Spanish-Speaking Attorneys

Omar M. Bississo

Falls Church, VA

Omar Bississo is the principal and founder of Bississo Law, P.C. While in law school, he clerked at the Maryland Office of the Public Defender in Rockville, Maryland, where he drafted a successful motion to suppress based on an illegal stop under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. After the motion was granted, all the charges against the defendant were dropped. That event was a turning point. Witnessing firsthand the effects of a defense attorney’s work and its profound impact on clients’ lives cemented his desire to practice criminal defense and become a courtroom practitioner. Since then, Omar has been regularly representing clients on charges ranging from DWI and reckless driving to petit larceny and possession of marijuana. An effective and dedicated advocate, Omar is committed to protecting his client’s constitutional rights and providing them with the best representation possible in both civil and criminal cases.

Jorge Gonzalez

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Jorge L. Gonzalez, Jr. is a skilled personal injury litigation attorney specializing in representing plaintiffs against insurance companies. He has a background in defending insurance companies, giving him a strategic edge. He also has legal experience in hospitality and real estate, and the entertainment industry. Fluent in Spanish, he is licensed to practice in Florida.

Robert K. Stegman III

Owings Mills, MD

Mr. Stegman is an experienced personal injury and criminal defense attorney, who has personally worked on and overseen thousands of cases in his legal career. Mr. Stegman and his team have recovered tens of millions of dollars for his clients. These recoveries range from individuals dealing with injuries stemming from motor vehicle collisions to those suffering from the results of traumatic brain injuries, serious spinal cord injuries, and permanent injuries that have resulted in the need for lifetime medical care and attention and were caused by traumatic car accidents and medical malpractice. Mr. Stegman graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law, where he received the degree of a Juris Doctor (J.D.) of the law; graduating with high academic honors, magna cum laude. While attending law school, Mr. Stegman was a member of the prestigious National Trial Team, a competitive trial advocacy organization that competes nationally. Prior to attending the university, Mr. Stegman graduated with high academic honors from Hood college, located in Frederick Maryland, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Mr. Stegman is an active member of the Maryland Association for Justice (MAJ). Further, Mr. Stegman is a member of the Baltimore City Bar Association, the Baltimore County Bar Association, and the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney’s Association. Further, Mr. Stegman has been named one of Maryland’s 10 Best Attorney’s practicing in the field of Personal Injury for the consecutive years of 2015, 2016, and 2017 as published by American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys. Additionally, Mr. Stegman has earned the distinction of being named a Rising Star Super Lawyer for the consecutive years of 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, a distinction earned by less than 2.5% of lawyers in the State of Maryland. Lastly, and most recently, Mr. Stegman was awarded the very selective award for America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators, an award which only goes to those who have successfully litigated a case that is potentially worth more than $2,000,000. Concerned about social and systematic challenges in our society, Mr. Stegman provides legal services, on a pro bono basis, to assist those with criminal records in expunging their records to help give people a second chance in life and with future employment opportunities. In addition to these academic and personal achievements, Mr. Stegman serves as member of the Loyola Blakefield Alumni Association, is active in his community, and is an attending member of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Stegman is fluent in Spanish, and was born in Baltimore, Maryland, where he continues to reside this day as a life-long Baltimore resident.

Roberto Helguera

Houston, TX

Roberto T. Helguera graduated from Thomas Aquinas College with a double major in philosophy and theology and a minor in sciences. Due to the unique teaching Socratic method used at Thomas Aquinas, Roberto acquired excellent thinking, argumentative and logical skills that led him naturally to pursue a career in law. Roberto began his studies of law at Loyola University School of Law in Chicago, IL and finished them at Suffolk University School of Law in Boston, MA, studying at night while working a full day for BankBoston. In between he pursued a unique opportunity to experience the practice of international law in his native country, Argentina, under the country’s largest firm, Marval, O’Farrell & Mairal. He returned to the U.S. with BankBoston (now part of HSBC) as part of an investment banking team. At Suffolk, he joined the Hispanic Law Student Association and practiced mediation under attorneys with over 30 years of legal practice experience. Roberto practiced law at some of the U.S.’ major firms, such as Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy in New York, NY, Brobeck, Phlegher & Harrison in Austin, TX, Bracewell LLP in Houston, TX, and DLA Piper Rudnick LLP in Austin, TX. He acquired extensive banking, finance, high technology, and corporate law knowledge. Roberto is a State Bar of Texas and New York State Bar Association member. He is admitted to practice law in Texas and New York. He is bilingual in Spanish and English, and fluent in French. Having lived in Argentina and the U.S., Roberto brings an understanding of cross-cultural issues particular to the Hispanic world, relevant to the Firm’s representation of Hispanic and Spanish-speaking clients.

The eldest of nine children, J.C. grew up in the rural west where he and his siblings learned on a farm the value of hard work and responsibility. After high school, J.C. served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Spain. Upon his return to the United States, he enrolled in school and later graduated Magna Cum Laude from Southern Utah University in History and Spanish Literature. He then attended the University of Wyoming College of Law, graduating in 2005. J.C. began practicing law in April of that same year. J.C. practiced criminal defense, bankruptcy, and general civil litigation at the start of his career before focusing on criminal defense and personal injury as his exclusive practice areas. J.C. has successfully defended thousands of people and built a practice based on satisfied clients referring friends and family. J.C.’s practice focuses on sex abuse, retail theft, DUI, drug possession, drug trafficking, domestic violence, assault, aggravated assault, murder, rape, sexual abuse of a child, exploitation, white collar fraud, fraud, and theft cases. As a Spanish speaker, J.C. also assists immigrants charged with crimes. J.C. prides himself on his courtroom experience, having handled approximately 10,000 court hearings during the course of his career.

Albert J. Tiseo, Jr.

Port Charlotte, FL

Mr. Tiseo, a Shareholder in the firm, specializes in Civil Litigation, Real Estate Litigation, and Commercial Litigation. Raised in Charlotte County, Florida, he obtained his Juris Doctorate from Florida State University in 2000.

Janice V. Arellano

Oakland, NJ

Janice Arellano is counsel specializing in litigation and school law, focusing on labor and employment counseling, civil litigation, and representing public school districts and charter schools in New Jersey. She also serves as a court-appointed attorney for alleged incapacitated individuals. Janice is proficient in Spanish and has been recognized as a New Jersey Super Lawyers “Rising Star” since 2021.

Jay was born and raised in New York City. Jay graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. He earned his Juris Doctor from Capital Law. Jay is the Principal at Jay Perez Law where he has practiced in the areas of Immigration, Criminal Defense, Domestic Relations, and Appeals for the past 24 years. Prior to attending law school, Jay was a police officer in New York City and in South Florida. Jay is a highly experienced and skilled attorney who is passionate about his work and his clients. Jay has been successful due to his innovative approach and understanding that successful lawyering is about relationship building with all entities involved. Further, Jay understands the importance of remaining extremely accessible and transparent with his clients. Jay is the son of Cuban immigrants and Spanish was his first language and the only language that was spoken in his home growing up. Due to his upbringing, Jay has a deep connection and drive to assist immigrants. Further, his experience as a police officer has proven to be an invaluable asset to his criminal defense clients because of his unique perspective on how the system “works”. Jay is a powerful advocate for his clients and gets results regardless of the area of law. Jay runs a results-oriented practice that offers real solutions to real-world problems.

Fatjon Cake

Surfside Beach, SC

Fatjon Cake is a dedicated and compassionate attorney at The Floyd Law Firm. Born in Albania and raised in the United States, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina and his Juris Doctor from Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, where he concentrated in trial advocacy. Fluent in Albanian and English, and conversant in Spanish, Fatjon focuses on personal injury, immigration law, estate planning, and Medicaid planning. He is an active member of the South Carolina Bar Association and volunteers as a youth soccer coach.

Joan M. Bannan

Morristown, NJ

Joan Bannan is counsel to Porzio Bromberg & Newman, specializing in personal injury and medical malpractice. With approximately 40 years of experience, she has a diverse background in civil litigation, criminal prosecution, and professional claims management, including extensive jury trial experience.

Lina Vargas

New York, NY

Lina’s career began with the firm in the late 1990s, and she has seen and done it all. With deep experience comes deep wisdom, which for Lina has translated into a complete set of superior paralegal skills. Lina can handle any case across a wide gamut of fact patterns including but not limited to car accidents, slip/trip and falls and construction accidents. With a high aptitude for medicine and always looking for a challenge, Lina also takes the lead on many of the firm’s medical malpractice cases. Fastidiously working on these matters from inception, she forms strong bonds with firm clients who continually seek her out for advice and guidance. Lina has been paralegal for some of the firm’s most notable cases, making valuable contributions during the course of the legal process. She quickly knows what needs to be done to progress the case in an expeditious manner and works to that end without distraction. She can often be found right next to Andy at trial, and Andy relies and trusts Lina implicitly. Lina was born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York. She graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice (B.S.) and Stenotype Academy with an Associates Degree in Paralegal Studies. She enjoys spending time with her daughters and being outdoors at the beach. She also loves to take bike rides which always puts a smile on her face.

Mary C. Espino

Miami, FL

Mary C. Espino, Esq. is a prestigious attorney with 30 years of experience dedicated to serving the community in Florida and other states. The daughter of Cuban immigrants, she has extensive knowledge and background in complex legal proceedings, especially those that require her skills as a litigator, mediator, and investigator. Ms. Espino brings years of experience and an exceptional legal background to the Gallardo Immigration team. Mrs. Espino graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. Thomas University in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. Subsequently, in 1995, she received her law degree from the Shepard Broad Law Center at Nova Southeastern University, earning Magna Cum Laude honors with a Juris Doctor degree. Her academic credentials are complemented by her work as Associate Editor of Nova Law Review and a member of the Moot Court Society. This talented professional has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1995 and of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida since 1996. She has also been part of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida since 2004.

Stephanie Bohigas is an Associate Attorney at HAWM Law, where she focuses on immigration and family law. She earned her Juris Doctor from Florida A&M University College of Law in August 2023, receiving the Book Award in Family Law and achieving Dean’s List honors multiple times throughout her studies. As the co-founder of the Advocates for Immigrant & Refugee Rights (AIRR), Stephanie played a pivotal role in mobilizing legal resources for underserved communities. She successfully organized legal clinics and educational panels addressing critical immigration issues, underscoring her commitment to advocacy and community service. Stephanie’s hands-on experience includes serving as an Attorney Mentee at Magnolia Immigration Law, where she worked closely on business immigration cases, including various visa petitions and consular processing. Additionally, during her time at the Orlando Center for Justice, she prepared family-based petitions and provided pro bono legal services to immigrants and refugees, further demonstrating her dedication to social justice. Prior to her legal education, Stephanie graduated from Florida State University with a double major in International Affairs and Political Science, complemented by a minor in Spanish. She was recognized as a Bright Futures Florida Medallion Scholar and actively engaged in several student organizations, including Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity and Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc. Fluent in Spanish and knowledgeable in Swahili, Stephanie effectively connects with a diverse range of clients. She is also an active member of the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), where she continues to develop her expertise and engage with the legal community. Her blend of legal expertise, community engagement, and passion for advocacy makes her a valuable asset to HAWM Law and the clients she serves.

Christina L. Peterson

Green Bay, WI

Christina Peterson grew up in Aurora, Wisconsin. She graduated magna cum laude from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a major in Political Science and Spanish, and a minor in Business Administration. She earned her J.D. from Marquette University Law School in 2003. She has practiced law in Green Bay since 2003, joining Hanaway Ross Law Firm in 2019. She has served as an adjunct instructor at NWTC, teaching administration of estates for the paralegal program. Her practice areas include Business & Corporate Law, Estate Planning, Probate & Estate Administration, Will & Trusts, Elder Law, Real Estate, Collections, Bankruptcy Law & Creditor’s Rights, Landlord & Tenant Law, and Appeals. She is actively involved in community organizations.

John H. Price Jr.

North Charleston, SC

A local graduate of North Charleston High School, attorney John Price has practiced since 1985, serving as a state prosecutor in the Charleston County Solicitor’s Office before founding John Price Law Firm, LLC in 1988. An experienced attorney, he has served as president of the Charleston Art of Trial Advocacy Workshop for Charleston-area lawyers, a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, and Board of Governors for the South Carolina Association of Justice. Mr. Price also serves as president of the Palmetto Touchdown Club, an academic scholarship and booster club as well as an assistant coach of several youth basketball teams and Board of Governors for travel league organizations. He is a member of the American Association of Justice, a board member of the South Carolina Association of Justice and a founding fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.

Sara brings years of experience in mass tort litigation to her practice, which is focused on product liability matters.

William T. McKinley

Bartow, FL

Bill McKinley is the managing partner at William McKinley Law, P.A., focusing his practice on civil litigation in state and federal court. He has a background in business, banking, and the law, and he applies this experience to help clients with their legal problems. He founded William McKinley Law, P.A. after several years in practice with other firms in Polk County, where he focused on civil and commercial litigation and insurance defense.

Eddy A. Nicklaus

Coral Gables, FL

Eddy A. Nicklaus is an Associate Attorney at Nicklaus & Associates P.A. in Coral Gables. He graduated from DePauw University, in Greencastle, Indiana with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 2014. He was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and DePauw University Baseball Team. While in Undergraduate school, he completed a fulltime internship with the American Trucking Association at their main headquarters in Arlington, VA. Mr. Nicklaus has also had hands on employment positions with a large well-established construction/ general contracting company here in South Florida. Mr. Nicklaus earned his Juris Doctorate from Florida Coastal School of Law (FCSL) in 2019. During law school, he participated in the Legal Immigration Pro bono Clinic where he was responsible for the management of countless underprivileged clients helping them on their lawful path to U.S. Citizenship, all while under the supervision of the lead Pro Bono Immigration Attorney at FCSL. Mr. Nicklaus is fully fluent in Spanish having been born and raised in Miami, Florida. Since being admitted to the Florida Bar, Mr. Nicklaus practices civil litigation defense, including trucking defense, premises liability, products liability, commercial litigation, casualty injury cases, insurance claims, as well as other forms of civil defense representation. Mr. Nicklaus is admitted to practice in all Florida State Courts.

Abby Hernandez Ivey, an associate attorney with Aronfeld Trial Lawyers, brings a diverse perspective to our team. Fluent in English and Spanish, Abby’s legal journey led her from Puerto Cortes, Honduras, to the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law. Her background, coupled with experience as a judicial intern, makes her a valuable asset in delivering comprehensive legal support.

John Peck

Boston, MA

Attorney John Peck is dedicated to advocating for accident victims in the fight to compensate them for injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. He has over a decade of experience handling personal injury cases and leads the team at Peck Trial Attorneys.

As a child, Erin questioned everything. According to her parents, fairness mattered, deeply, to Erin and she voiced her concerns with vehemence. As an adult, not much has changed for Erin; fairness continues to serve as a guiding principle in her client advocacy. Erin received her Bachelor’s Degree in History from Barnard College of Columbia University. Upon graduation, she traveled to Southern Mexico, volunteering with a non-profit dedicated to indigenous rights before returning stateside to attend the University of Miami School of Law as part of the prestigious Miami Scholars program. Erin credits her tenure in Miami with her proficiency in Spanish and love of empanadas. Erin first practiced law in a litigation boutique in Miami before returning to Connecticut to try cases with her father. Erin joined Boatman Law in 2012 and she has zealously represented her clients ever since. Erin represents individuals and small businesses in varied and often complex civil disputes. In addition to her general litigation practice, Erin assists clients in personal injury, consumer, and unfair and deceptive trade practices litigation, ensuring that financial institutions and insurance companies are forced to treat her clients with the dignity and respect that they each deserve. Owing to the emotional nature of many of these disputes, Erin is a litigator and a coach to her clients, making sure that each of her clients has the necessary support that she needs to emerge from litigation stronger than ever. Erin is licensed to practice in Connecticut, Florida, the District of Columbia, and the District Courts of Connecticut and Florida. Together with her father, Erin has tried cases to verdict and has argued multiple cases before the Connecticut Appellate Court. Erin has been recognized as a Connecticut Super Lawyer in the Rising Star category from 2015 to the present. In 2018, she received the Rising Star award from the Connecticut Bar Association’s Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section. Erin lives in Fairfield with her husband and two small children. She spends her time at the beach, eating tacos, and dancing with her Peruvian husband.

Lawrence Anzalone

Lakeland, FL

Born in New York, New York, Mr. Anzalone was raised in both New Jersey and Florida. As a student, he was chosen as the College Student-Athlete of the Year. In law school, he served as a member of the Student Senate. When not practicing law, Mr. Anzalone is a Sunday school teacher, a member of his church’s Finance Committee, and an assistant Scout Master (BSA). He also enjoys golf, traveling, and spending time with family. In his legal practice, Attorney Anzalone sees his role as the objective listener. He takes the time to get to know his clients, understand their concerns, and provide reasonable options and expectations. He only accepts cases that he believes stand a chance and is committed to doing everything in his power to help his clients obtain justice and fair financial recovery. Attorney Anzalone has been Board Certified in Workers’ Compensation Law by the Florida Bar for more than 31 years. He draws on decades of trial experience, extensive skill, and an in-depth understanding of workers’ compensation law to help his clients navigate even the toughest of legal challenges. When preparing a case for trial, he is extremely thorough in gathering evidence and working with his client to obtain a clear picture of their medical history and treatment. Throughout the process, Attorney Anzalone remains consistently available to answer his clients’ questions, address their concerns, and keep them informed every step of the way.

Andrew B. Siegel

New York, NY

Mr. Siegel is a partner in the law firm of Goidel & Siegel, LLP, which he and Jonathan Goidel co-founded in 1990. Prior to the founding of Goidel & Siegel, Mr. Siegel was employed as a trial attorney at the Legal Aid Society in Brooklyn, New York, where he concentrated on defending indigent criminal defendants. While there, he handled thousands of criminal matters and tried many of those cases to verdict. Mr. Siegel then became associated with Galett, Dreyer & Berkey, a prestigious law firm concentrating on real estate and commercial litigation, until founding Goidel & Siegel with Mr. Goidel. Since founding Goidel & Siegel, Mr. Siegel has tried many civil cases to verdict in nearly every trial court in the City of New York and, on numerous occasions, has argued successfully before the Appellate Divisions of the First and Second Departments. Mr. Siegel participates in every aspect of the operations of Goidel & Siegel from client intake to case strategy to final resolution, whether by trial or otherwise. He is a tireless advocate for his clients and will explore every available and appropriate option to maximize his clients’ recovery or defense. Mr. Siegel graduated with high honors from the State University of New York at Albany in 1983. He graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1986. During law school, Mr. Siegel participated in the pro se litigants’ program of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and trained as a trial attorney in the offices of Jay Goldberg, Esq. And Michael G. Berger, Esq., premier criminal defense and commercial law attorneys in the City of New York.

Stephanie N. Wolfinbarger

Louisville, KY

Stephanie N. Wolfinbarger began practicing injury and disability law in 2008 and became a partner in the firm in 2013. She is an Officer of the Kentucky Workers Association and a member of the Kentucky Bar Association, Kentucky Justice Association, and Women Lawyers Association Of Jefferson County. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyer from 2023-2024 and selected for The Best Lawyers In America from 2023-2024.