MANEY & GORDON - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Client Services Assistant
Ana has been part of Maney | Gordon | Zeller, P.A. since June 2009. She has been the Manager at the Office of the Immigration Help Center since the office was opened. Ana's experience and professionalism has helped people to make their dreams to become true. Her legal experience involves family visas, naturalization, removal cases, waivers, non-immigrant visas asylums, and a comprehensive understanding of the U.S. legal immigration system.
Job Titles:
- Director of Client Relations
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Managing Partner at Maney
Christian G.A. Zeller is the Managing Partner at Maney | Gordon | Zeller, P.A. where he limits his practice to Immigration and Nationality Law. Mr. Zeller offers expert representation in the areas of immigration solutions for businesses, I-9 worksite compliance, all business visa categories, consular processing, appeals and immigration-related federal court litigation.
Mr. Zeller is individually AV rated by Martindale Hubbell, the highest rating an attorney can attain in the areas of legal ability and ethical standards. Mr. Zeller is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in U.S. Immigration & Nationality Law and he is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales. Mr. Zeller serves as an Honorary Consul to the Republic of Austria.
Mr. Zeller has authored numerous articles on Immigration & Nationality Law topics, and he is a frequent speaker at bar associations, universities, and private sector interest groups.
Languages - English and German
Awards
2014 - Present; Board Certified in Immigration and Naturality Law by the Florida Bar - This certification is a strong indicator of an attorney's professional expertise - of more than 84,000 attorneys in the State of Florida, just .086% have earned this prestigious distinction. Our firm has two such advocates in Mr. Zeller and Mr. Maney.
An AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell - Considered one of the highest honors an attorney can receive, this rating signifies the high standard of both legal ability and ethical standards Mr. Zeller exhibits.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Member of the New York
A graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Gerald Seipp, is a member of the New York and Florida bars. He is Board Certified in Immigration Law, and has served on the Florida Bar's Certification Committee. He is currently "Of Counsel" for the Maney | Gordon | Zeller, P.A. Clearwater, Florida Office. In addition to his 33 years of immigration practice, he taught the Immigration Law course for 15 years at the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School. Mr. Seipp is a frequent speaker at Continuing Legal Education conferences.
Since 2006, he has been summarizing federal court decisions dealing with immigration law issues for West Group's weekly Interpreter Releases, and has authored several Immigration Briefings for Thomson Reuters (West). He also writes the Forewords for West's annually revised Asylum Case Law Sourcebook (2008 - 2017), which contains his case summaries extracted from the Interpreter Releases. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and is listed in Best Lawyers in America. In 2014 AILA's Mr. Seipp was the recipient of AILA's Central Florida Chapter award for Excellence in the Practice of Immigration Law.
Education
JD University of Michigan Law School - Graduate School
Memberships
Florida Bar Association
Awards
The Florida Bar Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality This certification is an important indicator of professional expertise. There are over 84,000 lawyers in the State of Florida. Only .086% of these lawyers are Board Certified in Immigration.
Jeffrey L. "Jack" Gordon joined the firm in 1992 and became a shareholder in 1998. The firm became Maney & Gordon, P.A. in 1999. The firm opened its Orlando, Florida, office on November 10, 1997, and subsequently opened offices in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas, both by practice acquisition.
Jessica Gonzalez is an immigration attorney licensed to practice in the state of Florida. She was born in the state of Washington to an immigrant father from Mexico and a mother of Mexican descent. As the daughter of immigrants, Jessica has developed a profound appreciation for diversity and her own Mexican heritage. From a very young age she was exposed to the challenging nature of our immigration system having witnessed friends and family struggle to obtain lawful status. From these experiences she learned the personal impact that immigration policies can have on a family and the community.
Jessica attended the University of North Florida where she double majored and received a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Political Science. Motivated by a genuine desire to help those less versed in navigating legal issues, she decided to continue her studies at Stetson University College of Law.
While completing her studies, she participated in the Immigration Law Clinic allowing her to assist a non-profit legal aid organization in providing services for victims of domestic abuse, victims of crimes and victims of human trafficking.
Jessica was also a recipient of the Victor O. Wehle Award for her outstanding performance in trial advocacy and she
continues to enhance both her written and oral advocacy skills in her practice today.
Jessica Gonzalez strives to provide qualify service to her clients while simultaneously delivering the individual care, attention and respect that every client deserves. She enjoys navigating complex and ever evolving immigration issues and making a positive impact on people's lives. Jessica's ultimate mission is to enrich and unite families here in the United States.
Attorney John V.A. Holmes joined the firm in an Of Counsel capacity in 2003. Attorneys Thomas Goldman, John Lund, John Ovink, Otilia Vargas, Stephen H. Davis, and Peter Loughlin have joined the firm as Of Counsel attorneys.
Lastenia Caballero Diaz assists the firm's Immigration team and focuses on Family Petitions and Removal Defense. She is a passionate advocate who can easily identify issues well before the client even knows there is a problem. A graduate from Stetson University College of Law, Lastenia has the knowledge and experience to protect your rights and freedom.
Lastenia is a licensed attorney in both the United States and Honduras. Her legal exposure started in Honduras, working as a Judicial Assistant in the Supreme Court of Justice. Upon arriving in the United States, she worked for over five years in a law firm assisting on Business, Family and Immigration Law.
Lastenia's experience as an Immigration Attorney can help you to achieve your aspirations and goals. She has reprented cases from beginning to end and has assisted Criminal Defense Attorneys on pleas with immigration components.
Lastenia has respect for the diversity of cultures and a burning desire to advocate for those in need of justice. She understands the individual needs of her clients and the importance of being represented by an aggressive attorney--but she also understands that having empathy with peoples' situations is just as necessary to ensure that their rights are protected.
Committed to providing legal services of the highest quality, Lastenia strives to transform each situation into a lasting solution that generates justice and peace for her clients. Her vast experience in the legal field, both in the private and in the public sector could make a difference in your life.
In her spare time, Lastenia can be found spending time with her family, playing sports, playing her guitar, or traveling to gain a wider perspective of the world.
Languages
Spanish
Lilibeth Cain was born in Colombia and raised in New York. She attended Binghamton University, The State University of New York and obtained a double major in Philosophy, Politics & Law and English. She continued her education and earned her Juris Doctor and completed the Global Law and Practice curricular program at Syracuse University College of Law.
Lilibeth Cain proudly represented Syracuse University College of Law at the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna, Austria. She gained significant exposure to international law systems and great appreciation in an atmosphere of cultural diversity. As a student, she began assisting the local battered immigrant women center with petitions qualifying under the Violence Against Women Act from its inception.
Mrs. Cain is well experienced in immigration and marital and family law matters. As a former Assistant State Attorney for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida serving the people of Hillsborough County, she gained significant litigation experience.
She has dedicated herself to attend with care the needs of clients trying to navigate the immigration process. Appreciating that each family and employer has unique needs and circumstances, she is proud to be a part of a team that successfully works to resolve complex issues.
Lilibeth Cain is always inspired by the individuals she is privileged to represent from all over the world seeking guidance, counsel and service. As an immigrant from Colombia who naturalized to a United States Citizen, she is privileged to advocate for others seeking to fulfill their American dreams.
Education
JD Syracuse University College of Law - Graduate School
English Binghamton University, The State University of New York - College
Philosophy, Politics & Law Binghamton University, The State University of New York - College
Practice Areas
Marital & Family Law
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Adjunct Professor for USF
Paul has served as an adjunct professor for USF, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg College, Florida Southern College and Tallahassee Community College teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages as well as College Writing, which he has also done overseas in Brazil and in Costa Rica. He serves on the Boards of Directors of the Tampa-Hillsborough Friends of the Library Council and is Past-President of the Board of the Hillsborough Literacy Council. Paul is also a Board member of the Rotary Club of New Tampa and active member of the Tampa Bay Chapter of InterNations.
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Adjunct Instructor for Hillsborough Community College
- Founder and Managing Attorney of Maney
Richard Henry Maney is the founder and managing attorney of Maney | Gordon | Zeller, P.A. For more than 38 years, he has practiced in the field of immigration and naturalization, personal injury and wrongful death, civil litigation and products liability law.
Richard Maney has served as an adjunct instructor for Hillsborough Community College. He has also acted as host to the local legal television show Cross Exam. He is founder and president of Community Action Project, Incorporated-Reading is Fundamental (RIF) of Hillsborough County. This program has furnished more than 1.2 million free books to elementary school children in the Tampa Bay area.
Stephen H. Davis received his Juris Doctor degree in law in 1968, from the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University and has been specializing in immigration law for over 30 years in Jacksonville, Florida and branch offices in Clearwater, Orlando and Tallahassee. During that time, he has represented clients from over 183 countries including some of the largest U.S. and international corporations, universities, hospitals, state agencies, professors, world-renowned scientists, entertainers, athletes, investors, entrepreneurs, engineers, executives, managers, refugees and relatives of U.S. citizens.
Mr. Davis has shared his expertise as a guest on radio and television and as a writer./ He is the co-author of Immigration Law and Practice in Florida, published by The Florida Bar and has written several articles/chapters about immigration law for Continuing Legal Education. He has also been a lecturer/panelist for The Florida Bar, Lorman Education Services and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (A.I.L.A.) where he was a guest speaker/faculty at their 1992 National Annual Conference and Symposium in New Orleans and National Mid-Year Conference in Miami Beach in 1988. Mr. Davis lectured to Human Resource managers and attorneys for Lorman Educational Services at three seminars in 2001 and at the Florida Coastal School of Law on employment visas. He was one of the few lawyers selected for the Law & Leading Attorneys: Florida Consumer Guidebook and has been named in Who's Who in American Law. In addition, he was nominated by the City of Jacksonville International Trade Awards 2001 for its Individual of the Year and E-Commerce awards, and was named among the Top Attorneys of North America by the Who's Who Directories.
Mr. Davis is very active in his community and in professional organizations. This includes serving as: a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (A.I.L.A.), and the Board of Directors and First Vice President of its Central Florida Chapter, former member of its National Ethics Committee and National Chairman of its Liaison Committee with the U.S. Department of Commerce; a member of the International Law Section of the Florida Bar and the Immigration Law Subcommittee along with many years on its steering committee; the Jacksonville Bar Association, the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, Sister Cities, International Resource Center of Jacksonville, Small Business Resource Network, Northeast Florida Women in International Trade, the International Summit Planning Committee for the City of Jacksonville and as a member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of International Projects for the Rotary Club of San Jose (Rotary International). He is a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International. Mr. Davis has received the Rotary District award for outstanding service for his creation of the Polio Plus Certificate which has raised tens of thousands of dollars for Polio vaccine to children of the World. Mr. Davis has been an Adjunct Professor at the Florida Coastal School of Law teaching Immigration Law to Seniors. Mr. Davis has contributed numerous articles for ethnic newspapers under the by-line of "Ask Mr. Liberty".
"Stephen Davis is an extremely capable, highly intelligent, respected, and honorable trial lawyer. He will provide the best legal representation for you, your family, and your business." - Former Client
"Stephen - You took me in, a complete stranger, and heard my longing for this young man, Anderson F., to be able to stay and live in America. and I will forever be grateful for your kindness and care. And you are so spot on regarding how amazing Christian Zeller is. What a dear and wise man he is! And, per your concern for us, he took us on with passion, concern, and generosity. Yet another asset thus far has been Liz Pabon, whom you also stated was awesome.
Job Titles:
- Business Immigration Attorney
Timothy Zeller graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Political Science. His interest in Immigration Law stems from his experiences in his own upbringing as a first generation immigrant and from witnessing the American Dream come to fruition for his family first hand. Attending Florida State University Timothy forged many meaningful connections within a diverse and international student body comprised of individuals from varying cultures and communities, demonstrating to him the importance of global communication and compassion. While attending the Stetson University College of Law he emphasized skills based knowledge in advocacy, business, and administrative law. He has a passion for business and employment immigration rooted in his experiences working with exceptional individuals from immigrant backgrounds in startup and entrepreneurial settings. He believes that those who excel in their fields of expertise should always be welcome in the United States because all Americans benefit from those talents.
In his free time he enjoys reading, exercising, and watching old movies.
Job Titles:
- Practice Director, Immigration Attorney
Valeria Marie Villaverde was born and raised in Miami, Florida, a city enriched with and by the immigrant story. She graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science.
After two decades in the multicultural metropolis of Miami, she attended Stetson University College of Law, routinely rated #1 in Advocacy in the nation, where she would go on to win first prize and best advocate in the William and Mary Negotiation Competition representing the Stetson Dispute Resolution Board, one of only three advocacy boards.
Valeria was elected a representative in the Student Bar Association for all three years of her Law School career. She served first as co-chair and then in her final two years was appointed as chair of the Barrister's Ball Committee, exercising responsibility over event planning and budget management. Valeria is bilingual, learning Spanish before she learned English, a product of her Miami upbringing. She is licensed in the State of Florida and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Valeria is committed to the immigrant story and the American dream. Valeria has experience working in both family and employment-based immigration.