BROOKS & BAEZ - Key Persons
Erik was born in Virginia, but was raised in northern California. Erik returned to Virginia as a high school student and attended first Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro, Virginia. After Fishburne, he attended the Virginia Military Institute from which he graduated with honors in 2002. Prior to law school, Erik enjoyed time spent as a teacher to middle and high school students. Erik graduated from the University of Richmond School of Law and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. Erik is married with a daughter and two sons as well as a menagerie of pets. His leisure interests include spending time with his wife and children and outdoor recreational activities, such as camping, backpacking, and kayaking.
Education
University of Richmond, School of Law, Richmond, Virginia
J.D. - 2012
Job Titles:
- Executive Administrative Assistant at Brooks
Francheska Fernandez is a Executive Administrative Assistant at Brooks and Baez. Francheska has worked at various firms throughout the Richmond area, and has worked previously for attorneys specializing in immigration and criminal defense. After beginning her career as a receptionist, Francheska responsibilities and roles expanded to include trial preparation, fact-checking and compiling case evidence, and coordinating with clients and the court system. Francheska's most recent work experience was working as an administrator and legal assistant for attorney Raul Novo before his passing. During her tenure with attorney Novo, Francheska learned gained extensive knowledge in running a legal practice, and she brings this invaluable knowledge to Brooks & Baez.
Francheska was born in lived in Puerto Rico for several years, and relocated Richmond, Virginia in 1994. She is bilingual and fluent in both English and Spanish. Francheska is well known in the Spanish speaking community, and takes great pride in assisting clients through the most difficult periods in their lives.
Practice Areas
Family Law
Jesse Baez is a highly experienced trial lawyer offering a strong track record of courtroom success. Jesse practices in the areas of family law, criminal law, and personal injury. Jesse understands the difficult challenges and stressors when faced with criminal charges, a divorce or separation, or an injury. Jesse is a compassionate advisor for each and every one of his clients. He offers exceptional communication during every step of the legal process and works hard to achieve commonsense solutions. He is ready to be your dedicated advocate so you can have confidence and peace of mind knowing your legal troubles are safe in his capable hands.
Jesse has served as a Guardian Ad Litem for children and incapacitated adults. Jesse's experience as a Guardian Ad Litem is invaluable as he advocates for his clients with custody and visitation legal issues. Jesse has successfully litigated cases in Virginia's General District Courts, the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts, and the Circuit Courts. He has also appeared before the Virginia Court of Appeals and the Virginia Supreme Court.
Jesse was born and raised in Holbrook, Long Island, New York. He is a graduate of McGill University and the Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law. During law school, Jesse was an editor on Penn State Law's Yearbook on Arbitration and Mediation and he was actively involved with his school's trial advocacy team. Two of Jesse's scholarly articles were published during his second year of law school. Jesse also worked for the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division, First Judicial Department, and the New York City Comptroller's Office during his time at Penn State Law.
Jesse is married to Erica Giovanni Baez, who is also a local trial attorney. Jesse and Erica have a young son. Jesse and Erica met at the Chesterfield Juvenile & Domestic relations District Court during their early days practicing law. You can guess who won.
Jesse is an ardent runner, and you may find him competing in one of Richmond's many races on the weekends. Jesse successfully completed the Richmond Marathon and ran several half-marathons. He actively attends Crestwood Presbyterian Church. His faith community is one of his highest priorities. Jesse is an active member of the business community in Richmond, including the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Central Virginia Business Network International.
Education
Penn State Dickinson School of Law, College Park, Pennsylvania
Juris Doctor - 2013
Job Titles:
- Paralegal to Jesse a. Baez
Karen Calderon is the Paralegal to Jesse A. Baez. She has over 12 years cumulative Paralegal experience working previously for attorneys specializing in Civil Litigation, Insurance Defense, Immigration and now with Brooks & Baez she adds to her portfolio, complex Civil Litigation cases, Family and Criminal law. She has over 17 years of extensive office experience holding positions in the legal, medical and business fields dealing with a diversity of professionals and clients all whom have contributed greatly to her interpersonal skills to meet the needs of various clients and professionals.
Karen was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Her mother is from Ecuador and father is from Nicaragua. Her native language is Spanish; however, she is bilingual and is fluent in speaking and writing both the English and Spanish languages. Her educational background includes an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Paralegal Studies.
Outside of the office, Karen enjoys photography, hiking, music, participating in mud runs, and is an avid runner. She has participated in several 5 and 10 K races and in 2010 she completed the Virginia Beach Rock ‘n' Roll half-marathon, but the highest priority for Karen is her volunteer service as a Jehovah's Witness. Her faith and volunteer service has contributed to her personal and professional growth setting high standards when working in office and with clients.
Practice Areas
Family Law
Job Titles:
- Paralegal to T. Noel Brooks
Kim Olbrich is the Paralegal to T. Noel Brooks. She is a highly experienced paralegal with over 30 years of legal experience working with numerous attorneys both in the State of Colorado and in Virginia. While in Colorado, Kim acquired over 10 years of experience working for two sole practitioners dedicated to the practice of family law and Guardian ad litem work. Working shoulder to shoulder with these attorneys, equipped her with the skill, knowledge, and experience to manage the practice and procedures of a working law firm. For the past 23 years, Kim has served as a long-tenured paralegal in Virginia supporting various attorneys specializing in multifaceted practices of law including Family law, Criminal law, Collections, Civil litigation, Estate planning and Personal injury. As a seasoned paralegal, Kim provides our clients with invaluable support and assistance, particularly working alongside them through difficult and complex situations of their case.
Kim was born and raised in Upstate New York and moved to Colorado in 1985 with her husband Eric. In May of 1999, Kim and Eric moved to the Richmond area and have been living here since. Kim enjoys gardening, hiking and spending time with family and friends.
Practice Areas
Family Law
Maria Baez is the office manager for Brooks & Baez. Maria has considerable work experience for law firms and businesses in office management and accounting. She is certified in leadership development, customer service, as well as systems and cyber- security. Maria takes pride in assisting clients and the attorneys and staff at Brooks & Baez.
Maria emigrated to the United States from Bogota, Colombia in 1976 and earned her U.S. Citizenship. She is fluent in Spanish and English, and can speak conversational Italian, Portuguese and French. She loves to travel and experience various cultures. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, specifically her three grandsons, gardening, and exercising.
Practice Areas
Family Law
T. Noel Brooks (licensed in Virginia 2002) received his Bachelor of Arts in English from Virginia Tech in 1999 and his Juris Doctor from the T.C. Williams School of Law of the University of Richmond in 2002. After receiving his law degree, Mr. Brooks worked for the Virginia Attorney General's Office in Virginia Beach, where he defended a variety of state agencies throughout the Tidewater area against workers' compensation claims. In addition, Mr. Brooks prosecuted several thousand child support cases as counsel for the Dlvision of Child Support Enforcement, a branch of the Attorney General's Office.
In 2005, Mr. Brooks became an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney for Chesterfield County. During his tenure, Mr. Brooks prosecuted numerous criminal cases before both judges and juries.
After serving the Commonwealth for three years, Mr. Brooks joined the law firm of Hairfield Morton, where he used his extensive trial experience to successfully represent individuals injured in automobile accidents; to defend individuals charged with criminal and traffic offenses; and, to help individuals resolve family law disputes.
In 2016, Mr. Brooks opened his own practice, where he continued serving individuals throughout central Virginia in the areas of criminal law, personal injury, medical negligence, and family law. After nearly five years as a solo practitioner, Mr. Brooks and Mr. Baez, with whom Mr. Brooks collaborated on personal injury cases, opened Brooks & Baez, a firm focused on delivering exceptional bilingual legal services to individuals in the following legal areas: Personal Injury, Family Law, and Criminal Defense.
Education
University of Richmond, School of Law, Richmond, Virginia
J.D. - 2002
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
B.A. - 1999
Job Titles:
- Lawyers Association, Member, 2016 to Present