Social Security

Throughout my 35 plus years of practice, I have represented individuals in all aspects of employment law in order to protect their jobs and families from the arbitrary actions of management who often view their employees as disposable. I have been proud to represent victims of discrimination of all types and effectively prosecuted their claims in either federal or state court. More recently my firm has advocated for an employee who has been harassed on the basis of their sex, age, or race. We have discovered that simply because an employer may have a procedure for reporting such harassment does not mean that the employee is protected or that the claims are fully investigated. The Law Offices of F. Benjamin Riek III has won significant victories for whistleblowers in both administrative and state court actions. We are proud to represent those few individuals who are willing to put aside the fears of retaliation and bring forth the illegal or dangerous actions of their employers -whether it is a pollution violation or misstating financial records. There are strong laws to protect employees in many areas who become aware of illegal activities at work. We are always willing to represent you before the proper agency or in court. In recent years, I have seen a significant increase in the number of cases of retaliation from employers for either reporting discrimination or harassment or cooperating in the company’s investigation of the claim. The employees targeted for retaliation are not just those who were victimized but also the witnesses who saw and heard what happened and told the truth, however inconvenient it might be to management. Don’t let the human resource department or a supervisor intimidate you! It is surprising that even today many companies try to cheat their employees out of the proper earnings through a variety of illegal activities. Some of the more obvious are forcing their workers to work off the clock, either before or after their shift, failing to pay overtime for all hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week, or telling you that you are an independent contractor when you have no control over your work hours. All of these actions violate the Fair Labor Standards Act which has been enforced since the 1930s. If you are classified as an independent contractor, not only does the company avoid withholding taxes, they also don’t pay their portion of social security and unemployment taxes that could affect you as you near retirement. I have a broad and diverse background representing employees and am always willing to meet with you to discuss your situation.

Johanna Kelley, founder of J Kelley Law Group, obtained her law degree in Colombia in 2001, where she practiced Labor, Constitutional, Administrative, Human Rights, International Law and International Business Law. She advised private companies, local and international human rights organizations, governmental agencies, the Colombian Army and grassroots community organizations, with a broad portfolio that included innovative initiatives and the improvement of Colombia’s image abroad. She prepared and accompanied cases of Colombian citizens before the Organization of American States (OAS). After immigrating to the United States, she found that the policy and Immigration Law of this country were a perfect fit for her professional development project and after graduating with Master’s degrees in Law (Duke University) and International Development Policy (Sanford School of Public Policy), she founded in 2013 a non-profit organization aimed at protecting and promoting immigrant rights and social justice. In July 2015, she left the nonprofit sector to serve in government. She began working for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as a supervisor, a wonderful experience professionally and personally, which allowed her to participate in ensuring the integrity of the US immigration system, provide immigration benefits and support the country’s Homeland Security. In November 2017, Johanna Kelley said goodbye to USCIS to kick off the biggest of her work projects: building her own law firm. The founder of our firm believes in legal development and empowerment, therefore, she has been involved in public discussions at mass events and through the media. She hosted the television program ‘Batalla Política’ for the international news channel NTN24 and is a frequent analyst on radio stations and Hispanic channels such as Telemundo, Caracol Televisión, Univisión and RCN News. Mrs. Kelley leads a team committed to the cases of clients and investors, and we are grateful every day for the opportunity to serve our community with professionalism, ethics, and positive results generated through teamwork.

After retiring from the US Army in 2009, Mr. Farmer, never one to rest on his laurels, decided to pursue a second career as an advocate. Earning his Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies under the GI Bill at the University of Maryland, Mr. Farmer went on to earn his Juris Doctorate from Concord Law School in 2013, becoming a member of the California State Bar in 2015. While his military career took him all over the world, Mr. Farmer grew up in Texas, and when the time came to decide where to begin his legal career, he settled close to his roots, starting a practice in Lawton, OK, and eventually expanding to an additional office in Oklahoma City, where he currently lives. Since that time, Mr. Farmer has been defending the rights of those who find themselves at a disadvantage when faced with legal issues. ​Working in the federal court system, Mr. Farmer is admitted to practice and represents clients in the federal courts of the Western, Eastern, and Northern Districts of Oklahoma and the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas. A member of the California State Bar, he is also admitted to practice and has represented clients in Immigration Court, before the Social Security Administration, in the Comanche Nation Tribal Court, Chickasaw Nation Court, Seminole Nation Court, and the Veteran's Administration. ​An avid golfer, Mr. Farmer enjoys spending his free time outdoors, either on the golf course or exploring Oklahoma with his family.

Johanna Kelley, founder of J Kelley Law Group, obtained her law degree in Colombia in 2001, where she practiced Labor, Constitutional, Administrative, Human Rights, International Law and International Business Law. She advised private companies, local and international human rights organizations, governmental agencies, the Colombian Army and grassroots community organizations, with a broad portfolio that included innovative initiatives and the improvement of Colombia’s image abroad. She prepared and accompanied cases of Colombian citizens before the Organization of American States (OAS). After immigrating to the United States, she found that the policy and Immigration Law of this country were a perfect fit for her professional development project and after graduating with Master’s degrees in Law (Duke University) and International Development Policy (Sanford School of Public Policy), she founded in 2013 a non-profit organization aimed at protecting and promoting immigrant rights and social justice. In July 2015, she left the nonprofit sector to serve in government. She began working for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as a supervisor, a wonderful experience professionally and personally, which allowed her to participate in ensuring the integrity of the US immigration system, provide immigration benefits and support the country’s Homeland Security. In November 2017, Johanna Kelley said goodbye to USCIS to kick off the biggest of her work projects: building her own law firm. The founder of our firm believes in legal development and empowerment, therefore, she has been involved in public discussions at mass events and through the media. She hosted the television program ‘Batalla Política’ for the international news channel NTN24 and is a frequent analyst on radio stations and Hispanic channels such as Telemundo, Caracol Televisión, Univisión and RCN News. Mrs. Kelley leads a team committed to the cases of clients and investors, and we are grateful every day for the opportunity to serve our community with professionalism, ethics, and positive results generated through teamwork.

A third generation lawyer, Howard Ankin has known many of his clients since he was a child. They descend from family members, friends and co-workers of his father and grandfather; many recall him as a young boy accompanying his father to court on school breaks. Deep passions for justice and the law are not just part of Howard’s professional life, they have been engrained in who he is since he was born. Today, Howard owns Ankin Law Office LLC - which has flourished since it was founded over 12 years ago – alongside his father and partner, Paul B. Ankin. With extensive experience practicing personal injury, workers compensation, wrongful death, social security disability and criminal and civil litigation, Howard has devoted his professional life to seeking justice on behalf of his clients and perpetuating the tradition of the Ankin family providing superior legal support for all of its clients. By his third year of practice, Howard recovered $1,000,000.00 for his client in Latta vs. Village Green Associates. Today, he has countless victories to his credit. But Howard’s greatest professional accomplishment continues to be the stability and hope he brings his clients by securing their livelihood through legal victories. Howard Ankin prides himself in representing his clients as their friend and attorney, providing quality referrals for legal matters outside of his practice areas. His investment in the Ankin Law Office LLC is evidenced every day as families throughout the Chicago area and Illinois return to the firm for legal guidance at all stages of their lives.

Sperling Law Offices LLC has over 45 years of collective experience in Wisconsin personal injury litigation. We have established a reputation for success in slip and fall/trip and fall, car accidents, as well as other injury cases and have successfully litigated hundreds of these cases in Wisconsin courts.

Gregory Smith is a practicing lawyer in the state of New York handling civil rights matters.

Our attorney, John Stevens, began his legal career after graduating from the Mississippi College School of Law in 1989. During his law school years, he served as chief justice on the Mississippi College Honor Court, as well as a staff member for the Mississippi College Law Review. John has been practicing law ever since, amassing nearly three decades of experience.