Spanish-Speaking Attorneys

Arlene M. Parra

Totowa, NJ

Arlene M. Parra, Esq., is a Founding Partner at Parra Klein, a law firm based in Elmwood Park, New Jersey. She is the youngest daughter of Colombian and Ecuadorian immigrants and a proud Latina and first-generation professional. Ms. Parra is dedicated to representing clients who have suffered from fall-down accidents, motor vehicle collisions, dog bites, wrongful death cases, product liability, and general civil litigation matters. She has established a strong reputation over the last decade due to her dedication and expertise, acquiring significant experience at esteemed New York and New Jersey law firms. She is licensed to practice law in both New Jersey and New York and is fluent in Spanish and proficient in Italian and Portuguese.

David E. Kovel

New York, NY

David E. Kovel is co-managing partner of the firm and is based in our New York office. A former commodities trader, he has extensive experience representing plaintiffs in groundbreaking whistleblower, commodities, antitrust, securities, and corporate governance matters, including on appeal. His work in these areas, which often deals with fraud related to complex financial instruments, continues to set precedents both in terms of the law and size of settlements. Amongst other recent activities, in 2021, Mr. Kovel obtained the then-largest publicly announced single whistleblower award arising under the Dodd-Frank and IRS whistleblower programs on behalf of a Deutsche Bank whistleblower. He has also successfully worked on appeals reversing lower court rulings that dismissed a large number of banks in a case alleging manipulation of LIBOR and separately obtained a reversal on appeal in a case alleging manipulation of metal commodities by JP Morgan. Mr. Kovel is the head of the litigation section of the New York City Bar Association Committee on Futures and Derivatives Regulation and is a former member of the New York City Bar Association Antitrust Committee. Prior to joining KM, Mr. Kovel practiced at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. He speaks Spanish and at one time played professional soccer in Nicaragua.

Grace K. Yates

Ponca City, OK

Grace K. Yates, a lifetime resident of Ponca City, began practicing with Mr. Holmes in 1999. Grace graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and a minor in Spanish. She received her Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law and is licensed to practice in Oklahoma and Kansas, as well as each Federal District Court within this State. Grace served as president of the Kay County Bar Association and on multiple boards for local non-profit organizations. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Oklahoma Bar Association, Kansas Bar Association, Payne County Bar Association and Kay County Bar Association. Grace, her husband, and their two children currently reside in Ponca City.

Karen Schoenfeld

Portland, OR

Karen Schoenfeld graduated from St. Johns University School of Law in 1989. Since 1992, she has dedicated her professional time to representing seriously injured individuals, successfully handling thousands of cases and trying many to a jury. She also specializes in suing PIP carriers for denied medical bills. Outside of law, she enjoys family time, painting, reading, cross country skiing, and cycling.

John M. Hafen

Montrose, CO

Mr. Hafen helps individuals and businesses pursue and defend against civil claims in state and federal courts and before arbitration tribunals. Mr. Hafen has handled a diverse range of complex commercial litigation with a primary emphasis on business, non-compete, trade secret and estate litigation. Mr. Hafen also advises business clients ranging in size from startups to established mid-sized businesses. Mr. Hafen helps businesses assess risks, protect assets and leverage legal strategies to achieve business objectives.

Laura Sigaud

Austin, TX

Laura Sigaud has been practicing law in Texas since 2003, with 19 years in administrative law and policy advocacy on Capitol Hill before moving into insurance defense. She is admitted in all four federal district courts of Texas, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and earned her J.D. from South Texas College of Law in 2002.

Francisco J. Garcia

Chula Vista, CA

Francisco J. Garcia is a co-founder of Gonzalez & Garcia, APC. Francisco grew up in Calexico and graduated from Calexico High School in 1994. After high school, Francisco attended the University of California, San Diego and received his Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Spanish Literature. Then Francisco returned to Calexico High School and became a U.S. History, Government and Economics teacher for several years. During this time, Francisco received a Masters degree in Education from the University of Phoenix. Then, he attended California Western School of Law and received his Juris Doctor degree in 2 years.

Linda Levison

Linda heads Pattinson & Brewer’s Clinical Negligence team, which works exclusively for claimants. Linda has over 20 years’ experience of dealing with a broad range of complex injuries of maximum severity including brain injury, spinal injury and fatal cases. She has extensive medical knowledge. She handles many claims for injured children and adults under a disability and this involves regular contact with the Court of Protection. Linda has particular skill in dealing with people with acquired brain injury such as cerebral palsy, meningitis and cerebral abscess. She has had considerable success with claims involving thrombo-embolic events such as stroke, DVT and coagulation problems. She has concluded many high value cases including recent settlements of a brain injury case worth £10 million and a spinal injury case for £7.5 million. She has settled numerous cases with damages awards in excess of £1 million. She has also recently been involved in a landmark catastrophic injury case that she successfully took to the Court of Appeal and won. Her clients are impressed by her down to earth nature and commitment to obtaining the best outcome for them. She is well known for her empathetic and insightful approach. Linda is very highly regarded by experts and counsel alike. She is well recognised within the field and praised by legal peers as “a vastly experienced practitioner with a track record of obtaining substantial settlements for severely injured clients”(Chambers).

Andre Dayani

Seattle, WA

Andre Dayani is an attorney and founder of Dayani Law Firm, launched in 2016. He previously served as a public defender in King County, where he represented thousands of clients and gained extensive trial experience. His approach is direct and honest, focusing on fierce defense and relating to clients on a human level. He guides clients through legal and personal crises with a philosophy centered on compassion and resilience. He works with his wife and law partner, Lauren, and is also a film photographer and Jiu Jitsu competitor.

Sandra received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine, and went on to earn her Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law. As a first-generation attorney, Sandra brings a deep sense of purpose and determination to the legal profession. Inspired by the challenges and sacrifices of her family, she pursued a legal career to serve and advocate for others with compassion and integrity. Sandra is known for her strong work ethic, clear and empathetic client communication, and unwavering commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for those she represents. Fluent in Spanish, she is proud to provide trusted legal guidance to Spanish-speaking communities. Outside the office, Sandra enjoys spending time with her family, camping, hiking with her two Boston Terriers, and watching horror movies.

Shane Rios was raised in the Fordham Road area in the Bronx, New York and attended Fordham Preparatory School in the Bronx. Mr. Rios graduated from Fordham Law School in 2004. At Fordham, Mr. Rios was a member of the American Constitution Society and aggressively advocated for the preservation of civil liberties. Upon graduation, Mr. Rios was awarded the Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award for his outstanding work in the community. Mr. Rios is admitted to practice in New York State and the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New York. After graduating from Law School and immediately passing the bar exam, Mr. Rios worked as an attorney for the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Democratic Presidential campaigns. Mr. Rios has also worked at several prominent defense firms in New York City, where he defended multi-million dollar personal injury actions, including wrongful death actions, construction accidents, elevator/escalator accidents, automobile accidents and slip/trip and falls. Mr. Rios’ vast experience as a defense lawyer greatly enhances his ability to effectively prosecute personal injury actions. Mr. Rios firmly believes that the key to a successful attorney-client relationship is communication and open access between the lawyer and client. As such, clients are provided with direct access to Mr. Rios at all times. Mr. Rios is thrilled to practice in the Bronx. Indeed, he appreciates the opportunity to zealously advocate for the very community that he was raised in. For Mr. Rios, there is no higher honor than using his legal ability for the benefit of those that molded his character. Mr. Rios is an aggressive and creative litigator who has a unique ability to relate to a New York City jury. Mr. Rios has a wide array of trial and courtroom experience both in state and federal court. When not practicing law Mr. Rios enjoys fishing, boating, boxing and cheering for the New York Yankees.

Alfredo Mares

San Antonio, TX

Alfredo Mares holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence from St. Mary’s University School of Law and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Born and raised in Ciudad Acuna, Mexico, he moved to the United States to pursue his legal career. He has gained experience working in prestigious law firms, including one of the top firms in San Diego, California, before moving to San Antonio, Texas. With over a decade of experience in the legal system, Mr. Mares is a litigation attorney handling complex cases, dedicated to fighting for his clients' rights and ensuring the best possible recovery.

Sean A. Brady

Long Beach, CA

Sean A. Brady is an Associate at Michel & Associates, P.C., whose practice includes municipal law, legislative advisement, constitutional law, civil rights litigation, firearm regulatory compliance advice, construction law, and business litigation. He has handled trial and appellate matters, arguing before state and federal courts of appeal. He is admitted to all state and federal district courts in California, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Brady received his bachelor’s degree in Language Studies in 2004 and his J.D. from Western State College of Law in 2008.

David R. Spevack

Iselin, NJ

David R. Spevack received his Juris Doctorate from Rutgers Law School in 2001 and is licensed to practice law in New Jersey, New York and the United States District Court. After graduation, David completed a Civil Division clerkship in Hudson County Superior Court. Thereafter, he joined his father, the late Ronald W. Spevack, and became an integral part of Spevack Law Firm’s civil litigation practice. He Currently serves as the President and Managing partner. He has also studied at University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, University of Leiden in the Netherlands and the University of Extremadura in Spain. David speaks Spanish fluently. Since 2009, David has served as a prosecutor in several municipalities, including Woodbridge, Edison, Perth Amboy, Newark, Metuchen and Carteret. As municipal prosecutor, David litigates the municipalities’ criminal offenses (including misdemeanors known as “disorderly person offenses”), traffic violations (including driving while intoxicated), and quality of life infractions filed by state, county, and city law and code enforcement agencies. David also specializes in assisting police and law enforcement officers with all their legal needs. David is appointed to the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Automobile Litigation and No-Fault Special Committee. The committee addresses legal issues and practices related to handling no-fault claims, and the practice and trial of auto collision cases. The committee also monitors and advises on legislation involving automobile insurance, including no-fault tort thresholds and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. They also hosts educational programs and meetings in order to gain insight into proper handling of motor vehicle related matters. David serves as a Middlesex County Bar Foundation Trustee. The Middlesex County Bar Foundation (MCBF) is a non-profit corporation organized for the benefit of and to carry out the charitable, scientific, literary and educational purposes of the Middlesex County Bar Foundation and Middlesex County Bar Association, and for other exclusively charitable, scientific, literary and educational purposes related to the profession of law and the administration of justice. David Spevack also serves on the New Jersey Association of Justice (NJAJ) Board of Governors, a statewide association of over 2,700 members in private practice and public service, paralegals, law clerks, law students and law school graduates not yet admitted to the bar. NJAJ is dedicated to protecting New Jersey families by working to preserve and strengthen the laws for safer products and workplaces, a cleaner environment and quality health care. David frequently presents at seminars and lectures for the Practicing Law Institute, New Jersey Continuing Legal Education and Middlesex Bar Association. He is also a member of the NAACP and is President of a Tennis Foundation.

Ethan Trice

Hendersonville, NC

Ethan Trice is a transactional and family law attorney. He primarily focuses his practice in matters involving business transactions, estate planning, and guardianships. Originally from Athens, Georgia, Ethan graduated from Mercer University. Ethan proceeded to obtain his Master of Arts in History from the University of Nebraska, before graduating from Wake Forest School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, and Arkansas and engages in transactional work in all five states.

Brian Banner

Fontana, CA

Brian Banner has advocated for the wrongfully injured for over a decade. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Spanish from the University of California, Irvine, and a Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law in San Diego. He is fluent in Spanish and has a passion for helping Spanish-speaking clients. He also founded the non-profit organization, Banner Athletes, and is a Boy Scout leader.

Jose M. Padilla

The Woodlands, TX

José has been practicing law since 2000 with a focus on corporate transactions, healthcare, and venture capital. He has expertise in healthcare transactions and regulations, and previously worked as general counsel for a physician-owned healthcare system and an international gaming company. He teaches health law for NYU’s Masters of Public Health program and speaks several foreign languages.

Vanessa N. Perez

Davie, FL

Vanessa N. Perez, Esq. is an aggressive, professional, and effective attorney with over 12 years of experience in the legal field, including roles as a secretary, paralegal, and office manager before becoming an attorney. She graduated cum laude from NSU Shepard Board College of Law in 2019 and is admitted to the Florida Bar. She is dedicated to fighting for her clients' rights in civil and personal injury cases.

David-Ross Williamson

Boston, MA

David-Ross Williamson is a founder of Williamson & Melendez, PLLC. He has been a member of the Massachusetts Bar since 1985. He holds a B.S. from Westfield State College and a J.D. Cum Laude from Suffolk University Law School, with international studies in Spain, Mexico, and at the University of San Diego Law School. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese and is involved in the Sports Lawyers Association and the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys.

Roger L. Theis

Wichita, KS

Mr. Theis practices generally in the areas of real estate transactions, oil and gas, mergers and acquisitions, commercial law, banking and finance. Roger has more than 25 years’ experience in oil and gas transactions, including leasing, title work, acquisitions and other transactions and routinely advises national, regional and independent oil and gas companies on their Kansas operations. The firm’s banking clients have used Roger’s services for loan transactions, contract review and day-to-day operational advice. He is also experienced in bank and bank holding company acquisitions and merger transactions. Roger is listed in the Best Lawyers in America® and Chambers USA® as a leading real estate lawyer in the United States. He also enjoys Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory’s highest AV®* rating for lawyers. He earned his B.A. from Wichita State University with majors in international business studies and Spanish. He received his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center. He is the co-author of Kansas Homestead Law, THE JOURNAL OF THE KANSAS BAR ASSOCIATION, April 1996.

Valerie Russell

Houston, TX

Valerie Russell is a dedicated and compassionate attorney with over four years of legal experience, licensed to practice law in both Texas and Massachusetts. Her legal career is rooted in a deep commitment to advocacy and client service, particularly for individuals facing complex and emotionally charged legal matters. Valerie earned her Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law, where she honed her skills in legal research, advocacy, and client-centered representation. In addition to her law degree, she holds a Master of Arts in Spanish Literature and Linguistics from the University of Houston, and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish (dual major) from the University of Texas at Austin. She is fully fluent in both English and Spanish, allowing her to serve a diverse client base with clarity and cultural understanding. Before joining the team at Javier Marcos & Associates, Valerie worked as an immigration attorney in both private practice and within the nonprofit sector. In her most recent role, she advocated for unaccompanied minors, providing essential legal support to some of the most vulnerable individuals in the immigration system. Prior to practicing law, Valerie spent over eight years as an educator, a background that greatly influences her approach to legal counsel-she’s patient, communicative, and committed to empowering her clients with knowledge throughout the legal process. Valerie is passionate about helping individuals and families navigate challenging legal circumstances with dignity. She believes that respect, empathy, and clear communication are key to building trust and achieving meaningful results. Whether guiding a client through an immigration matter or advocating in court, Valerie strives to make the legal process more accessible and less overwhelming.

Andrew G. White

Greenbelt, MD

Andrew G. White represents clients in personal injury and workers’ compensation matters in Maryland and the District of Columbia. He was selected to Maryland Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, for 2024-2026 and was appointed by Governor Wes Moore to the State Open Meetings Law Compliance Board. He graduated cum laude from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in 2020.

Elizabeth Seemann

Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Elizabeth Seemann is an attorney passionate about public service and helping individuals with physical and mental disabilities. She has been representing disabled individuals before the Social Security Administration since graduating law school in 2011. Her dedication is fueled by understanding her clients' daily struggles and holding the federal government accountable. She holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Maine School of Law and an undergraduate degree from William Smith College.