Ever since childhood, Renee Hykel Cuddy, Esq. has been passionate about helping others. While attending law school, Renee Hykel Cuddy ambitiously trained and competed around the globe as an international Olympic athlete for the U.S. Olympic Rowing Team. She competed for the United States for six years and won several international medals. She brings this same tenacity to her law firm by doing everything she can to win your immigration or family law case. Through her athletic experiences, Ms. Hykel Cuddy developed an understanding of the benefits of diverse culture in business, as well as a passion for uniting families. Hiring Hykel Law is like having Olympic-level legal representation. Through the years, Renee Hykel Cuddy’s vision and sense of purpose have never wavered. She founded Hykel Law Firm with a mission of helping foreign immigrants enjoy the same freedoms, aspirations, and opportunities enjoyed by U.S. citizens. Ms. Hykel Cuddy maintains resilient integrity, honesty, and aggressive defense on behalf of all the individuals and families in greater Philadelphia whom she has the pleasure of representing. When other lawyers throw in the towel, get in touch with Renee Hykel Cuddy, Esq., founder and managing attorney of Hykel Law.

Andrew F. Ruder earned a B.S. degree from Towson University in 2007 and went on to receive his J.D. from Rutgers School of Law in Camden in May of 2012. While in law school, Andrew was a member of the Rutgers Law Journal. His comment, “The Use of Risk Assessment Tools in Formulating Individualized Sentencing Programs,” will be published in the next volume. Additionally, Andrew participated in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistant Project. In the summer of 2010, Andrew interned with the Honorable Mitchell S. Goldberg in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and also with the Honorable Shelley Robins New in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. Andrew served as a law clerk for a small firm in New Jersey as well as for a mediation company under Judge James D. Clyne. He joined Pond Lehocky in September 2012 to practice in the area of Workers’ Compensation. Andrew is admitted to practice law in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Tech2Educate, a non-profit that raises money to provide new technology to charter schools in the Philadelphia area. Most recently, he co-authored an article with Samuel H. Pond entitled “AMA’s Approach to Impairment Rating Evaluations is Unconstitutional” published in The Legal Intelligencer. Andrew was also featured as a contributing writer in the Spring 2013 edition of New Jersey Chiropractor, a quarterly publication distributed by the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors.

Cristiane Lucena, who prefers to go by Cris, is a Brazilian-born attorney with over two decades of experience navigating complex legal systems across two continents. She began her legal career in Brazil as a labor and employment attorney, and she also clerked for justices at the Labor Regional Court in Paraná. After relocating to the United States, Cris earned her Master of Laws (LL.M.) in U.S. law from the University of Houston Law Center (UHLC) in 2020 and passed the Texas Bar Exam during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cris discovered her passion for immigration law while working as a student attorney at UHLC, where she advocated for vulnerable individuals facing overwhelming legal challenges. Since then, she has dedicated her career to immigration law, proudly supporting diverse communities—including Afghan nationals paroled into the U.S. due to the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Her work is marked by compassion, diligence, and a deep understanding of the immigrant experience. In 2023, Cris moved to Philadelphia and joined Hykel Law in May 2025. She is excited to continue helping immigrants achieve stability and opportunity, with a special commitment to serving the Brazilian community in the Philadelphia area. Outside the office, Cris loves the thrill of roller coasters and enjoys outdoor adventures, such as hiking, biking, and exploring nature trails. She’s an avid traveler who values time with friends and family, and she’s always happy to wind down with her beloved cat, Kobe.

Kenneth Weinstein is practicing lawyer in the state of Pennsylvania.

Leno P. Thomas, is an attorney with an uncommon breadth of skills and experience that go well beyond his practice of law. Mr. Thomas was born in Ranni, Kerala, India, and speaks and understands Malayalam and English. Mr. Thomas graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy in 1992 then received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1996. Mr. Thomas graduated with honors and received his Juris Doctor Cum Laude degree from Michigan State University in 2002. Mr. Thomas' practice is focused on personal injury cases, including medical malpractice, product liability, premises liability, auto accidents, and wrongful death. Mr. Thomas also handles a significant amount of criminal and family law cases. Mr. Thomas has tried and arbitrated hundreds of cases to successful verdicts and awards. Mr. Thomas has also negotiated and settled countless claims procuring millions of dollars in settlements for his clients. Mr. Thomas is licensed to practice law in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania as well as Michigan. Mr. Thomas is an active member of the American Association for Justice, the Pennsylvania Association for Justice and the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Thomas is also a member of Michigan Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. When someone has an accident or unfortunate occurrence, Mr. Thomas and his staff are prepared to investigate every aspect of the situation in order to discover not only what happened, but why. Using cutting edge technology, Mr. Thomas evaluates every option until he makes a determination as to who was responsible. Mr. Thomas is an aggressive litigator, as well as a skilled negotiator. Mr. Thomas is well known for employing innovative strategies and ground breaking courtroom techniques. He regularly consults with leading experts so that he can provide his clients with the most effective and efficient representation. Please allow Mr. Thomas and his staff to evaluate your case and get you the proper compensation that you deserve. As always, the initial consultation is free and there is never a fee unless Mr. Thomas recovers money for you.