Welfare

Michael Katz practices exclusively family/child welfare law and education law. Michael has dedicated his professional career to assisting families navigate the often complex and emotionally challenging child welfare and education law arenas. Michael strongly believes that his clients need to be knowledgeable about legal issues directly impacting their families so that they can be empowered to make decisions that best meet the needs of their families. Michael has been involved with issues relating to child welfare for the past twenty years both as an educator and an attorney. Michael grew up in Baltimore County and attended Boys’ Latin School. After high school he attended Towson State University graduating with a degree in Elementary Education. Throughout college, Michael worked each summer with cognitively challenged youth and continues to this day to volunteer with various organizations that assist mentally and cognitively limited youth. He began his professional career as a teacher of special education students in Baltimore County and then as an elementary school teacher in Baltimore City before entering law school. While Michael thoroughly enjoyed his teaching experience, he felt that he could better serve children as a legal advocate. Michael graduated Magna Cum Laude, in the top 10% of his class, from the University of Baltimore Law School. While in law school he completed various internships with private and public agencies that centered on child welfare issues including Legal Aid’s Child Advocacy Unit and Advocates for Children and Youth. Upon being admitted to the Maryland Bar, Michael accepted employment as an Assistant Public Defender with the Office of the Public Defender, Child in Need of Assistance Division. This position allowed Michael to fully develop his litigation skills, foster relationships with court personnel, and provided the opportunity to observe the positive impact an experienced, knowledgeable, pro-active attorney can have on the life of a child. After three years of employment with the Office of the Public Defender, Michael accepted a position as staff attorney with the Law Office of Darlene A. Wakefield, P.A. For the last nine years, Michael has served first as Supervising Attorney then as Managing Attorney. Over the past nineteen years, the Law Office of Darlene A. Wakefield, P.A., through contracts with the state of Maryland, has been the second largest provider of legal advocacy services for abused/neglected children, representing well over twenty-five thousand children. Michael has represented over a thousand children and continues to represent parents in child welfare cases as he believes he brings a unique perspective to parents regarding how their actions affect their children. Michael has received certification to serve both as a Court Appointed Child’s Counsel in family law cases and as a mediator in Maryland Courts. Michael also represents parents in education matters as he has extensive experience advocating at Individual Education Plan Meetings and Due Process hearings. Education advocacy allows Michael to advocate for the services children need to be successful. Michael strongly believes that regardless of the socio-economic environment in which a child is raised, education truly is the key to a successful future for all children. Michael has extensive experience handling all aspects of Estate Planning. He enjoys helping individuals and couples plan for their future by ensuring that all life and legacy needs are honored. Michael and his extended family reside in Baltimore County. Michael is an avid sports fan who was fortunate to be able to attend the Raven’s victorious Super Bowl win. He also enjoys animals, traveling, and volunteer work with children’s organizations.

Marsh Law Firm focuses our legal practice exclusively on representing survivors of sexual abuse and discrimination. We pride ourselves on being survivor focused, trauma informed, and justice-oriented lawyers. We advocate for our clients both in and out of the courtroom to secure justice and hold perpetrators and the institutions that enable abuse accountable. Our legal team understands that disclosing sexual abuse is an incredibly difficult process. Our goal is to work closely with each of our clients and approach each situation with empathy, respect, and understanding. Our first promise to our clients is that we will support them throughout their healing journey. Marsh Law Firm has a robust legal practice in New York and Pennsylvania. Our attorneys have substantial experience handling claims involving childhood sexual abuse, including claims against the Catholic Church and other institutions, adult sexual abuse, as well as online sexual exploitation and child sex abuse material (CSAM). Our attorneys represent survivors of campus sexual assault and discrimination in educational settings at the K-12, college, or university level, state and federal administrative proceedings, and in the courts. Marsh Law Firm celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive atmosphere that is welcoming to all. We help survivors rebuild their lives with dignity and respect through comprehensive legal representation. Contact us today for a free legal consultation.

Born in South Dakota, raised in Iowa, and now practicing law in Minnesota, Blake is the very definition of a Midwestern lawyer. He attended the University of Iowa, graduating in 2004 and received a bachelor's degree in English literature and philosophy. After college, he went to Drake Law School in Des Moines, Iowa. He graduated law school in 2010 and was admitted to the Iowa bar in the same year. Blake founded Lubinus Law Firm, PLLC in 2011, which became Lubinus & Merrill, P.L.C. in 2019, and practiced in the Des Moines metro area and surrounding rural counties for nearly ten years. His primary areas of focus were criminal defense, juvenile welfare, and family law. After the uncertainty and chaos brought on by the pandemic in 2020, Blake moved to Minnesota this past September to be closer to his family. He was hired on at Ed Shaw Law in April of 2021 and will be practicing primarily in the areas of probate, family law, and general civil litigation. In his free time, Blake plays live music at local venues, enjoys backpacking and kayaking, cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs, and spending time with his family. He is excited to join the Brainerd legal community and looks forward to getting to know his fellow colleagues.

Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Family Law Trial Attorney, and Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney, Ms. Williams practices exclusively family law, including adoptions, divorce, domestic violence, child support matters including UIFSA, child custody including UCCJEA, DYFS hearings (both Superior Court and OAL hearings, and including abuse/neglect and guardianships), and appeals. Ms. Williams sits on the Board on Attorney Certification - Matrimonial Committee. She is an Editor on the Board of the New Jersey Family Lawyer. She serves on the Family Law Executive Committee (FLEC) of the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA). Chair-Elect of the Certified Attorneys Section of the NJSBA, Ms. Williams is also active with the Child Welfare Section of NJSBA. Considered to be a Thought Leader in the field of Child Welfare Law, Ms. Williams founded and manages a BLOG specific to this complex area of the law: http://NewJerseyDYFSdefense.com. This resource has been recognized by the News Media as an authority for the parent defense position in matters before the New Jersey Supreme Court. Ms. Williams lectures frequently for the Institute on Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) and publishes extensively in various publications in the area of Family Law and Child Welfare Law.

I am Jeff to those who know me, and for over the past sixteen years, my primary focus and areas of practice have been in the Child Welfare, Dependency & Neglected areas as well as Termination of Parental Rights/Adoptions. I have a small law office that is nothing short of a true family business. My Office Manager is Donna who also happens to be my wife and mother of our six children, four original now grown, and the two that she has re-nested our home with. We have seven grandchildren with the youngest currently in our legal custody and residing with us. She keeps things running smoothly in the office while I am out doing what I do best every day and that is to help children and families, spending most of my time in the courthouse, or at the Department of Children's Services (DCS) office in Child & Family Team Meetings (CFTMs), or on school or home visits, pre-COVID of course now spend a lot of time on conference calls or Zoom, whether for meetings or court appearances! I retired from the US Navy in 2000 after completing twenty years of service as an Aviation Electronics Technician First Class (Air Warfare Specialist) specializing in the calibration of test equipment. Giving Donna the option of relocating anywhere in the country from our home in Jacksonville, Florida she chose the hills of East Tennessee, where we have enjoyed living. After retiring at the age of 37 1/2 having earned my undergraduate degree while on active duty, I used my GI Bill benefits to attend Law School at the University of Georgia, beginning my law studies less than a month before the fateful September 11, 2001 attacks. I practice litigation primarily in Sevier County, although I have had cases in Blount, Jefferson, Cocke, Knox, Claiborne, Grainger, Hamblen, Greene, Washington, and Anderson counties. When it comes to adoptions I travel anywhere in the East Tennessee area since they usually only require one court appearance and are easier to schedule than a contested matter. There is no greater joy for us than assisting a child reach permanency through adoption with a forever family. Donna and I have been foster and adoptive parents since 2005 and that has given us the unique perspective in helping our clients navigate the complicated and oft-times confusing and ever-changing child welfare system. We truly understand the frustrations of this system first hand and personally and from every angle - short of being a DCS attorney. Even our two youngest children are part of the business and are often seen helping mom with filing papers and visiting their "friends" at the courthouse, or picking out the stuffed animal keepsake that Donna embroideries on for every child we do an adoption for. Their favorite part of our practice without a doubt is attending some of the adoptions we've been blessed to help finalize and seeing children like themselves become a permanent part of a forever home.

Samantha Salvi became an associate attorney at Salvi, Salvi & Wifler, P.C. in August 2018, joining her father, Michael J. Salvi, and uncle, Peter J. Wifler. She concentrates on various personal injury cases, including product liability, premises liability, medical malpractice, and car accidents. Samantha earned her associate's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2012, and in 2014 she obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice/Pre-Law from the Florida Institute of Technology. In May 2018, Samantha received her Juris Doctor from Loyola University School of Law, where she was awarded a merit scholarship and consistently made the Dean's List. She also earned her Advocacy Certificate from Loyola. Throughout her time at Loyola, she worked at Loyola's Child Law Clinic and obtained her Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711 License as a Child Rep. This allowed her to represent abused and neglected children in Chicago, providing a voice for those who needed it most. Samantha's experience as a Child Rep equipped her with interdisciplinary knowledge and practical skills to effectively advocate for her clients. She passionately advocated for vulnerable children and families in court, both in litigation and policy matters. Samantha remains actively involved in advocating for vulnerable populations and volunteers as an attorney for the International Street Dog Foundation, a non-profit rescue organization. In this role, she focuses on influencing international governments to implement and enforce animal welfare laws, ensuring compliance with CDC regulations and the Animal Welfare Act, and facilitating the rehoming of international street dogs in the US. To schedule your free consultation with the Lake County, IL Personal Injury Attorney, please visit online or call 847-796-8448.

Brittney Archie is an attorney at The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, licensed in both Arkansas and Texas. Deeply involved in her community, Brittney has been active in church since birth and continues to participate in various outreach programs, homeless foundations, and volunteer opportunities. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, writing, and singing—hobbies she has cherished since childhood. Her path to becoming an attorney began in high school, where she discovered a passion for law during a trip to Washington, D.C., where she explored the legal profession. Brittney’s top causes include child welfare law, divorce law, and child custody law, as she is dedicated to advocating for individuals in critical situations. An interesting fact about her is her love for fishing, and she dreams of trying activities like jet skiing and skydiving. Influenced by her faith and supportive family, Brittney describes herself as hardworking, compassionate, respectful, and trustworthy. Her journey reflects her strong spiritual connection to God and her commitment to serving others.

Vermont trial lawyer Chris Maley has extensive experience in the area of medical malpractice and personal injury. In February 2006, Chris recovered $2,375,000.00 in a medical malpractice lawsuit involving the negligent delay in diagnosis of prostate cancer. In 2004, Alan Sylvester and Chris recovered $5,400,000.00 for a Wrongful Death case. In 2003, John Maley and Chris settled, just prior to closing arguments, a United States District Court personal injury motor vehicle accident claim for $2,925,000.00. Chris's accomplishments have been recognized by his fellow attorneys. He has been selected by his peers to be included in the publication The Best Lawyers in America.Chris has participated in trials, arbitrations and mediations arising out of malpractice claims against physicians, nurses and hospitals. Chris has litigated dozens of cases involving medical negligence during pregnancy and delivery. Chris has handled medical malpractice cases involving: failure to diagnose prostate, lung, breast, cervical, testicular and other cancers, as well as failure to diagnose stroke, heart attack and other conditions. Other malpractice cases he has resolved include overdoses, experimental medicine complications, surgical negligence, misdiagnoses and emergency room errors. Chris's personal injury practice involves representation of those injured or the families of those killed in car and trucking accidents. He also represents those harmed due to defective and unreasonably dangerous drugs or other products. Chris was born in Burlington, Vermont. He graduated cum laude from both St. Lawrence University in 1993 and from Suffolk University Law School in 1996. At Suffolk, he was a recipient of an American Jurisprudence Award and was a member and an editor of the Transnational Law Review. Chris was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1996 and practiced in Boston at the law firm of Martin, Magnuson, McCarthy & Kenney for six years primarily in the area of medical malpractice before being admitted to the Vermont Bar in 2002. Chris was also admitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in 1997. Chris is on the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors of the Vermont Trial Lawyers Association.  He is a member of the American Association for Justice, Vermont Bar Association and Massachusetts Bar Association. His practice areas include general personal injury matters, medical malpractice, wrongful death, motor vehicle accidents, pharmaceutical litigation, and product liability.

During law school, Mr. Chayet's grandmother, Letty Milstein, was the principle party in one of the most controversial and public elder law cases in the state of Colorado. The Estate of Milstein v. Ayers, 955 P.2d 78 (Colo. App. 1998), is a landmark probate case which upholds and protects the right to counsel and due process of incapacitated adults in Colorado and has been codified into the Colorado Uniform Protective Proceedings Act (the guardianship and conservatorship laws). This experience was the impetus for Mr. Chayet's career long practice commitment to the field of elder law and probate litigation. Mr. Chayet is the past Chairman of the Elder Law Section of the Colorado Bar Association and the recipient of Colorado Super Lawyers 2011 Rising Star in Elder Law. Mr. Chayet's expertise in the area of elder law has also been demonstrated through his publishing in the areas of elder law as well as many public speaking appearances throughout Colorado.Mr. Chayet is an active member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and a member of the Colorado Bar Association where fellow Colorado attorneys nominated Mr. Chayet to be a Fellow of the Colorado Bar Foundation. Mr. Chayet, born and raised in Denver, Colorado, is continuing in the footsteps of his family in assisting the philanthropic and civic community of Colorado, by serving on the board of many not-for-profit organizations including the Total Long Term Care Foundation, Guardianship Alliance of Colorado, Colorado Citizens for Accountability, Allied Jewish Apartments, Jewish Senior Recreation Network, the Foundation For Hope and the Life Source Services Hospice.

Sheri D. Coover, Esquire, brings a wealth of experience to her legal practice, having transitioned from public service at the Cumberland County Courthouse to a career in law while raising four children. She earned degrees in Paralegal Studies, Public Policy, and law from Harrisburg Area Community College, Penn State University, and the Dickinson School of Law, respectively. After initially concentrating on tax law, she developed a broad practice centered around family law, where she has represented clients across Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, Perry, and York Counties. Ms. Coover has built a reputation for guiding clients through difficult legal matters, including guardianship involving incapacity, divorces involving significant marital property, and child welfare cases involving county agencies. Since 2017, she has served as a Custody Conciliator for Cumberland County, helping parents work toward agreements in the best interests of their children. In private practice, she continues to assist individuals seeking to assert custody rights or protect assets accumulated during marriage. In addition to her work in family law, she has handled criminal defense matters, Protection from Abuse cases, and administrative hearings related to findings of abuse or social services intervention. She has also successfully appealed numerous Social Security disability denials. Sheri lives in Central Pennsylvania with her pets and enjoys staying connected to her nearby children and grandchildren. Call 717-243-9190 or complete our contact form for your free consultation today.