Fermin Lopez strongly believes in service to others. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Lopez served with the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, Africa. He also served with the 2nd Infantry Division in Camp Casey, South Korea and later as a paratrooper with the 18th Airborne Corps in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. A decorated soldier, Mr. Lopez is not only certified as a military parachutist, but the U.S. Army also awarded him the distinguished Air Assault badge, certified him in Military Mountaineering and Rappelling, classified him as an “expert marksman” as well as a making him a U.S. Army Master Fitness Trainer. He is also a “distinguished graduate” from the Army’s Primary Leadership Development Course, from which Mr. Lopez graduated with honors. He completed his collegiate undergraduate studies at the University of Central Florida and graduated from the University of Florida College of Law with honors in trial advocacy. Mr. Lopez was an adjunct professor at the Barry University School of Law from 2006 to 2019, while also serving as a head coach for their mock trial program. He is also a past-president of the Central Florida Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Lopez has served on multiple local boards of directors, including the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida, the Orange County Bar Association, and most recently serving on the Board for the COAMED Foundation which provides medical services to under-served communities in Central and South America and with whom Mr. Lopez has participated on medical mission trips.

Mr. Young received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Rollins College in 1982; a Master of Business Administration degree from the Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business in 1992; and a Juris Doctorate from Barry University School of Law in 2004. Before attending law school, Mr. Young spent over eight years working in the securities industry. During that period, he was a Vice President at a global securities and money management firm located in Winter Park, Florida, holding licenses as a General Securities Registered Representative (Series 7), a Registered Investment Advisor Representative (Series 65), a Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination (Series 63) and Florida Insurance and Variable Annuity. Mr. Young joined the firm of Colling Gilbert Wright in September 2006 after spending several years practicing plaintiff-side securities litigation with Hooper & Weiss, LLC. He continues to focus his practice on assisting clients with recouping investment losses due to brokerage firm negligence and fraud. Mr. Young also serves as a County Court Mediator in the Orange County Florida Court System. The Supreme Court of Florida, the Young Lawyers Division of The Florida Bar, and the Florida Pro Bono Coordinators Association recognized Mr. Young for exceptional pro bono service from 2006 through 2024. Over the past 20 years, Mr. Young has personally litigated and resolved over 700 hundred FINRA (formerly NASD) arbitration Claims recovering tens of millions of dollars in investor losses. Additionally, Mr. Young serves as Co-Chair of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Securities and Financial Fraud Litigation Group, was the 2020 recipient of the Public Investors Advocate Bar Association (PIABA) Outstanding Service Award, and currently services on the PIABA Board of Directors.

James Claus is a practicing lawyer in the state of Florida. Attorney Claus received his J.D. from Stanford University Law School.

Susan Lawson is a co-founding partner of Lawson and Simmons, PLLC and a Board-Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer. Board certification is the highest level of evaluation recognized by The Florida Bar and is held by only a small percentage of criminal defense attorneys statewide—particularly few women. Susan earned this distinction through demonstrated excellence in trial advocacy, professionalism, ethics, and credibility. Susan has devoted nearly 18 years exclusively to criminal defense, representing clients in serious state and federal criminal matters. She has served as lead counsel in more than 100 jury trials and has handled cases ranging from misdemeanors to complex felony prosecutions carrying substantial liberty and life consequences. While the majority of her career has been based in South Florida, Susan has also practiced in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Before founding Lawson and Simmons, Susan spent over four years as a partner at a prominent South Florida criminal defense firm. Prior to that, she dedicated more than a decade to the Public Defender’s Office, where she handled complex major-crime cases. She has represented both juvenile and adult clients across nearly every category of criminal charge. Susan co-founded Lawson and Simmons to build a firm grounded in thoughtful advocacy, meticulous preparation, and direct attorney involvement in every case.

Mr. Belleh focuses his practice in the areas of Real Property, Bankruptcy, Estate Planning, Business and Immigration Law. He has experience representing public corporations, privately-held corporations, and accredited investors, but takes particular pride in representing entrepreneurs and small business owners – the cornerstone of the American economy. Mr. Belleh is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, in Buffalo, New York, with a concentration in financial transactions. He holds a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York and earned a Certificate from the Cours Civilisation Franςaise de la Sorbonne in Paris, France. He served as Corporate Counsel for a real property development firm, where he focused on the formation and operation of Real Estate Investment Trusts, real property acquisition and development, finance, and title insurance matters. He also worked as a commercial litigation associate at boutique litigation firm in Miami, where he focused in commercial disputes and business torts. He has extensive experience representing mortgage lenders and real property developers and investors. Mr. Belleh has jury and bench trial experience and has argued several cases successfully before the District Court of Appeal. Mr. Belleh serves as Corporate Counsel for a number of privately-held companies based in South Florida and operating in a cross-section of industries. He is an agent of the Attorney Title Insurance Fund and Old Republic Title Insurance and the owner/operator of Brightstar Title & Escrow, INC. He is admitted to practice in the Florida Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, and the United States Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Belleh is also a member of the Florida Bar Real Property and Probate Section, the American Bar Association, the Broward County Bar Association and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Shelby Sielaff is a licensed attorney in Florida and serves as the Associate Attorney and Head of Legal Operations at The Immigration Advocates. With nine years of experience in the legal field, Ms. Sielaff brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the firm. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida and her Juris Doctor from Barry University School of Law, where she distinguished herself in leadership roles within organizations such as the Women Lawyers Association, Student Bar Association, and Barry Environmental & Earth Law Journal. Ms. Sielaff’s leadership, academic achievements, and practical experience make her an invaluable asset to The Immigration Advocates team. Her passion for helping clients achieve their immigration goals is evident in her dedication to making a positive impact in the field. With her strong background in legal operations and commitment to excellence, Ms. Sielaff is well-positioned to lead and enhance the services provided by The Immigration Advocates.

Tamaira Rivera, Senior Legal Counsel at The Immigration Advocates, brings a wealth of expertise in immigration law and is a licensed attorney in the State of Florida and Washington D.C. With extensive experience as a former Immigration Judge and as an ICE immigration prosecutor with the Department of Homeland Security, Ms. Rivera is well-versed in complex immigration matters and committed to serving her clients with precision and dedication. Ms. Rivera also served with distinction as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer in the U.S. Air Force for ten years, attaining the rank of Major. Ms. Rivera was stationed in Texas, Arizona, Washington, D.C., as well as international postings in Okinawa, Japan, and Madrid, Spain. A native Spanish speaker, Ms. Rivera has a passion for travel, theater, and discovering local events and culinary spots. Her diverse background and dedication make her an invaluable asset to our team and clients.

Shirley Duran is a licensed attorney in Florida and practices immigration law. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida and obtained her Juris Doctor from Barry University School of Law, where she distinguished herself by ranking in the top 10% of her class. As the proud daughter of Dominican immigrants, Ms. Duran offers a unique perspective to the legal field shaped by her secondhand experience with the immigration process. Her commitment to excellence and advocacy is evident in her work, where she strives to make a meaningful impact in her community.

Attorney Omar J. Arcia is the founding force behind Arcia Law Office, bringing over two decades of legal experience and an unwavering commitment to justice. Mr. Arcia graduated with honors from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, earning a degree in Psychology. He continued his academic excellence at Florida State University Law School, graduating in 1995. During his time in law school, Mr. Arcia distinguished himself as a leader and scholar. He proudly served as President of the Spanish American Law Students Association, was selected to join the prestigious Florida State University Law Review, as well as the Journal of Transnational Law and Policy, where his scholarly articles were published. His passion for advocacy was further demonstrated as a member of the Moot Court Trial Team, where he honed his litigation skills early in his career. Following law school, Mr. Arcia began his professional journey at a prominent business litigation firm in Miami, handling complex cases across state and federal courts nationwide. With a strong foundation in litigation, he quickly earned a reputation for skillfully navigating high-stakes legal battles. In 2000, driven by a passion to provide more personalized service, Mr. Arcia founded his own firm in Coral Gables, Florida. His practice initially focused on personal injury, real estate, family law, and business disputes. As client needs expanded, so did his vision. By December 2006, Mr. Arcia expanded his reach by opening a second office in Miramar, FL, establishing Arcia Law Office with locations in both Miami-Dade and Broward counties. This strategic growth enabled the firm to better serve clients throughout South Florida’s legal communities.

Jennifer Petrovitch is the Managing Partner and Founder of The Law Office of Petrovitch & Kutub, PA. Jennifer was born in Maryland, but was raised in Palm Beach County, Florida. Jennifer values the importance of client contact and is committed to giving each and every client the attention needed to their individual case. “My why is my dad.” reflects Jennifer. I changed my career because of dad’s passing from cancer. Our Family went through a lot of strife around the estate. I saw what goes on first hand when someone dies.” Jennifer has been on both sides. She brings compassion to her work as she works from experience. “I know how vulnerable a family is after a loss.” Jennifer is fluent in Portuguese, as both her parents were born and raised in Brazil.