Portuguese-Speaking Attorneys

Joey Garcia

Fairmont, WV

Joey Garcia has been admitted to practice law in West Virginia for over thirteen years. He practices primarily in the areas of personal injury litigation, including car accidents, commercial truck accidents, medical malpractice, workplace injuries, and wrongful death. Joey also practices in the areas of civil rights law, lemon law, and criminal defense. Upon graduation, Joey practiced law for three years with a corporate defense firm, and dedicated the next five years of his career to public service in the Office of the Governor of the State of West Virginia. Governor Earl Ray Tomblin appointed Joey to serve as Deputy General Legal Counsel and Director of Legislative Affairs from 2012 to 2017. Upon his inauguration, Governor Jim Justice appointed Joey to serve as his Senior Counsel for Legislation and Policy through October of 2017. In these roles, Joey advised the Governor on legal issues, and he developed and advocated for the passage of various legislative and policy initiatives. Joey has served two terms as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, representing Fairmont and Marion County. He currently serves in the 76th delegate district, which includes West Fairmont, Rivesville, Grant Town, Barrackville, Fairview, Baxter, and Farmington. Joey graduated with a law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law in 2009. During law school, Joey served as Chief Justice of the Moot Court Board, elected by his peers, and he earned the distinction of Order of the Barristers for excellence in oral advocacy. Joey won the award for Best Written Brief in the 2008 WVU Baker Cup Competition. Joey also served as Public Interest Advocate Fellow and he assisted individuals at the WVU Immigration Clinic. Joey is a graduate of Fairmont Senior High School, Class of 2001. He founded Garcia Law PLLC to protect the rights of injured people against the bullies of the world to achieve justice for them and their families.

Truman Haycock

Hilliard, OH

Truman Haycock is an Associate Attorney at The Friedmann Firm LLC, joining in 2024. He is licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio and earned his Juris Doctor from Capital University Law School, where he graduated with honors. A Columbus, Ohio native, Truman was awarded the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Employment Law and the Floyd D. Weatherspoon Award for Employment Discrimination & Labor Law during his time at Capital Law School. He also served as President of the Capital Law ACLU Chapter. Before law school, he received his bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and worked abroad in Nayarit, Mexico. He speaks English, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese.

Alex Cornejo

Woodstock, GA

Alexandros H. Cornejo has a strong presence in the United States, with offices in New York, Dalton, and Woodstock, GA. Adept in immigration law, he handles cases related to the adjustment of status, citizenship, deportation defense, and family reunification. He is authorized to practice across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Notably, in 2021, he achieved the release of more than 120 Latino immigrants from federal detention. He is trilingual, speaking English, Spanish, and Portuguese fluently.

Wesland J. Wright

Apache Junction, AZ

Wes is a Mesa native. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University and attended law school at the University of Nebraska College of Law, where he was a managing editor on the Nebraska Law Review and won mock trial advocacy awards. He has practiced with Riggs Ellsworth and Porter since January of 2012, focusing on personal injury and medical negligence. He is a member of the Arizona Association for Justice and is licensed in state and federal court. He has secured several million dollars in awards and settlements for clients.

Amy Morilla

Stratford, CT

Attorney Morilla is a licensed practitioner in Connecticut and New Jersey, admitted to their respective federal courts, and an esteemed member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Holding a Juris Doctorate from Rutgers Law School in Newark, she actively contributed to the Minority Student and Hispanic Student Associations and engaged in Pro Bono Clinic work. With a Bachelor's Degree in Latin American Studies and Spanish Literature from New York University, Attorney Morilla's linguistic prowess extends to fluency in Spanish, proficiency in French and Portuguese. As a first-generation Cuban American, English is her second language, akin to many of her clients. Her family's history as Cuban exiles fuels her commitment to aiding immigrant families in pursuit of the American Dream. Having personally navigated the challenges of the legalization process, Attorney Morilla is dedicated to helping families stay united. Her unique background fosters a compassionate understanding of the immigrant experience, creating a client relationship that demystifies the legalization process. She firmly believes in breaking down legal complexities for every client, regardless of their level of education, ensuring that nothing feels too daunting to comprehend.

Constance M. Toomey

Boston, MA

Senior Associate Constance M. Toomey has dedicated much of her life to helping car crash victims, and injured workers get back on their feet. She graduated magnum cum laude at Suffolk University Law School in 1999 with a Juris Doctorate. Her compassion and her ability to get justice for her clients have earned her the respect of both her colleagues and adversaries in the courtroom.

Angel Melendez

Boston, MA

Angel Melendez is a distinguished partner and founder at Williamson & Melendez, PLLC. He was admitted to the Bar in both Massachusetts and Pennsylvania in 1986. He holds a B.A. from Rutgers University and a J.D. from Northeastern University (1983). Prior to his legal career, he served as a Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1974 to 1980. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese and is a founding father of Lambda Sigma Upsilon, Latino Fraternity Incorporated.

George D. Silva

Brooklyn, NY

A graduate of New York Law School (J.D. 1996) and Concordia University in Montreal (B.A. with honor in Political Science 1993), George Silva joined Bisogno & Meyerson in 1996. He handles primary personal injury cases and works closely with the firm’s partners on a variety of matters. He, his wife and their child live on Staten Island. He is fluent in French and Portuguese.

H. Douglas Mitchell

Winder, GA

H. Douglas Mitchell is an attorney dedicated to helping resolve family law disputes, the protection of accident victim’s rights, and assisting individuals in North Eastern Georgia take advantage of the rights and privileges the law allows. He established his law practice in Winder, Georgia, serving Barrow County, Jackson, Clarke, Oconee, Walton, Gwinnett and Hall counties. Attorney Mitchell provides honest, straightforward legal advice and is accessible to clients, empowering them to make the best decisions. His courtroom approach focuses on persistence, accuracy, preparedness, and confidence, always aiming for the best results. He is committed to timeless values and the individuals who trust him as their advocate. Away from the office, he enjoys the outdoors, hiking, camping, sports, and spending time with his wife, Shauna, and their four children. He is a skilled negotiator who uses a personal and proactive approach to optimize outcomes, focusing on collaborative strategies to reduce conflict and promote resolution.

Paul V. Suppicich

Tampa, FL

Paul V. Suppicich is an immigration attorney at Maney | Gordon | Zeller, P.A. with over fifteen years of experience in U.S. Immigration & Naturalization and General Civil Litigation. His practice primarily involves waivers of inadmissibility, juvenile dependency cases, family lawful permanent resident (green card) petitions, U.S. citizenship applications, removal (deportation) defense cases, and employment and investment visas. He earned his Juris Doctor degree in 2005 from Stetson University College of Law, where he served as Student Bar Association President. He has been a member of the Florida Bar Association since 2006 and is also a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the Hillsborough County Bar Association. Paul is admitted to practice law by the Florida Supreme Court and appears before USCIS, Florida’s 13th Judicial Circuit Court, ICE, and EOIR. He received his Master of Arts degree in Applied Linguistics in 1996 and his Bachelor of Arts degree in English Education in 1993, both from the University of South Florida. He speaks Portuguese, Spanish, and English, having lived, studied, and taught in Brazil, Costa Rica, and Spain. He serves on the Boards of Directors of the Tampa-Hillsborough Friends of the Library Council and is Past-President of the Board of the Hillsborough Literacy Council. He is also a Board member of the Rotary Club of New Tampa and an active member of the Tampa Bay Chapter of InterNations.

Brent L. Probinsky

Sarasota, FL

Brent L. Probinsky grew up in Miami, Florida, enjoying its rich multi-cultural community. He traveled to Latin America, learning Spanish in Mexico and Portuguese in Brazil. He has always enjoyed working with young people, serving as a Big Brother and high school mentor, and provides scholarships to students in developing countries. He enjoys reading, swimming, sailing, and spending time with family. He has been practicing law in Florida for 34 years.

Gabriel E. Zeller

Reidsville, NC

Gabriel E. Zeller is the founding attorney at Gabriel E. Zeller, Attorney at Law. He is dedicated to representing everyday people against large insurance companies, inspired by the legal philosophy of John Adams. Born in Portland, Oregon, he settled in North Carolina in 1988. His experiences, including a two-year volunteer mission in Manaus, Brazil, and marriage to Alejandra Gómez from Honduras, have fostered an appreciation for diverse cultures, enabling him to serve native North Carolinians and individuals from Spanish-speaking countries and Brazil. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 2007 and earned his Juris Doctor from Elon University School of Law in 2012, passing the North Carolina bar exam the same year.

Travis Jenson

Chandler, AZ

Travis Jenson is a criminal defense attorney passionate about vigorously defending clients. He previously worked for the Pinal County Attorney’s Office for over five years, trying hundreds of cases. He received the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) DUI Enforcement Officer of the Year award in 2017 and was a Prosecutor Rising Star Nominee of the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys Advisory Council (APAAC) in 2018. Travis speaks some Portuguese and Spanish.

Kevin G. Richards

Ogden, UT

Kevin G. Richards was raised in Ogden and is a product of Ogden City Schools. He has over 35 years of legal experience and serves as a public defender in Weber County District Court. He also practices mediation and alternative dispute resolution. He is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish.

Fernanda Kretzer

Lakeland, FL

Fernanda Kretzer is a paralegal with Russo Law, specializing in personal injury litigation. With over 10 years of experience, she joined the firm after several years as a personal injury litigation paralegal in Polk County, Florida, starting her career in 2007. She focuses on cases involving personal injury, automobile accidents, semi-truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, pharmacy errors, product liability, nursing home neglect, and slip and fall accidents. Fernanda is bilingual in English and Brazilian Portuguese, and she manages a revolving caseload of pre-suit demand and litigation files.

After his graduation from American University’s Washington College of Law, Miami attorney Antonio F. Valiente, Esq. began his legal career at the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office. There, he gained valuable insight and extensive experience over the course of six+ years. Between his time at the Public Defender’s Office & since founding Valiente, Carollo, and McElligott PLLC, he’s tried over 50 felony jury trials as lead counsel, dozens of misdemeanor jury trials, taken over one thousand depositions, & dozens of juvenile trials/adjudicatory hearings. Mr. Valiente’s experience encompasses everything from minor traffic-related misdemeanors to serious first-degree murder charges. He routinely assists clients throughout South Florida, offering sound legal counsel and aggressive representation for a wide range of cases. He has successfully argued for a judgment of acquittal and motions to suppress, as well as “Stand Your Ground” motions on behalf of his clients. Additionally, Mr. Valiente has provided a criminal defense for clients in pre-trial detention and in hearings for alleged probation violations. His commitment to top-quality legal services and ethical standards has earned him an Avvo Rating of 10 Excellent. Since 2015, Mr. Valiente has expanded his practice to handle property insurance matters - primarily first party claims, post-hurricane losses, and assignment of benefits claims. Having the opportunity to work with & learn from some of the best and most experienced property insurance attorneys in the State, Mr. Valiente now provides his property insurance clients - mainly homeowners and emergency remediation companies - with the same excellent representation he is known for providing his client’s accused of state & federal criminal offenses.

Jesse Westover founded Westover Law Firm in March, 2008. Jesse graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Utah, with a special focus on International Relations and Political Science. He continued his education at the Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law at Arizona State University, where he graduated with his Juris Doctorate and became licensed as an attorney by the Arizona Supreme Court. Jesse was awarded a CALI award while in law school, which designates the student with the highest grade in the class and served as student director of the Immigration Legal Clinic. Prior to founding Westover Law Firm, Jesse worked at a local immigration law firm in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as volunteering at the Florence Immigrant Refugee Rights Program and Immigration Legal Clinic at ASU where he gained valuable experience with all kinds of Immigration cases. Jesse has personally represented thousands of individuals and families with their immigration needs. He has extensive court room experience and has litigated thousands of cases in the Immigration Courts and with the United States and Immigration Services (USCIS). Jesse has extensive knowledge on all areas of Immigration Law and loves to continue to study changes and better strategies to help his clients. He also has extensive experience in appellate work with the Board of Immigration Appeals and Administrative Appeals Office. Jesse has also represented several businesses with their immigration employment needs. He has helped small companies with less than 10 employees to multibillion dollar companies both domestically and internationally with their immigration employment needs. Jesse has experience with H1B, L1, EB, PERM, I-140, TN and other employment visas. Jesse has been a keynote speaker in several conferences and served as an immigration expert in business formations and business growth plans. Jesse was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and settled in Gilbert, AZ in 2004. He is happily married to his best friend Kristi and has 4 awesome children. In his free time, Jesse loves to coach his son’s football, baseball and basketball teams, watch his daughter dance and work out with his two teenage boys. Additionally, Jesse loves to travel and has visited over 40 countries. Jesse is fluent in Spanish, conversational in Portuguese and is currently learning Italian.

Catharina Vastbinder

Thibodaux, LA

Catharina Vastbinder, also known as Cathy, joined Zeringue Law Group as an associate attorney in 2014. She earned her BS in Nursing from Nicholls State University and worked as a registered nurse while attending Loyola Law School. She has experience in commercial litigation, insurance defense, wills and successions, personal injury, and medical malpractice. Her nursing background enhances her work with personal injury and medical malpractice clients. Cathy is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, allowing her to serve a diverse client base.

Karen Hoffmann

Philadelphia, PA

Karen Hoffmann represents a wide variety of clients in state, federal, and administrative matters including immigration, environmental, FOIA/PA Right-to-Know Law, Federal Tort Claims Act/Section 1983 actions, and general civil litigation. Prior to joining Ellenberg Law Group, Ms. Hoffmann managed Syrena Law, a Philadelphia solo practice.

Jennifer Rodriguez

Deerfield Beach, FL

Jennifer is a highly experienced paralegal with over 20 years of dedicated service at Goldman Daszkal, committed to delivering exceptional results for personal injury clients. She brings expertise in handling personal injury claims, meticulously evaluating medical records, preparing compelling demands, monitoring treatment progress, and advocating tirelessly to secure justice. Jennifer leaves no stone unturned in her fight to protect clients’ rights and maximize case outcomes, providing invaluable support during settlement discussions. Her compassionate and client-focused approach ensures that every individual feels valued and confident throughout the recovery process. Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, Jennifer builds strong connections with a diverse clientele, further enhancing the firm’s ability to serve its community effectively.

Silvia B. Miller

Greenfield, IN

Silvia joined Allen Wellman Harvey Keyes Cooley, LLP in 2019. Prior to joining the firm, Silvia spent sixteen years practicing law in various state and local government agencies in Indiana. Her experience in those agencies includes land use and zoning issues, animal ordinance cases, health department code enforcement and securities enforcement. Silvia was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and moved with her family to Centerville, Ohio in 1989 where she attended Archbishop Alter High School. After High School, Silvia attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan graduating with a double major in Political Science and Economics in 1998. She lived in Marburg Germany and attended Phillips University studying both German and Law before starting law school in 1999 at the University of Dayton School of Law. She was admitted to practice law in the state of Indiana in 2002. Silvia currently lives on the south east side of Indianapolis with her husband, Nick, and their two children. Silvia and her family attend Fountaintown Christian Church in Hancock County. In her spare time, Silvia enjoys attending her children's year round softball and baseball games, getting to as many Cubs games as possible, and spending time with friends and family.

Michael Shaheen Sahady

Fall River, MA

Michael Shaheen Sahady is a Partner at Sahady Associates. He is a former Massachusetts Trial Court Judge and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1959.