Spanish-Speaking Attorneys

Kevin G. Little

Fresno, CA

Kevin G. Little stands as one of the rare attorneys to achieve the legal trifecta - multiple murder acquittals, multiple death row exonerations, and multiple million-dollar-plus verdicts. For more than 35 years, he has been a formidable force for justice, transforming his education into a powerful weapon for those facing injustice. With exceptional victories across both civil and criminal law, Mr. Little delivers unparalleled representation through his Triple Threat approach of masterful trial skills, formidable appellate expertise, and sophisticated legal analysis.

Paul D. Groark

Fitchburg, MA

Paul D. Groark has been Of Counsel with the Law Offices of David Niose since 1998. Prior to that time, Attorney Groark handled insurance defense matters in superior and district courts in Massachusetts while a lawyer with a major insurance defense firm in Boston, and later, in various federal and state courts while a lawyer with a major national insurance defense law firm in Washington, DC. This legal background has provided Attorney Groark an expansive exposure to a variety of tort cases throughout all levels of litigation in our judicial system. Attorney Groark’s legal experience notably includes litigation in federal courts of wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases arising from the air disasters of USAir flights 405, 1016 and 427, as well as the Northwest Airlines air disaster of 1990. Attorney Groark has handled an array of tort claims for airport authorities as well as interstate motor carrier cases throughout the United States, through pro hac vice admission in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. As part of his Of Counsel position, Attorney Groark provides the unique service of direct representation for Spanish speaking clients, having complimented his initial classroom study of Spanish with further studies abroad in Spain and later legal work in Spain and Chile. His fluency in spoken and written Spanish provides the means to extend this firm’s high quality of legal services to a segment of society that would otherwise be precluded from such direct access due to a language barrier.

Joseph J. Carcagno

Staten Island, NY

Joseph J. Carcagno, originally from Brooklyn, New York, graduated in 1983 from Pace University, Lubin School of Business with a BBA in Finance and became a commodities trader on the floor of the New York Mercantile Exchange. He later attended Pace University School of Law and obtained his Juris Doctorate degree in 1988. Mr. Carcagno began his legal career working in plaintiff’s personal injury and criminal defense. During his tenure as a plaintiff’s attorney, he handled automobile, premises, construction accidents, police brutality, and wrongful death cases, and tried many cases to verdict. Then, Mr. Carcagno was recruited by GMAC Insurance, a division of General Motors, to open its first ever in-house counsel office which began operation in New York City where he became the managing attorney and counsel of record. He eventually grew the office to twenty employees in two staff counsel office locations during his tenure where he handled high exposure, high complexity cases. Mr. Carcagno has selected countless juries in every county in the New York City Metro area and tried over twenty-five cases to verdict. He has written and argued numerous appeals as well. In addition, Mr. Carcagno worked as an attorney at the New York City Department of Education Special Education Unit. Mr. Carcagno is admitted to practice in New York State and Connecticut, as well as the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Carcagno is also active in community service as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Bronx Global Learning Institute for Girls Charter School located in Bronx, New York.

Theodore G. Hartman

Maspeth, NY

Theodore G. Hartman is a Senior Counsel Trial at Musa-Obregon Law PC, focusing on serious criminal offenses and deportation cases. He has experience in immigration law in Texas and Louisiana, and previously served as a public defender in New Orleans, handling appellate cases. His expertise includes murder, rape, and drug trafficking cases. He obtained his Juris Doctor from University School of Law in St Louis in 2003 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Gettysburg College in 2000. He is fluent in Spanish.

Mark Wolin

Miami, FL

Mark Wolin is a trial attorney with over 35 years of experience in South Florida state and federal courts. He holds a Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law and Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Northwestern University. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and in Florida and Illinois. Mark is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Valeria Benitez is a seasoned personal injury attorney driven by a profound sense of justice, shaped by her life experiences. She has worked in complex medical malpractice cases as well as multi-district litigation personal injury cases. With a wealth of experience in workers’ compensation and personal injury law, Valeria embarked on her journey representing victims at a plaintiff’s toxic-tort firm. Witnessing the profound impact of asbestos exposure on blue-collar workers ignited her resolve to be their unwavering voice in the pursuit of justice. Valeria’s upbringing instilled a deep sense of duty to uplift the underprivileged, a value she actively upholds through community involvement. As the current legal affairs commission chair of a Chicago-based nonprofit, she remains steadfast in her mission to empower others. Inspired by her father’s commitment to justice in Ecuador, Valeria recalls, “I would hear his interactions with his clients, and I was moved to see how thankful they were when he won their cases, and the way he zealously represented and fought for each of them. I knew I’d want to follow in his footsteps.” Being fluent in Spanish fosters trust and clarity with Spanish-speaking clients, complementing her relentless advocacy and meticulous organization. Her ties to the Spanish-speaking community are far-reaching, as she also worked in a law firm in Mexico City for several years. She is a persistent go-getter that advocates for her clients. Valeria’s unique blend of legal expertise and genuine empathy makes her a beacon of hope for those navigating personal injury law, offering unwavering support and commitment to their cause. Married and a devoted mother, she finds solace in family and maintains a vibrant lifestyle as an enthusiastic runner who loves to participate in races, and who has previously competed in martial arts tournaments. While in law school, Valeria learned firsthand about other legal systems and experienced other cultures when she studied abroad in Madrid, Berlin, and Havana. Her compassion extends beyond personal pursuits, reflected in her unwavering dedication to advocating for the rights of the injured in her legal practice.

Andres Lovera

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Andres Lovera is a Litigation Attorney at The Injury Firm, representing clients injured by negligence, primarily in auto accidents, slip and falls, and defective products. He previously worked at an Insurance Defense firm, gaining experience in auto accident defense and first-party property disputes, and served as an Assistant Public Defender for the Broward Public Defender’s Office, where he litigated numerous jury trials and evidentiary motions. He was awarded “The Law Office of the Public Defender’s Triple Crown Award” in 2023.

Michael H. Schreiber

Linwood, NJ

Michael H. Schreiber is a highly experienced trial attorney with over 42 years of practice in New Jersey, specializing in criminal defense and family law. He is a Certified Criminal Trial Attorney by the New Jersey Supreme Court since 1989, known for his dedication to clients and his impressive trial record, including numerous not-guilty verdicts in murder cases. He has handled over 100 jury trials and 13 murder cases, securing 12 not-guilty verdicts. Beyond his legal career, he is a recipient of the prestigious Andrew Carnegie Hero Award in 2009 for saving four people from drowning. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey, the U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Pierre Prialé

Fairfax, VA

Pierre Prialé is an experienced attorney specializing in criminal defense and personal injury cases, with over 16 years of experience. He received his undergraduate degree from George Mason University and his Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. He is licensed to practice in Virginia and is an active member of the Virginia State Bar. He has successfully handled over 2,000 criminal cases and hundreds of personal injury cases, achieving positive results including dismissals and acquittals. He is also a recognized advocate for the Latino Community in Northern Virginia and has published an ebook on car insurance in Virginia.

David Ascencio-Arevalo

Manassas, VA

David Ascencio-Arevalo was born in El Salvador and grew up in the small town of Usulutan. He went to law school at the Universidad Doctor Jose Matias Delgado in San Salvador. In 2005 he moved to Silver Spring, Maryland, to pursue a Master’s Degree in International Law at American University Washington College of Law. In 2016, David was admitted to the Master’s Degree in Laws of the United States program at the University of Baltimore School of Law and after completion he transferred into the Juris Doctor program. David works at our office in Wheaton, Maryland. He has gained vast experience in immigration law, working on cases involving Removal Defense, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status cases and Family Based Visas. He also has worked on personal injury cases and has proved to be an asset in the defense of those clients who have been injured by the negligence of others. David is a licensed attorney in Maryland.

Lisa Ritter

Lakewood, CO

Lisa Ritter has been advocating for the injured since 2004, bringing empathy, honesty, and persistence to every case. Licensed in Colorado, Texas, Missouri, and Kansas, her multi-state experience has shaped her into a well-rounded and compassionate personal injury attorney. She offers clear, truthful guidance while helping clients heal-physically, emotionally, and financially, supporting them through recovery to move forward with confidence and closure.

Pedro Leyva

Lubbock, TX

Pedro Leyva is a senior partner specializing in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases across Texas and New Mexico, with a focus on oilfield and 18-wheeler truck accidents. He has recovered millions for clients and brings first-hand oilfield knowledge to his cases. Pedro is a Valedictorian graduate of Presidio High School, holds a B.B.A. from the University of Texas, and a J.D. summa cum laude from Texas Tech University School of Law. He was promoted to Senior Partner in January 2024 and recognized as a Texas Rising Star by Thomson Reuters in 2023 and 2024, and the 'Up and Comer' Award in 2024.

David S. Pallai is a partner with over twenty years of extensive trial and litigation experience in State Supreme Court and Federal District Court. He defends complex litigation cases with catastrophic exposure, including medical, hospital, dental, and nursing home malpractice, school and municipal law, product liability, labor law, construction, automobile and premises liability, and insurance coverage issues. He is admitted to the New Jersey and New York Bar, and U.S. District Courts in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian.

Yvonne Olusi-Ogadi

Houston, TX

Attorney Yvonne Olusi-Ogadi, also known as Attorney YO, continues to follow her passion for helping others, as a nurse and today as an Estate Planning & Probate Attorney. Prior to joining The Gonzalez Law Group, Yvonne practiced in the area of Elder Law where she assisted families and individuals with estate planning and provided guidance and strategies for generational wealth protection planning, as well as assisting families with long term care planning and Medicaid. Prior to becoming an attorney, Yvonne was in the nursing profession for over 24 years and continues to be a Proud Registered Nurse. She attended the nursing program at Texas Woman’s University (Houston). Over the span of her nursing career, she practiced in many areas: CV-ICU, Med-surg, Administration, Home Care, Healthcare Technology, and her favorite Geriatrics. As a Home Care Nurse, she was in the community visiting elderly and disabled clients in their homes and quickly realized the need for a voice for our Elders was great, due to the gaps in the healthcare system that were failing to meet their needs. Yvonne decided to become that voice, and attended South Texas College of Law Houston, obtaining her law degree in May of 2021. Her professional and civic activities include membership in numerous local and national organizations including: Texas Bar Association, Houston Bar Association, Houston Lawyers Association, Hispanic Bar Association of Houston, Fort Bend County Black Nurses Association Inc., Texas Bar College and the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) to name a few. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Destined to Live and the Make A Mark Foundation, the latter of which she founded in memorial of her brother, Mark-Anthony P. Olusi, who passed away in 2008 due to heart transplant complications. In her free time, Yvonne enjoys traveling, volunteering, attending concerts, and spending time with her family.

Maria P. Youngblood

Gainesville, FL

Maria P. Youngblood is a Senior Associate Attorney at Meldon Law, practicing since 2010 in personal injury and civil litigation. She has successfully negotiated multi-million dollar settlements. A Gainesville native, she earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida and her Juris Doctor from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2009. She also graduated from the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation. Maria is an active member of the Florida Justice Association and has been nominated twice as a Crisp Experience MVP. Fluent in Spanish, she is dedicated to representing Spanish-speaking clients.

Cindy Fernandez, Esq. is an attorney at The Ward Law Group, focusing on personal injury cases, particularly motor vehicle accidents. Graduating Cum Laude from Nova Southeastern University, School of Law in 2020, she is a dedicated advocate for clients, drawing on her personal experience as an immigrant to ensure their rights and interests are protected.

Aaron Morrow

Joliet, IL

Aaron B. Morrow is a personal injury and workers’ compensation litigation attorney at Block, Klukas, Manzella & Shell, P.C., joining in January 2018. He graduated from The John Marshall Law School in 2014 and was admitted to the Illinois Bar in November 2014. He focuses on representing injured workers and individuals with personal injuries in various Illinois counties. He holds degrees in Spanish, International Studies, and History from Saint Louis University.

Michael C. Pyrros

Astoria, NY

Michael C. Pyrros has devoted his professional career to representing injured workers, with vast trial experience before the New York Workers’ Compensation Board. He is fluent in Greek and Spanish.

Regina M. Morgan

San Angelo, TX

Regina joined JChandlerLaw in 2019 and focuses her practice on cases involving serious personal injury and wrongful death.

ARIEL M. SABAN

Plantation, FL

Attorney Ariel Moses Saban is a managing and founding partner of The Law Offices of Saban + Solomon. A Florida native, Ariel received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from the University of Miami in 2003. He subsequently earned his Juris Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University School of Law in 2006. He began his legal career at a national law firm, concentrating in Corporate Litigation, Receiverships, and Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions. He then served as a Broward County Assistant State Attorney. Ariel is licensed to practice law in Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia. He is fluent in Spanish and Hebrew.

Gabriela Navarro

Bettendorf, IA

Gabriela Navarro is an attorney licensed in Iowa since 2019, focusing on Iowa Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in Ethics and Public Policy and Sociology, and from the University of Nebraska College of Law with a Juris Doctor in 2019. She is bilingual and passionate about helping injured workers, drawing from personal family experience with on-the-job injuries.

James C. Beardsley

Portland, ME

Our lead attorney, James C. Beardsley, grew up in a small town in rural Maine near Acadia National Park. He attended college at Worcester Polytechnic Institute before completing his law degree at the University of Maine School of Law. During his time as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps, he served as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney at Camp Lejeune. James then worked as a litigation attorney in a large Maine law firm. In 2006, he joined Lowry Law and began exclusively handling personal injury cases. Seven years later, in 2013, he purchased the firm. James speaks fluent Spanish and regularly represents clients who cannot speak English. Outside the office, he spends much of his free time jogging and can usually be found at the back of the pack in local marathons.

Brenda Kocaj comes to Easton & Easton with a lifelong passion for serving the underrepresented of our community after a recent stent representing defendants in high-stakes medical malpractice matters. Having used that time to learn the strategies employed to protect defendants in high value personal injury cases, Brenda is excited to now return to her roots and use her knowledge of defense tactics to better represent the victims of negligence and wrongdoing with the other talented litigators at Easton & Easton. Brenda received her B.A. from the University of California, Irvine, in 2010, where she majored in Political Science. She went on to attend Whittier Law School, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and obtained her Juris Doctor in 2013. In December 2013, Brenda was admitted to the California Bar. During law school, Brenda earned a CALI award in legal writing (an award for the top grade in the class) among other honors. After her first year in law school, she completed a judicial externship at Lamoreaux Justice Center with the Honorable Maria Hernandez, where she assisted the judge in her dependency court rulings. Brenda went on to complete two additional externships with County Counsel, at both the trial and appellate level, where she advocated for the best interests of the minors. Brenda also took part in Street Law, Inc., a program designed to teach at-risk youth about the law, where she volunteered her time at an Orange County continuation school. In her last year of law school, Brenda completed an externship with Whittier Law School’s Child Advocacy Clinic, a pro bono clinic helping families seeking guardianship and conservatorship. Following law school, Brenda completed two years of broad personal injury plaintiff work, both at the pre-litigation and litigation levels, including significant experience in drafting complaints, conducting depositions, engaging in law and motion, as well as research and settlement negotiations. She then spent an additional two years working in a more specialized area of personal injury - medical malpractice- on the defense side, learning the tactics and stratagems that high-stakes defense litigators use to devalue Plaintiff’s cases. Specifically, Brenda handled cases involving birth injuries, elder abuse, and dental malpractice. Through this experience, not only has Brenda’s knowledge of the law and litigation strategy advanced, but so has her commitment to justice and advocacy for the victims of negligence. When not at work, Brenda enjoys being a puppy mother of two, reading, hiking, watching sports, traveling (particularly to Mexico City), and salsa dancing. Brenda speaks Spanish fluently and returns to Mexico City each year to visit family who still live there. Brenda is admitted to practice in all California state courts, the United States District Court for the Eastern District, and the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Patrick Perez

Santa Rosa, CA

Patrick Perez is a first chair trial lawyer, litigator and counselor adept at handling high-stakes, complex civil litigation. With more than 15 years of experience, he has successfully represented both plaintiffs and defendants in state courts, federal courts, and arbitrations throughout the United States.