Spanish-Speaking Attorneys

Andrew R. Pardun

St. Petersburg, FL

Andrew R. Pardun, LL.M. is a Partner with the firm specializing in Real Estate Law, Title Insurance, Commercial and Residential Real Estate Closings, Commercial Lending and Borrowing, Foreclosure Matters, Business Law, and Tax Law. He joined the firm in January of 2016 after completing his Juris Doctorate Degree from Stetson University College of Law and his MBA Degree, with Honors, from Stetson University. He also completed his Master of Laws Degree in Taxation at Villanova University. Andrew is recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star for multiple consecutive years and a Best Lawyers in America honoree, and holds leadership roles in community organizations including the St. Petersburg Bar Association and the City of St. Petersburg’s Nuisance Abatement Board.

Phillip T. Vondra

Victorville, CA

Phillip T. Vondra, Esq. is a local graduate of Serrano High School. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Irvine. From there he went on to San Diego and graduated from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 1991, and was admitted to practice law in 1992. Phil became a successful attorney in the San Diego area gaining valuable courtroom experience handling criminal defense cases. In 1998 Phil decided to return to the High Desert area to raise a family and open a personal injury practice in Phelan. Phil's tremendous success as a personal injury attorney stems from his passion and determination to help his clients combined with his superior expertise in litigation and negotiations. Insurance companies and defense attorneys know and respect Phil as a relentless and savvy litigator, and a superior negotiator. Clients love Phil for his passion and concern for them, and for his good nature and solid character. Phil is deeply involved in a variety of community organizations such as the Wrightwood Disaster Preparedness Team and the CERT Program.

Sergio Alejandro Copete

Santa Ana, CA

Attorney Sergio Copete is the owner and founder of Copete Law Firm in Santa Ana, California. Mr. Copete practices in a variety of areas, including civil litigation, criminal defense, immigration and personal injury. He has experience with matters involving automobile accidents and other catastrophic injuries as well as evictions and other legal issues faced by tenants. He serves clients throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties. Mr. Copete earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from San Francisco State University and received his law degree from California Western School of Law. He obtained his license to practice law in California in 2013, allowing him to appear in all California state courts. In addition to running his law practice, Mr. Copete stays involved in his legal community through membership in different professional legal organizations and bar associations. He is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He is also active in the Orange County Bar Association and belongs to the association’s Young Lawyers Division. Passionate about helping his community with their legal needs, Mr. Copete provides aggressive and personalized service. He strives to consistently deliver high-quality legal representation at reasonable rates. Mr. Copete’s knowledge of various areas of law allows him to assist and defend clients in a variety of types of lawsuits. He has experience assisting clients with their business needs, defending them against felony or misdemeanor charges, helping them avoid eviction, resolving their immigration disputes and handling many types of civil litigation actions.

Katherine G. Karres

Indianapolis, IN

Katie has lived in Indianapolis most of her life after moving here from Ohio at a very young age. She attended the University of Indianapolis majoring in Human Resource Management and Spanish, graduating in the top of five of her class in 2004. After completing her undergraduate degree, Katie went directly to law school and graduated from Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis in 2007. She began her legal career in litigation of medical negligence claims. She has exclusively represented injured persons since 2011. Katie prides herself in helping those in need, being well-prepared, and having compassion in her practice. Katie has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2017 to 2022 and Super Lawyers 2023 to present. She has also been named Top 40 under 40 by The National Trial Lawyers. Katie is an active member of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association including serving on its Board of Directors from 2024 to present, Indianapolis Bar Association, and has been a rotating member of the Sagamore American Inn of Courts. Katie has given numerous presentations on personal injury, medical malpractice, insurance coverage, and trial preparation to ITLA and other associations. She has also written articles for the Verdict (ITLA Publication). Katie is active in her community and church volunteering at Gleaners, Second Helpings, and other local charities. She volunteered for over fifteen years in the Teen Court juvenile diversion program through Reach For Youth. Katie has tried 30 injury cases over her legal career and helped thousands of clients resolve their injury cases. She has handled several appeals before both the Indiana Court of Appeals and the 7th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, including an oral argument in Chicago in 2016. Katie has also authored Amicus Briefs in support of Appeals.

Keith G. Blazek

Indianapolis, IN

Keith G. Blazek is a dedicated and knowledgeable personal injury lawyer with extensive experience in personal injury, wills, trusts, and probate. He is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Gui Vasconcelos

Austin, TX

Guilherme Vasconcelos began his legal career in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, earning a Juris Doctor and a Master of Laws in Constitutional Law. He moved to the U.S. in 2016 to obtain an LLM from the University of Texas at Austin, School of Law, graduating with Pro Bono Honors. He is licensed in Brazil and Texas, and has been a member of the Texas Bar College since 2018. He has managed and litigated over 500 cases, securing over $8 million in settlements, and has a multimillion-dollar verdict. He is an alumnus of TACT and a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and The National Trial Lawyers - top 40 under 40. His practice focuses 100% on serious personal injuries.

Tomás A. Gahan

Seattle, WA

Tomás A. Gahan is an attorney at PWRFL, focusing on representing severely injured and victimized people in civil cases, including personal injury and civil rights. Originally from Madrid, Spain, he graduated magna cum laude from Seattle University and earned his law degree from Notre Dame Law School. He served 11 years as a senior deputy prosecutor at the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, trying nearly 100 cases. Since joining PWRFL in 2013, he has achieved extraordinary results, including an $82 million verdict against Monsanto. He is co-chair of the WSAJ Civil Rights section and teaches at the University of Washington’s Trial Advocacy course.

Jeff C. Peatross

St. George, UT

Jeff C. Peatross is Of Counsel, specializing in personal injury claims, insurance law, and insurance defense. He was admitted to the Utah State Bar in 1988 and has focused on personal injury for his entire career, handling numerous jury trials, mediations, and arbitrations. He practiced in Provo, Utah from 1988 to 2002 before moving to St. George. His experience includes defending insurance companies, giving him an insider's understanding of the claims process. Jeff joined Bangerter Frazier Group in March 2022 and speaks Spanish. He has 37 years of experience and has served on the Southern Utah Bar Association board and the Utah Appellate Court Nominating Committee.

Jose A. Baez

Orlando, FL

Few trial lawyers have ascended to national prominence as quickly and spectacularly as Jose Baez. Known for his passion, hard work and brilliant courtroom strategies, Jose Baez has brought a new hard-hitting style of trial work to the courtroom. Jose A. Baez is an experienced trial lawyer who has represented clients in the full range of criminal and civil cases. He is best known for “shocking the world” in what TIME Magazine dubbed the “Social Media Trial of the Century”. While he won an acquittal in the Casey Anthony murder trial, Mr. Baez has had continued success in and out of the courtroom. In 2011, he flew to Aruba and helped free millionaire and businessman Gary Giordano from prison. Mr. Giordano was a suspect in the disappearance of Robyn Gardner. He was named “Lawyer of the Year for 2011″ by LawyersUSA magazine and also named as one of the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 by the National Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Baez is also well known for representing many victims of negligence and serious crimes. In 2012, he began representing multiple victims in the “Dark Knight” shooting tragedy in Aurora, Colorado. He also represented a rape victim in one of Chicago’s high-profile negligent security cases. Mr. Baez’s practice has a particular emphasis on representing clients in complex and high-profile criminal and civil cases. However, many of Mr. Baez’s successes never make it into the spotlight as he has represented celebrities and athletes who prefer anonymity. This is where his knowledge and experience with the media helps best serve his clients. Few lawyers understand the importance of media relations and its inner workings. Mr. Baez has gained extensive experience in successfully defending scientifically and medically intensive criminal and civil cases. He has worked on issues including shaken baby syndrome, pediatric head injuries, sexual assault cases with medical evidence, and cases involving DNA evidence. Additionally, his experience extends to civil cases that involve suing some of the biggest insurance companies in the country. Once called “the most hated lawyer in America”, Jose A. Baez wears that title like a badge of honor. Despite personal criticism, serving his clients is his highest priority. In order to more effectively cross examine many forensic experts, Mr. Baez finds it important to learn the science himself. That is why he has completed hundreds of hours of training in forensic science. Mr. Baez has studied DNA, Blood Pattern Analysis, trace recovery, forensic pathology, and entomology, just to name a few. Additionally, Mr. Baez is a highly sought-after speaker and lecturer. He is on the faculty at Harvard Law School where he teaches trial techniques to second- and third-year law students in what is considered one of Harvard Law School’s most popular courses. Mr. Baez is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and is extremely active in various charitable endeavors in the Hispanic community. When not in the office fighting for justice, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his family.

Mark C. Curran

Waukegan, IL

Mark C. Curran is an AV-rated attorney and former County, State, and Federal Prosecutor, as well as a three-term Sheriff of Lake County, Illinois. He is a trial lawyer specializing in criminal and civil needs. He began his legal career in 1988, serving as an Assistant Lake County State’s Attorney and later as Chief of the Gang Crimes Bureau at the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. He was recognized by Super Lawyers in 2006 and taught Business Law and Criminal Justice at Columbia College of Missouri for 10 years. He was admitted to practice in Illinois in 1990.

ALEXANDER MCTARIAN

Las Vegas, NV

Alexander McTarian is the founder and managing attorney of Nevada Legal Group. Alexander has been practicing law since 2014. He currently represents Business clients and clients that have sustained serious injuries caused by negligent and reckless individuals. Alexander obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in University Studies with a concentration in Biology and Business from the University of New Mexico in 2009. Soon after graduation, he moved to Newport Beach, California and attended Whittier Law School where he was able to obtain his Juris Doctorate in 2014. Alexander was on the Dean’s List and Honor Roll while attending Law School. Upon receipt of his JD, Alexander and his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where he passed the Bar Exam and practiced law for one year establishing himself within the legal community as an aggressive criminal defense lawyer and avid trial lawyer. Alexander move to Las Vegas, Nevada where he established Nevada Legal Group in 2017 and has been residing there ever since. He began practicing business law representing the interests of hundreds of small businesses in the Las Vegas valley. Shortly thereafter, Alexander discovered a passion for the field of Personal Injury and expanded his practice. Not long after, the firm also expanded to provide immigration legal services. Alexander prioritizes pro-bono work and provides hundreds of hours of free legal services. Alexander is a member in good standing with the State Bar of Nevada and New Mexico State Bar Association. He is also admitted to practice before all District Courts in the State of Nevada, the U.S. Federal District Court for the District of Nevada, the District Courts in the State of New Mexico and the U.S. Federal District Court for New Mexico. Licensed to practice in Oregon. Alexander is married and has four beautiful children. His family is everything to him and is the motivation for what he does. He enjoys playing tennis, fishing and traveling on his free time.

Dan Benzion

St. George, UT

Personal Injury Attorney Dan Benzion handles personal injury cases as a partner of BAM Personal Injury Lawyers - including car accidents and other vehicular accidents involving commercial trucks, buses, other public transportation, pedestrians, motorcycles, scooters, and bicycles. He also handles cases involving wrongful death, dog bites, slip and falls, premises liability, and almost any other kind of case involving an injury.

Bradley Robb Tengler

Rockford, IL

Bradley Robb Tengler is an attorney who has lived in northern Illinois since 1992. He graduated cum laude from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 2009 and was admitted to the Bar in Illinois the same year, and to the U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois in 2010. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, and the Winnebago County Bar Association. He has been practicing law since 2009 and focuses on areas including divorce, family law, and personal injury.

Eric J. Lamonsoff

Hicksville, NY

Mr. Lamonsoff is co-founder and a partner of Bergman, Bergman, Fields & Lamonsoff. He has represented injured people for three decades, successfully litigating thousands of cases in areas like motor vehicle negligence, slip/trip and fall, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and product liability, recovering tens of millions of dollars. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Adelphi University and his Juris Doctor from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. He co-founded the firm after starting his own practice in 1997.

Richard Hardy

Albuquerque, NM

Richard was born and raised in the small town of Paradise, California. He graduated from Paradise High School in 1990. He attended Brigham Young University, then took a two-year leave to serve as a missionary in South America, becoming fluent in Spanish. In 1996, after receiving his degree from Brigham Young University, Richard began law school at Texas Tech University. The very next year, Richard began working for the firm as a law clerk and has since worked his way to senior partner. Over the decades, Richard has successfully handled hundreds of injury and death claims including trucking, oil field, abuse, and product liability cases. He has been lead trial counsel in numerous cases and has helped recover hundreds of millions of dollars, through both settlements and verdicts, on behalf of individuals and families of those who have been injured or killed through no fault of their own. Additionally, Richard is also the proud father of four amazing children and is grateful to his wife of 25+ years for her continued love and support.

Sam Fadduol

Albuquerque, NM

Sam, the son of hard-working immigrants, was born in Canutillo, Texas and attended public schools in the state of New Mexico. He spent virtually every summer of his childhood in his mother’s hometown of Chihuahua, Mexico and as a consequence, is fluent in Spanish. Remarkably, Sam’s fourth-grade teacher strongly urged him to pursue a career practicing law. Once that seed was planted, Sam dedicated all of his efforts to that single goal. Sam completed his undergraduate degree in three years, graduating with high honors from Texas Tech University in 1978. The next week, Sam started law school at Texas Tech University School of Law, where he graduated as the youngest member of his class. While in his third year of law school, Sam worked full time for a local attorney, Patrick Abeyta. Sam graduated from Texas Tech Law School in 1981 and continued working under Mr. Abeyta. After Mr. Abeyta’s death in 1984, Sam took over the firm at age 27 and was charged with overseeing 13 employees. Almost immediately, Sam converted the law firm from a general practice to one focused exclusively on representing those injured at work or through the negligence of others. Since 1984, Sam has led and guided the law firm and turned it into the successful firm it is today. Sam’s first and true love has been the pleasure of helping those who have suffered from serious injury or death of a family member. Under Sam’s leadership, the law firm has expanded into numerous states, with various offices, handling cases throughout the United States. The growth and success were founded upon the core principles Sam always instilled into the firm: honesty and competency. These principles make up FCHC’s culture - and they always will. In 2023, Sam chose to step back from the day-to-day responsibilities and devote more of his time to family, friends, and personal pursuits; however, Sam continues to be integral part of the firm he founded. In his role as “of Counsel” Sam continues to share his vast experience to provide guidance, direction, and advice. Sam’s influence and beliefs continue to have long-lasting, positive impacts on every employee and client. Sam has been happily married since 1987 and is blessed with three wonderful children. Sam believes that, with all things important in life, loyalty and commitment are the foundation to success. That same foundation helped build the success that has allowed his law firm to help thousands upon thousands of individuals and families navigate difficult times-a mission that the firm continues to pursue each day.

Yamile Kalkach

New York, NY

Yamile joined our firm, bringing with her a unique blend of passion and determination. Her journey into the field of law began at the young age of 15, as she found inspiration in her father’s work and decided to follow his path. Yamile pursued her undergraduate degree at the renowned Universidad Panamericana in Mexico City, where she graduated in the top 15% of her class in 2017. Eager to further her legal expertise, she moved to New York to pursue her LL.M. at Fordham University School of Law, completing her degree in 2018. While at Fordham, she distinguished herself by representing the Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA). Dedicated to serving those in need, Yamile chose to specialize in personal injury law. She recognized the challenges faced by New York’s Spanish-speaking population, many of whom struggle to find effective legal representation due to language and cultural barriers. Yamile is committed to bridging this gap, providing legal assistance to those who often feel unseen and unheard. She aspires to be the trusted and approachable attorney that the Hispanic community can rely on in times of need. Yamile’s professional life is characterized by a willingness to seize opportunities and tackle challenging situations head-on. A notable success in her career occurred when she efficiently resolved a labor dispute at a client’s factory, impressing not only her own law firm but also the company and the union involved. Yamile’s expertise has not gone unnoticed. She was invited to participate in a panel and provide Continuing Legal Education (CLE) on plaintiff’s bar at the prestigious 50th Annual Convention of the Hispanic National Bar Association. Additionally, she holds a Notary Public License and is a native Spanish speaker, further enhancing her ability to serve her clients. Yamile takes pride in how far she has come and the professional growth she has achieved. She values every opportunity that comes her way and strives to create a meaningful impact in her area of specialization, a drive that keeps her excited for every workday. Outside her professional life, Yamile is an ardent art enthusiast and spends much of her personal time at the National Arts Club or at arts-related events. She is admitted to practice in New York and Mexico, and in the Eastern, Western, and Southern Districts of New York federal courts.

Armando Villapudua

Stockton, CA

Obtaining justice in California is not always easy. The system can seem rigged against the average person. The legal process can seem baffling and slow. And in our adversarial system, there is always an opponent who wants to prevent you from achieving your goals. To succeed, you need an experienced attorney on your side one who will stand up for you in your time of need. The Law Offices of Armando Villapudua has earned a reputation as a strong advocate for people facing serious legal problems such as a personal injury or criminal charge. Your future is the firm’s overriding concern. The Law Offices of Armando Villapudua helps victims of car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and dangerous property conditions obtain compensation and justice for their losses and suffering. These financial resources the firm obtains can play a major role in helping them rebuild their lives. The firm also focuses on defending clients accused of including drunk driving, domestic violence, drug offenses, violent crimes or other misdemeanors and felonies. The goal of the firm in criminal law cases is to protect your rights and preserve your freedom while fighting to obtain the best outcome possible in your situation.

Robert C. Miner

Salt Lake City, UT

Robert C. Miner is a seasoned attorney with over 40 years of legal experience in criminal defense, personal injury, and medical malpractice. A native of Salt Lake City, he graduated from the University of Utah in 1978 and earned his J.D. from Brigham Young University in 1981. He specializes in complex cases, including wrongful death and high-stakes criminal defense, and has a deep knowledge of medical and forensic sciences. Rob has achieved significant results for clients, including dismissals of serious criminal charges and seven-figure settlements. He is active in the community, officiating swim meets.

Francheska Martinez

Paramus, NJ

Francheska Martinez, Esq. is an attorney with Hanna | Perez, PC who represents accident victims who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall and dog bite incidents. At Hanna | Perez, PC, Francheska continues to strongly advocate for her clients, and she is passionate about helping injured parties get back on their feet. In her leisure time, Francheska likes to travel and enjoys basketball, especially the New York Knicks.

Todd M. Joyner

Nampa, ID

Todd has over 30 years of experience in family law, criminal law, medical malpractice, professional malpractice, and general practice law.

Jordan S. Goldsmith

Morristown, NJ

Jordan Goldsmith is an attorney focusing on healthcare law, medical malpractice, and personal injury. He has achieved several large awards for clients and also represents healthcare professionals. He previously served as an Assistant Prosecutor with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.

Jeffery K. Ward

Idaho Falls, ID

Jeffery K. Ward is an attorney with over 40 years of experience, opening his Idaho Falls office in 1990. He specializes in Personal Injury/Motor Vehicle Collision, Workers Compensation, and Criminal, DUI, Traffic Offenses. He has successfully represented clients in over 1,000 injury claims and workers' compensation cases, and thousands of criminal cases.

Joseph M. Touger

Tampa, FL

Joseph M. Touger is a seasoned criminal defense and civil trial attorney with over two decades of experience in state and federal courts. As a former state prosecutor, he handled serious cases from first-degree murder to capital sexual battery and is qualified to defend death penalty cases. He specialized in child sex crimes, providing him with valuable expertise in defending against such charges. Mr. Touger also represents first-time offenders and personal injury victims, helping them navigate complex legal processes. He is a member of national, Florida, and Hillsborough County Associations of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the University of Florida Foundation Hillsborough Regional Council, Florida Justice Association, Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association, and the West Tampa Chamber of Commerce. He is licensed in Florida since 1995 and has successfully argued appellate cases in state and federal courts.