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.

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.”

Duane A. Crooks, Esq. is a trusted attorney known for passionately advocating for his clients. After earning honors from the University of Miami School of Business, Mr. Crooks continued his academic journey at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, excelling in his studies and paving the way for a successful legal career. After graduating, Mr. Crooks gained valuable experience working at several law firms specializing in personal injury and worker’s compensation. In 2003, he took a bold step and founded his personal injury law firm where he dedicated himself to recovering millions for his clients. Recognized for outstanding achievements, Mr. Crooks is a proud member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. His commitment to justice and pursuit of excellence have solidified his stellar reputation. Outside of the courtroom, Mr. Crooks enjoys exploring game theory and testing his strategic skills at the poker table. Contact Mr. Duane Crooks if you’re looking for an attorney who will prioritize your needs and fight for the best possible outcome.

James has been a lawyer for over 20 years and has dedicated his practice to personal injury. He has worked in some of the highest recorded cases in the state.

Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death Barbra earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Maryland in 1995. Since graduating law school from the University of Miami in 1998, Barbra has practiced in the area of civil litigation. During her first five years of practice, she worked as a defense attorney focusing on products liability and insurance defense. She subsequently worked for 12 years primarily in medical malpractice where she was a partner for a boutique medical malpractice defense firm. Barbra currently is of counsel at Gordon & Partners where her main practice area is medical malpractice and wrongful death.

Derrick Eihausen is a practicing lawyer in the state of Florida.