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.

With nearly a decade of experience in high-stakes litigation and public service, Mary E. Castillo brings a powerful blend of trial acumen, leadership, and strategic legal insight to Gilbert Garcia Group, P.A. As a former Assistant State Attorney for Hillsborough County, she has prosecuted some of the most serious felony offenses—including homicides, gang-related violence, and sex crimes—developing a reputation for integrity, meticulous preparation, and courtroom excellence. During her tenure at the State Attorney’s Office, Mary litigated more than 35 felony jury trials to verdict and led a felony division as Deputy Chief, supervising a team of attorneys and support staff while managing a demanding felony caseload. She has also handled juvenile, misdemeanor and traffic, domestic violence and violation of probation (VOP) dockets, making her an exceptionally well-rounded advocate with deep knowledge of Florida’s criminal justice system from intake to adjudication. A graduate of Notre Dame Law School, Mary served as Executive Articles Editor for the Notre Dame Journal of Legislation and published a scholarly note on Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. She earned the Dean’s Award for Professional Responsibility and was active in leadership roles with the Hispanic Law Students Association and the Future Prosecuting Attorney’s Council. She also studied abroad at Notre Dame’s prestigious London Law Centre. In addition to her legal expertise, Mary is pursuing an MBA from the University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business, with a concentration in Compliance, Risk, and Anti-Money Laundering—bringing valuable and practical business knowledge to her legal practice. Mary is passionate about justice, client advocacy, and delivering exceptional legal outcomes, making her an invaluable asset to our firm and the clients we serve. We are thrilled to have her join Gilbert Garcia Group as a Litigation Attorney and Commercial Collections Supervisor.”

Ydelmis Cutino is admitted to the Florida Bar (2024). She matriculated at the W.M.U. Cooley Law School (J.D., 2021), and the University of South Florida (B.A., Business Science Management, 2018) and is certified as a Florida Notary Signing Agent, Remote Online Notary Agent, and Microsoft Office Specialist. Ydelmis joined the firm in 2021, serving Gilbert Garcia Group as a law clerk and Sapphire Title & Escrow Company as a title processor. With a strong commitment to the field, Ydelmis actively contributes to the legal and real estate communities through her writing, regularly crafting insightful articles and blogs that educate, inform, and engage readers. Ydelmis credits her interest in real property law for leading to her involvement in real estate transactions, including that of title and escrow practices. Ydelmis is bilingual in Spanish and English. She was born and raised in Miami, Florida and is of Cuban descent. Ydelmis notes, “Faith, determination, and persistence are the three keys to my life.”

Ronnie D. Dykes, P.A., is the founder and principal attorney of the Law Office of Ronnie D. Dykes. He has over 16 years of experience practicing law and a broad knowledge of the law. He has litigated hundreds of cases and closed hundreds of real estate transactions. Attorney Dykes grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and moved to Florida in 1997, where he began and continues his career in law. Mr. Dykes has obtained and received recognition during his scholastic and professional career. He attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree and graduated on the Dean's List while serving on active duty in the United States Navy. At that same time, Mr. Dykes specialized in Flight Operations and Avionics and earned 4.0 Military Evaluations, the Navy Achievement Medal, the National Defense Medal, and the Expert Pistol Medal. Thereafter, Mr. Dykes attended law school at Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he earned his Juris Doctor degree while working in Engineering at B/E Aerospace Corporation. As a practicing attorney, Mr. Dykes worked for two law firms and a title company in Fort Lauderdale, Florida before opening his own private practice. Mr. Dykes is admitted to practice in Florida State Courts, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida. Attorney Dykes is also a member of the Palm Beach County Bar Association and the Florida Lawyers Network.