QUIROGA LAW OFFICE - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Bilingual Secretary

When you call the Quiroga Law Office and feel more comfortable speaking Spanish, you will then have the pleasure of speaking with Alejandra Farfan, our bilingual secretary, Because immigration law and our diverse clientele is so important to our firm, having a native Spanish speaking staff member is vital. Alejandra possesses these skills, and a lot more. A native of Bogotá Colombia, Alejandra has the important job to welcome and speak with any Spanish speaking callers who need our help. She answers phone calls for all Spanish speaking clients, interprets, and translates as needed for our office. She updates our Spanish websites and social media accounts, and coordinates with our office to meet the needs of our clients. Though not an attorney, Alejandra attended Santiago de Cali University School of law for three years, giving her an advanced understanding of legal concepts. She has always strived to advance herself, and she has also attended classes in International trade and business for two years. Alejandra is happily married with two beautiful children. She loves to go out on picnics and hiking with her family. She also has a passion for interior decorating. Her hope is to travel to exotic places and to learn about different cultures, law, language, and cuisine. She is completely self-motivated to learn, and in her down time, she enjoys spending time with her children, watching a movie, and having a bowl of popcorn. Intelligence, mastery of the Spanish language, experience, and her education in law school are just a few things that Alejandra brings to the table at Quiroga Law Office. In addition, her ambitious attitude, her infectious smile, and her willingness to work hard are the perfect attributes needed to succeed in our law firm.

Job Titles:

• Co - Founder
• Member of the Attorneys & Staff
• Immigration Lawyer Profile

Casey Quiroga is a native of Spokane, Washington. She enjoys spending time with her husband and five children. Casey attended Gonzaga University for both her undergraduate and law school programs. She excelled academically despite the demands and challenges of being a single mother at the time. Today, Casey Quiroga is a co-founder of the Quiroga Law Office, PLLC, a firm focused solely in immigration matters. Casey's main focus is on employment, investor, and family petitions. Casey Quiroga started out as a legal intern for the firm and then was hired on as an associate after graduating from Gonzaga School of Law. While at the firm, Casey's practice consisted mainly of real estate matters, wills and trusts, landlord/tenant issues, business law, administrative law, and civil litigation.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Attorneys & Staff
• Immigration & Bankruptcy Attorney

Originally from South Eastern Washington, Clayton was born and raised in the small town of Palouse, Washington. A town with a total population of around 800 people. He grew up on an idyllic farm, where his mother raised miniature horses and his father worked for Washington State University. Clayton had the great opportunity to start his college education early while in high school through a running start program. He completed much of his core courses before graduating from Garfield-Palouse High School in 2000. Clayton has always been active academically and very much into playing sports and competitive dancing. Clayton attended the University of Idaho right out of high school, and delved into courses he thought were interesting until his first political science class. He became intrigued in course subjects about criminal and constitutional law. That was his spring board to declare his major in political science, switching over from the math heavy class load he was taking. His later course work got him thinking about careers that helped people and started him on the pathway for pursuing a career as a lawyer.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Attorneys & Staff

Job Titles:

• Member of the Attorneys & Staff
• Immigration & Bankruptcy Attorney

Destiny Soto joined Quiroga Law Office in May of 2018. At Quiroga Law Office Destiny is a Managing Attorney, who oversees the handling of all Humanitarian cases within the Firm. As a first-generation American, Destiny's interest in immigration law began at an early age. She witnessed the many struggles faced by her father, who emigrated from Mexico. It was from these observations that Destiny realized she wanted to pursue a career advocating for the underprivileged and ensuring that the voices of all people were heard. Combining this interest with her education, Destiny obtained her Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Criminal Justice from Northwest Nazarene University, a private liberal arts University in Nampa, Idaho. During her undergraduate career, Destiny worked at law firms in other legal areas, but always felt something was missing. After graduating from Northwest Nazarene University, Destiny attended law school at Gonzaga University School of Law where she became involved in various extracurricular activities to refine her desire to help those in need. She was a member of Gonzaga Law's Civil Moot Court team; served as the president of Mission Possible, an alternative spring break club that travels annually to provide aid to underprivileged communities; and, participated in Gonzaga Law's Moderate Means Program, a program that assists community members in finding reduced-fee legal help. Destiny's commitment to civil rights and representing the underserved population is what made her an excellent candidate for Quiroga Law Office. Education Gonzaga University School of Law Spokane, WA Juris Doctor: 2019

Job Titles:

• Member of the Attorneys & Staff
• Immigration & Bankruptcy Attorney

Devin Pearsall is a lawyer with a remarkable academic and professional trajectory. She earned her Juris Doctor from Seattle University School of Law in May 2021. During her time in law school, she stood out for her academic excellence, being awarded the Trustee Scholarship and the CALI Award for Innovating the Built Environment. Additionally, she actively participated in extracurricular activities, such as serving as a student attorney at the Ronald A. Peterson Community Development & Entrepreneurship Clinic and acting as an Associate Editor for the Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, and Innovation Law. Her advocacy skills were reflected in her performance in moot court competitions, where she achieved second place in the Fall 2020 Appellate Brief competition and first place in the Fall 2018 Alternative Dispute Resolution competition. Devin also demonstrated leadership as co-president of the Women's Law Caucus and as a member of the Real Estate Law Association during her time in university. In terms of work experience, she served as a Judicial Clerk for the Honorable Millie M. Judge at the Snohomish County Superior Court following graduation. In this role, she provided support in legal research, memo drafting, and case preparation, and acted as the main point of contact for the judge's workload. During law school, she worked as a Rule 9 licensed legal intern at Tyson & Mendes, LLP and Cook & Bartlett, PLLC, where she gained experience in insurance defense and construction defect cases. She also worked as a legal intern at various law firms, including the Law Offices of Jeffrey Goldman, where she handled a caseload, conducted research, and prepared legal documents. In addition to her legal experience, Devin has worked in project engineering and community coordination roles in Seattle, Washington and Cartagena, Colombia. She speaks Spanish fluently and has demonstrated a consistent commitment to community service, volunteering as an assistant teacher in citizenship classes and as a precinct committee officer in the 36th Legislative District. Her broad skill set, international experience, and dedication to public service make her a highly qualified and committed professional in the legal field.

Job Titles:

• Professor at Eastern Washington University

Job Titles:

• Founder and Director of the Immigration Services Program at Catholic Charities Spokane
• Immigration Director
• Program Director at CCS Refugee Services

Immigration Director Greg Cunningham brings to our firm a wealth of experience in immigration issues and law as well as a reputation as one of the preeminent immigration advocates in eastern Washington. As founder and director of the Immigration Services program at Catholic Charities Spokane, Cunningham reached out to immigrant populations throughout the 13-county Spokane diocese, a territory comprising of the Tri-Cities, Okanogan, and Walla Walla. His training included extensive coursework in immigration law, Spanish, program management, and more. During his 13 years at CCS, he established himself as a trusted expert in legal issues and in navigating complex bureaucracies, and a passionate advocate for the rights of area immigrants and their families. A 20-year resident of the Spokane area, Greg was born and raised in Seattle, and graduated magna cum laude from Seattle University with a degree in foreign languages. He also has a master's degree in teaching English as a second language from Eastern Washington University. As Immigration Director at Quiroga Law Office, Greg primarily assists the firm's attorneys with legal research and case filings, with an emphasis on Hector Quiroga's immigration practice. Already a trusted individual in the immigrant community, he continues to offer his expertise and guidance on a variety of immigrant issues including domestic violence, employment, residency, and citizenship. He and his wife. Gina Mikel Petrie, a professor at Eastern Washington University, have five children, ages 8 to 28. His interests and hobbies include home improvement, writing, playing guitar, sailing, and antique automobiles. Experience Catholic Charities Spokane Refugee and Immigration Services - 2001-2014 Greg became program director at CCS Refugee Services on the recommendation of its outgoing director, whom Greg had approached about creating an outreach-and-assistance program for immigrants. Shortly after taking the position, he created CCS's Immigration Services program, working with parishes in the 13-county diocese to reach out to immigrant communities with assistance, and forming relationships with domestic violence shelters, the state Department of Social and Health Services, and the local U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office. Greg also oversaw case-management for Hurricane Katrina refugees as part of the FEMA-funded Katrina Aid Today, and developed an area-wide disaster management program with staff and other Catholic Charities Program directors.

Job Titles:

• Attorney at Law
• Member of the Attorneys & Staff
• Partner

Being a Spanish speaking Colombian immigrant has not been easy. When Héctor first arrived, he had no knowledge of the English language, and was trying to escape the Colombian civil war. He had to leave behind his family, culture, and heritage. The obvious language and cultural barriers can make even the most determined immigrant give up. This, however, has not stopped Héctor Quiroga from achieving the American dream. In nine years, he learned the English language and put himself through Gonzaga University, where he graduated with honors from both undergraduate and law school programs. He has also become a business owner, a homeowner, a husband, a father, a writer, and last but not least, a United States citizen. Learning English, acquiring a professional degree, and becoming a U.S. citizen are the paramount achievements Hispanic immigrants and their families strive to accomplish so they can better their standard of living. Even though there are several obstacles (including, but not limited to discrimination) and the road is very difficult, Héctor's achievements constitute clear proof that the American Dream is very much alive. Today, Héctor Quiroga works as a partner at the Quiroga Law Office, PLLC, where he focus his practice on immigration. He enjoys photography. He also enjoys coaching his son's co-ed soccer team and spending time with his family.

Job Titles:

• Director of Operations

In the Quiroga Law Office, PLLC, Director of Operations Joseph Rouse acts on the front lines as right-hand-man to the office attorneys.

Job Titles:

• Legal Assistant - Paralegal

Leonel was born in state of Guerrero, Mexico and is from a small town called Vallecitos near Acapulco. He immigrated to the United States when he was nine years old with his three younger brothers.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Attorneys & Staff
• Immigration & Bankruptcy Attorney

Maria joined Quiroga Law Office in June 2016 and began practicing Immigration law. She was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia. Maria immigrated to the United States with her parents in pursuit of the American dream as a young adult. Maria overcame the language and culture barriers to be able to attend college. She graduated with honors from the University of California Los Angeles in 2011 with a degree in Political Science. Maria then obtained a juris doctor degree from Loyola Law School Los Angeles in 2014. During law school Maria externed at the United States Bankruptcy Court in Los Angeles with the Honorable Julia Brand. She also participated in the Juvenile Innocence and Fair Sentencing Clinic. There she assisted in the representation of persons who have been wrongfully convicted and youth who are sentenced to unjustly disproportionate adult prison sentences. Prior to joining the firm, Maria was the judicial law clerk to the Honorable Adriana Escobar in Department 14 of the Eighth Judicial District Court in Las Vegas, Nevada from 2014-2016. During the two years of her judicial clerkship Judge Escobar had a full civil docket, a criminal docket, and the Specialty Courts (Mental Health, Drug Court, Felony DUI, Veterans Court and O.P.E.N). Ms. Quiroga is currently a member of the Latino Bar Association and the Howard D. Mckibben American Inns of Court. Experience: Quiroga Law Office, PLLC 2017-Present

Job Titles:

• Member of the Attorneys & Staff
• Immigration & Bankruptcy Attorney

Peter is originally from the Seattle area and grew up in Lake Stevens WA. Peter grew up with an interest in debate, game theory, international studies, and law. In middle school Peter won an award for his persuasive arguments in a class wide debate. After High School Peter served a mission for his church and served in the Salvador Bahia, Brazil area. Peter spent two years in Brazil, while serving in Brazil he learned to speak Portuguese. Peter served as an assistant to the President of the Salvador Bahia mission and helped manage over 120 service missionaries in the area. Peter attended Brigham Young Idaho University , in Rexburg Idaho where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science with an emphasis on foreign affairs in 2015. During his time in undergrad, he did an internship with the Consulate General of Canada in Seattle WA. While interning at the office of the Consulate General of Canada he assisted the Consulate by compiling information, communicating with businesses and people for the political, trade, and consular sectors. Peter went on to receive his Juris Doctorate in 2020 from Gonzaga University School of Law, in Spokane Washington where he was a recipient of the Deans Honor Scholarship. Peter volunteered with the Street Law group and visited local high schools to teach important constitutional rights. During his last year of law school Peter was a part of the Elder Law Clinic which provided free legal services to elderly members of society and provided legal advice on estate planning, family law, and other civil matters. Peter and his wife, have three children; Zeke, Zoey, Wesley, and a bernedoodle named Luna. Peter enjoys spending time with his kids, board games, and disc golf. Peter Joined Quiroga Law Office, PLLC, in February 2021 and is a valuable member of the team. Education: -Brigham Young University Idaho, Rexburg (B.A. 2015) -Gonzaga University School of Law, Spokane (J.D. 2020)

Job Titles:

• Member of the Attorneys & Staff

Job Titles:

• Member of the Attorneys & Staff
• Immigration & Bankruptcy Attorney

Samantha is originally from Phoenix, Arizona and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada when she was 5 years old. Samantha has always had a passion for justice and helping others. After being the victim of a life-altering vehicle accident when she was 16, Samantha decided she would become an attorney to help others in the way she was not. Samantha experienced first-hand how important access to justice and legal resources was from this incident and vowed to help others to prevent similar injustice. Samantha is a second generation American and witnessed the opportunities her family was able to obtain after emigrating to the United States from Terceira, Portugal. In witnessing these hardships and experiencing her own, in conjunction with her passion for justice, Samantha found her calling and pursued a career in immigration law. Samantha attended the University of Nevada, Reno where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Law and Justice in 2017. During her years in undergrad, Samantha interned at both the Washoe County Public Defender's Office and the Washoe County District Attorney's office. Additionally, Samantha was a member of the Wildlife Society Student Chapter, a member of the Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity, and on the Dean's Honor List. Samantha immediately went on to receive her Juris Doctor in 2020 from Lewis and Clark School of Law in Portland, Oregon where she was a recipient of the Deans Scholarship for Excellence. Throughout her time at law school, Samantha was a member of the Minority Law Student Association and the Constitutional Law Society. During Samantha's first year, she was a research assistant to an international wildlife professor and assisted translating legislative documents from Portuguese to English to assist in multiple environmental crime projects occurring in Portuguese speaking countries. Samantha also volunteered with the Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) on their "Citizenship Day" to help lawful permanent residents with their naturalization paperwork. In addition, Samantha taught criminal justice to high school students through the Street Law Student Teacher program and during her final year of law school, Samantha interned with SOAR Immigration Legal Services, a non-profit organization in Portland, where she assisted noncitizens with their defense against removal proceedings to obtain asylum status in the United States. Samantha is fluent in Portuguese and enjoys travelling, reading, painting, and being with animals. Samantha joined Quiroga Law Office in Spring 2022 and currently handles humanitarian-based visas. Samantha's resilience and work ethic have made her a valuable member of the Quiroga Law Office team and she continues to work hard for each and every client. Education: University of Nevada, Reno (B.A. 2017)

Job Titles:

• Attorney
• Member of the Attorneys & Staff
• Immigration & Bankruptcy Attorney

Scott Elkind is an attorney at Quiroga Law Offices, PLLC, where he provides the support necessary to present our clients' cases, including researching immigration matters, assisting with hearings, and drafting briefs and motions. He is admitted to practice in the following jurisdictions: the State of New Mexico (NMBA 152096), the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico (21 - 225) and the Kalispel Tribe (KTC - 172). Scott Elkind is a determined and creative attorney and m anager with a proven track record in handling a diverse range of complex legal cases. He has worked as a federal arbiter, serving as a contractor on assigned arbitrations related to NSA and health coverage matters. Additionally, he has held positions as Of Counsel at various law firms, including O'Malley Tunstall in Tarboro, NC, and Schwartz, Conroy, and Hack in Garden City, NY, where he managed long-term disability cases (ERISA and private), handling everything from drafting administrative appeals to negot iating and mediating claims. Prior to these roles, Scott served as Managing Partner at Elkind & Shea in Silver Spring, MD, for over a decade, where he handled a large volume of long - term disability and life insurance cases, as well as Social Security cases , from intake to appeals. He was also responsible for all marketing, vendor management, and personnel matters at the firm. Earlier in his career, at Greenberg & Bederman in Silver Spring, MD, Scott was a partner and managed a wide range of personal injury

Job Titles:

• Paralegal

Sierra Carrillo is originally from Onion Creek, Washington, a small town near the Canadian border. She was raised in a liberal community and was home schooled by her parents. Sierra is a real achiever and accomplished her graduation requirements at the early age of sixteen. Education has always been important for Sierra and she did not hesitate to enroll in Spokane Community College once she took the GED. In two short years Sierra graduated with an Associate of Arts with Leadership and Academic Honors. While attending Spokane Community College Sierra got very interested in sociology and psychology. She is now fascinated with criminal psychology and the effects of traumatic events at an early age that triggers violence later in adulthood.

Job Titles:

• Chief Technology Officer

Stevan grew up in a small town in Croatia called Gračac. His country was going through many years of turmoil during the time local political factions were escalating their agendas. War was breaking out in the surrounding areas of his home town and people had to evacuate to stay safe. Stevan was a young boy while armies fought to acquire power, the grips of war were looming over him and his family in the late 1990's. Stevan is no stranger to hardships and experienced living in a refugee camp. He had to remain close to his family to stay safe and out of harm's way. Death, mayhem and hardship were observed at such an early age, but that did not stop the Veselinovic family from persevering. To complicate matters, this young boy had been diagnosed with a severe heart problem and needed open-heart surgery to keep on living. Despite the unrest and chaos surrounding him, his parents found a way for their son to get the help he desperately needed. After a long arduous journey of filing petitions and applications for a refugee visa, he was eligible to come to the United States to have the lifesaving operation he greatly needed. Stevan had officially immigrated to the United States on November 4th, 1998, with his family eagerly awaiting his planned operation, scheduled for only sixteen days after his arrival. Stevan underwent open-heart surgery which was a total success. Coming to the United States had saved his life, his families life and he has been thankful ever since. His love and admiration of the United States of America has flourished with his emergence and he proudly completed his education to pursue his goals. His fascination with The Constitution, The Founding Fathers and the Original Colonies directed him to learning more about the country. Each day he is thankful that he could immigrate to the United States and pursue his love of technology; a trait that has pushed Quiroga Law Office in the right direction. Since an early age Stevan's life has revolved around computers and technology, he became a tech entrepreneur at the age of 18. He found success as a business owner after he founded his company; Steve's Computer Solutions, later to be called CITADEL Computer Systems, LLC. He later sold that successful business to pursue further technical knowledge in various industries, including gaming, and retail. Now, Stevan is an integral part of the Quiroga leadership team, managing and developing the unique custom computing systems that make Quiroga Law Offices run efficiently and securely. Stevan's hobbies include hunting and camping in the great wildernesses of Washington and Idaho as well as giving back his time with volunteering. He has previously volunteered for the Cancer Patient Care center and the Spokane's New Tech Skills Center's Electronics Class. Stevan is a role model for many, and is always looking forward to tomorrow. We greatly look forward to all the amazing ideas and technical skills that Stevan brings to the team.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Attorneys & Staff
• Immigration & Bankruptcy Attorney

Tamara is from the Central Coast of California (by way of Detroit, Michigan). Tamara was raised in a small town and spent most of her time riding horses, hiking and getting into mischief. Right out of high school Tamara began working for an attorney and immediately took to the fast-paced environment of working in the legal field in a general practice. While in California, Tamara earned her paralegal certificate from the University of California, Santa Barbara. After moving to Washington State, Tamara entered Whitworth University's accelerated evening program while continuing to work full-time as a paralegal. After graduating with honors from Whitworth, Tamara was accepted into Gonzaga Law School (her only choice) and continued working as a paralegal and intern while attending law school. After passing the bar, Tamara opened her own firm focusing on family law in Spokane, Washington. After over ten years of running her own practice, Tamara joined Quiroga Law Office to use her experience as an attorney to help immigrants work their way through a challenging system to achieve their dreams. In her spare time, Tamara enjoys hanging out with her dog, hiking the Pacific Northwest, and playing guitar badly.

Job Titles:

• School Academic Dean 's List