SHAH - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Member of the Louisiana State Bar Association

Fatmeh Ali is the newest attorney of Shah, Yazbeck, and Almerico, LLC. She practices in the areas of family law, criminal defense, juvenile defense, and personal injury. Ms. Ali is a New Orleans Native. In college and in law school, Ms. Ali pursued various experiences which fostered her passion for and commitment to fighting for people in need. She went to Loyola University New Orleans, where Ms. Ali interned with the Orleans Public Defenders Office. Upon college graduation, Ms. Ali then went to Loyola University New Orleans College of Law where she earned her Juris Doctorate in May 2020. In law school, Ms. Ali clerked for the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court, Louisiana Disability Rights Louisiana, and the Shoman and Karajah Law Firm in Ramallah, Palestine. In addition, Ms. Ali directly represented clients as a Student Practitioner for the Loyola Family Law Clinic, where she won the Law Excellence Award. Ms. Ali also won the Public Service Award and became a qualified Family and Divorce Mediator. After law school, Ms. Ali served as a staff attorney at the Pro Bono Project, representing juveniles in Child in Need of Care, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, tutorship, and interdiction matters. Notably, Ms. Ali successfully appealed a directed verdict trial court ruling. Ms. Ali also represented clients in divorce cases, and drafted wills and other personal documents. Ms. Ali is admitted to practice law in all Louisiana State courts. Ms. Ali is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association and the Jefferson Bar Association.

Job Titles:

• Founding Partner in
• Member of the 22 Nd Judicial District Bar Association

John M. Almerico grew up in Chalmette, LA and attended Holy Cross High School in New Orleans. He then attended Southeastern Louisiana University for undergraduate studies. Following graduation he attend the Southern University Law Center where he obtained his Juris Doctorate. While in law school, Mr. Almerico worked as a Law Clerk for Frank D'Amico, Jr. APLC. Upon graduation Mr. Almerico embarked on a career at the 22 nd Judicial District Public Defenders Office. In 2007 Mr. Almerico began representing juvenile clients as well as Children in need of care, and parents facing non-support cases. Later, Mr. Almerico moved on to represent clients in Misdemeanor court in St. Tammany and Washington Parishes handling their cases and taking the cases to trial if necessary. In 2010 Mr. Almerico was assigned a felony division in Washington Parish where he began trying serious cases in front of Juries. His first case as co-counsel was a 2 nd degree murder that resulted in the defendant being found guilty of a lessor charge. In 2011 he was moved to Covington and began handling the Docket of Division D. Mr. Almerico continued to improve his jury picking skills and developed a reputation as having excellent Voire Dire Skills. Throughout his career Mr. Almerico has developed a reputation as a fair, honest, aggressive, and hard working attorney. Mr. Almerico is a founding partner in Shah, Yazbeck, and Almerico, LLP. Mr. Almerico is an experienced trial attorney, who takes client cases seriously and handles them with professional efficiency. He prides himself in making sure his clients understand the road before them. As he helps them navigate the criminal justice system, it is very important to him that the client knows what to expect so that their stress level can be lowered by knowing what is coming. Almerico is a member of the 22 nd Judicial District Bar Association and is a former co-chair of the Criminal Law section,

Job Titles:

• Founding Partner
• Member of the Louisiana State Bar Association

A native of Southeast Louisiana, Mr. Shah practices in the area of criminal defense. Mr. Shah graduated cum laude earning his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Louisiana State University. After completing his undergraduate education, Mr. Shah attended Tulane University Law School where he graduated with a certificate in civil law. While in law school, Mr. Shah worked as a summer intern for Capital Defense Project of Southeast Louisiana. He helped to defend clients facing 1 st degree murder charges. He also worked as a student attorney for Tulane's Domestic Violence Clinic where he represented victims of domestic violence in family law cases. After earning his Juris Doctor, Mr. Shah worked as a felony trial attorney at the Public Defender's office in St. Tammany Parish representing many indigent clients. He then entered private practice in 2013 working as a senior trial attorney for the prestigious criminal defense firm, Regan Law PLC. Through these experiences, he has learned how to effectively defend the most complex criminal cases by working with clients to achieve their objectives by using his legal skills to force favorable plea bargains with the District Attorney's office or giving his clients their best shot at an acquittal at trial. He has an impressive record of victories including not guilty verdicts, dismissed charges, and has used his creativity to achieve incredible plea deals often avoiding or minimizing jail time for his clients. He also has experience handling civil cases and family law matters. Mr. Shah is a founding partner of Shah, Yazbeck, and Almerico, LLP and will continue with representing his firm's clients with the same zeal, tenacity, and outstanding vigor that his clients have come to expect and appreciate. Mr. Shah is admitted to practice law in all Louisiana State courts and federal court in the Eastern District of Louisiana Mr. Shah is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association and the Covington Bar Association.