Russian-Speaking Attorneys

Bella A. Maslyak

Tukwila, WA

Bella A. Maslyak has dedicated over 20 years of her legal career to personal injury cases, including motor vehicle collisions, pedestrian/bicycle accidents, and dog bites. She is committed to ensuring her clients receive fair compensation and will pursue litigation when necessary. She is multilingual, speaking English, Russian, and Ukrainian.

Nana Knight

San Jose, CA

Nana Knight is the CEO and Founder of Knight Law, an award-winning veteran, and a California State Bar Board-certified criminal law specialist. A former prosecutor and professor of law, she has extensive experience in criminal law, military law, and civil litigation, serving her country and clients across California and the western United States. She is known for her expertise in prosecuting complex cases, including homicides and gang crimes, and for her work as a senior civil litigation attorney for the City of San Jose.

Yurii Zinchenko

Los Angeles, CA

Yurii Zinchenko brings over two decades of legal expertise to his practice, blending a distinguished international background with a deep commitment to client advocacy. Born and raised in Ukraine, Yurii earned his law degree with honors from the nation’s top-ranked law university, followed by a Ph.D. in Law. He later expanded his legal foundation in the United States by earning an LL.M. from the University of California, Irvine School of Law, where he was recognized with multiple faculty and program awards for academic excellence and leadership. Throughout his career, Yurii has held key positions across diverse sectors-including the National Bank of Ukraine, a boutique litigation firm, a multinational pharmaceutical company, and as general counsel for private enterprises. He also taught as an associate professor of law, shaping the next generation of legal minds. Yurii’s practice is rooted in a robust understanding of corporate, civil, employment, and contract law, with additional strength in intellectual property, business litigation, and strategic tax structuring. Now based in California, he leverages his global legal experience to deliver powerful results for clients in personal injury, commercial, and cross-border matters. Fluent in Ukrainian and Russian, Yurii offers a rare perspective that bridges Eastern European legal traditions with American jurisprudence. His passion for justice is matched by a dedication to delivering practical, strategic solutions tailored to each client’s unique needs. Outside the courtroom, Yurii enjoys staying active, traveling, and making memories with his wife and two children.

Richard J. Kravets is an experienced attorney specializing in criminal defense, with an impressive trial record. He previously served as an assistant district attorney in Bucks County, PA. He is licensed in Pennsylvania, Florida, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He has received the Lawyers of Distinction Award and is listed among the Top 40 Under 40 of the National Trial Lawyers Association for Criminal Defense. He is fluent in Russian.

Arvid Gitelman

Brooklyn, NY

Before starting his practice, Arvid Gitelman has worked for several top law firms in New York City representing thousands of clients from New York and New Jersey. Mr. Gitelman developed and sharpened his skills by handling cases at all stages, including taking cases to trial beside top-notch trial attorneys in representing clients in high-stakes complex personal injury matters.

Haik Ter-Nersesyan

Los Angeles, CA

Haik Ter-Nersesyan is a personal injury attorney with a background in finance, policy, and advocacy. He spent over 20 years in banking and served as a Policy Advisor at the Armenian Mission to the United Nations. He holds a Law Degree from City University of New York (CUNY), a Master’s degree from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), and two Bachelor’s degrees (Political Science and Economics, Summa Cum Laude) from Northeastern Illinois University. He is fluent in English, Russian, and Armenian.

Chase Skorupa

Jacksonville, FL

Chase Skorupa is a personal injury attorney at Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers. As a former collegiate athlete, he brings a tenacity and competitive drive to achieving the best possible outcome for each of his clients. His legal experience allows him to formulate winning game plans in each case to counteract the strategies employed by insurance carriers and defense law firms. Today, Chase is passionate about using that knowledge to stand up for individuals and families who have been harmed by negligence-and takes pride in helping them rebuild their lives with strong legal support and personalized guidance.

Stephen Nappi

New York, NY

Stephen Nappi is of counsel to Goidel & Siegel and a member of Nappi Klozow, LLP. His practice focuses on pre-litigation dispute resolution, commercial litigation and personal injury litigation in the areas of premises liability, labor law and motor vehicle negligence. Stephen is admitted to practice law in the Courts of the State of New York, as well as in the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Stephen graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Law, and he obtained his undergraduate degree in Legal Studies from Quinnipiac University. Stephen Nappi was selected to the 2021 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list.

Brinton R. McCusker

Tracy, CA

Brinton R. McCusker was admitted to the California State Bar in 1997 and is a founding partner of Bakerink, McCusker & Belden. His practice focuses on Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, and General Civil Litigation, including auto, motorcycle, and truck collisions, bicycle and pedestrian accidents, slip-and-falls, dog bites, and defective products. He also handles eviction matters for landlords and property managers, and general civil litigation such as breach of contract and real property disputes. Prior to his legal career, he served in the U.S. Army as a Russian interpreter from 1985 to 1989.

Ester Aronova

Garden City, NY

Ester Aronova graduated from St. John’s University in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies and earned her Juris Doctor degree from New York Law School in 2004. Ms. Aronova became an Associate and later a Partner in the Law firm of Baker Sanders LLC, representing medical providers. In 2008, as the manager of client relations, Ms. Aronova was responsible for networking, marketing and bringing new clients to the firm. In 2013, as a result of her highly successful track record of networking and referral sourcing, Ms. Aronova joined the team at The Sanders Law Firm as a Partner. In 2014, Ms. Aronova founded Aronova & Associates, LLC, a firm focused on representing injured workers, third party worker’s compensation negligence cases, labor law cases and disability claims. Ms. Aronova is a frequent guest at union membership meetings, providing training sessions to members on workers’ rights and safety advocacy.

Samuel Tsinman

Rahway, NJ

Samuel Tsinman graduated from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2010 and was admitted to the New Jersey Bar and U.S. District Court District of New Jersey in 2011. He practices in consumer fraud, personal injury, employment discrimination, criminal defense, and general litigation, with 70% of his practice devoted to litigation. He is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association and the Union County Bar Association and speaks Russian, Yiddish, and Polish.

Neil Berkowitz

Chicago, IL

Neil Berkowitz is an attorney at Zneimer and Zneimer who handles personal injury cases. He holds a bachelor’s degree in German from the University of Virginia and has practiced civil and commercial litigation in addition to personal injury law. He speaks German and conversational Russian.

Mat Parke

Boise, ID

I’m Mat Parke and I want to be your personal injury lawyer. I was born and raised in Idaho and was taught how to work hard while doing chores on my father’s farm. I got up at 5:30 AM every morning to milk the cows before school. I knew my job was important because the cows would suffer if I slacked off. I was also taught personal responsibility. I was taught that if I made a mistake that harmed someone else, I should take responsibility and do everything I could to make it right. I applied the hard work that I learned on the farm to my academic pursuits. As a college student, I would wake up at 5:30 AM to study. My Idaho work ethic earned me a spot at Harvard Law School where I met my wife, the love of my life. As a lawyer, I have learned that many big businesses and insurance companies do not share my sense of responsibility. Instead, they put profits before principles. I choose to represent individuals who need an attorney to level the playing field against the team of attorneys hired by insurance companies. I find great personal satisfaction when I successfully take on the big guys and obtain fantastic results for my clients. If you are feeling upset, frustrated, or even angry because someone else’s carelessness has affected your life, I’m here to help you.

Sarah Huynh

Houston, TX

Sarah Y-Nhi Huynh is a Houston-based lawyer and founder of The Huynh Law Firm, PLLC. She specializes in civil litigation and plaintiff personal injury cases, including motor vehicle accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, slip-and-fall incidents, workplace accidents, wrongful deaths, and medical malpractice. She offers legal services in multiple languages and holds a J.D. from South Texas College of Law. She is known for her passionate and empathetic legal representation.

James P. Benintendi

Brooklyn, NY

James Benintendi has extensive trial experience, including pre-trial and appellate practice. He secured a 100% liability finding against the NYC transit authority, resulting in a $650,000 judgment for a client with spinal injuries from a bus accident. He is proficient in various personal injury areas, such as police misconduct, premises liability, and automobile liability.

Yuri Jelokov

Mankato, MN

Yuri Jelokov focuses his practice in the areas of workers compensation, Social Security and disability claims. A native of Tallinn, Estonia, Yuri speaks both English and Russian.

Gary Slobin

Bronx, NY

Attorney Gary Slobin, a partner at Alpert, Slobin and Rubenstein graduated cum laude from Long Island University (C.W. Post Campus) with a degree in accounting. He obtained his Juris Doctor from the Brooklyn Law School in 1996. Mr. Slobin has represented injured plaintiffs throughout his career. He has been a partner at Alpert, Slobin and Rubenstein since 2010. Before the formation of Alpert, Slobin and Rubenstein, he was a partner in Alpert & Kaufman. In his professional legal career, he has had extensive experience in successfully representing plaintiffs in personal injury and medical malpractice matters. He is personally involved in all stages of litigation, from the initial meeting clients, through verdicts and appeals. He personally evaluates all potential personal injury claims, working directly with clients and witnesses to develop and implement winning litigation strategies. Mr. Slobin has attained numerous multimillion dollar verdicts and settlements. He has been named as a SuperLawyer for many consecutive years. Outside of his law practice, Mr. Slobin volunteers any many leadership roles in his community and serves as an Associate Village Justice in the Court of the Village of Great Neck.

Steven Pestyner

New York, NY

Steven Pestyner is an associate attorney at Goidel & Siegel, LLP, where he focuses on personal injury cases involving motor vehicle accidents and premises liability. He guides clients through every step of the legal process with clarity, care, and confidence. Law is in his blood. Mr. Pestyner grew up in a family of attorneys and knew early on that he wanted to advocate for people during their most difficult moments. Today, he is known for his strong communication, fast response times, and relentless work ethic.

Ilia Borisov

Los Angeles, CA

Ilia Borisov is an attorney whose litigation practice includes transportation matters, premises liability, personal injury, and catastrophic injury. He graduated in the top 10% of his class from Loyola Law School, cum laude, with Order of Coif honors, and was a senior research editor of Law Review. He also holds a degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is licensed to practice in California.

Tony Pogosyan

Glendale, CA

Tony Pogosyan began his legal career in 1999, focusing on personal injury and business litigation. With 25 years of experience, he handles cases involving serious injuries, wrongful death, product defects, business disputes, and breach of warranty claims, fighting for individuals against powerful entities and insurance companies. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Business Law at Glendale Community College.

Inguna Varslavane-Callahan

St. Petersburg, FL

Inguna Varslavane-Callahan has over 20 years of experience in a variety of civil litigation and appellate matters including bodily injury and wrongful death cases, medical malpractice, insurance extra-contractual liability (bad faith) and insurance fraud litigation, nursing home liability, and lawyer professional malpractice. Originally from Riga, Latvia, Inguna has a master’s degree in International Relations and a Juris Doctorate, both from Florida State University where she served on the moot court team. She is a graduate of University of Latvia, where she was on the varsity track and field team and excelled in the 100 meter and long jump events. She was a member of a team in the 100 meter relay event that won the Latvian National Championship. Inguna is fluent in English, Russian and Latvian and is conversant in French as well. After moving from Tallahassee to St. Petersburg, Inguna practiced law at Callahan and Martinez, P.A. and became a partner at the law firm of Martinez Denbo (now Segundo Law Group), primarily working with Dan Martinez, Esq. She focused her law practice on medical malpractice and insurance bad faith cases. In 2018, Inguna joined her husband Mick Callahan at Callahan Law Firm, LLC, where they focused their practice on medical malpractice, insurance, personal injury and legal malpractice cases. Inguna was pleased to join the law firm of Emerson Straw, PL in 2023 in an Of Counsel position continuing in the same specialized area of law practice.

Magdalena Cuprys

Miami, FL

Magdalena Cuprys received her Juris Doctor from the University of Washington School of Law in 2002. She was admitted to the practice of law in California in 2003 and in Florida in 2006. Before law school, she completed two bachelor’s degrees, one in Political Science and one in Latin American Studies, at the University of Chicago in 1999. Ms. Cuprys is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and was the Panhellenic President at the University of Chicago. She speaks fluent English, Spanish, and Polish, and is conversant in Russian and Italian. She is the principal attorney of Serving Immigrants (Cuprys and Associates), a full-service immigration law firm offering a complete range of immigration services to both businesses and individuals. She is a seasoned immigration lawyer based in Orlando and Coral Gables, Florida, with years of legal experience working with immigrants of all kinds.

Mark Bratkovsky is the founder and an experienced attorney at the Law Offices of Mark Bratkovsky. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center (1999) and a BA in Sociology from Stony Brook (SUNY) (1993). Admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey State and Federal Courts since 1999, he specializes in Business & Corporate Transactions, Commercial and Residential Real Estate, Criminal Litigation, and Personal Injury. He is fluent in Russian and conversational in Spanish, and is a member of the American Association for Justice, New York State Bar Association, and Brooklyn Bar Association.

Kristina Amidi

Beverly Hills, CA

Kristina Amidi is a results-driven attorney with a rich multicultural background and a well-rounded legal foundation, which she uses to advocate passionately for clients in personal injury cases. With a strong educational foundation and years of hands-on experience, Ms. Amidi brings both perspective and precision to her advocacy on behalf of the wrongfully injured. Originally from Russia, Ms. Amidi attended an international school before moving to the United States to continue her legal education. She completed the Paralegal Program at Florida International University in 2014 and later earned her Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law in 2022. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Amidi worked as a paralegal in New York City, where she gained valuable experience at both personal injury and insurance defense firms. This dual exposure gave her a deep understanding of both sides of litigation, allowing her to anticipate defense strategies and build strong, effective cases for her clients. Fluent in both English and Russian, Ms. Amidi is proud to serve a diverse client base with empathy, cultural sensitivity, and clear communication. Outside of her legal practice, she is a classically trained pianist, having studied music for eight years and earning a diploma in classical performance-an experience that speaks to her discipline, creativity, and dedication. Ms. Amidi’s journey from an international upbringing to a career in personal injury law reflects her commitment to justice, personal growth, and meaningful client service. She approaches each case with focus, compassion, and an unwavering drive to achieve the best possible outcomes for those she represents.