Spanish-Speaking Attorneys

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.

Angela S. Lee

Los Angeles, CA

Angela S. Lee is a trial attorney who graduated at the top of her class from La Verne Law School in 2012. She specializes in personal injury law, known for securing top settlements for clients. She is fluent in Korean and conversational Spanish, and has been featured in the Los Angeles Times Business to Business Consumer Attorneys of Southern California.

Carolina De La Peña Rogers

Lafayette, LA

Carolina grew up in Mexico but now calls the entire state of Louisiana her home. She is a graduate of Louisiana State University (B.A. 2013) and the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at LSU (J.D./D.C.L. 2017). Carolina, who is a native Spanish speaker, joined Laborde Earles in 2020. Her primary area of practice involves representing clients who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents. She obtained her license to practice law in Louisiana in 2017 and was subsequently admitted to practice before all Executive Office of Immigration Review Immigration Courts throughout the United States and the EOIR Board of Immigration Appeals. Prior to joining the Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, Carolina practiced immigration law and specialized in defending clients against removal proceedings before the immigration courts. Her experience as a litigator allowed her to develop the skills necessary to become a compassionate and zealous advocate for her clients and their rights. Carolina understands the importance of strategizing based on the individual needs of her clients and is proactive in protecting her clients’ interests so that they and their families can operate at their full potential. Outside of work, Carolina enjoys traveling with her husband, spending time with family and friends, and trying out new exercise classes.

Michael C. Beehan

Clinton, TN

Michael Beehan is a trial attorney at Fox, Farley, Willis & Burnette, specializing in serious personal injury, products liability, auto wrecks, motorcycle wrecks, trucking wrecks, slip and fall, and wrongful death cases. He joined the firm in January 2016. Prior to his legal career, he was an English teacher in Mexico and a Director of Human Resources. He earned his law degree from Lincoln Memorial University - Duncan School of Law, where he was President of the Moot Court Board and the Immigration Law Association. He is fluent in Spanish.

Andréa Vieira is a seasoned trial lawyer with more than 25 years of legal experience, specializing in personal injury and civil rights cases. She is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish, and conversational in French. She is admitted to practice in Nevada, the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States. She has received multiple awards for her pro bono work and community involvement.

Bill Morgan

Lehi, UT

Bill Morgan has 25 years of experience in serious physical and emotional injury cases. He holds a BA in International Relations from BYU, a Law Degree and Certificate of Alternative Dispute Resolution from Willamette University College of Law, and a Masters Degree in Social Work from University of Utah. He is a Utah licensed lawyer and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), providing keen insight into trauma recovery. He also worked as a Home Health and Hospice Medical Social Worker and Therapist, aiding seniors and their families.

Sergio C. Garcia

Chico, CA

Sergio C. Garcia is a personal injury attorney and the founder of SCG Professional Law Corporation. Born in Mexico, he became the nation's first undocumented attorney to be authorized to practice law in California on February 1, 2014, after winning a landmark case. He holds AA degrees from Butte College, a Paralegal Certificate from Chico State University, and a Juris Doctorate from Cal Northern School of Law. He is known for his client-focused service and dedication to helping vulnerable and underrepresented individuals.

Tammy Strohl-Samuel

Naples, FL

Tammy Strohl-Samuel is an attorney in Naples, FL, with over twenty-five years of personal injury experience. She graduated from McGill University with a B.A. in 1989 and received her J.D. from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1992. Admitted to the Florida Bar in 1994, she opened the Law Office of Tammy Strohl P.A. in 1996. She has served as Chair of the Grievance Committee - Twentieth Circuit Grievance Committee ‘B’. She is dedicated to providing personalized attention to clients and speaks English, French, Creole, and offers Spanish-language services.

John J. Ventosa

Poughkeepsie, NY

John J. Ventosa is a founding partner at McCabe Coleman Ventosa & Patterson PLLC where he practices primarily in the areas of trusts & estates, business, and real estate. As a native of Dutchess County and an owner of multiple businesses himself, John focuses his efforts on representing the individuals, families and businesses that are the backbone of our community. John’s primary focus is Estates & Trusts and Business Planning. Prior to founding McCabe Coleman Ventosa & Patterson in 2018, John served his community as a Senior Assistant Public Defender in the Dutchess County Public Defender’s office. He earned his BA from New York University and his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law. He is a member of the Dutchess County Bar Association and New York State Bar Association. He is admitted to practice in New York State and in the United States Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York. John is bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish.

Claire M. Garcia

Bronx, NY

Claire M. Garcia is a seasoned attorney with extensive experience in personal injury and medical malpractice litigation. She earned her Juris Doctor from St. John’s University School of Law in 1994 and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1995. She is also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Ms. Garcia began her undergraduate studies at Syracuse University’s SI Newhouse School of Public Communications before completing her degree at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where she graduated magna cum laude. With a strong commitment to advocacy, Ms. Garcia is a member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and has dedicated her career to representing plaintiffs in complex personal injury and medical malpractice cases. Fluent in Spanish, she is passionate about serving diverse communities and ensuring access to justice for all her clients.

Michael R. Odrobina

Coral Gables, FL

Michael R. Odrobina is a partner focusing on medical negligence, personal injury, and wrongful death litigation. He earned his law degree, Cum Laude, from the University of Miami School of Law in 2007 and has extensive trial experience, having tried over 25 jury trials. He is licensed in Florida and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.