Michael Kim is a founding partner of Avant Law Corporation and leads the firm’s personal injury, business, and real estate litigation practice.
Michael Kim is a founding partner of Avant Law Corporation and leads the firm’s personal injury, business, and real estate litigation practice. With extensive experience and success representing individuals and families in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases in Orange County, Los Angeles County, San Diego County, Riverside County and San Bernardino County, Mr. Kim has represented thousands of clients and recovered millions of dollars against the largest insurance carriers. In addition, Mr. Kim serves as an administrative hearing officer for Orange County and as general counsel for Grace Korean Church located in Fullerton, California.
Mr. Kim received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Irvine and Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in San Diego. During law school, Mr. Kim served as an advocate for the indigent and homeless youth in conjunction with the University of San Diego Children’s Advocacy Institute. As recognition for his service to the disadvantaged, he received the State Bar of California’s Wiley W. Manual Award for Pro Bono Legal Services. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Kim spent many years in the technology industry, including working for Qualcomm Inc.’s Strategic Intellectual Property Division.
Mr. Kim is admitted to practice law before California state courts and the United States District Court for the Central and Southern Districts. He is also a licensed real estate broker by the California Department of Real Estate.
When on break from his legal practice, he enjoys spending time with his son Abram and wife Cynthia, playing with their Samoyed Sibi and Jindo Luna, golfing, fishing, and traveling.
Paul Caprara is a founding partner of Avant Law Corporation and leads the firm’s transactional practice in the areas of business, real estate, and estate planning.
Paul Caprara is a founding partner of Avant Law Corporation and leads the firm’s transactional practice in the areas of business, real estate, and estate planning. He represents a wide variety of small to large businesses and individuals throughout the state of California and serves as outside counsel for leading businesses across a range of industries including restaurant/hospitality, engineering, real property, professional practice, and technology. Before focusing on transactional matters, Mr. Caprara also practiced business and real estate litigation with Avant Law, which allows him a unique and broad perspective in advising his transactional clients, specifically in emphasizing practical solutions and litigation avoidance.
Mr. Caprara received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin and Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in San Diego. While in law school, Mr. Caprara served as the Executive Editor of the California Western Law Review and published in the journal for his comment, “Surf’s Up: The Implications of Tort Liability in the Unregulated Sport of Surfing.” Before private practice, Mr. Caprara worked for Qualcomm’s Strategic Intellectual Property Division, assisting the team’s business development group with intellectual property acquisition.
Mr. Caprara was admitted to the California State Bar in 2009 and is also a licensed real estate broker by the California Department of Real Estate.
During his time away from practice, Mr. Caprara enjoys going to concerts, exploring new restaurants, traveling, and spending time with his wife Ashley, daughter Flora, and Labradoodle Dazzle.
Newri Kim is an Associate Attorney at Avant Law Corporation. Prior to working at Avant Law, Ms. Kim worked at a landlord-tenant law firm where she advocated for tenants living in uninhabitable conditions.
Newri Kim is an Associate Attorney at Avant Law Corporation. Prior to working at Avant Law, Ms. Kim worked at a landlord-tenant law firm where she advocated for tenants living in uninhabitable conditions. Her practice includes both transactions and litigation related to business, real estate, intellectual property, and personal injury.
Ms. Kim received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles and Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in San Diego. During law school, Ms. Kim received distinctions such as the Academic Excellence Award and was actively involved in serving the Asian American Pacific Islander community.
During her free time, Ms. Kim enjoys going to the beach, camping, and spending time with her many pets.
Mr. Silvia graduated Summa Cum Laude from Stonehill College in Massachusetts and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in History. He obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego where he was a founding member of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund at the University of San Diego School of Law.
Tony Silvia is currently of counsel to Avant Law and has spent the last decade and a half working as an attorney and an environmental consultant. He has significant experience in estate planning, as well as environmental, construction, corporate, litigation, and real estate law.
Mr. Silvia graduated Summa Cum Laude from Stonehill College in Massachusetts and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in History. He obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego where he was a founding member of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund at the University of San Diego School of Law.
Mr. Silvia is an active member of Mission Hills Heritage and is a former board member of Uptown Planners, the community planning group which serves in an advisory role to the City of San Diego on topics related to land-use, development, and discretionary projects in the six neighborhoods of Uptown. Prior to moving to San Diego, Mr. Silvia worked at the Pentagon under the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations and Environment).
As an environmental consultant, Mr. Silvia worked for tribal governments, Native Hawaiian Organizations, private companies, and governmental agencies. He has also instructed federal agency employees on environmental laws throughout the United States. Mr. Silvia is the author of “Leaving a Legacy of Love - Your Psychological Estate Planning Workbook” along with his co-author, Dr. Ken Druck
John Edwards is a nationally recognized speaker and mediation trainer. After many years as a trial lawyer, John is now a full-time neutral mediating cases throughout Southern California.
John Edwards is a nationally recognized speaker and mediation trainer. After many years as a trial lawyer, John is now a full-time neutral mediating cases throughout Southern California. In conjunction with his mediation practice, John frequently lectures at seminars and law schools, training both lawyers and other mediators in effective negotiation strategies to be used in mediations. He is an adjunct faculty member at Pepperdine Strauss Institute of Dispute Resolution and at the High Conflict Institute, through which he teaches seminars on working with high conflict personalities.
Mr. Edwards is often engaged to mediate the most challenging matters in which the legal issues are not driving the dispute, but the personalities are the issue. Lawyers are often frustrated because their usually persuasive legal skills are often ineffective with high conflict people. John has had years of training and experience and has become known for achieving results when legal analysis and vigorous advocacy have failed to achieve settlement.
Neal Schram is recognized as an AV Preeminent® Rated Attorney whose practice is devoted to estate planning, probate and trust administration.
Neal Schram is recognized as an AV Preeminent® Rated Attorney whose practice is devoted to estate planning, probate and trust administration. Over his forty-nine years of practice, Mr. Schram has worked in different legal areas. During his earlier years, Mr. Schram practiced in the areas of corporate law, business planning, and federal and state taxation. During his years of practice in taxation, The State Bar of California recognized him as a Certified Legal Specialist in that field. In the late 1990’s, he settled permanently into an estate planning, trust and probate practice. In his early years, Mr. Schram provided volunteer services for Neighborhood House and he was a Founding Member and Founding Attorney for the Del Mar Winston School for Learning Disabled Children.
Mr. Schram received a Bachelor of Science from the University of San Diego in 1970, a Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame in 1973 and an LLM in Taxation from the University of San Diego in 1992.
Mr. Schram is a member of The State Bar of California, the State Bar section on Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, and a member of the San Diego County Bar Association.
Mr. Garrison won his first multi-million dollar civil jury verdict when he was 29 years old. Over the course of more than twenty years in practice, Mr. Garrison has tried more than 50 cases winning many multi-million dollar jury verdicts and settlements.
Martindale Hubbell, a leading resource for recommending attorneys and law firms, awarded Mr. Garrison with its highest rating of “AV Preeminent 5.0 of 5.0” after an independent review of his abilities by lawyers and judges. Mr. Garrison is also client rated “Preeminent 5.0 of 5.0” by Martindale Hubbell. Mr. Garrison is rated “Superb 10.0” by Avvo which is the highest rating awarded to attorneys by that organization. Mr. Garrison is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (“ABOTA”), the premier national association of trial attorneys in America, a member of CAL-ABOTA and a member of the ABOTA-San Diego Chapter. Mr. Garrison is also a member of both the “Million Dollar Advocates Forum” and the “Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum” both of which limit membership to trial lawyers who have demonstrated exceptional skill, experience and excellence in trial advocacy. Mr. Garrison has been named one of the “10 best litigation lawyers in California in client satisfaction” by the American Institute of Legal Counsel, a “Top Lawyer” in San Diego by San Diego Magazine and is a lifetime member of Rue Ratings “Best Attorneys of America”.
Mr. Garrison does not shy away from hard work, hard cases, or earning results. Mr. Garrison has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in business litigation, class action, personal injury, construction defect and community association litigation. When he is not practicing law Mr. Garrison competes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, recently placing second in the 2017 U.S. National Championship in his division.
Mr. Papaefthimiou is a litigation, trial and appellate lawyer focusing in class action, employment, consumer rights, personal injury and intellectual property disputes. In his 17 years of practice, he has taken multiple cases to trial in both federal and state court and recovered millions of dollars for his clients. As certified class counsel, he has recovered money for tens of thousands of aggrieved consumers and employees. He is also a skilled appellate attorney with numerous published opinions. See, e.g., Van Patten v. Vertical Fitness Group, LLC, 847 F.3d 1037 (9th Cir. 2017); Bauer Bros. LLC v. Nike, Inc., 598 Fed. Appx. 506 (9th Cir. 2015); CollegeSource, Inc. v. AcademyOne, Inc., 653 F.3d 1066 (9th Cir. 2011) and Federal Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Dintino, 167 Cal. App. 4th 333 (2008).
Alexander routinely litigates against the top law firms in America and has squared off against, without limitation, Nike, Twentieth Century Fox, E! Entertainment, Whole Foods Market, Orange County Choppers, RBS Citizens Bank NA d/b/a Charter One, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the County of Los Angeles, the County of San Bernardino and the County of Riverside.
Mr. Papaefthimiou was awarded the AVVO "Client's Choice Award" for 2015. He is rated "Superb" by that organization. Mr. Papaefthimiou is also a member of both the "Million Dollar Advocates Forum" and the "Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum", which limit membership to trial lawyers who have obtained million or multi-million dollar recoveries for their clients and demonstrated excellence in advocacy.
Alexander is the President of the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County (BBSVC), a charitable organization dedicated to local youth and their potential. He has also served as BBSVC’s Vice-President, Treasurer and Director. Mr. Papaefthimiou is also a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and assisted in the construction of affordable housing in Port Hueneme.
Terri Van Havermaat is a Senior Paralegal at Avant Law Corporation. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from San Diego State University
Terri Van Havermaat is a Senior Paralegal at Avant Law Corporation. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from San Diego State University, an Associate of Science in Computer Science from Grossmont College, and an Associate of Science and Certificate of Achievement in the Paralegal Program at San Diego Miramar College.
In her off-time Ms. Van Havermaat enjoys going to the beach, cycling, golfing, snowboarding, exploring the desert in her dirt bike, and her yearly trip to the Big Island of Hawaii. She is a voracious reader, loves to listen to and play music on her bass and ukulele, and takes care of two large cats.
Maria Bautista is a Paralegal at Avant Law Corporation with over 20 years of experience in a wide variety of practice areas assisting attorneys and clients including Adoption Law, Personal Injury, and Estate Planning. She is dedicated, passionate, and takes pride in her work.
The daughter of migrant farm workers, Maria was raised in the fields harvesting crops from sunup to sundown. Her strong work ethic, integrity, and dedication have driven her to be where she is today. Maria is a wife, proud mother of three, and grandmother of two boys. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, spending time with family, and has a sweet tooth for dark chocolate!
Claudia Sternin is a Litigation Paralegal at Avant Law Corporation. She started her legal career in the early 90s, including assisting in-house counsel for USAA Insurance Company.
Claudia Sternin is a Litigation Paralegal at Avant Law Corporation. She started her legal career in the early 90s, including assisting in-house counsel for USAA Insurance Company.
As a paralegal with Avant Law, Claudia draws upon her experience in civil law to provide support with case management, research, and trial document preparation. She is also a licensed real estate agent by the California Department of Real Estate.
In her spare time, Claudia enjoys volunteering, traveling, reading, and experiencing new activities.
Mr. Chang has extensive experience in international business and legal support.
Mr. Chang has extensive experience in international business and legal support. For the past two decades, he’s served the local and international communities via humanitarian outreach and medical mission trips. During his free time, Mr. Chang enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, and fishing.
Ashley Magellan Caprara is Director of Operations at Avant Law Corporation, coming from OUTFRONT Media with 8 years of business management experience and 11 years of experience in media strategy and sales operations.
Ashley Magellan Caprara is Director of Operations at Avant Law Corporation, coming from OUTFRONT Media with 8 years of business management experience and 11 years of experience in media strategy and sales operations.
Mrs. Caprara is an alumna of the University of California, Santa Barbara and received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication and English. She is a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and served 2 years as Social Chair.
In her spare time, Ashley enjoys yoga and Peloton, discovering new restaurants and live music with her husband Paul, baking, and traveling. Her pride and joy is her daughter Flora, and her Labradoodle Dazzle comes as a close second.
Eunice Kim is a Case Manager at Avant Law Corporation. Ms. Kim recently graduated cum laude from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.
Eunice Kim is a Case Manager at Avant Law Corporation. Ms. Kim recently graduated cum laude from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. During college, Ms. Kim was a member of the Korean American Leaders in Hollywood. In her free time, Ms. Kim enjoys hiking and traveling.
Mike Zoura is a Law Clerk at Avant Law Corporation. Mr. Zoura, a native San Diegan with deep roots in the city, is in his last semester of law school at California Western School of Law and graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.
Mr. Zoura brings a multifaceted skill set and a passion for excellence that enables him to navigate the complexities and intricacies of the law. He has a strong foundation in economics and in various legal domains, including transactional work, litigation, tax, and trust and estates. Rooted in an entrepreneurial background, Mr. Zoura brings a strategic business-minded approach to legal challenges, offering innovative solutions tailored to each client’s needs.
Outside the office, Mr. Zoura finds solace in spending time with loved ones and exploring the natural beauty San Diego has to offer, whether it's leisurely walks along the beach or invigorating hikes in the region's picturesque landscapes.
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