Spanish-Speaking Attorneys

Jazmin E. Newton-Butt

Davenport, IA

Jazmin E. Newton-Butt is an attorney licensed in Iowa (2014) and Illinois (2013), focusing on family law, mediation, criminal defense, OWI/DUI, and personal injury. She is fluent in English and Spanish, and conversational in French. A Cum Laude graduate of Northern Illinois University College of Law (2013), she has received multiple awards including the Young Alum of the Year Award (2023) and Girl on Fire Mentor of the Year (2021). She is actively involved in community leadership, serving as Davenport Alderwoman at Large, and on various boards and commissions including the QC Chamber of Commerce and LULAC Iowa.

Philip G. Bernal

San Antonio, TX

Phil Bernal was born in Eagle Pass, Texas and speaks Spanish fluently. Phil graduated from Southside High School here in San Antonio, Texas. Phil has been practicing personal injury trial law for over 30 years in South Texas and the Hill Country. Phil graduated from St. Mary’s School of Law here in San Antonio, Texas. Phil has been Board Certified In Personal Injury Trial Law by The Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1998. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Phil practiced respiratory therapy where Phil treated and rehabilitated patients with pulmonary diseases and oversaw patients on short term and long term ventilators in the surgical intensive care unit, coronary intensive care units and medical intensive care unit. Over the last three decades Phil has obtained multiple settlements and jury verdicts in the areas of medical malpractice, commercial vehicle (18 wheeler), automobile accidents, premises liability, products liability, and police civil rights cases. In 2016 Phil obtained the 51st highest jury verdict in the nation and the 6th highest verdict in the State of Texas between 2016-2018 against a commercial driver and his company for over $37,875,000.00 in Dallas County. In 2024 a Federal Jury in the Western District of Texas returned a verdict for over $9.2 million against 2 San Antonio police officers who used excessive force in the arrest and seizure of Phil’s client. Phil’s client was completely innocent and minding his own business when he was viciously attacked by the police officers. This verdict came after almost a month of trial in total. Phil’s verdict is the first verdict in the Federal Western District for an excessive force case by police officers since 1989. Phil has been consistently recognized by his peers by being selected as one of the Best Lawyers in America 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Phil has also been nominated and been designated a SuperLawyer 2013, 2014 and 2016.

David B. Zirlen

Natick, MA

David B. Zirlen is a dedicated criminal defense and personal injury lawyer with 28 years of experience. As a former Assistant District Attorney, he possesses unique insights into the legal system, enabling him to effectively represent clients in criminal defense, OUI, and personal injury cases. He is known for his extensive trial experience and success in DUI defense.

David A. Helfand

Miami, FL

David A. Helfand is an acclaimed and experienced accident lawyer in Miami, Florida, with over 28 years of successful experience handling personal injury and wrongful death cases, including automobile, motorcycle, bicycle, and truck accidents, product liability, medical malpractice, insurance disputes, and workers' compensation cases. He is admitted to practice in all Florida state courts and the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Florida.

Freddy Woods

Greer, SC

Freddy Woods is an experienced attorney and founder of The Woods Law Firm, established in 1997. He has extensive courtroom experience in civil and criminal trials, personal injury cases, and technology-related business transactions. He previously served as a CBCF Fellow to Congressman James Clyburn and as a law clerk to Honorable Donald Beatty. Mr. Woods volunteers pro-bono for children in the juvenile justice system and is multilingual, speaking fluent English and Portuguese, and conversational Spanish.

Esteban Sandoval, Esq.

Las Vegas, NV

Esteban Sandoval is a first-generation Mexican American who grew up in El Paso, Texas. Esteban’s parents were both born in Mexico, but ultimately wanted a better life for their three children and moved from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico to El Paso, Texas when Esteban was three years old. Although, Spanish was the language of the household, Esteban learned English by attending public school in Texas. In high school, his uncanny leadership abilities were not only evident in his academic performance, but also on the football and track field where he earned the title of team captain and was named to the all-district team. After graduating high school, Esteban attended the University of Texas at Austin where he earned his bachelor’s degree in government with a minor in Spanish. After graduating, Esteban moved to Las Vegas, where he bought a house and made Las Vegas his home. Shortly thereafter, Esteban decided to attend law school. While he was still completing his undergraduate degree, Esteban worked for an injury attorney. It was there that Esteban saw how injuries caused by someone else’s negligence could devastate people’s lives and the difference a dedicated attorney could make in the outcome of their case. This left Esteban with a great respect for injury attorneys and ultimately inspired him to move forward with law school. Having found a passion for the city of Las Vegas and its community, Esteban decided to stay in Las Vegas while he did so, attending the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Since graduating law school, Esteban has dedicated himself to representing clients injured by another’s negligence. He has helped thousands of injured clients accumulate millions in recovery and is a founding partner in law firms in two separate jurisdictions. Before founding SJW Injury Attorneys, Esteban along with his good friend and colleague, Benedict James, formed Sandoval & James in Austin, Texas. Sandoval & James quickly grew to be one of the preeminent injury firms in Austin. Despite his success, Esteban maintains a strong passion for representing injured victims. He takes pride in leading by example and stays directly involved in all cases, working with and training his staff each and every day to ensure all of his clients receive the best possible result on their case. He currently shares his time between Austin and Las Vegas and is a strong advocate for people in both communities. When he is not working, Esteban puts the same passion and energy into being a father as he does into representing his clients. He values family overall and his commitment to treating every SJW client as a member of his own family.

Robert S. Gregg

Dallas, TX

Mr. Gregg is a reputable trial attorney, with an extremely strong track record of assertively and effectively advocating on behalf of those who have suffered personal injuries. He will not settle your case without exhausting every possible avenue to get you the compensation you deserve.

Sara L. Bendoff

Naperville, IL

Sara L. Bendoff is a personal injury lawyer who practices in the areas of automobile accident liability, medical malpractice, premises liability, wrongful death, products liability, and insurance coverage. Sara tries cases in the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, and Will. Sara is a natural litigator, and her dedication to client advocacy is evident in her tireless work on behalf of individuals and families impacted by personal injury. With a background in negotiation and litigation, Sara’s results-driven mindset has led to numerous favorable outcomes.

Amy Velázquez

Hillsboro, OR

Amy Velázquez is a managing attorney and shareholder at Harris Velázquez Gibbens, leading the Family Law team. She has extensive experience in family, criminal, and immigration law, having served as a judicial intern and clerk. She is comfortable in the courtroom, handling cases from misdemeanors to major felonies, and frequently deals with overlapping family and criminal law issues. She has also served as a pro tempore judge and expanded her practice to include family law mediation and parent coordination.

Arturo Gonzalez

Phoenix, AZ

Arturo was born in Dolores Hidalgo in Guanajuato, Mexico. When he was four, his family immigrated to the United States and settled in rural North Carolina. A proud immigrant, Arturo was the first in his family to attend college. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and received his law degree from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. Arturo has successfully represented clients in wrongful death motor vehicle accidents, workplace accidents, and cases involving severe traumatic brain injury, resulting in numerous settlements in excess of $1,000,000. Arturo brings to Chapa Law Group his years of experience in commercial litigation disputes and is dedicated to seeing that our clients receive the rightful compensation they deserve. Arturo is fluent in Spanish and takes pride in his involvement in several local community organizations.

Jordan Johnson

Capitola, CA

Jordan is a compassionate advocate who handles a wide variety of personal injury cases. Jordan is a detail-oriented litigator motivated by personal conviction and a passion for standing up for those who have been wronged. During his career, Jordan has recovered multiple millions of dollars for clients, tried cases to verdict, and-most importantly-formed meaningful connections with those he has served. After nearly a decade of experience and multi-million-dollar successes, Jordan founded Pacific Coast Injury Lawyer, APC with the vision of providing top-tier, professional legal service with a personable approach.

Carlos Solis

San Antonio, TX

Carlos Solis, founding partner of Hilley & Solis Law Firm, moved from Mexico to the United States at the age of twelve. A native Spanish speaker, Carlos is adept at communicating with clients for whom English is a second language. As an expert in his field, Carlos is a frequent guest on Univision. Carlos Solis holds a B.S. degree from St. Mary’s University and a law degree from the University of Houston. Carlos Solis began his legal career in 2007 at the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, where he spent nearly five years sharpening his courtroom skills as a prosecutor. Today, he uses that experience to advocate for individuals injured in car accidents. With a background in both criminal prosecution and personal injury law, Carlos brings a strategic, results-driven approach to every case. He listens closely to his clients, builds compelling arguments from the facts, and fights relentlessly to protect their rights - all with one goal in mind: maximizing their recovery and helping them move forward with confidence. Carlos enjoys spending time with his family.

Mallon A. Snyder

Rockville, MD

It has been Mallon Snyder's privilege to help clients and their families for over 40 years as an Attorney. In many instances he has helped the client, their children, and now their grandchildren. Mr. Snyder did not go to law school to simply walk into a courtroom and enter a guilty plea as is done in far too many cases.

Raphael A. Sanchez

Miami, FL

Raphael Alejandro Sanchez (Ralph) is the founder of The Law Office of Raphael A. Sanchez, P.A. His practice is dedicated to all forms of personal injury and homeowner’s insurance claims. He is a member of the Colombian Bar Association (COLBAR), Dade County Bar Association, and Westchester Chamber of Commerce. Ralph is a first-generation American of Colombian descent and speaks fluent Spanish. He was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Florida International University (FIU) in 2010 and his Juris Doctor from the St. Thomas University School of Law (STU Law) in 2014. While a student at STU Law, Ralph was a law clerk for the Honorable Judge Abby Cynamon and a legal intern at the City of Miami Office of the City Attorney. He was also an Articles Editor of the St. Thomas Law Review, and an active member of the Cuban American Student Bar Association (CASBA) and Hispanic American Law Student Association (HALSA). Shortly after graduating from STU Law, Ralph began his legal career by handling criminal defense cases with prominent criminal defense attorney Dennis Gonzalez, Jr. There he obtained extensive courtroom experience representing clients in court for traffic infractions, traffic misdemeanors, misdemeanor bond hearings, and felony bond hearings. He also negotiated the resolution of cases with Assistant State Attorney’s and prepared motions to dismiss based on the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure. Thereafter, Ralph joined the law firm of Pacin Levine, P.A. There he worked hand in hand with the managing partner of the firm, Marc Pacin, and obtained extensive knowledge of the intricacies of the world of personal injury. There he handled over 400 personal injury cases and has helped recover more than 2 million dollars from the insurance companies. In June 2017, Ralph formed The Law Office Raphael A. Sanchez, P.A. to represent individuals with competent, aggressive, and personalized legal care.

Steven A. Edelman

St. Louis, MO

Steven A. Edelman is a trial lawyer with the Edelman Law Office. He holds degrees in Finance, Banking, and Spanish, and is fluent in Spanish. He is licensed in Missouri, Illinois, and the U.S. Federal Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Steven has a background in automotive technology, mechanics, carpentry, roofing, and construction, and holds a first-degree black belt in Uechi-ryu Okinawan karate.

Damond K. Garza

San Antonio, TX

Damond K. Garza was born and raised in New Braunfels, TX. After high school, Damond moved to San Antonio and never left. He has spent the entirety of his nearly twenty-year legal career as a litigator and trial lawyer. Damond began his legal career as a defense lawyer, representing some of the most powerful insurance companies and corporations in the world. That experience prepared him to better fight for the individuals and families whom he has represented since he changed the focus of his career more than a dozen years ago to solely represent people who have suffered a loss due to the negligence of those represented by large insurance companies and corporations. In 2011, Damond graduated from Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College in DuBois, WY. He has since returned to TLC graduate programs or regional workshops, to continue sharpening his trial lawyer skills. He has put what he learns there to use in his numerous trials before state and federal courts, across Texas and every other venue his cases have taken him. As a result, he was elected as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Damond is a graduate of Trinity University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He later graduated from St. Mary’s University School of Law, where he served as an officer on the Board of Advocates, competed on the award-winning External Advocacy Program’s Mock Trial Team, and was a member of the Hispanic Law Student Association. He also attended the school’s Institute on World Legal Problems in Innsbruck, Austria, and was elected by the law school faculty as a National Member of the Order of Barristers Damond currently serves on the board of directors for the Sally M. Kingsbury Sarcoma Research Foundation. He remains active with the San Antonio Trial Lawyers Association, for whom he served as a board member for many years, including holding the office of president in 2020. He is also a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the Mexican American Bar Association, and the San Antonio Bar Association.

Sergio Escamilla

Phoenix, AZ

Mr. Escamilla is the founding member and managing principal at ELG Accident Attorneys. He is a graduate of Loyola Law School and was admitted to the California Bar in 2000 and Arizona Bar in 2007. He is proficiently bilingual in Spanish and English and is a member of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Lawyers.

Laurence P. Posner

Alhambra, CA

Laurence P. Posner has been a California licensed attorney since 1994. He has devoted himself to helping victims of personal injury, successfully handling thousands of cases and securing tens of millions of dollars in settlements. Mr. Posner is known for his personal attention to clients, offering direct access via cell phone for emergencies. He and his staff provide 24/7 availability and serve the Chinese community with Cantonese and Mandarin speaking staff. His legal career began in Employment Law, representing employees in discrimination and sexual harassment cases. He is committed to helping those who cannot help themselves through extensive litigation, arbitration, and trials.

Paul C. Swainston

Boise, ID

Paul C. Swainston is a shareholder in Litster Frost Injury Lawyers. Paul graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Political Science and received his Juris Doctorate cum laude from Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Washington. Paul has successfully litigated and represented hundreds of injured victims with an emphasis in automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, and bicycle accidents, including wrongful death. Paul is a member of the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association. He enjoys basketball, tennis, opera, classical music, hiking, and attending his grandchildren’s activities.

SHAWN M. ROBIN

Deer Park, IL

Shawn M. Robin is an attorney dedicated to protecting the rights of injured workers in Illinois, handling Workers’ Compensation litigation before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission and state courts. He earned his B.A. in History from Indiana University - Bloomington in 1997 and his Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law in 2001. After gaining several years of experience, including representing insurance companies, he established his own practice in 2011 to advocate for injured workers. He is licensed to practice in Illinois, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He is a member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Workers' Compensation Lawyers Association, and the Illinois State Bar Association, and his article on wage differential claims was published in the Trial Journal in 2012.

Mohammad Abdallah

Atlanta, GA

Attorney Mohammad Abdallah, born in upstate New York and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Cleveland State University and a J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law, with a Certificate in Intellectual Property Law and Technology. Practicing law since 2017, he gained experience as a legal extern for Justice Melody Stewart and as a law clerk focusing on personal injury and medical malpractice. Attorney Abdallah settled a $3 million dollar case for the wrongful death of a four year old girl in a cornerstone case. Attorney Abdallah is recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star and a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Million Dollar Advocates Forum for securing a multi-million-dollar settlement in a wrongful death case. In his spare time, he enjoys sports, executive producing films, and spending time with family. He is committed to community service and supports non-profits. Fluent in Arabic and Spanish, he resides in Ohio with his wife and son. Credentials: Cleveland State University, B.S. University of Akron School of Law, J.D. Super Lawyer Rising Star 2025 Member of Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Million Dollar Advocates Forum Admitted to all Ohio State Courts Admitted to Federal Court - Northern District of Ohio

Dr. Brendan Mulligan

Philadelphia, PA

Dr. Brendan Mulligan is unique as both a practicing dentist and a personal injury attorney. His dual background provides an in-depth understanding of medical records, which he leverages in dental malpractice, medical malpractice, and personal injury cases. With 27 years of experience, he has successfully handled multi-million dollar cases and is recognized as an expert witness in dental malpractice, frequently lecturing at universities.

Gary Walch is an attorney who has practiced since 1975, graduating from UCLA summa cum laude and UCLA School of Law. He has successfully handled thousands of serious injury claims in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, and San Bernardino counties, recovering millions for clients in cases including car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents, dog bites, premises liability, wrongful death, and catastrophic injuries. He has served as chair of a bar association’s Civil Litigation and Tort Section and as a temporary judge in West Los Angeles, Van Nuys, and Chatsworth Courts.

Adam Sorrells

Chico, CA

Adam Sorrells is a personal injury attorney in Chico, California, with over 25 years of experience. He handles cases involving car accidents, animal attacks, brain injuries, and wrongful death. Known for his aggressive and personalized approach, he has successfully litigated numerous civil jury trials across Northern California. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and the Butte County Bar Association. Adam Sorrells was awarded 'Best of Chico - Best Personal Injury Lawyer' in 2024. He also contributes to various community organizations and volunteers as a baseball coach.