About Our Firm

Yubia Wilkinson is an Attorney & Director of Legal Services at James Immigration Law. She is licensed by the Ohio State Bar Association and is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

Attorney Wilkinson graduated with honors and received her Master of Laws in U.S. and Global Legal Studies from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Attorney Wilkinson has lived in Mexico, Canada and the United States giving her a unique background and understanding of our culturally diverse clients. She is fluent in Spanish, English and is conversational in French.

Attorney Wilkinson practices in the business, family, removal defense, and humanitarian immigration sectors. She is passionate about her work and was recognized by her peers as 2021 Super Lawyers Rising Star in Ohio, and most recently she received a prestigious recognition by Super Lawyers: Rising Star in Ohio & Kentucky 2023.

Akshita Patel is a Intake Attorney at James Immigration Law. Attorney Patel is licensed by the Ohio Supreme Court and is a member of the Federal Bar Association. She practiced on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Attorney Patel is a member of the Federal Bar Association (FBA) and on the FBA Immigration Law Section – Newer Lawyer Committee.

Attorney Patel received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Grand Valley State University with a Legal Studies Major and a Minor in Spanish. She received her Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Akron School of Law. She is fluent in English, Spanish, Hindi and Gujarati.

Attorney Patel’s passion for immigration law stems from immigrating from Zambia when she was 12 years old and experiencing the highs and lows of the United States immigration system. Attorney Patel’s unique background and training makes her a dedicated advocate for immigrants’ rights. Since she was admitted to practice law in 2017, Akshita Patel has focused a majority of her practice removal defense, family-based immigration, and humanitarian relief.

Katarina Schmidt is an Associate Attorney at James Immigration Law. Katarina’s decision to pursue law school stemmed from her desire to specialize in immigration law, which was influenced by her parents’ professions and her multicultural upbringing. Raised by a real estate attorney father, and a mother who worked as a professional interpreter and translator, she saw immigration law as a natural blend of legal practice and international engagement.
Her diverse cultural background, with a Russian mother who immigrated to the United States to marry her father, exposed Katarina to various cultural experiences from a young age. Her mother’s immigration journey, especially navigating the challenging K-1 visa process before the fall of the Soviet Union, deeply impacted her. Growing up bilingual in Russian and later mastering Spanish through her work as an immigration attorney further enriched her understanding of different cultures.
Additionally, witnessing her mother’s second immigration process to Buenos Aires, Argentina, a decade ago gave Katarina firsthand insights into diverse immigration systems and experiences. These encounters fueled her passion for immigration work, allowing her to develop a profound appreciation for the complexities and challenges immigrants face.

Edwin Estrada the Director of Operations and Business Development at James Immigration Law. He was born in Medellin, Colombia but has resided in the United States on and off since he was three years old. Mr. Estrada graduated from Florida International University with his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 2005. He is fluent in English and Spanish. Coming from a family of immigrants, Mr. Estrada is uniquely qualified to represent his clients and champion for the best possible outcome for their cases. He is proud to be part of our team because it reflects his own values which includes providing the best possible results for his clients.

Marybel Garcia Gomez is the Human Resources Administrator at James Immigration Law. She was born and raised in Medellin, Colombia. Mrs. Garcia Gomez studied advertising and marketing, human resource management, and business administration. She has volunteered in disaster prevention. Mrs. Garcia Gomez has extensive professional experience in customer service, operations management, team building and leadership. She is proficient in Spanish and English. Mrs. Garcia Gomez is empathetic understanding that behind every case are human beings. She is proud to be part of the team and is committed to favorable outcomes on each case she works on.

Jose Atencia is the Training Supervisor at James Immigration Law. He was born and raised in Cartagena, Colombia. Mr. Atencia is currently studying and working towards a law degree. He is a talented musician that has an affinity for social work and humanity which aligned him with James Immigration Law’s cause. Mr. Atencia is bilingual proficient in Spanish and English. He has vast experience in customer service that has helped him to become an active listener and a great asset to our clients.

Kathileen Garcia is the Client Service & Billing Manager at James Immigration Law. She was born and raised in Vero Beach. FL. Before joining our firm, Mrs. Garcia worked for nine years in the medical industry. She is fluent in two languages: Spanish and English. Being a first-generation Mexican American, Mrs. Garcia is very familiar with the immigration system. Her husband went through a rocky immigration process without the educated guidance of James Immigration Law. Since then, Mrs. Garcia has become a passionate advocate for those seeking immigration advice and supporting those looking to immigrate to the United States.

Stephany Valencia is a Client Services & Billing Specialist at James Immigration Law. She was born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia. Ms. Valencia has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business from Universidad del Norte, and relevant work experience in Accounts Payable, Billing, and Customer Service. She is fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese. Ms. Valencia has found in James Immigration Law a great opportunity to help others by providing the best customer service experience possible, and her commitment is to keep achieving the firm’s mission of improving people’s lives.

Iliana is an Office Assistant at James Immigration Law. She was born and raised in San Cristobal, Venezuela, where she attended Universidad De Los Andes ULA, majoring in Social Communications-Journalism. Iliana hosts a local Latino news program in South Carolina and has experience in social media production, event planning, and customer service. Ms. Leyba is fluent in Spanish and English. Iliana believes in having a greater purpose: to help those in need and to encourage those who need encouragement. She is very grateful because, at James Immigration Law, these opportunities present themselves daily. Having personally experienced all the battles and complexities of the immigration processes and what it means to assimilate and adapt to a new culture, this is the perfect next step in her journey.

Nicole Almeida is a Client Services & Billing Specialist at James Immigration Law. She was born in Miami FL, but raised in Barranquilla, Colombia. Ms. Almeida is currently studying and working towards a law degree. She is fluent in Spanish and English. Ms. Almeida has discovered in James Immigration Law an excellent opportunity to assist families by delivering top-notch customer service, and her dedication lies in consistently fulfilling the firm’s goals of enhancing people’s lives.

Melissa De Moya is a Client Services & Billing Specialist at James Immigration Law.

Antonella Bramón, a native of Peru, holds a degree in Translation from Ricardo Palma University in Lima, Peru. Her journey with James Immigration Law began as an administrative assistant, where she diligently supported various office functions. Through dedication and hard work, she advanced to her current role as a Records Specialist. In addition to managing the firm’s legal translations, she actively liaises with various courts, maintaining constant communication to obtain the documents required for clients’ cases. Her commitment to client service is evident in her proactive approach to providing assistance and support whenever needed. Fluent in Spanish, English, and French, Antonella brings linguistic expertise and heartfelt dedication to her role, contributing to the firm’s mission of preserving family unity and improving lives through opportunities in the United States.

Karen Rivera is a Records Specialist at James Immigration Law. She was born and raised in Medellin, Colombia. Ms. Rivera is an International Business graduate. Her experience in procurement, accounts payable, and customer services have finely honed her expertise in various aspects of these fields. Ms. Rivera is fluent in Spanish and English. She is very passionate about helping others and her goal is to make a positive impact in every endeavor she takes on.

Natalia Herrera is a Record Specialist at James Immigration Law. She was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia. Ms. Herrera is a lawyer who graduated from the Externado University of Colombia. She has experience in criminal law and human rights. Ms. Herrera is fluent in Spanish and English and conversational in French. She is passionate about immigration law for the opportunity to keep families together and provide better opportunities in the United States.

Maria Aguero is a Paralegal & Senior Case Manager at James Immigration Law. She is part of the T Visa Team. Ms. Aguero was born and raised in New York City, NY and moved to Miami, FL when she was thirteen years old where she finished her education. In 2007, She enrolled in the legal studies program at Keiser University and graduated in 2009 with her Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies. As the first in her immediate family to obtain a college degree, Mrs. Aguero followed her passion for learning and graduated Summa Cum Laude in May of 2011 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies. She is fluent in two languages: Spanish and English. Mrs. Aguero is a passionate and dedicated crusader for her client’s rights. She joined our team because it closely mirrored her own work ethos and ideals; helping keep families together and to make their lives better through opportunities presented in the United States.

Elsa Roman is a Senior Case Manager at James Immigration Law. She is part of the Removal Defense Team. Ms. Roman was born in Mexico but she came to the United States to attend elementary school at 11 years old. Being an immigrant to the United States herself, she is uniquely qualified to act as a liaison between James Immigration Law’s clients and the firm’s attorneys. Mrs. Roman is fluent in two languages: Spanish and English. She is dedicated to making sure all her clients are treated fairly, respectfully, and with the greatest amount of care possible. Mrs. Roman’s goal is to achieve a positive result for her clients.

Santiago Cardenas is a Senior Case Manager at James Immigration Law. He is part of the Humanitarian Team. Mr. Cardenas was born in Bogota and immigrated to the United States at the age of 15. He became a U.S. citizen in 2021. Through his immigration process, Mr. Cardenas became interested in how immigration law works. His interest became more significant after his residency was approved and he started working in an immigration law firm. In 2020, Mr. Cardenas received his Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies. He is now in the process of starting a Bachelor’s Degree program in Paralegal Studies at the University of Central Florida. Mr. Cardenas is fluent in Spanish and English. He joined our team because he is passionate about those seeking legal immigration benefits in the United States.

Juanita Estrada is a Case Manager at James Immigration Law. She is part of the Removal Defense Team. Ms. Estrada was born and raised Medellin. She studied law in University of Medellín and has a degree in criminal law. Her first job was in a district attorney’s office. Ms. Estrada has experience working as a legal assistant in the criminal department of another law firm prior to joining our team. She is passionate about serving people and combining her knowledge in the fields of criminal and immigration law. Ms. Estrada is fluent in Spanish and English. She is excited to be part of the James Immigration Law.

Melisa Baez is a Case Manager at James Immigration Law. She is part of the Humanitarian team. Ms. Baez was born in Bogota and lives in Medellin. She has a Psychology Degree at the National University of Colombia. Ms. Baez has worked in areas of mental health, education, evaluation, and psychological advisory. She has worked in different national organizations and universities, always helping people to achieve their goals and enjoy their lives. Ms. Baez is fluent in Spanish, French and English. One of her greatest strengths is she has great empathy skills and wants to give the best of herself to others.

Natalia Manjarrés is a Case Manager at James Immigration Law in the Humanitarian Team. Ms. Manjarrés was born in Montelibano, Cordoba, and currently lives in Medellín. She holds a degree in Biological Engineering from the National University of Colombia. Apart from her professional background, Ms. Manjarrés has consistently shown a strong commitment to humanitarian causes and social responsibility, particularly through engaging in volunteering programs with a focus on children and minorities. Along that road, she grew interested in immigration law as she saw it as an opportunity to help others, and decided to join James Immigration Law out of her admiration for the firm’s commitment to helping others. Ms. Manjarrés believes strongly in the value of empathy, considering it a cornerstone in both her professional and personal life. She’s fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese.

Lucia Ferrer Correa serves as a Case Manager at James Immigration Law, specifically belonging in the Humanitarian Team. A native of Bogotá, Colombia, she spent the majority of her life in Medellin. Ms. Ferrer is an alumni of EAFIT University Law School and is currently pursuing advanced studies in Criminal Law at the same institution.
With a rich background in the Colombian justice system, she has contributed significantly as an intern at Medellín’s Court House and as a victim representative in criminal proceedings. Ms. Ferrer is proficient in both Spanish and English, facilitating effective communication in diverse legal contexts.
She fervently champions the rights of individuals. By seamlessly integrating her expertise in criminal and humanitarian law, Ms. Ferrer strives to provide invaluable assistance to those navigating challenging circumstances. Her passion lies in advocating for people’s rights, embodying a commitment to justice and compassion.

Emily Betancur Moncaleanno is a case manager of the T Visa team at James Immigration Law. Emily studied two professional careers: International Business and Modern Languages with an emphasis on Translation and Interpretation in Portuguese, English, Italian, and French. In 2016, she lived in Taiyuan, China, where she learned Mandarin and Asian culture. In 2019, she was a global volunteer addressing the sustainable development goal of quality education with AISEC. Her big dream is to work in the third committee of the UN, as it is crucial to advance the rights of people with disabilities and guarantee their right to quality education, as well as their access to decent work and accessibility. Emily is an empathetic and diverse person, and through her kindness, she connects with every human being, achieving positive results in each case of the firm. She is proud to be part of the team and is committed to favorable outcomes in every case she works on.

Janisse Cruz is a Case Manager at James Immigration Law. She is part of the Family Team.

Nicolle Holguin is a Case Manager at James Immigration Law. She is part of the Family Team.

Mateo Henao is a Case Manager at James Immigration Law. He is part of the Family Team. He has a law degree from Universidad del Rosario, with a deepening in criminal law and criminology. He also have experience in corporate and criminal law. Mateo is bilingual on spanish and english.

Andrea Millan is a Case Manager at James Immigration Law. She is part of the family team. Ms. Millan was born and raised in Bucaramanga, Colombia. She studied law at Santo Tomas University. She is fluent in Spanish and English. Ms. Millan has a background in civil law, a field in which she worked for several years before going on exchange to the United States. This experience led her to develop a passion for immigration law, social service, and the positive impact of small actions on people’s lives.

Juan Camilo Restrepo is a Trauma Intake Specialist at James Immigration Law. He is part of the T Visa Team. Mr. Restrepo was born and raised in Medellin. He is currently studying his last year of undergraduate law studies. Mr. Restrepo knows firsthand how it feels to be an immigrant and how difficult it can be. In 2012, he and his family immigrated to Montreal before moving back to finish his studies, Mr. Restrepo is proficient in Spanish, English and French. He worked with France’s public procurement regulation and also with International Human Rights Law and Humanitarian Law. Mr. Restrepo believes that no one is illegal.

Maria Paz Gomez is a Case Manager at James Immigration Law. She is part of the T Visa team. Ms. Gómez was born and raised in Medellín. She has a degree in psychology from Universidad Eafit. Ms. Gómez has worked as a volunteer English teacher, and in 2020 she lived in Israel as a volunteer in a kibbutz working in agriculture. She is passionate about humanistic psychology and is studying integrative nutrition right now. Ms. Gómez is fluent in English and Spanish. She enjoys helping James Immigration Law’s clients reach their immigration goals and to alter the direction of their lives for the better.

Ana Mercado is a Case Manager at James Immigration Law. She is part of the T Visa team. Ms. Mercado was born and raised in Montería, Colombia. She moved to Barranquilla to study where she graduated as a Psychologist from Universidad del Norte in 2022. Ms. Mercado started her Master’s Degree in Legal and Forensic Psychology in Medellín this year at Universidad CES. She has worked on projects related to women that were victims of domestic violence and an internship in the Fiscalía General de la Nación in which she worked with children that were victims of sexual abuse. Ms. Mercado worked as a Legal Assistant in a personal injury law firm before joining the James Immigration Law team. She is fluent in English and Spanish. Ms. Mercado now has the opportunity to accompany people who have gone through horrible tragedies during the immigration process and help them overcome and obtain better opportunities.

María Fernanda Redondo is a Case Manager at James Immigration Law. She was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia. Ms. Redondo is a psychologist from Universidad Nacional de Colombia with a background in clinical psychology and community psychology. She found her calling during a volunteer experience in Germany while working closely with migrants and refugees. Since then, she has been passionate about making a positive impact on the migrant community. Mr. Redondo is fluent in Spanish, English, and German.

Angela Salamanca is a Case Manager at James Immigration Law, where she plays an integral role in the T Visa team. Born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, Ms. Salamanca pursued her education in her hometown, earning a degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Clinical and Health Psychology from the University of Los Andes. With over seven years of professional experience, she has dedicated herself to mental health practice, mainly focusing on assisting victims of violence and trauma across diverse populations, including children, women, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Before joining the James Immigration Law team, Ms. Salamanca was a Case Manager professional intern at an international organization providing TVAP services in the United States. Fluent in English and Spanish, she has seamlessly navigated between languages to serve her clients effectively.

Michel Dayan Garcia Barbosa is a legal assistant on the T visa team at James Immigration Law, brings vibrant energy and profound dedication to her role. Having pursued a law degree at Rosario University in Colombia, Michel stands as a testament to the transformative power of education. Through hard work and determination, she earned a full scholarship, paving the way for her pursuit of knowledge and passion for justice. Michel’s multicultural perspective, fluency in English, Spanish, and ongoing journey into Italian enrich her contributions to immigration law. Driven by a desire to empower individuals and families, she believes in the transformative power of securing legal status in the United States. Beyond her professional commitments, Michel finds joy in language learning, reading, exercise, and cherishing moments with her family.

Sara is a lawyer with a double degree Title from the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Medellin, Colombia, and the Universidad Antonio Nebrija in Spain. She has always been interested in the International Law field, and during her studies, she was part of international competitions in Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms. For her, working in the firm has been an achievement and an opportunity to help people in very difficult and vulnerable situations.

Yeimira Henao is the Senior Intake Specialist at James Immigration Law. She was born and raised in Medellin. Ms. Henao graduated from Institución Educativa Concejo de Medellín in 2016. She is currently studying audiovisual communications at Politécnico Jaime Isaza Cadavid. Ms. Henao is fluent in Spanish and English. She is very eager to reach as many people as possible and pointing them in the right direction to all the benefits there are available to those that chose legal immigration in the United States.

Miguel Torres is an Intake Specialist at James Immigration Law. He was born and raised in Medellin. Mr. Torres has a bachelor’s degree in business management with an emphasis on Marketing Studies from CES University. He also had an exchange experience at Budapest Business University in Hungary, where he learned about intercultural communication and brand management. Mr. Torres is pursuing his postgraduate studies in Marketing Management at CEIPA Powered by Arizona State University. He is fluent in Spanish and English. Mr. Torres is passionate about helping people obtain their goals by guiding them down the right path to change.

Sara Sanchez is an Intake Specialist at James Immigration Law. She was born and raised in Medellin. Ms. Sanchez studied law at EAFIT University. Her first job was at a government entity that protects human rights. It was there that she realized how passionate she is about helping other people. Ms. Sanchez is bilingual proficient in both Spanish and English. She enjoys the work she does for James Immigration Law helping protect the rights of every person she comes into contact with.

Andrea Rocha is an Intake Specialist at the James Immigration Law.

Steven Bran is an Intake Coordinator at James Immigration Law. He was born and raised in Medellin. Mr. Bran studied Business Administration at the University of San Buenaventura Medellín and received his diploma in Digital Marketing at the same academy. He is fluent in both Spanish and English. His time at James Immigration Law has made him believe in the power of positivity. Mr. Bran is passionate about helping clients towards a path to a better life.

Daniela Zuniga is an Intake Coordinator at James Immigration Law. She was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia. Ms. Zuñiga moved to Vancouver, Canada in 2018 to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration focused on International Business and with a CO-OP diploma in Business Administration. She is fluent in both English and Spanish. Ms. Zuñiga plans to educate herself in Cross-cultural psychology. She is passionate about helping others in any way possible and appreciates James Immigration Law gives her the space to do so.

Edwin Villegas is an Intake Coordinator at James Immigration Law.

Anthony Diartt is an intake coordinator at James Immigration Law. He was born and raised in Barranquilla. Mr. Diartt studied Export and Import Management and is fluent in English and Spanish. He has extensive experience in sales, customer services and Human Resources. He is passionate of helping people and thinks that is essential to work as a team to make more significant changes in our society.

Sara Rojas was born and raised in Pereira, Colombia, and studied in Bogota. She is a professional in international relations, has a master’s degree in public management, and has more than 4 years of experience in social work. Sara is fluent in Spanish, English, and French. She is passionate about nature and social work. She is fully convinced of the firm’s ability to help people improve their quality of life in the United States.

Andrea Juarez Garcia is an Office Assistant at James Immigration Law. She was born and raised in Florida. Ms. Juarez graduated High School May of 2022 and in July of 2022 she got her Florida real estate license. She is now a Florida Realtor helping her loved ones in real estate. She is currently enrolled in the Esthetics program at IRSC and will get her Florida esthetician license . Ms. Juarez hopes to grow in the real estate and in the beauty industry along with working at James Immigration Law. She is passionate about what she does at James Immigration Law. Ms. Juarez is fluent is Spanish and English.

Alejandro Gaviria Morales was born in Colombia and studied Tourism Business Administration at the Universidad Colegio Mayor de Antioquia, where he was awarded for his research career. He participated in the International Tourism Congress in Quito and the PerudesignNet international competition in Lima. He also graduated as a specialist in pedagogy and teaching at the University Foundation of the Andean Area in Bogotá; he was a volunteer park ranger at the Volcan Galeras Fauna and Flora Sanctuary in Pasto – Colombia. In his working life, he has participated in the creation of development plans, sustainable tourism studies in remote communities, and regional cooperation projects.

Julia Lubitz is James Immigration Law’s first Legal Intern who works virtually while completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Florida. She was born in West Palm Beach, FL but moved to Vero Beach. FL in 2021. Ms. Lubitz is fluent in two languages: Polish and English. Studying international studies at the University of Florida, she plans to educate herself on the history of various cultures and continue to law school. Through her internship, Ms. Lubitz continues to gain valuable experience through shadowing the attorneys and practicing her legal writing skills. She believes in the firm’s mission and is inspired by the dedication it puts into all of our clients.

Kenneth Thornton is the IT Coordinator at James Immigration Law. He was born and raised in Vero Beach, Florida. Mr. Thornton has completed his Associate Degree in Criminal Justice and is currently working on completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. He plans to go to Law School. Mr. Thornton worked as a Legal Assistant for another law firm previously where he handled customer service, sales, and marketing. While he valued his time there, he was excited to bring his experience to James Immigration Law. Mr. Thornton looks forward to working for a company that is ever-growing and ever-changing but never distracted from its goal of reaching and helping as many people as possible.

Laura Pinzon is the Marketing Specialist for James Immigration Law. She was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Advertising specializing in Copywriting at the Alejandro de Humboldt University. Ms. Laura emigrated to Lima, Perú where she dedicated herself to working as a specialist in social media marketing and received certification as a UX Writer at the CoderHouse digital skills school. She currently resides in Bogotá, Colombia, emigrating for the third time. This gives her a multicultural experience that allows her to understand first-hand what it is to be an immigrant. Ms. Laura is fluent in Spanish and English. She is passionate about new digital trends and likes to keep up with new technologies.