US Courts

Our firm’s founder and principal, Jody McKnight is a Personal Injury Attorney and a native of Charleston, S.C. He attended the University of South Carolina, and earned his B.A. in Political Science in 1987; as well as his law degree, Juris Doctorate in 1993. Jody McKnight as well as his entire team at McKnight Law Firm works hard for the people of the State of South Carolina every day to above all, “balance the scales of justice.”

Attorney W. Chris Castro is a solo practitioner and the founder of the Castro Law Firm, LLC located in Greenville, South Carolina. His practice primarily focuses on the areas of Criminal Law, Civil Law, Family Law, and Veterans Disability Law. Mr. Castro also practices Appellate Court work and has argued appeals at the South Carolina Court of Appeals. Mr. Castro can assist prospective clients in most upstate South Carolina counties to include Greenville County, Pickens County, Spartanburg County, and Anderson County. Mr. Castro graduated from Clemson University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. After practicing public accounting in Atlanta, Georgia, Mr. Castro returned to Clemson University where he earned a Master’s Degree in Professional Accountancy in 1990. In 1992 Chris became licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in South Carolina. Chris practiced public accounting for the firms of Ernst & Young, and KPMG Peat Marwick, before going on to work in private industry for several years. In 2003 Chris attended law school at the University of Dayton, in Dayton, Ohio where he graduated with honors, Cum Laude, in 2006. While in law school Chris worked in the Law Clinic where he represented indigent clients in the Montgomery County criminal courts. During his tenure at the University of Dayton School of Law Chris earned the CALI award for academic excellence in both the Professional Responsibility (Ethics) course and the Student Law Clinic course. Chris enlisted in the South Carolina Army National Guard in 1988 and went on to attend and graduate from the Palmetto Military Academy Officer Candidate School. He was subsequently commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the South Carolina Army National Guard. Chris currently holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the North Carolina Army National Guard. During his twenty-eight years in the military Chris has served three active duty deployments with the United States Army. Two of these deployments were to the combat zones of Kuwait and Afghanistan. Chris was most recently deployed from 2015-2016 to Kosovo, a former province of the Republic of Yugoslavia. Chris continues to serve today as a Lieutenant Colonel in the North Carolina National Guard. After law school Chris practiced law in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for several years. He served as a contract public defender for two years representing clients in the Georgetown County Court of General Sessions. While living in Myrtle Beach Chris practiced law in Horry and Georgetown Counties in the areas of Criminal Law, Civil Law, Family Law, and Veterans Disability Law.

Herb Elesh is a Immigration Lawyer Practicing in all of Chicagoland. He is active and in good standing within the Illinois State Bar Association. Questionnaire: Lawyer.com Member Questionnaire Please describe a case(s) in the last year or two where you made a big difference. On a Provisional Waiver case I-601 we were able to have USCIS Chicago District Office approve the extreme hardship to a U.S. citizen spouse which led to an approval for the greencard for a husband who entered on a false passport. His name was misrepresented on his passport and USCIS demanded a waiver of the misrepresentation. Based on the wifes medical records and detailed affidavits from myself and my paralegal and affifavits from the Petitioner and beneficiary he was approved for the I-601 and greencard. How did you build a successful practice? mostly word of mouth from satisfied families and clients; What should clients look for in a lawyer? honest, experienced and professional. should be updating himself/herself on laws/regulations/ changes to courts and USCIS and embassies How important is local knowledge to the success of your cases? not as important as new laws and regulations at embassies and USCIS and NVC What information can you provide in a free phone consultation? potential forms of relief such as work permits or green cards or U visa for crime victims or waivers What information do you need in a free phone consultation? potential forms of relief such as work permits or green cards or U visa for crime victims or waivers What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community? value-driven law office with almost 20 years of experience but fees as more affordable given the same level of experience and professionalism of the more expensive downtown law offices What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? having approvals which reunite families here in the US and enable them to build their lives here without fear of deportation. What are your other interests in addition to law? social justice for immigrants in USA including voting and participating in our democracy and helping those new citizens learn English and vote Are you involved in your community? offering pro bono help in the community for U.S. citizen applicants

Ari Trubitt is a Senior Associate Attorney at Sexner & Associates LLC and a life-long Chicago area resident who graduated from the University of Illinois and the John Marshall School of Law. He began his legal career as an intern at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and soon thereafter moved to a law firm from which he began practicing all manner of criminal defense from minor traffic offenses and misdemeanor cases up to first-degree murder. Within his first two years of practice, he had already been sworn into the Federal Bar for the Northern District of Illinois, the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals; a remarkable accomplishment. He has represented clients on felony charges not only in Illinois, but in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and California, as well as on federal cases in the Central and Southern Districts of Illinois and the state of Nebraska. He brings a lifetime of criminal and traffic law experience to the table. Over the following period of nearly 15 years, Attorney Trubitt then exclusively represented union members for all their traffic and criminal offenses, including a high volume of DUI, domestic battery and assault cases. During this time, he also appeared on behalf of hundreds of clients during deportation (removal) hearings and other clients in their efforts to obtain lawful citizenship status, using immigration knowledge that he still employs on a daily basis to assist non-citizens charged with criminal and traffic matters. A past member of the Illinois State Bar Association’s “Traffic Law and Courts Committee”, he has lectured at legal seminars and authored articles related to DUI law and the like. He has served the public as a member of the Judicial Evaluation Committee and as chairperson of those committees whose job it is to evaluate candidates for judicial positions and to rate them. At Sexner & Associates LLC, Mr. Trubitt is also the Senior Attorney in charge of Secretary of State Hearings. In this capacity, he represents clients charged with suspended and revoked licenses before the State of Illinois. His vast experience in this area has earned him a highly successful record of winning back driving privileges for hundreds of drivers.

Peter Menges received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1997. He also received a Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1997, where he graduated cum laude. Mr. Menges spent his first five years of practice as a Trial Attorney with the Denver Office of The Office of the Colorado Public Defender. Mr. Menges opened The Law Office of Peter D. Menges, P.C. in January of 2003 and has been exclusively in private practice ever since. Mr. Menges has extensive trial experience. Mr. Menges has personally handled over a hundred trials. He has tried cases in Federal District Court, Colorado State District Court in numerous jurisdictions, County Court cases in numerous jurisdictions, Municipal Court matters in numerous jurisdictions, and Administrative Hearings in a number of forums. Mr. Menges has also handled Arbitrations and Mediations in civil cases. In the Federal Criminal Court context, Mr. Menges has successfully defended clients in many complex prosecutions for “white collar” cases, such as mortgage fraud, bank fraud, and computer crimes, as well as other complex cases such as large-scale drug conspiracies. In the State Court criminal context, Mr. Menges has handled cases and done jury trials for almost every type of charge ranging all the way from homicide cases to traffic offenses. In the civil context, he has handled a very wide variety of cases including general commercial disputes, personal injury cases, property disputes, contract disputes, mechanics liens issues, slip and fall cases, wage disputes, torts and civil rights. Mr. Menges has also done appellate work in courts ranging all the way up to the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Menges has served on the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the United States District Court in Denver since 2003. He has lectured to hundreds of Colorado criminal defense attorneys on criminal defense law and procedure. He does pro bono work for those in need, and in 2004 was awarded the Colorado Lawyers’ Committee’s Community Contribution Award for his work fighting to secure the release of a formerly mentally ill patient who had been indefinitely committed to the Colorado Mental Health Institute after a “not guilty by reason of insanity” commitment.

Kirby Farris, the managing partner of the law firm Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP, has long been an avid believer in pursing justice for those injured and killed as the result of a personal injury. After first distinguishing himself as a long-term employee of the Norfolk Southern Railway Corporation, Mr. Farris saw first hand the devastating and life-altering impact of work place injuries to railroad workers during the eleven years he worked as a laborer in the Maintenance of Way department. For almost two decades, Mr. Farris has dedicated his practice to representing victims of personal injury and Federal Employers Liability Act, commonly known as FELA. FELA is a federal law that protects and compensates railroad workers injured on the railroad. Mr. Farris is recognized as Designated FELA Counsel for the Transportation Communications Union (TCU). This designation is not only an honor for him but the realization of a longtime goal. After working for Norfolk Southern and representing injured workers on the railroad, he has also seen how properly handled claims for injured railroad workers can help them overcome the life altering impact of a workplace injury. During his years in the railroad industry, Mr. Farris witnessed many times the fact that quality legal representation could seriously impact a fellow employee’s legal claim. He also saw, first-hand, how greatly an injured person’s quality of life could be affected by whether or not he or she was able to find justice through our legal system. Mr. Farris’ empathy for clients and their families continues to reinforce his determination to be ever diligent in representing their legal interests. Mr. Farris received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Alabama and his law degree from Birmingham School of Law. After graduation from law school in 1994, he went on to serve at Birmingham School of Law as an associate professor of torts, civil procedure, and agency & partnership law, while also working to establish his legal practice. He was quickly rewarded with the trust and respect of his legal colleagues which allowed him to establish the law firm of Farris, Riley & Pitt in 1996, based largely on the referral of plaintiff cases from his legal peers throughout Alabama. Mr. Farris focuses his practice on railroad litigation (FELA), FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act), Personal Injury and wrongful death. He has been awarded numerous multi-million dollar settlements, and handles FLSA class actions all over the U.S. Mr. Farris is a member of the American, Alabama and Birmingham Bar Associations. He is also active in the Alabama Association for Justice and the American Association for Justice. Mr. Farris is a native of Lynn, Alabama and presently resides in Birmingham, Alabama with his wife Tammy and their three children. In addition to practicing law, Mr. Farris along with his law partner, Ken Riley, underwrite a legal call in show, LawCall, which airs live every Sunday night on Fox 6 WBRC. LawCall features guest attorneys from all over the State and allows viewers across Birmingham the opportunity to have their legal questions answered live.

For over two decades, residents of Russell and Greenup County have benefited from the legal services we offer at Hensley Law Office. Committed to personalized attention, our veteran staff will work with you throughout all stages of the legal process. Led by Jeff Hensley, our founding attorney, we aim to educate our clients on the benefits and drawbacks of their options and clarify the steps required by the legal process. In reducing the complexity associated with the practice of law, we believe that sharing this knowledge with you will help you feel comfortable with the decisions you'll be called to make. Our dedication to customer service extends to our high-quality representation. Having tried cases in Kentucky's state and federal courts, Jeff is a practiced litigator. You will benefit from his extensive experience as a trial attorney because of his familiarity with the court system and its procedures ensures he addresses legal issues efficiently. Drawing on his legal knowledge, Jeff has developed a perspective that enables him to anticipate future conflicts and propose solutions for both immediate and long-term issues.

Mitchell Burgess is originally from Southwest Missouri. Mitch completed his undergraduate degree at Drury University in Springfield double majoring in History and Political Science. He graduated in 1995, magna cum laude and as a member of the Honors Program. Mitch attended Law School at the University of Missouri - Columbia and received his Juris Doctorate in 1998. While at M.U., Mitch was a member of the Missouri Environmental Law & Policy Review and was published in 1997. After graduating from law school, Mitch clerked for the Honorable Judge Laura Stith on the Missouri Court of Appeals – Western District. Judge Stith now sits on the Missouri Supreme Court. Prior to opening his own law firm in the fall of 2004, Mitch worked for a highly successful Kansas City Plaintiffs litigation firm where he gained tremendous experience handling case across the county involving personal injury, pharmaceutical and product liability litigation. Since founding his own law firm in 2004, Mitch has repeatedly been recognized as one of the top Plaintiffs' Attorneys in the region. He has been named one of the "Best of the Bar" by the Kansas City Business Journal, a "SuperLawyer" by Superlawyers Magazine, and one of the "Top 40 Under 40" by the National Trial Lawyers Association. In 2010, Mitch was named one of the "Winningest" plaintiffs' attorneys by Missouri Lawyers Weekly and also was recognized for securing one of the Top 10 Plaintiffs wins that year. Mitch has had numerous successes in personal injury and class action litigation and has been appointed class counsel on dozens of class action cases.

A native of the Oklahoma City area, Attorney B. David Sisson has provided bankruptcy assistance to area individuals and businesses for nearly twenty-seven years. Mr. Sisson is certified as a specialist in consumer bankruptcy law by the American Board of Certification. Prior to beginning his career in the law, Mr. Sisson attended University of Central Oklahoma, where he earned his undergraduate degree, graduating summa cum laude in 1973. He later attended the University of Oklahoma, where he graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1990. While in law school, Mr. Sisson belonged to Phi Delta Phi, an international legal fraternity. He is a member of several professional law organizations, including the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, the American Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, the American Bankruptcy Institute, the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, the National Association of Chapter Thirteen Trustees, and the National Association of Consumer Advocates. Mr. Sisson is also a member of the Cleveland County Bar Association, and the bankruptcy and reorganization section of the Oklahoma Bar Association. He is admitted to practice law in all state courts of Oklahoma; the U.S. District Court for the Northern, Western, and Eastern Districts of Oklahoma; the U.S. Tax Court; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit; and the United States Supreme Court.

Former prosecutor, David Parker, joined Dodds, Kidd, Ryan & Rowan in 2017. After graduating from UALR William H. Bowen School of Law in 2008, David worked as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, where he prosecuted over 30,000 criminal cases in White County District and Circuit Courts. There, he also served as Special Judge in White County District Court – Civil Division. Following his time as a prosecutor, David worked at the Department of Finance and Administration as Revenue Legal Counsel. There, David represented the department in all DWI drivers’ license appeal cases for the entire state of Arkansas. As part of his representation for the department, David played a key role in lobbying legislators and drafting legislation regarding Arkansas’ DWI laws, licensing and criminal statutes. Besides his work on DWI appeals, David litigated tax protests, business closures, and other civil lawsuits on behalf of DFA. As a Little Rock native, David serves on the Board of Directors for the Big Dam Bridge Foundation, whose mission is to promote the use, support, and preservation of the Big Dam Bridge for the advancement of health, fitness, cultural and recreational activities in Arkansas. David is also among the sixteen founding members of the Little Rock Touchdown Club, where membership has grown to more than 800 members, with the purpose of bringing football fans together to support all levels of Arkansas football.