Spanish-Speaking Attorneys

Victor M. Arellano

Leesburg, VA

Victor M. Arellano is a bilingual partner and shareholder at Arellano & Phebus, S.C., with over 40 years of combined firm experience in personal injury, criminal, and immigration law.

Amy R. Howard

Charlotte, NC

After receiving her B.A. from The Pennsylvania State University in Political Science with a minor in Spanish in 1992, Amy received her J.D. from Western New England College School of Law in 1995. She relocated to the Charlotte area shortly after graduating from law school. With over 28 years of legal experience, Amy has developed innovative ways to handle conflict resolution. She has dedicated her practice to family and juvenile law, representing clients in uncontested divorces; legal separation; premarital and post-marital agreements; legitimation and name changes; juvenile defense; and complex equitable distribution, alimony, child support and child custody matters. In 2014 Amy was certified as a Family Financial Mediator through the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission to serve as a facilitator. Amy is a well-rounded and dedicated attorney who enjoys her career of helping people through some of the most difficult times in their lives. She has been a speaker for the National Business Institute, A.G. Edwards, and Stifel Nicolaus in continuing education. She also has participated in the Second Saturdays workshop in Lake Norman and at the Free Legal Clinic offered through the Women’s Commission, and through the Mecklenburg County’s Community Support Services. Having personally experienced legal separation and divorce, she understands the impact it has on individual clients and their families. She is fortunate to have raised two successful adult daughters.

Elan Cabrero

Fort Worth, TX

Elan Cabrero is a first-generation American attorney fluent in Spanish, specializing in criminal defense and civil defense. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin and his law degree from Texas A&M School of Law. He has tried over 50 cases to verdict and brings valuable insight from his experience representing insurance companies.

Madelin D’Arce

Naples, FL

Mrs. D’Arce is responsible for work in the Firm’s commercial litigation, community association and real estate practices. She handles lawsuits at the trial, post-judgment, and appellate levels for commercial, business, real estate, and construction matters, including complex disputes, as well as prosecutes and defends individuals and businesses for claims that include breach of contract, conversion, fraud, and other business torts. Mrs. D’Arce counsels clients concerning landlord/tenant disputes in addition to commercial and residential evictions. She is also responsible for advising and representing individuals and businesses with the purchase and sale of businesses and real estate. Interning with several County Court judges before and during law school provided Mrs. D’Arce an inside perspective to the judiciary and the practice of law. She relies on that experience as she serves, today, as State Court Liaison for the Miami-Dade Florida Association for Women Lawyers. Her expertise promotes and maintains positive relations with the county’s local judges. Mrs. D’Arce considers her greatest professional accomplishments to have been helping a single mother regain the title to her home after being a victim of fraud, being honored as a member of the 2015 Class of Leaders in the Law by the Florida Association for Women Lawyers and presenting an oral argument before the Third District Court of Appeal.

Thomas A. Kennedy

Vero Beach, FL

Thomas A. Kennedy is an attorney specializing in Criminal Defense and Immigration law. He is authorized to practice in Florida (state and federal courts), Maryland, and the District of Columbia. He has been practicing law since 1991, including nine years as a public defender.

Monica P. Da Silva

Tampa, FL

Monica graduated from the University of South Florida in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a minor in Criminology. Monica then obtained her Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law in 2005 and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2006. During law school, Monica served on Stetson’s Advocacy Board as a member of the Client Skills Board and competed in numerous competitions at a national level on Stetson’s Negotiation Competition Team. Monica also served as Deputy Chief of Stetson’s prestigious Ambassador Program. In addition, Monica contributed considerable pro bono work to local organizations and was a recipient of the William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award. During and after law school, Monica also served on the Board of Directors of a local grassroots non-profit literacy organization. Upon graduating from law school, Monica entered private practice and worked in the area of marital and family law. Monica has been practicing exclusively in the area of marital and family law since 2006. Monica has held memberships in numerous legal organizations including the Family Law Section of the American Bar Association, the Family Law and Young Lawyers Divisions of the Florida Bar, the Family Law Committee of the Hispanic National Bar Association, the Hillsborough County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, the Family Law and Young Lawyers Divisions of the Hillsborough County Bar Association and she is also admitted to practice in the United States Middle District of Florida. Monica is fluent in Spanish and serves the local Hispanic community in all family law matters.

Vardan Ksachukyan

North Hollywood, CA

Mr. Ksachukyan comes from an exceptionally prestigious academic background. After graduating from UCLA with honors, he attended Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles. His distinguished academic record secured him an esteemed position with California Supreme Court Judge J. Baxter. This experience, along with his extensive individual work in civil litigation and business law, makes him an invaluable member and founding partner of the YMPK Law Group. Mr. Ksachukyan is a highly respected member of the California State Bar and is also licensed to practice law in the state of Nevada. Throughout his career, he has recovered millions for his clients through vigorous litigation and strategic settlements. During his time at Southwestern Law School, Mr. Ksachukyan was an integral part of the Negotiation Team. Today, he continues to contribute to the legal community by volunteering as a judge for the team during competitions. Renowned as a master of mediations and settlements, Mr. Ksachukyan’s expertise and dedication ensure the best outcomes for his clients.

Kori Brett McKeithan

Hilton Head Island, SC

Kori Brett McKeithan co-founded Liberty Oak Law Firm in 2018, focusing on real estate law. She graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2004 and also holds degrees from the University of North Carolina and the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business. She is admitted to practice in South Carolina and assists Spanish-speaking clients.

John O. Clune

San Diego, CA

John Clune is Of Counsel at Guy Levy Law. He has been an attorney since 1995. John was previously a partner at the Provan Clune Law Firm, where he defended insurance companies. After he met attorney Guy Levy in 2011, John decided to devote his practice permanently and exclusively to helping people avoid being taken advantage of by insurance companies. John's passion is assisting clients to tell their stories to a jury and obtain the justice they deserve. John was recognized as a Super Lawyer (2022- 2024) and awarded a Top 100 Jury Verdict, Motor Vehicle Accidents (California, 2022). John has recovered millions of dollars for his clients while handling thousands of cases and all aspects of civil litigation, including depositions, mediations, arbitrations, and jury trials. In law school at U.C. Hastings, John won the American Jurisprudence Award for Moot Court and was a production editor of the prestigious Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly. He attended college at the University of San Diego on a Presidential Scholarship and won the Most Outstanding Student award in his Political Science major. He spent his junior year abroad in Spain and graduated magna cum laude. John is especially proud to speak Spanish with many of his clients.

Shana D. Velez

Denver, CO

Shana Velez is a dedicated attorney with over 18 years of experience in family and immigration law, as well as criminal defense. Her journey into law began with a desire to assist individuals who faced challenges navigating the legal system. Raised in Denver, Shana's decision to pursue law school stemmed from her aspiration to support those without access to the opportunities she had encountered.

Rosa M. Feeney

New York, NY

25 years of experience representing clients in all facets of tort and insurance coverage litigation. Knowledgeable of all phases of litigation including trials, mediations, arbitrations, and appeals. Fluent in Spanish.

Nicole Gorney

Pasadena, CA

Nicole Alicia Gorney, a California State Bar-licensed attorney, is an immigration attorney and advocate with extensive experience in removal defense, family-based claims, and visas. Based in San Francisco, she holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco School of Law, specializing in Immigration Law. She provides full-scope representation for active cases in removal proceedings and conducts immigration consultations. Nicole is proficient in Spanish and has strong public speaking skills.

Craig K. Vernon

Coeur d’Alene, ID

Craig Vernon is a Founding Shareholder at James, Vernon & Weeks, P.A., with extensive experience in civil litigation, including defective products, dangerous drugs, and sexual abuse cases. He has represented hundreds of sexual abuse survivors across multiple states.

Matthew G. Sawyer

Rockville, MD

Matthew G. Sawyer is an Of Counsel attorney at Salvado Law, specializing in construction litigation, general civil litigation, and business legal issues. He is admitted to practice in Federal and State Courts in Maryland and the District of Columbia. A graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law and the University of Massachusetts, Boston, he brings years of practical experience from the construction industry. He has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super LawyersTM since 2020.

Luis Alvidrez

Shoreline, WA

Luis Alvidrez was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, and raised in Arizona. He earned his degree in Business Law from Arizona State University, where he developed an interest in helping people through the legal system. Before going to law school, he worked as a case manager, which gave him early, hands-on experience with personal injury cases. Luis attended Seattle University School of Law, where he received the Presidential Scholarship. While in school, he clerked at a respected Arizona law firm, gaining practical experience and building the foundation for what’s now nearly a decade of work in personal injury law. He’s fluent in Spanish and is proud to serve clients from diverse backgrounds. And while he spends most of his time focused on his clients, he’s also been keeping a surprisingly long Duolingo streak in French, and he can easily bench 315 lbs. for reps.

Yenifer Formoso

Coral Gables, FL

Yenifer Formoso is a Litigation Attorney at Perez Mayoral, P.A., focusing on homeowners association and condominium association matters, business, commercial, and real estate litigation. She has a strong foundation in litigation and advocacy, with experience in trial preparation and appellate practice. Yenifer is fluent in Spanish.

Kate Gagutlova

Seattle, WA

Kate Gagutlova moved to the U.S. from Russia and earned a master’s degree in linguistics and interpreting, then a bachelor’s degree in Business and Innovation in Technology from the University of Washington. She attended Seattle University School of Law, where she worked as a research assistant and in the Defenders Clinic. She is fluent in Russian, English, and French, and studied Arabic, Spanish, Italian, and Turkish.

Sonja L. Cajuste

Hollywood, FL

Sonja Cajuste is a seasoned and multilingual attorney who brings over a decade of experience in litigation, real estate, and legal consulting to Levin Litigation. She holds a Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center and a B.A. from Howard University.

Javier A. Arguello

Las Vegas, NV

Honesty, hard work, responsibility, and resilience define Javier Arguello as a professional who embodies the values instilled in him during his upbringing. At the age of three, Javier immigrated to America from Ecuador, deeply influenced by his mother’s unwavering work ethic. Motivated by her own experience as a victim of a work accident, Javier was inspired to pursue a career in law, determined to ensure that others didn’t face the same injustice. Javier obtained his Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University, where his passion for workers’ compensation law flourished. He has gained comprehensive experience representing various industries, including construction, municipalities, retail, hospitality, transportation, and healthcare. Javier’s unique perspective stems from his previous roles working for insurers and employers, granting him invaluable insight into the inner workings of insurance companies. In 2006, he joined Bertoldo Carter Smith & Cullen, where he currently leads the workers’ compensation department, fighting for the rights of injured workers against the insurance providers he once defended. What sets Javier apart is his unwavering commitment to his clients. He handles every aspect of their cases, providing a compassionate and direct approach. Open and transparent communication is paramount, and clients can rely on Javier for regular updates on the progress of their claims. Regardless of the case’s value, Javier stands by his clients, ensuring their voices are heard, and their bills are paid. With the dedication and diligence that his mother didn’t receive, Javier strives to be the advocate his clients deserve. Every day, he channels his deep empathy and legal expertise to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those he represents.

Sthefany Cayer is a Paralegal with an international bachelor’s degree in Law and a Master of Corporate Law & Social Security. She has been a paralegal since 2011. Prior to joining Curcio Anderson Law, she worked as a senior paralegal at a major immigration firm in Charlotte. She assists in personal injury, family law, traffic citations, civil, and immigration cases, effectively communicating with clients and tracking case information. She is fluent in English and Spanish.

Otto Yannick Muller is a litigation attorney with over 13 years of experience between Puerto Rico and Texas. He started his law career in Puerto Rico in 2011 and relocated to Austin in 2018. He represents clients in accident cases, premises liability, and other civil matters. He is fluent in Spanish.

Yulianna Yagoudaeva

Huntingdon Valley, PA

Yulianna Yagoudaeva is the founder of Yagoudaeva Law Group, P.C. She is a passionate and driven advocate with experience as a Judicial Law Clerk in New York Family Court and the Commercial Division of the New York Supreme Court. Her practice areas include Family Law, Estate Planning, and Civil Litigation, with a focus on Guardianships, Medicaid, Trusts, and Estate Planning. She is licensed to practice law in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the Federal District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Edgar Michael Pinilla

Columbia, SC

Edgar Michael Pinilla received his Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2004 and his Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law. He was admitted to practice law in South Carolina in 2008 and before the United States District Court of South Carolina in 2009. He represents clients in immigration, civil, and criminal matters, and as a first-generation immigrant, he understands the challenges of settling in the U.S.