Abogados de habla Español

Mala L. Sharma

Sharma & Associates, P.C.

Samuel C. Breslin

Breslin Law Group, PLLC

• Principal attorney and founder of Breslin Law Group, PLLC, Samuel C. Breslin represents clients in Albany, Saratoga, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Greene, Warren and Columbia in New York and focuses on limiting long-term consequences and publicity.Mr. Breslin has almost a decade of experience, during which he has amassed a long list of successful results in cases involving pharmaceutical misbranding investigations, misdemeanors, felonies, New York State Liquor Authority matters, municipal litigation, New York State agency defense and administrative law, and alternative dispute resolution. Criminal charges and convictions often result in devastating outcomes, and he strives to protect his clients from these situations.Experienced in local, state and federal courts, Mr. Breslin has also handled zoning issues, property acquisitions, tax disputes, contract issues and personal injury litigation. In his business and commercial practice, he works with corporations to create a proactive approach to problems that may arise in the future.

Cynthia L. Counts

Duane Morris LLP

• Cynthia Counts is a partner in the Atlanta office of Duane Morris LLP, focusing on libel, privacy, copyright and First Amendment law. A seasoned litigator with more than 25 years of trial and appellate experience, Counts defends individuals, newspapers, websites, television stations and businesses nationally in libel, as well as breach of contract, invasion of privacy, fraud, and media access matters. She also represents media and publishing companies in conducting prepublication review, prior restraint matters and to gain access to court proceedings or public documents. She is best known for her aggressive motions practice, and for her success in winning libel cases outright in the early stages of litigation before expensive discovery becomes necessary. In that regard, Counts has been at the forefront of the quest for a broad application of Georgia’s anti-SLAPP statute, enacted in 1996 to provide an early mechanism for the dismissal of harassing libel litigation. Recent matters: serving as lead counsel for media company in a Maine libel case involving defamation, false light and other claims(2020); obtained order granting anti-SLAPP motion and awarding our media client all attorneys' fees in Ga. defamation case (2019); secured dismissal for media company in Michigan defamation case in exchange for agreement not to seek sanctions/attorney fees against plaintiff for false pleading of material facts (2018); using anti-SLAPP statute, secured dismissal of a libel claim against a Connecticut media company (2018); assisted in successful anti-SLAPP defense for television client in a California libel matter and won award for attorney fees (2018); summary judgment for client in defamation claim filed against Atlanta TV station for story reporting that veteran had lied about receiving Purple Heart award (2016) (this decision was affirmed by Georgia Court of Appeals, 2017); prevailed on a motion to dismiss in the Nevada District Court arguing that Cox Communications was immune from liability under the Communications Decency Act (“CDA”) for passively hosting websites containing information regarding an expunged criminal conviction (2017); used amended Georgia anti-SLAPP statute to secure early stage dismissal of libel complaint in which plaintiff alleged that defendant’s notification to insurance company about possible arson in a house fire constituted defamation (2017); obtained dismissal of a libel suit against a community newspaper in Georgia by an individual who alleged that the newspaper’s report of her arrest was false and defamatory (2016); dismissal of a defamation claim against CBS affiliate by physician investigated in cosmetic surgery deaths (2015); summary judgment for a reality TV performer in a libel claim over comments she made on her network show (2015); early summary judgment for hosts of a popular Spanish radio program sued for libel over satirical comments on their show (2015); voluntary dismissal of a libel claim against a whistleblower in a Department of State matter involving alleged contract fraud (2014); and an 11th Circuit order for sanctions of $545,000 against plaintiffs who filed a frivolous libel claim against a Rolls Royce club member (2008). Counts has also litigated successfully for individual clients with free speech concerns: from those speaking out about assisted suicide in a state that tried to prohibit such speech, to individuals facing anti-gay discrimination in requests for vanity license plates, to those wrongfully arrested for verbally criticizing law enforcement, or for uttering profanities a public meeting. She is a sought-after commentator and writer on libel, privacy, Internet, the First Amendment and open government law. In 2014, she became a member of the governing board of the American Bar Association Forum on Communications Law. She is a director of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation and chairs the Media Law Resource Center’s Newsgathering Committee. Counts is also an adjunct professor teaching media law at Emory University Law School and has taught in the undergraduate journalism program. Counts is a 1992 graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law and a 1989 cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Christopher Banys

Banys, P.C.

• Christopher Banys started Banys, P.C. with one goal in mind: providing intelligent, effective, advocacy to help his clients achieve justice. A dedicated civil trial lawyer with experience in numerous types of cases, Mr. Banys brings his passion for justice to every client, in every case. Mr. Banys fights hard for his clients. In 2015 alone, Mr. Banys served as lead trial lawyer in five trials – and won all five. The following year, Mr. Banys won three trials, including a $12.5 million jury verdict for breach of contract against Qualcomm in San Diego. Overall, his tenacity has resulted in recovering tens of millions of dollars for his clients, as well as winning several defense victories. Indeed, the National Trial Lawyers Association named Mr. Banys among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers from 2012-2020. The Recorder named Mr. Banys a  “Lawyer On The Fast Track”  in 2012, one of just 50 lawyers in California to receive that honor. Banys' commitment to justice includes lending a hand to those in need who cannot afford legal help, earning him pro bono awards including: An Equal Justice America fellowship; several law firm awards, including pro bono associate of the year; the Legal Services for Children’s 2008 Pro Bono Advocate Award; and a Certificate of Appreciation from the Northern District of California’s Silicon Valley Pro Bono Project in 2011.Mr. Banys first became well known for helping inventors stand up to patent infringers, regardless of their size, and served as lead trial lawyer in scores of patent-infringement cases around the country. As a result of his knowledge and reputation, Mr. Banys was invited to debate proposed patent legislation in the U.S. Senate and submitted congressional testimony on the issue of patent reform. He also presented at the first international Cloud Law Summit in London, England.Mr. Banys also has extensive experience litigating complex business disputes, class-action, construction defect, employment, catastrophic personal injury and dangerous and defective medical product cases in federal, state and administrative-law courts and in arbitration.Recent cases include:Ixchel v. Biogen, (E.D. Cal. ): Mr. Banys will argue before the California Supreme Court in September, 2020 on behalf of Ixchel, a small pharmacuetical research company. Ixchel alleges that Biogen intentionally prevented Ixchel from bringing a first-of-it’s kind cure for a neurological disease to American patients so that Biogen would not face competition for its own $4 billion a year drug. Ixchel alleges that Biogen paid Ixchel’s development partner $1 billion to stop working with Ixchel on the drug and never bring the new cure to market. SAI v. QUALCOMM, (San Diego Sup. Ct): Won a $12.5 million jury verdict Representing start-up SAI in a breach of contract case alleging that QUALCOMM used SAI source code in its products without making the required payments. Freeny v. Murphy Oil, (E.D. Tex); Won a $9.25 million jury verdict for three brothers in patent infringement case involving automated synchronous price and advertising technology;Paton v. AMD, (Santa Clara Sup. Ct.): Mr. Banys served as lead trial lawyer for a class of over 1,700 employees against major Silicon Valley employer who wrongfully employees vacation pay by miscategorizing the benefit as "sabbatical" and obtained a $5.4 million settlement for the plaintiff class;Mr. Banys earned his law degree from Boston University School of Law, where he was a Dean's Scholar. While at B.U., Mr. Banys participated in the school's exceptional Criminal Clinic program where he tried criminal cases in Massachusetts state courts for two semesters. Christopher Banys, along with a good friend, also won the school’s negotiation competition, going on to represent B.U. in regional competition. Mr. Banys spent his final semester of law school studying at Oxford University in Oxford, England. He earned his undergraduate degree in Spanish and Portuguese from the University of California (Berkeley), with high honors and high distinction in general scholarship.For more of Mr. Banys's cases and practice areas, visit our Services pages.Mr. Banys earned his law degree from Boston University School of Law, where he was a Dean's Scholar. While at B.U., Mr. Banys participated in the school's exceptional Criminal Clinic program where he tried criminal cases in Massachusetts state courts for two semesters. Mr. Banys, along with a good friend, also won the school’s negotiation competition, going on to represent B.U. in regional competition. Mr. Banys spent his final semester of law school studying at Oxford University in Oxford, England. He earned his undergraduate degree in Spanish and Portuguese from the University of California (Berkeley), with high honors and high distinction in general scholarship.Mr. Banys founded the Intellectual Property Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice and is active in several other legal associations.Mr. Banys is an outdoorsman and a commercially-rated pilot.Prior to founding Banys, P.C., Mr. Banys started and led the Palo Alto, California office of a prominent national trial firm and ran that firm’s intellectual property practice for five years, and before that, had been associated with several Silicon Valley law firms.Mr. Banys is admitted to practice before the following courts:The United States Supreme Court;The United States Courts of Appeal for the Federal and Ninth Circuits;The United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Central and Southern Districts of California; the Western District of Wisconsin; the District of Nebraska; the District of Colorado; the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; and the Eastern District of Texas;The California Supreme Court and all other California state courts.Mr. Banys has also practiced and served as lead counsel in trials and hearings in arbitrations and in multiple administrative-law courts, including the International Trade Commission, The California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, and Federal Immigration Court.

Keith J. Moten

Moten & Associates

• Keith J. Moten is Of Counsel with Moten & Associates and represents clients in both Los Angeles, California, and Atlanta, Georgia. His practice focus includes cases of estate and trust litigation, probate, business litigation, employment litigation and arbitration. With almost 15 years of experience, he understands the importance of a good lawyer and a solid estate plan, as he lost his parents when he was only 25.To help family members in the area get through difficult times, Mr. Moten represents beneficiaries, heirs, fiduciaries, banks, executors, trustees and contestants. He is passionate about estate planning, probate, and revocable living trust administration and litigation. As an entrepreneur, he also has the unique ability to handle matters of business succession and understands what challenges start-ups, entrepreneurs and small businesses face.Before becoming admitted to practice in California and Texas, Mr. Moten graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with his undergraduate degree. He then attended Southwestern Law School, where he obtained his Juris Doctor in 2005. Fluent in Spanish and English, he strives to represent as many clients as possible to help them set up their estates and assets for the future.Mr. Moten is a member of the California Association of Black Lawyers, the Beverly Hills Bar Association, the John M. Langston Bar Association, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association. Working with a law office built on understanding, respect and courtesy, he also teaches educational seminars on several topics related to estate planning and probate.

Adam Acosta

White & Case LLP

David P. Boyce

Wright & Greenhill PC

• As a shareholder in Wright & Greenhill PC, David P. Boyce serves all of Central Texas, including Austin and the rest of Travis County. Mr. Boyce has over 30 years of experience at his command and is fluent in both English and Spanish. He focuses his practices on the areas of civil litigation, including personal injury, wrongful death, employer liability, insurance defense and commercial disputes. He also represents both contractors and subcontractors in construction defect litigation. A sample of the cases Mr. Boyce accepts include defending premises owners in wrongful death and serious personal injury cases, defending corporations against fatal and non-fatal work site injury claims, defending policyholders under commercial, business auto and homeowner policies from claims made against them.A longtime Texas resident, Mr. Boyce graduated summa cum laude with his Bachelor of Arts in 1976 from Dartmouth College. In 1985, Mr. Boyce graduated with high honors and received his Juris Doctor from The University of Texas at Austin School of Law. While there, he was a noted author for the Texas Law Review. Since graduation, he has gone on to serve in a number of prestigious organizations, including the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Inc. and the American Board of Trial Advocates. Mr. Boyce is also currently a member of the State Bar of Texas' Construction Law Section and Litigation Section as well as the Austin Bar Association's Construction Law Section.Due to his successful track record and high degree of ethics, Mr. Boyce has earned the high regard of his fellow attorneys. In 2010, Mr. Boyce was selected to become a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only organization.

Eran Lagstein

Lagstein Law Firm, P.C.

• As an advocate of the injured, Eran Lagstein is the founder of Lagstein Law Firm. He handles personal injury, class actions, insurance bad faith, invasion of privacy, defamation, libel and slander cases throughout California. Additionally, Mr. Lagstein takes cases involving labor and employment, civil rights, contract disputes and professional malpractice, at times defending clients who are facing frivolous lawsuits.Ever the voice of the “little guy,” Mr. Lagstein is prepared to take on anyone in negotiations or litigation. He has successfully battled large insurance companies and corporations, holding them responsible for the damages clients have suffered. As a leader in personal injury law, he understands that a car accident or medical mistake often leaves people with much more than just physical repercussions. There are serious financial and emotional implications as well, and Mr. Lagstein fights for every dollar.Among his accomplishments, Mr. Lagstein has secured six- and seven-figure awards on behalf of clients. These often come in the form of settlements, though he has also obtained favorable jury verdicts. As a result, Mr. Lagstein holds honors such as an Avvo “Superb” rating and being recognized in Lawyers of Distinction.In 1996, Mr. Lagstein graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles. He then received a Juris Doctor in 1999 from the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law.Mr. Lagstein is fluent in Spanish, English and Hebrew. He is a member of The State Bar of California, the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the American Association for Justice and the American Bar Association.

Annika K. Martin

Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP

• Annika K. Martin is a partner in the firm’s New York office and has represented plaintiffs since 2005 in environmental, mass tort, consumer protection, and sexual abuse cases.Annika serves as court-appointed Co-Interim Class Counsel representing women who were sexually abused by gynecologist George Tyndall, M.D., in a class action against Tyndall and the University of Southern California. Plaintiffs and class members are women who saw Tyndall at the USC Student Health Clinic during his tenure there. From 1989 through 2016, Tyndall was the only full-time gynecologist on staff at USC’s Student Health Clinic. The lawsuit alleges Tyndall used this position of trust and authority to repeatedly sexually abuse the Plaintiffs and potentially thousands of other class members, and that despite that USC received numerous complaints of Tyndall’s sexually abusive behavior, dating back to at least the year 2000, USC actively and deliberately concealed Tyndall’s sexual abuse for years, continuing to grant Tyndall unfettered sexual access to the female USC students in his care. On behalf of Tyndall’s victims, Annika helped negotiate a $215 million settlement with USC and Dr. Tyndall; the settlement also requires USC to make sweeping institutional changes to ensure something like this never happens again on campus. The settlement was preliminarily approved by court in June, and the settlement claims process is currently open at https://www.usctyndallsettlement.com/.Similarly, Annika represents women who were sexually assaulted and harassed by obstetrician/gynecologist Patrick Sutton, M.D., in a class action against Sutton and Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasedena, California.Annika also currently represents individuals and businesses in class action litigation against PG&E over losses arising out of the October 2017 Northern California wildfires. In doing so, Annika draws on her previous successful environmental work, most notably in the class action litigation against BP, Transocean, Halliburton, and the other companies responsible for the Deepwater Horizon oil rig blowout in the Gulf of Mexico and the worst oil spill in U.S. history. Among other significant roles, Annika was a key member of the small team that negotiated settlements that have paid out over $11.6 billion so far to compensate individuals and businesses across the Gulf Coast harmed by the Spill.Annika represents consumers in class action lawsuits filed in federal courts in California and Georgia against Mercedes-Benz USA and Daimler AG over allegations that defects in the vehicle HVAC systems lead to the growth of noxious mold that spews extremely unpleasant odors throughout the vehicles during use. The lawsuit seeks an effective permanent fix for the problem, as well as monetary damages for affected Mercedes-Benz owners and lessees. Watch a report from WSB-TV in Atlanta, Georgia on the Mercedes-Benz AC Mold litigation.Annika serves as court-appointed Co-Lead counsel in In re General Motors Corp. Air Conditioning Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation, MDL 2818, representing owners and lessees of certain GM trucks with allegedly defective air conditioning systems that repeatedly fail and cost thousands of dollars to repair each time.Annika serves as court-appointed Pro Se Liaison counsel in In re New England Compounding Pharmacy Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2419, the Multidistrict Litigation arising out of the 2012 meningitis outbreak caused by contaminated medication manufactured by New England Compounding Pharmacy (NECC). Annika’s work helped result in settlements totaling $227.8 million with NECC and the hospitals and clinics that unlawfully purchased and administered contaminated medication to the victims.Annika also represents two former students in their lawsuits against The Hotchkiss School. John Doe’s suit alleges that, during his two years at the Hotchkiss School in the 1980s, John Doe was subjected to ritual hazing of a sexual nature by older student-proctors and was raped by a male teacher who was known to the School as a pedophile who had abused numerous other male students at the School. Richard Roe’s suit alleges that, during Roe’s time as a student at the School in the 1990s, that same male teacher groomed and sexually assaulted Roe in much the same way as he had Doe.Annika’s published works include “Stick a Toothbrush Down Your Throat: An Analysis of the Potential Liability of Pro-Eating Disorder Websites,” Texas Journal of Women & the Law, Volume 14 Issue 2, Spring 2005 and “How to Stop Worrying and Love Predictive Coding,” Trial Magazine, January 2016.An active member of the legal community, Annika is the immediate past Chair of the Class Action Litigation Group within the American Association for Justice. Annika serves on the Steering Committee for the Sedona Conference’s Working Group 1 (Electronic Discovery Retention and Production), and co-founded the Complex Litigation E-Discovery Forum, an annual e-discovery conference for plaintiffs-side complex litigation practitioners. Annika speaks and writes regularly on issues of class actions, mass torts, e-discovery, and diversity in legal practice.In 2018, Annika won a Certificate of Recognition from the American Association for Justice. The rarely-given award acknowledges AAJ members who have made important and unique contributions to the organization through membership, education, leadership, and/or fundraising to sustain and strengthen the AAJ.Annika is fluent in Swedish and conversational in French, Spanish, and Dutch.

William Samuels

Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC

• William Samuels is a partner at the New York City law office of Scarinci Hollenbeck, and he is the chair of the firm's copyright and trademark group. Focusing his practice primarily on intellectual property matters, he provides advice and counsel to clients with regard to obtaining, protecting, and licensing or otherwise commercializing trademarks, patents, copyrights, and other similar assets both domestically and internationally.Admitted to practice before all New York and California state courts, Mr. Samuels is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, and the U.S. District Courts for the Central and Southern Districts of California. Held in high regard by his fellow attorneys, he has received a 10.0 "Superb" peer review rating through Avvo, and he has been named by the American Society of Legal Advocates to its Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 list.With his clients coming from a wide variety of industries and ranging from startup companies to multinational corporations, Mr. Samuels tailors his recommendations and options in a manner that fits their particular needs, realizing that intellectual property is often one of their most valuable assets. Fluent in Spanish as well as in English, his experience also encompasses trade secrets, anti-counterfeiting, and general business transactions and advice.Mr. Samuels is frequently asked to speak before professional groups on topics relating to his practice area. He has moderated several meetings of the Intellectual Property Law Section of the New York State Bar Association, and he has been the co-chair of that section's Trademark Law Committee. Mr. Samuels received a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Georgetown University in 1997 and a Master of Arts in that same discipline from the University of Pennsylvania in 2000. He was awarded his Juris Doctor by Emory University School of Law in 2006.

Scott Freedman

Zacks Freedman & Patterson PC

• Shareholder at Zacks, Freedman & Patterson, PC, Scott Freedman handles legal issues related to co-ownership disputes, business litigation, landlord-tenant law and real estate litigation. For individuals who desire to stay out of the courtroom and the litigation process, he also offers alternative dispute resolution in the San Francisco Bay area and through all Northern California. He is fluent in English and Spanish.In 2000, Mr. Freedman graduated from Tulane University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science as a member of the Tulane Honors Program. After that, he attended the Santa Clara University School of Law, where he obtained his Juris Doctor in 2005 and was a member of the Santa Clara Law Review. He helped author the CEB guide to landlord-tenant practice and is a member of The Bar Association of San Francisco.Although he understands the benefits of mediation and is a skilled negotiator, Mr. Freedman is prepared to take a case to court, if necessary, to obtain a favorable result for his clients. He is admitted to practice in the state of California and before the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. To give back to his community, he is involved with the Volunteer Legal Services Program and has been for over a decade.An engaging lecturer, Mr. Freedman has presented to the Continuing Education of the Bar, California and the San Francisco Apartment Association and published a comment in the Santa Clara Law Review. Throughout his career, he has represented contractors, landlords, prospective owners, managers and property owners in matters of construction, purchase-sale, boundary, co-ownership and neighbor disputes.

David M. Mirazo

Mounce, Green, Myers, Safi, Paxson & Galatzan

• David M. Mirazo is an attorney who represents clients in the El Paso, Texas area. David Mirazo chose to pursue a career in law after completing undergraduate studies. He attended University of North Carolina School of Law and graduated in 2005. David Mirazo passed the bar exam and was admitted to legal practice in 2005.