Sofiya Zhylkaidarova

Wayne Melnick is a Partner and Vice-Chair of the firm’s Government Law practice section. He also is a member of the firm’s Tort and Catastrophic Loss practice section where he is Vice-Chair of FMG’s Transportation practice team. Mr. Melnick is an accomplished trial attorney and has tried over 50 jury trials to verdict in cases throughout the country. For every year since 2013, Mr. Melnick has been named a "Georgia Super Lawyer" in the areas of civil law defense and prior to ...

STEVEN W. WEEKS joined Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP in 1977 after graduating cum laude from Harvard Law School. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry s umma cum laude from Washburn University. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Weeks developed computer models and worked on chemical analysis of water quality problems for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the National Sanitation Foundation. He was elected to partnership in the firm in 1985. The practice ...

Pedro Forment is a principal in the Miami, Florida, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He is a former attorney for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of the Solicitor. Pedro represents employers throughout the United States and is a frequent lecturer on employment law as well as workplace safety and health issues. He has significant class action experience in multiple jurisdictions and practices before federal and state courts as well as administrative agencies throughout the United States...

Prior to beginning his legal career, Mr. Rettig worked in the automotive industry and held various product engineering and sales positions. He joined an intellectual property law firm in 1988, and concentrated his practice on obtaining and enforcing patents, trademarks and copyrights for clients in various fields, with a particular emphasis in the automotive industry. After practicing for 11 years, he joined a Tier I automotive supplier as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secreta...

Victor Afanador is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: General Practice. Victor, who practices law in Newark, New Jersey, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Victor is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael Moore is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Insurance. Michael, who practices law in Seattle, Washington, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

As a former child abuse caseworker and judge, Angie has witnessed firsthand the destruction that protracted conflict causes in families. Her experience has led her to believe strongly in interest-based settlements of family conflict. She encourages her clients to consider the collaborative law process, because it allows them to fashion their own solutions and begin anew in the best manner possible. As a widely recognized advocate of collaborative law, Angie has traveled around the U.S. teachi...

Clifford K. Higa is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Financial Services Regulation Law. Clifford K., who practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Clifford K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joanne's practice emphasizes the representation of banks and other financial institutions in commercial loan transactions involving asset-based and real estate secured loans, including new construction, multi-family, mixed use, retail, hotel, and healthcare related projects. She also represents real estate developers and business owners in connection with acquisition, disposition, planning, financing, construction, and leasing negotiations. Joanne's representation has further included the rep...

For nearly three decades, the emphasis of Mr. Escalera’s practice has been labor and employment law and litigation. Initially, Mr. Escalera served with the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps for nine years where he engaged in extensive criminal and civil litigation. Mr. Escalera was last stationed at the Pentagon where he acted as lead counsel for the Army Litigation Division defending the Department of the Army in employment discrimination suits brought by civilian employees in ...