

David J. Hommel, Esq.

New York, NY

A seasoned trial and appellate attorney, David achieves outstanding results in the courtroom and at the negotiation table. He practices primarily in civil rights litigation involving disability discrimination, sexual-abuse cases, and fair-housing matters. Clients praise him for his sharp advocacy and effective advice, as he navigates high-stakes, emotionally charged disputes with compassion and grace. David has served as first chair in federal trials, managing all aspects from motions and witness examinations to opening and closing arguments. In addition, he has argued several cases before federal appellate courts and led the briefing in many other state and federal appeals. He also advocates on behalf of various disability-rights organizations. For example, he has presented on behalf of the National Celiac Association and answered reader questions for the Gluten-Free Nation Magazine. In cases where settlement is not an option, his track record spans a broad spectrum of litigation. Previously, before joining the firm, David clerked for Judge Joanna Seybert in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and then served as a Court Law Clerk in the same district. Before and after his clerkship, he was in private practice managing and litigating insurance disputes. David earned his degrees from New York University and St. John’s University School of Law. At NYU, he captured the National Mock Trial Championship, receiving All-American honors. In law school, he served as the chief officer of the Moot Court Honor Society and won the National First Amendment Moot Court Competition. David lives in Queens with his wife, their children, and the family’s four-legged sidekick, Winnie. In his spare time, David is learning American Sign Language (to better engage with the Deaf community) and German (to cheer on his beloved Bayern Munich).

Aaron M. Katz

Hamden, CT

Aaron M. Katz is an associate in the firm’s Litigation, Business Services and Healthcare Practice Groups. He earned his J.D. from the University of Connecticut, where he was an executive editor of the Connecticut Journal of International Law. He received his B.A. from College of the Holy Cross. Prior to joining Parrett Porto as an Associate in 2023, he served as a legal intern in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Connecticut.

Bibi Thomas

Denver, CO

Bibi Thomas joined Johnson Law in March 2015 as a paralegal and office support. She has over fifteen years of experience in office environments and over a decade as a paralegal in civil litigation. She is a native German.

Morgan Eminhizer

Richmond, VA

Morgan is a member of the firm’s workers’ compensation defense team. While in law school, Morgan served as a legislative intern at the Virginia General Assembly. She served as a student mentor at the Appalachian School of Law and as a peer mentor at the University of Mary Washington, guiding first-year students through the first semester of law school. Morgan is proficient in German.

Marshall Biering

Moncks Corner, SC

Marshall Biering is a J.D. candidate at Charleston School of Law. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, where he majored in Finance with a minor in German and a concentration in Business Analytics.

Sydney N. Stoneburner

Palm Coast, FL

Associate Attorney at Chiumento Law, specializing in Estate Planning, Probate, Elder Law, and Guardianships. She graduated cum laude from Rollins College and earned her JD from Stetson University College of Law. She is a Director for the Flagler County Rotary Club and a mentor for Take Stock in Children.

Jayme Sweeney

Quincy, MA

Jayme is an experienced Paralegal with a background in Civil Litigation, Criminal Law, Immigration Law, and Landlord/Tenant Law. Her work and unique life experience enable her to build immediate rapport with clients. She also has extensive customer service experience. Jayme studied Russian at UMass Boston and Harvard Extension School, then transferred to Suffolk University, graduating with Honors in German & Applied Legal Studies. She also studied abroad at the Goethe Institute in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. She is a mother of three, enjoys hiking and running, is a certified personal trainer, and volunteers as a team manager and assistant coach for youth soccer.

Alex Guglielmo

St. Charles, MO

I am a local attorney dedicated to serving the people of St. Louis and St. Charles. My goal is to support my friends, neighbors, and community when they need it most. I give my support not only through my near decade of continuing service in the Missouri National Guard, but also through the use of my talents and skills as an attorney to help guide people through what is likely one of the most trying times in their life. I am here to help explain and navigate you through your troubles, whether financial or legal. I look forward to speaking with you.

Christian Liepert

New York, NY

Christian Liepert is a Business Development Consultant, founder and CEO at AXIKON. He specializes in advising companies on accessing and developing business in Europe, particularly Spain and Germany. He is multicultural, fluent in Spanish, German, and English, with experience in international business development projects across Germany, Spain, U.K., Mexico, and U.S.A. He established AXIKON and Partners, S.L. in 2004 and has been responsible for the development of the InterConnect Group since 2016.