Administrative Law

Kaitlin L. Carrillo is a principal at GERMER in the Austin office with over 10 years of litigation experience. She joined GERMER as an associate in 2017 and has been a principal since 2021. Kaitlin was born and raised in Sweetwater, Texas and is the oldest of five siblings. She graduated with Highest Honors from the University of Texas at Austin. She attended Baylor University School of Law on a Dean’s Scholarship, graduating cum laude in 2013. She was also a member of the Baylor Law Review and Order of the Barristers. As a trial attorney, Kaitlin has tried medical malpractice cases to jury verdict as first and second chair trial counsel. She also defends physicians and nurses in investigations by their respective licensing boards. Kaitlin manages a variety of complex civil litigation cases and represents clients across Texas. Her current practice areas include medical malpractice, employment law, construction law, administrative law, commercial litigation, and insurance coverage. She has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star, a Thompson Reuters publication, in 2022-2025.

Karen Landinger is a highly experienced appellate attorney who has spent 30 years successfully representing public and private clients in state and federal courts. She began her career as the Deputy Appellate Chief for the El Paso District Attorney’s Office, where she represented the State in high profile cases and helped secure the passage of key legislation. Karen transitioned into private practice in 2000, expanding her experience to constitutional law, construction, insurance, contract, product liability, personal injury, wrongful death, business, international law administrative law and medical malpractice. Karen joined Germer in its San Antonio Office in 2022 where she focuses her practice on appellate work and the defense of corporate and individual business.

Thomas J. Giordano, Jr. joined the firm in October 2005 and currently heads the Social Security Disability department, where he focuses his practice solely on obtaining Social Security Disability benefits for disabled individuals. Mr. Giordano has represented individuals before Administrative Law Judges throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. He has been invited by labor and disability organizations as well as physicians throughout the tri-state area to lecture on Social Security Disability law. He is currently a sustaining member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR) as well as a member of the Social Security Disability law section of the American Association of Justice.Prior to joining the firm, he was an associate with a large Philadelphia defense firm where he represented self-insured and commercial insured businesses in a wide variety of industries, as well as to third-party administrators throughout Pennsylvania. He also served as a legal intern for the Philadelphia District Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.Mr. Giordano is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. He earned his undergraduate degree, cum laude, in communications from Towson University in Maryland. He received his law degree from Rutgers University School of Law - Camden. He is an active member of the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Bar Associations, the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Associations, and the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania.

Daniel J. Cooper is a California attorney and has been the sole shareholder of Daniel J. Cooper, a professional corporation, since 1980. Mr. Cooper’s practice emphasizes estate planning, trust administration, probate, Trust & Will controversies, and the representation of clients before the U.S. Tax Court, State Board of Equalization, Internal Revenue Service, and the California Franchise Tax Board in connection with federal, state and administrative tax disputes. He is an active member of the Orange County Bar Association and the State Bar of California and is currently Chairman of the Trust & Estate Section of the Orange County Bar Association. He is authorized by the Trust & Estate Section of the State Bar of California to make presentations on the subject of Elder Financial Abuse. Mr. Cooper is active in community affairs and has been a Parks & Recreation Commissioner for the City of Laguna Hills for more than 10 years. He is also active in with the Boys Scouts of America and is currently committee chairman of Troop 729 in Laguna Hills, California. All three of his sons are Eagle Scouts. Prior to entering the legal profession, Mr. Cooper was an income tax auditor for the Franchise Tax Board and a manager in the tax department of Arthur Young & Co., Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Cooper has lectured extensively on real estate taxes, state and local taxes, and federal income taxes at the graduate school level at the University of Southern California, the University of California at Irvine and Golden Gate University. Additionally, Mr. Cooper has participated as an instructor in the continuing professional education program for the California Certified Public Accountants Education Foundation and has lectured for various professional groups. Mr. Cooper is admitted to practice law in the State of California, before the United States District Court (Southern & Central Districts), United States Tax Court and the United States Supreme Court. As an undergraduate, Mr. Cooper attended California State University at Los Angeles and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Accounting. He received his Juris Doctorate from Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, California. During the Vietnam War, Mr. Cooper served as a military policeman in the United States Army and was stationed in Hawaii and Thailand. He was honorably discharged and attended college on the GI Bill.

I have been nominated in America’s Who’s Who twice, Lawyers of Distinction twice and Nations Top 100 Lawyers twice, for my contribution to the area and practice of Law. I have served as a mediator, arbitrator and administrative hearing officer over the course of my legal career and received recognition for those efforts.

I've been practicing law since 1995. I'm licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the District of Columbia, the State of Georgia, the Military Courts of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, the United States Court of Federal Claims, and the Supreme Court of the United States. I served over 20 Years as a United States Marine both as an enlisted member (Amphibious Assault Crewman) and officer (Military Attorney and Judge Advocate). As a Military Attorney I provided legal assistance to members of the military and their families in areas of Family Law, Estate Planning, and Consumer Protection. As a Military Criminal Defense Attorney I represented members of the military at Court Martial and Administrative Discharge Board proceedings facing charges ranging from Capital Murder and Rape to simple Unauthorized Absence.

Creative Solutions to Immigration Problems A continuing commitment to justice for immigrants Our team of dedicated attorneys at Bretz & Coven, LLP are known throughout New York City for enthusiastically taking on the cases that other lawyers turn down. When we believe an injustice is being done, we are prepared to fight for our clients — in federal court, if necessary. Our firm is AV-Rated® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, and our team includes a former litigator for the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Because of our reputation in immigration law, other immigration attorneys often refer difficult cases to us. Dedication to immigration justice in every venue Our work is not limited to the administrative process of immigration. While we eagerly help individuals and families understand the process of obtaining citizenship, New York residency or a green card, we consider complex cases to be the strongpoint of our practice. Our attorneys have argued immigration appeals in federal appellate courts and have had a statute declared unconstitutional. We are dedicated to comprehensive immigration reform and remain invested in the latest immigration legislation and rulemaking, including deferred action. This allows us to advise our clients in New York of the full range

Ken is one of the founding Partners and is responsible for both the management of the firm and is the head of the Workers’ Compensation practice. He is a member of the Workers’ Injury Law Group, W.I.L.G., which is a national organization dedicated to protecting the rights of injured persons throughout the country. Ken has represented both injured workers and employers at all levels of the administrative process, including dealing with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) as well as appearing before the Industrial Commission of Ohio (IC) since 1995. He has also been involved in litigation before the Common Pleas Courts throughout Ohio and has been involved in Mandamus Actions before the Court of Appeals and the Ohio Supreme Court. Ken is a graduate of Wittenberg University (Summa Cum Laude, 1991) and a graduate of The Ohio State University College of Law (1994). He has also taught a Business Law Class as an Adjunct Professor at Wittenberg University during 2010 and 2011 and has participated in the evaluation of Senior Business Majors final projects on several occasions at his alma mater.

Leslie focuses her advocacy on student disciplinary processes, specifically at the college administrative level. This includes advisement in university conduct proceedings from investigations through appeals; academic misconduct accusations; Title IX cases; student organization defense; and specific hazing education and risk management advice for Greek organizations, sports teams, and clubs. Prior to starting Albeit Masters, LLC, Leslie co-founded and grew an education specific law firm for almost a decade, practiced as defense counsel to a prominent Columbus insurance litigation firm, and served as a defense attorney on criminal and traffic matters, gaining valuable litigation and courtroom experience.

S. Michael Graham was born in Dallas County, Texas on November 4th, 1963, and graduated from Woodrow Wilson high school in 1982. He went on to receive his undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Texas at Austin in 1987. He earned his law degree from the University of Arkansas in 1991. In 1993, Mr. Graham received his Texas law license. From 1993 – 1996, Mr. Graham worked for several small law firms. In 1997 Mr. Graham started a solo law practice. Since 1997, Mr. Graham has devoted his efforts to representing injured workers at administrative hearings before the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation and on appeal. Mr. Graham also represents injured workers in trial by jury in both county and district courts.