Education

Christine graduated from Troy State University in 1990 with a Bachelor’s degree in Education and Sports Medicine. She moved to Mobile, as a graduate student and obtained her Master’s Degree in Education and Educational Leadership while working as an Athletic Trainer and teaching in the Education Department at the University of South Alabama and in the public school system in South Alabama. Christine worked as a teacher in the Parochial School System, the Mobile County Public School System, and at the University Level. Christine earned honors in the field of education being awarded Middle School Teacher of the Year and the first Nationally Board Certified K-12 teacher in Alabama. She was a frequent speaker for educational seminars across the state. In 2006 Christine graduated from Law School and was admitted to the Alabama Bar in 2007. With a Juris Doctorate from Thomas Goode Jones School of Law, she opened her own law practice in 2008 and the practice has grown over the years. Christine has offered argument in local and state courts across Alabama, in Federal Courts in the South East, Appellate Courts in both State and Federal Divisions and has been successful with the United States Supreme Court in Searcy v. Strange, the Alabama Marriage Equality Case. Christine is no stranger to controversy arguing the Constitutional Rights of her clients, handling Capital Murder defense and appeals, arguing under appellate review wrongful convictions in criminal cases and for compassionate release from prison. Christine has also been known to argue for judicial reform and against Judge’s that abuse their power and influence across the state. She has frequently argued for the rights of juveniles and for juvenile probation reform in the southern counties of Alabama. In the area of education, Christine has been an advocate for the rights of special education students, championing the fight against bullying and discrimination in schools, and protecting the employment rights of teachers and administrators against school systems. Drawing from her years of teaching and coaching experience, Christine has worked hard to level the playing field and strives to educate her clients and equalize justice for those clients the Hernandez and Associations Law Firm represents. The Hernandez and Associates Law Firm located at the Mid-Towne Works Building at the Loop on Airport Blvd offers in-person, Zoom, teleconferencing, Face Time and Skype for initial consultations and client meetings. We have a full staff working collectively on your cases. Christine personally understands how difficult, stressful, and even frightening the legal system can be, particularly if you are a litigant and this is your first encounter with the legal system. This firm was built from the ground up where the legal team has provided determined representation on difficult and challenging issues. Christine and the other attorneys in the law firm work hard for their success and reputation as a legal team that fights for your rights. Christine returns to Thomas Goode Jones School of Law as a guest lecturer in the areas of Constitutional and Family Law from time to time and has served as mentor to many interns over the years. Christine has also traveled to numerous locations to lecture at continuing education seminars over the span of her career as she is a firm believer in giving back to the community. In addition, to work, Christine coached for nearly 30 years in a number of team and individual sports. Christine freely gives her time, knowledge and experience to younger lawyers and has mentored several attorneys over the years. When she is not at work, she enjoys spending quality time with her spouse, children and the five family dogs.

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.

Donald J. Baranski received his Bachelor of Arts in Humanities Pre Law, from Michigan State University. This was a triple major of American History, Philosophy, and Psychology. He then received a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy from Michigan State University. He then obtained his Doctorate in Law from Michigan State University College of Law. Baranski has been a licensed Attorney and Counselor at Law in the State of Michigan since 1988. He clerked for a trial judge for two years. He worked as a City Attorney, and as a public defender. Baranski has handled a general practice of law including: family law, criminal law, juvenile law, adoptions, contracts, real estate, landlord/tenant, probate estates, wills & trusts, guardianships and conservatorships, mental health law, social security disability, workers compensation, unemployment compensation, education law, collections and bankruptcy. Baranski has conducted jury trials and bench trials in District, Probate and Circuit Courts. Baranski is also admitted to the Western District of Michigan and Eastern District of Michigan Federal Courts.

Margaret Washburn has a general trial practice that focuses primarily on complex and high asset domestic relations litigation, including divorce, modification of custody and child support and contempt actions. We also handle criminal defense, personal injury and auto accidents and civil trial litigation, as well as represent injured workers. We have developed our practice and client base through Margaret's reputation in the community and through involvement in the State Bar of Georgia committees, the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, the Lawrenceville Kiwanis Club, and other civic organizations. Margaret is the editor of the Gwinnett County Bar Association Newsletter, and the newsletter for the Council for Municipal Court Judges. This has led to referrals of clients over the years from other attorneys in both Gwinnett County and around the State.

Mark Bates has practiced law for over 30 years, primarily in Missouri and Illinois. He specializes in employment law and workers' compensation. Over his career, he has acted as leading counsel for numerous Fortune 500 companies such as Wal-Mart, Macy's, Dial, Mallinckrodt Chemical, Kroger, TWA, Express Scripts, Johnson Controls, and Owens-Illinois, along with insurance companies such as AIG, Traveler's, Liberty Mutual, Guide One, and Republic Insurance. Mark is also experienced at criminal defense, having worked previously as a military policeman and a MEDICO-Legal Investigator for St. Louis City.

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.

Attorney Ramy M. Louis earned his law degree from Georgetown University in 2012 and his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a Business minor, from Queens College, City University of New York, graduating magna cum laude. At Georgetown, he was a member of the Barristers’ Council Trial Advocacy Team and the Criminal Law Association and served as a student attorney in the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic. Attorney Louis began his legal career as a Special Assistant District Attorney in Kings County, where he prosecuted thousands of cases—including assault, menacing, domestic violence, larceny, theft of service, trespassing, weapons possession, narcotics offenses, stolen property crimes, forgery, and Driving While Intoxicated (DWI/DUI) offenses. He later served as a prosecutor in Upstate New York, managing felony, misdemeanor, and traffic caseloads across more than 35 trial courts. He also argued appeals before the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department. As a Senior Assistant District Attorney in Nassau County, he handled a wide range of felony cases, including identity theft, wage theft, check kiting, forgery, schemes to defraud, grand larceny, and possession of forged instruments such as Social Security cards, debit cards, credit cards, passports, identification cards, and counterfeit currency. Attorney Louis then transitioned to civil litigation as a Senior Assistant Corporation Counsel with the New York City Office of the Corporation Counsel, where he handled civil rights matters involving false arrest, unlawful searches and seizures, malicious prosecution, fabrication of evidence, and police brutality. He litigated cases in the Southern and Eastern Federal District Courts of New York. In addition to his litigation experience, he presided over special education disputes as a Special Education Due Process Hearing Judge with the NYC Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH), further broadening his legal perspective. Since transitioning to private practice, Attorney Louis has successfully represented clients in Nassau County, Long Island, Queens County, and throughout NYC. His extensive experience as a prosecutor, defense attorney, and adjudicator provides clients with a distinct advantage—offering deep legal insight and a strategic defense approach. Committed to developing personalized legal strategies, Attorney Louis ensures each client receives focused attention and dedicated representation. He has successfully defended clients against a wide range of charges, from traffic violations and misdemeanors to serious felonies, consistently securing favorable outcomes in even the most complex cases. If you need an experienced criminal defense attorney or special education advocate in Nassau County, Long Island, or NYC, contact Attorney Ramy M. Louis today. Call (516) 765-5566 for a free consultation and take the first step in protecting your rights.

Our team is led by national trial lawyer Mark S. Guralnick, who has credentials like no other lawyer. With 8 college degrees, multiple specialty certifications, 9 licenses to practice law, 9 published law books and hundreds of articles written by him Mark S. Guralnick brings unique experiences to the table and applies them to serve his clients. In addition to being licensed as an attorney, Mark S. Guralnick is licensed as a private detective. He is a former investigative news reporter, and he leverages all of these skills, education and experiences to deliver excellent client service while finding smart, practical, cost-effective solutions for clients’ legal concerns.

Horner & Singer, LLP is a business and commercial real estate law firm that focuses on all transactional and litigation aspects of the development, ownership, operation, management, leasing, finance and purchase and sale of commercial real estate as well as corporate and business formation and disputes. The Horner & Singer litigation team, led by Mr. Horner, focuses on the areas of purchase and sale litigation, lease and other contract litigation, unlawful detainer and lease remedy litigation, construction disputes and general business and commercial litigation on behalf of owners, tenants, brokers, investors, contractors and business owners. Mr. Horner has a specific expertise in the area of lease litigation and unlawful detainers as well as broker liability and represents some of the largest public and private commercial landlord and broker/management companies in all aspects of their litigation. The Horner & Singer transaction team, led by Mr. Singer, focuses on the purchase and sale, leasing and finance of all types of commercial real estate. Mr. Singer has a specific expertise in commercial leasing, is the author of some of California's leading treatises, and his practice consists in substantial part of large scale retail lease transactions. Mr. Singer has been the lead attorney on many ground-up retail lease projects throughout California, and represents several fortune 500 national landlords and tenants. As a true commercial real estate "boutique", Horner & Singer offers the highest level of client service, experience and work-product that is on par with the national law firms, and a competitive rate structure. With an average of 16 years of commercial real estate experience, the attorney working on your matter will be a fierce advocate tempered with the right amount of common sense and sharp business intuition to make them your ideal adept problem-solver.

Mr. Bottar is one of upstate New York's most experienced and accomplished trial lawyers, with a track record of extraordinary recoveries for his clients. As the founder and managing member of Bottar Law, PLLC, he brings nearly 45 years of experience to the pursuit of cases involving birth injuries, brain and nerve injuries, amputation, paralysis, and wrongful death due to medical negligence, complex accidents, workplace injuries and defective products. Mr. Bottar has been continuously listed in The Best Lawyers In America® since 2003, and received its 2020 Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year award for Syracuse. Previously, he was recognized three times by Best Lawyers® as Syracuse's Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year (2018, 2014-15, 2009). Mr. Bottar has attained an AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available for legal ability and professional ethics, is a fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America - Trial Lawyer Honorary Society™, and is a charter member and past-president of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers (2010-2011). In 2001, Mr. Bottar was appointed by the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department to serve as a member of the Character and Fitness Committee for the Fifth Judicial District. The Character and Fitness Committee is responsible for screening and interviewing all Central New York applicants who are seeking admission to the Bar. In 2018, Mr. Bottar was appointed by the Presiding Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department to serve as a member of the Grievance Committee of the Fifth Judicial District. In 2021, Mr. Bottar was appointed Chair of the Grievance Committee. The Grievance Committee is responsible for the investigation, review and prosecution of complaints of attorney misconduct in Onondaga, Oneida, Oswego, Herkimer, Jefferson and Lewis Counties. Mr. Bottar has been listed in Upstate New York Super Lawyers® for plaintiff's medical malpractice and personal injury since the inaugural edition in 2007, and was named to its "Top 50" list for 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Since 2011, he has been recognized annually by The National Trial Lawyers as one of the "Top 100" trial lawyers in New York State. He has also been honored by Lawdragon as one of the top 3,000 attorneys in the United States, and has earned life memberships in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum® and the Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum®. Mr. Bottar regularly speaks or guest lectures at legal and non-legal functions, including ethics, tort and practice management classes at Syracuse University College of Law, and at annual updates on behalf of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers. He is a past member of the Dean's Advisory Council at the University at Buffalo School of Law, a has been elected a Fellow of the New York Bar Foundation. Mr. Bottar has a long record of public service and is deeply invested in New York State's education system. He served as a Trustee of the North Syracuse Central School District Board of Education from 1988 through 1989, and as the President of the Board from 1989 through 1996. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Onondaga Madison School Boards Association from 1994 through 1996. In 1996, 2001, 2006 and again in 2011, the New York State Legislature elected Mr. Bottar to serve as a Regent of the University of the State of New York, the most comprehensive and unified education system in the nation. Over his tenure as a Regent, Mr. Bottar was Chair of the College and Career Preparation Work Group, Chair of the P-12 Education Committee, and was a member of the Higher Education and Professional Practice Committees. He was also Vice Chancellor of the Board from 2012-2016. In 2016, after 20 years and more than 10,000 hours of pro bono service to the State of New York, Mr. Bottar retired from the Board. Mr. Bottar resides in Manlius, New York, with his wife, Nancy, a registered nurse.