Education

Norm Daniels is an Attorney at Law and Certified Public Accountant and is licensed in West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. He has over 40 years of experience and has been selected by his peers to have an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubble and to be included in "The Best Lawyers in America" and "Super Lawyers." In addition to his legal practice, he is an experienced mediator and arbitrator and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. In 1994, Norm Daniels founded Daniels Law Firm, PLLC with the purpose of creating a law firm dedicated to representing highway, heavy, utility, and building contractors and their suppliers. The business law practice includes civil litigation; insurance litigation; business and tax planning; labor and employment law; wills, trusts, and estates; and arbitration and mediation. The firm represents clients working in the States of West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. The paramount commitment of the firm is to timely meet all of our clients’ needs for legal services. Our attorneys and the lawyers we associate with can handle any type of legal problem. Problem Solving Is Our Business.

Derek J. Spada was born in Kingston, raised in Saugerties, and currently resides in Woodstock with his wife and two children. Derek is a result-oriented attorney who works hard to obtain justice for his clients. He has a unique skillset that has enabled him to become an accomplished trial and appellate attorney. He has successfully resolved thousands of personal injury cases in his career and obtained multiple jury verdicts in excess of $1,000,000. He has also handled more than 100 appeals in the Appellate Division and Court of Appeals. Derek is highly regarded by his peers. He has been voted President of the Ulster County Bar Association for an unprecedented three terms, served as the Chair of the Ulster Country Board of Ethics since 2016, and been a member of the Character and Fitness Committee for the Third Judicial Department since 2013. Derek has also coached his son’s Little League baseball team for several years. Education: Derek received his Bachelor of Arts from the College of Saint Rose, Magna Cum Laude, in 1999 and Juris Doctor from Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University in 2002. He also studied abroad at Oxford University in Oxford, England. In law school, Derek was a member of the Cardozo Moot Court Honor Society from 2000-2002. While a member of Moot Court, he was the Northeast Regional Winner and Winner of the Best Brief Award in the Giles Sutherland Rich Moot Court Competition in Boston, MA, and advanced to semifinalist in the national Giles Sutherland Rich competition held in Washington, D.C. He also clerked for Hon. George B. Daniels in the Federal Southern District of New York. At graduation, Derek was awarded the Jacob Burns Medal for Best Brief, which is given to the best writer on the Moot Court Honor Society. Teaching Engagements: Derek has taught the following topics at continuing legal education courses: How to Lay a Foundation to Get Your Evidence Introduced, October 2021 Civil Trial Case Presentation, August 2020 Personal Injury Evidence: Social Media, Smartphones, Experts and Medical Records, June 2018 Plaintiff’s Personal Injury from Start to Finish, June 2017

Jason focuses his practice on complex civil litigation involving business and real estate matters. In his business litigation practice, Jason has experience representing clients in matters involving the rights and obligations of shareholders, officers and directors, LLC members and managers, business partners, and other business stakeholders, the enforceability of restrictive covenants such as non-compete and confidentiality agreements, the collection of commercial debts, the application of state and federal laws governing consumer protection, unfair competition, trade secrets, copyrights, racketeering activity, and securities fraud, and a wide variety of other contract and business tort disputes. In his real estate litigation practice, Jason has experience representing clients in matters involving construction disputes (including owners, developers, design professionals, contractors and suppliers), commercial and residential landlord-tenant disputes, commercial and residential foreclosures, the enforceability of purchase-sale agreements, broker/agent entitlement to commissions, broker/agent duties and disclosure obligations, compliance with architectural / structural requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), condominium and homeowners association governance, equitable lien rights, title disputes, mortgage fraud, insurance claims and a range of other real estate related contract and tort issues. Jason also has experience representing clients in other civil litigation areas such as labor and employment disputes (including discrimination, wrongful termination and wage/hour claims), trust and estate disputes (including the duties of a trustee and matters of fraud or undue influence), and professional liability disputes (including malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty claims involving lawyers, accountants, real estate brokers/agents, insurance brokers/agents, design professionals such as architects and engineers, and healthcare providers such as hospitals and physicians). Jason is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). The CFE credential is conferred by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), the world’s largest anti-fraud organization and provider of anti-fraud training and education. The mission of the ACFE is to reduce the incidence of fraud and white-collar crime and to assist ACFE membership in fraud detection and deterrence. Jason was born in Abington, Pennsylvania in 1982. He received a merit-based Founders Scholarship to attend Tulane University and graduated cum laude in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in both Business Management and Legal Studies in Business. Jason then earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law, graduating cum laude in 2007. During law school, Jason was selected to become a member of the Charles C. Papy, Jr. Moot Court Board and later served as a Moot Court Board Vice President administering the 2006 Negotiation Competition. In addition, he won the Fall 2005 Advanced Moot Court Competition and was a finalist in a 2006 American Bar Association Regional Negotiation Competition. Jason is involved in a variety of local organizations including as a Board Member of the B’nai B’rith Justice Unit # 5207, a member of the Broward County Bar Association, and a member of the Tulane Alumni Club of South Florida.

With over a decade of experience, Terrell A. Ratliff, Esq., is a trial-tested attorney known for fearless advocacy and a commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for his clients. Licensed to practice in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Federal Court, Terrell focuses his practice on criminal defense, civil litigation, and education law, including Title IX cases, school discipline matters, and academic dishonesty defense. Terrell’s extensive trial experience and strategic approach have earned him a reputation as a steadfast advocate. He combines meticulous preparation with persuasive courtroom advocacy to protect his clients’ rights and interests in even the most challenging cases.

Partner, Nicholas J. Repici, is a member of the firm’s Labor and Employment Law; Public Entity Defense; Education Law; and Land Use, Planning and Zoning Law Practice Groups. Mr. Repici has served as Labor Counsel, General Counsel and Special Litigation Counsel for numerous municipalities, counties, authorities, school boards and other public entities throughout New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. Mr. Repici has extensive experience handling public and private sector collective bargaining negotiations, grievance arbitrations, unfair labor practice proceedings and employee disciplinary matters. He also regularly represents management in all types of employment litigation matters including claims involving discrimination, harassment, hostile work environment, wrongful termination, wage and hour laws, whistle-blower activity, restrictive covenants and trade secrets. In addition, Mr. Repici counsels employers regarding workplace policies and procedures, employee leave issues and wage and hour compliance. He handles complex commercial litigation involving: commercial real estate and land use matters, construction matters, contract and business disputes, fraud and misrepresentation and public contract and bid protests. Mr. Repici's education law practice includes representing universities, public school districts and charter schools in matters involving tenure dismissal, non-renewal, employee disciplinary actions, employment litigation, public records disclosure, public meeting compliance, public bidding, board governance and ethical issues. Mr. Repici is the Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Durand Foundation and serves as an Executive Board Member for the Moorestown Youth Baseball Association.

Samuel H. Pond has concentrated his practice in the area of workers' compensation litigation since his graduation from Temple University School of Law in 1984. He is a founding and managing partner of Pond Lehocky Giordano. Mr. Pond’s advocacy for his clients has resulted in some of the largest settlements in Pennsylvania and the nation. Mr. Pond is a member and past president of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association and the current treasurer of the organization’s political action committee, the Committee for a Better Tomorrow. Mr. Pond is the past chair of the Workers' Compensation Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association, past chair of its Education and Ethics Committee and its Workers' Compensation Section Executive Committee. Mr. Pond was appointed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to serve on the Board of Law Examiners. He also served on the Board of The Pennsylvania Federation of Injured Workers, the Pennsylvania Association for Justice and the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Charitable Foundation. Mr. Pond was appointed by the Speaker of the House of Pennsylvania to the Workers' Compensation Advisory Board. He is a current board member of the Pennsylvania Alliance and the USC Shoah Foundation's Next Generation Committee. He sits on and has served on numerous other boards. Mr. Pond is also president of Union Services Access, a legal consulting services network for unions and their members. In addition to his practice as a workers' compensation attorney, Mr. Pond is a frequent author and lecturer in workers' compensation matters. His Martindale-Hubbell rating concerning Legal Ability and Ethical Standards has been given the highest grade. Mr. Pond was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® from 2007-2016. Mr. Pond has also been selected for inclusion in the Super Lawyers® Top 100 in Pennsylvania and Top 100 in Philadelphia lists for consecutive years. Through lectures and seminars, Mr. Pond educates union members and employees throughout the region on their rights under the Workers' Compensation Act. His charitable contributions are extensive and focused on children and education; they include the Union Services Access Scholarship Fund, The Pond Lehocky Trial Advocacy Scholarship and The Pond Lehocky Legal Studies Department Head Office at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business. He also created the Marie Pond Scholarship Fund in honor of his mother, which is a yearly scholarship awarded to a member of the Torresdale Boys Club.

Yolanda Cortes Mares is an experienced attorney proudly serving the legal needs of Temple, Belton, Salado, Harker Heights, and the greater Killeen-Ft. Hood area, in Bell County. She handles a variety of family law matters, all forms of misdemeanor criminal offenses, and some civil matters, with professionalism and diligence. The Cortes Mares law office handles a variety of family law matters and all forms of misdemeanor criminal offenses with professionalism and diligence. Yolanda Cortes Mares will work hard to ensure the best possible outcome for you. I truly believe that justice is the most important aspect of any case and this is something I will always fight for. If you have a current legal issue or wish to know what options you have regarding a potential case, please contact my office. Yolanda Cortes Mares speaks fluent Spanish. I look forward to helping you resolve all your legal issues.

Harvey L. Cox has been practicing law in Texas since 1990 and has extensive experience working with families and businesses. He limits his practice to estate planning and asset protection planning. Harvey earned two Bachelor’s degrees, one from Dallas Bible College in 1983 and the other from Criswell College in 1987. Between those two degrees, Harvey did work on a Master’s of Theology degree at Dallas Theological Seminary. He left Dallas Seminary in 1987 to pursue a career in law, graduating from the University of Houston Law Center in 1989. (Yes, there is a story there but it’s way too long for this space so feel free to ask Harvey about it when you’re in the office or have him on the phone.) Harvey did return to his theological studies, completing a Master’s of Theology degree in December 2018 at Campbellsville University School of Theology. Harvey is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar College, and the Waco-McLennan County Bar Association. He is a recipient of the 2019 Martindale Hubbell “Distinguished” Peer Review Rating for High Professional Achievement. Harvey believes there is an incredible amount of misinformation, half-truths, and estate planning myths masquerading as truth. He battles against incorrect information daily. That’s why he devotes a significant amount of time conducting seminars in local churches, senior citizen centers, and in his office to educate Seniors on Texas Estate Planning issues. When Harvey is not in the office helping clients or teach Senior seminars, he teaches Business Law at McLennan Community College (MCC) in Waco, Texas. MCC also offers an extensive selection of Continuing Education classes to the public each semester. Harvey and his Senior Legal Assistant, Gary Hill, teach a six-hour Estate Planning and Asset Protection Planning Class for Seniors as part of the Continuing Education Program. The date of their next class is available on the Seminars Page. Harvey was born and raised in Mexia, Texas. He lives in Waco, Texas with his wife, Rebecca. They have three sons.

Doug Murphy stands as a prominent figure in the legal realm of Houston, Texas, with a focus on Criminal Law and DWI Defense. His career, which began in 1999 with the establishment of Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C., showcases a deep commitment to justice and legal proficiency. As President of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association and a member of the Board of Regents for the National College for DUI Defense, Doug's role in the legal community is marked by leadership and advocacy. Recognized consistently in listings like Best Lawyers in America and as a Texas Super Lawyer since 2009, Doug's achievements highlight his dedication to his practice. His significant role in revealing flaws in the Houston Police Department's breath alcohol testing vans led to his receiving the Sharon Levine Unsung Hero Lawyer of the Year Award in 2012, demonstrating his commitment to fairness in legal practices. Lauded by the Houston Press as the “Drinking Driver’s Best Friend,” Doug's influence extends beyond individual cases to broader systemic change and advocacy for equitable legal standards. Doug's practice covers a wide range of criminal cases, with an emphasis on DWI defense. His approach melds a comprehensive understanding of the law with a compassionate grasp of his clients' situations, ensuring they receive not just robust legal representation but also respectful and dignified treatment. Beyond his practice, Doug is a leader in legal discussions, evidenced by his numerous speaking engagements and contributions to publications. Fluent in Spanish, he reaches a diverse clientele, focusing on inclusivity and accessibility. In essence, Doug Murphy is more than just a lawyer; he is a key figure in the Houston legal community, an advocate for justice, and a dedicated representative for his clients. His unwavering commitment to excellence in criminal law and DWI defense makes him a distinguished choice for legal representation in Houston, Texas.

Jason Epstein is a partner at Premier Law Group, PLLC, a Bellevue personal injury and employment law firm representing victims of negligence and wrongful conduct. A Seattle native, Jason received his B.A. in Philosophy from USC and his J.D. from Pepperdine University. He has dedicated his practice solely to helping accident victims and their families achieve full recoveries. Over the course of his career, he has had extensive experience and success in cases involving both catastrophic and fatal injuries, medical malpractice issues and motor vehicle accidents of all types. He is frequently asked to speak on personal injury and trial practice topics to other groups of attorneys and is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Bar Association, the Washington Bar Association and the American Trial Lawyers Association. Jason is also a published author.