
Our Team of Attorneys

Vanessa GonzalezManaging Attorney
Vanessa Gonzalez a first-generation daughter of Cuban and Colombian immigrants, has dedicated her career to

Gracie JohnsonSupervising Attorney
Gracie D. Johnson is an immigration attorney who speaks Spanish and English fluently and has

Chadwick GainesSupervising Attorney
I am a 2nd generation American. Before graduating from Rutgers School of Law – Newark

Robert J. MoylanSupervising Attorney
Robert J. Moylan, Esq. is an experienced immigration attorney who has made more than 1,000

Mauricio JimenezSupervising Attorney
Mauricio Jimenez is an immigration attorney who speaks Spanish and English fluently. He is originally

Janett CardielLead Attorney
Janett graduated from U.C. Santa Barbara and attended Southwestern Law School. She worked for a

Michael J. Behrens Jr.Supervising Attorney
Michael Behrens is originally from West Virginia. In 2012, he graduated cum laude as an

Leticia ValenciaSupervising Attorney
Leticia is a lawyer born in Mexico. Her great passion for immigration law came from

Yadirys Collado-GarciaLead Attorney
Prior to joining La Liga Defensora Yadirys worked for Community Legal Aid in Massachusetts as

Regina GabuyoLead Attorney
Maria Regina Violeta T. Gabuyo is a Filipino immigrant who was admitted to the State

Nataly CadenaLead Attorney
Nataly, a Mexican-American first generation college graduate from Illinois, received her Bachelor’s Degree from Aurora

George RosenstockChief Trial Counsel
George Rosenstock received his Bachelor of Science (Major Mathematics) from the City College of New

Jessica WalshManaging Attorney
Jessica has been with the Matian Firm for 6 years and serves as the Managing

Georgina GannonSupervising Attorney
Georgina graduated from UCLA Law, specializing in Public Interest Law and Policy and International Human

Vanessa FrancoSupervising Attorney
As a first-generation Salvadoran American, born and raised in Los Angeles, Vanessa’s goal is to

Patrick FortuneSupervising Attorney
Patrick Fortune is a dedicated criminal defense associate at The Matian Firm. With a strong

Miguel TovarSupervising Attorney
Attorney Miguel A. Tovar is currently an Associate at The Matian firm. He’s currently the lead

Alvaro AguirreSupervising Attorney
Alvaro Aguirre was born and raised in South Texas along the U.S./Mexico border. As a

Matthew StromengerSupervising Attorney
Matthew began practicing law in Arizona in 2006. In 2008 he began working at the

Eli Mohaghegh-YazdiSupervising Attorney
Eli Mohaghegh-Yazdi was born and raised in the Bay Area. He is first generation, being

Joshua M. HudsonLead Attorney
Joshua was born and raised in Sacramento, California. Following a stellar high school career, he

Michael KartsounisSupervising Attorney
Michael J. Kartsounis graduated with Honors with a B.A. in Economics in 1996 University of

Dominic OlivettiSupervising Attorney
Dominic has been practicing law since 2014. A skilled advocate who excels in legal writing,

Delaney MillerSupervising Attorney
Delaney is the Lead Attorney at Windsor Troy. He is an experienced litigation and trial

Roberto Dominguez QuirogaLead Attorney
Roberto Dominguez Quiroga is a bilingual Trial Attorney helping individuals and families obtain full compensation

Daniel SharpeAttorney
Daniel Sharpe is a Civil Litigation Attorney with over nine years of complex litigation in

Rebecca HockettAttorney
Rebecca Hockett is a Senior Associate Criminal Defense Attorney at The Matian Firm. She has

James FiniganAttorney
James Finigan grew up in San Diego, California. James’ dream was to become a lawyer


Katie HawkinsAttorney
Katie was born in central Illinois and moved to Louisiana, where she attended Louisiana Tech

Samantha Kate SwantekAttorney
Samantha Swantek received her J.D. from the University of Colorado where she focused on immigration

Mairym Medina SanchezAttorney
Born and raised in Puerto Rico. Mairym is admitted to the State Bar of Puerto

Monika ZadoriAttorney
Monika received her Bachelor’s from University of California, Santa Barbara. She worked in a family

Edward James DavisAttorney
Edward James Davis became a criminal defense attorney to stand up for due process, the

Lucy FreemanAttorney
I know their struggle because they are my people. With proven experience assisting immigrants before

Mojgan KhoshvaghtAttorney
Mojgan Khoshvaght, Esq. is an attorney admitted to the State of California. Mojgan received her

Edgar J. CervantesAttorney
Edgar J. Cervantes was born in a small pueblo outside Guadalajara, Mexico. His mother brought

Jillian L. FernandezAttorney
Meet Jillian Fernandez, a dedicated criminal defense attorney based in Los Angeles, whose passion for

Leslie IvieAttorney
Ms. Ivie has served vulnerable communities and individuals since 1999 helping nonprofit organizations such as

Yasaman (Yassi) TehraniAttorney
Yasaman Tehrani, who goes by her nickname, Yassi, is an Associate Attorney at the Matian

Jose AlvaradoAttorney
Originally from Puerto Rico, Jose has had years of litigation experience and has recently worked

Ethan S. KhalilianAttorney
Ethan S. Khalilian, Esq. is an immigration attorney who has made numerous appearances before the

Vanessa Nicole HernandezAttorney
Vanessa is a first generation Mexican American attorney in California. Her goal to become an

Vana KaralianAttorney
Vana is an immigration attorney in our Los Angeles office. She specializes in removal (deportation)

Kamal NamouAttorney
Kamal is a first-generation Iraqi-American, born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. He moved to Los

Alberto Daniel Ramos, Esq.Attorney
As a first-generation Latin-American, Mr. Ramos has first-hand knowledge of the cultural and language challenges

Marly Vivien AraujoAttorney
As a Brazilian attorney, I came to the United States to learn English. However, I

Almyr MorellAttorney
From early on in her career, Ms. Morell knew she wanted to dedicate her life

Carlos M. RamirezAttorney
He is a 2nd generation Mexican American. His grandparents immigrated to the United States from

Zaira KlieAttorney
Zaira, originally from Venezuela, is a seasoned attorney with a diverse background in both her

Christopher AsmarAttorney
Christopher Asmar’s passion for the legal system began at a young age while hearing stories

Cherilynn C. HeathAttorney
Cherilynn Heath grew up in the San Fernando Valley and attended California State University Northridge

Jenna CotterAttorney
Originally from Memphis, Jenna moved west to attend law school at the University of Oregon.



Mario AndrewsAttorney
For the past eighteen years Mario Andrews has represented clients in Criminal Defense matters throughout










Yolanda GuerraAttorney
Yolanda Guerra was born New York, but grew up in Miami, where she graduated from

Ramon Chito De CastroAttorney
Ramon Chito De Castro grew up in Daly City. California State University – East Bay


Tanicia Shanell DanielsAttorney
Tanicia Shanell Daniels, Esq. received her Bachelor of Laws Degree with Distinction from the University

Catherine SempeposAttorney
Catherine Sempepos was born and raised in New York City, N.Y. where she received her



Mikhayla Rae StoverAttorney
Mikhayla first felt drawn to immigration law after a devastating immigration raid occurred near her




Bryan A. RodriguezAttorney
Bryan was born and raised in El Paso, Texas to immigrant parents from Mexico. Bryan


Yanina RufatAttorney
Attorney Rufat earned her Juris Doctorate degree with honors from the Interamerican University School of

Ashley MorenoAttorney
Ashley was born and raised (and still resides) in Oak Cliff, Texas. She graduated high

Courtney ShortsAttorney
Courtney Shorts is a dynamic figure in the legal world, seamlessly transitioning from her role

Demetra PasyanosAttorney
Demetra Pasyanos is an accomplished attorney with a law degree from Loyola Law School. Specializing







Anya SankoAttorney
Anya is a Michigan native, but has called Las Vegas her home for almost 20

John DurishanAttorney
John was admitted to the New York Bar in 2012 and the Georgia Bar in



John HaleAttorney
John is a leading criminal defense attorney at The Matian Firm. He has handled cases

David FernandezAttorney
David Fernandez, a dynamic and ambitious young attorney, emerged as a rising star in the





Silvia SerranoAttorney
I am very passionate about helping anyone who finds themselves in need of immigration representation.


Turan T. WilliamsAttorney
Turan T. Williams has been a practicing attorney for over 20 years and in that



Giselle SantosAttorney
Giselle Santos was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She moved to New York and

Frank TerreriAttorney
Frank Terreri is Senior Associate Criminal Defense Attorney at the Matian firm. He has previously



Gabriela RodriguezAttorney
As a proud immigrant, my journey to becoming a lawyer was shaped by the profound

Hunter GriffinAttorney
Born in Denton, Texas, Hunter attended law school as a part-time student at the University


Matthew MorrisAttorney
Matthew joined The Matian Firm in 2024. As a dedicated criminal defense attorney, he has


Frank Rosado SuarezAttorney
I was born in Middletown, N.Y., and raised on the Island of Enchantment, Puerto Rico.




Daniel Mark EllistonAttorney
D. Mark Elliston is an attorney in Dallas and has substantial criminal law experience in








E.J. MontanezAttorney
E.J. Montanez has been practicing criminal defense in California for 26 years. He is highly














Contact Us Today For A Free Consulation

Support Team
Gonzalo Sansores is the General Manager of The Matian Firm. Mr. Sansores was the first employee of The Matian Firm and supervised the growth of the Firm from its humble…

California Attorney FAQs
To get the justice you deserve, enlisting the help of one of the best attorneys in California can help. But, how do you find the best attorneys in California that are available to take your case? Hopelessly searching best attorneys near me is one way, but a better option is to call the Matian Firm.
What Is A Super Lawyer In California?
A super lawyer in California is a widely-regarded and highly-trusted lawyer in California that has received a high degree of peer recognition and accolades. The term super lawyer only applies to a small percentage of attorneys who have been rigorously selected by their peers in the field. They have represented clients well, and earned the respect of their colleagues across the industry. To connect with a super lawyer, contact Matian Law Firm today.
Who Is The Most Famous California Lawyer?
There isn’t one California lawyer that is the most famous. California is home to countless high-profile and highly-regarded attorneys like Robert Shapiro (worked on the O.J. Simpson case), Marcia Clark, Johnnie Cochran, Robert Kardashian and more.
What California Attorney Has The Most Case Wins?
While we don’t have the answer to this – we want to remind you that winning is not all that matters. It’s highly important and the intended outcome, but as we know, life does not always work in our favor. With that being said, for the good times and bad you’ll want a compassionate and experienced attorney by your side. Our team of 64 and counting attorneys have satisfied over 47,000 clients. We promise to keep it real and fight until you get the justice you deserve.
Who Is The Most Famous Top Female California Lawyer?
Prior to becoming Vice President, Kamala Harris served as the Attorney General for the State of California. She also was a district attorney for the City and County of San Francisco. Kamala was also the first African American and first woman elected to the San Francisco district attorney job and attorney general.
Aside from Harris, countless top female California attorneys have made their mark on history. At Matian, our team of top California attorneys includes strong females with rich backgrounds living out their dream to help others. If you prefer a female attorney, learn more about our team of female attorneys in California.
How Much Does A Top Lawyer Cost In California?
As you search for your attorney, there are several different fees structures you might pay, including an hourly fee, a retainer fee, or a contingency fee. When hiring the best lawyers in California, the cost and fees associated can range from $100 an hour all the way up to $700 or more an hour, depending on the attorney, the case, and the needs of the client. You can incur these hourly charges during a phone call, email or meeting — anytime the attorney is working on your case.
Some attorneys will also charge a retainer fee to get started on your case. A retainer fee is a sum of money paid in advance to secure the attorney’s services. You might also be required to pay an hourly fee on top of this retainer fee. Lastly, some personal injury and accident attorneys will charge a contingency fee. A contingency fee is a payment arrangement where legal fees will only be paid upon them winning the case. If they win the case, they’ll be entitled to a portion of the money you win.
Ensure you talk to your attorney upfront to understand their fee structure.
Do California Attorneys Not Take Money If They Don’t Win a Case?
If your California attorney is charging a contingency fee, it means you will be required to pay the lawyer a certain percentage or amount of the money you receive if you win the case. However, usually with a contingency fee, you will not pay any money if they lose the case. While you might not be required to pay your attorney when you work on a contingency fee, you likely will have to pay court costs which can also be expensive.
Each attorney will operate on a different fee structure, so having that information upfront can help you hire the right attorney for your situation and finances.
Why Do Attorneys In California Take Cases They Can’t Win?
As humans, we are incredibly hopeful. While hope does not win a case, it may encourage bad decisions.
Sometimes, an attorney will still try to win a case that ultimately they can’t win. As information becomes available and the case goes on, a great attorney might be able to find a way to win the case. Remember though, the case is about justice and if the evidence points justice in another direction it will be harder to win. In some cases, an attorney is confident there’s no case or they can’t win before taking the case and can respectfully turn the case down. By providing your attorney with detailed and accurate information from the first meeting, you can help them make appropriate decisions on their behalf.
What Is The Difference Between A Lawyer And An Attorney In California?
While the word “attorney” and “lawyer” are used interchangeably by most people, they are actually different designations. While all attorneys are also lawyers, not all lawyers are attorneys. Anyone that graduates from law school is a lawyer, but only someone who has passed a bar exam to become an attorney.
The American Bar Association has outlined 199 approved schools that lawyers must graduate from to be eligible to take the bar exam. Ensure your lawyer has not only passed the bar, but has also become a member of the State Bar of California.