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.

China Ikpeama received his Bachelor of Arts degree from The Columbia College-Chicago. During the course of his studies Mr. Ikpeama realized Columbia College was an excellent school, but not too far from campus in downtown Chicago was a homeless shelter with many people with many needs. Mr. Ikpeama made brown bag lunch packs and distributed them freely. Mr. Ikpeama then worked for the Circuit Court Clerk of the City of St. Louis Missouri and soon after, attended Florida A&M University College of Law where he earned his J.D.. While at Florida A&M University College of Law, he participated in the Housing Clinic by providing legal advice to citizens in the community who could not afford legal representation. After earning his law degree, attorney Ikpeama served his community by working as a prosecutor for the Office of the State Attorney in downtown Orlando. Today, attorney Ikpeama continues to serve his community by volunteering at The Coalition for the Homeless in downtown Orlando. The reoccurring theme in Mr. Ikpeama's life has been to attend to the needs of those around him by serving his community and the public interest. Attorney Ikpeama believes that there is a binding relationship between law and society, and that the work of the legal profession is inherently related to the public. Inspired by Justice Louis Brandeis, and his desire to help improve the everyday life of men and women, Mr. Ikpeama founded The United Law Firm. We are dedicated to defending you and defending your interests...it's about you, it's about us, United...You and Us.

Scott E. Simmons is a co-founder and founding partner of Lawson and Simmons, PLLC, where he focuses exclusively on criminal defense throughout South Florida. A lifelong South Florida native, Scott has dedicated his career to defending individuals facing serious and high-stakes criminal allegations. Before founding Lawson and Simmons with Susan Lawson, Scott spent more than three years practicing at another premier criminal defense firm in South Florida. While the firm was well regarded, Scott chose to leave and build his own practice to provide a more thoughtful, strategic, and individualized approach to criminal defense, one that prioritizes people, long-term consequences, and creative legal strategies over case volume. Scott is a trial-tested criminal defense attorney with experience handling cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies, including offenses punishable by life imprisonment. He has tried numerous cases to verdict across Broward County, Miami-Dade County, and Palm Beach County. Scott has received multiple Broward Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Hat Trick Awards for achieving three not guilty verdicts in a single year, as well as a Double Hat Trick Award for achieving six not guilty verdicts within one year. In addition to trial advocacy, Scott has built a strong reputation for sophisticated pretrial motion practice, including successful motions to suppress evidence and statements that have resolved serious cases before trial. Scott personally conducts Strategy Sessions and remains actively involved in every case he handles.