WE FIGHT TO WIN

Aaron Spolin

Aaron Spolin is a criminal appeals attorney, a former prosecutor, and a published author of multiple books on criminal law, including Witness Misidentification in Criminal Trials and Fighting Federal Writs of Habeas Corpus.  He handles criminal appeals, writs, and other forms of post-conviction relief in California, Texas, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and various federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court.  Aaron received his B.A. from Princeton University and his J.D. from U.C. Berkeley School of Law, where he was a member of the California Law Review.

Caitlin Dukes

Caitlin Dukes is a former prosecutor who handles criminal appeals, writs, and other post-conviction relief for the firm’s clients.  Admitted in California, Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania, she currently focuses on the firm's Pennsylvania cases. She has a wide array of experience in state and federal courts. Besides having served as a Deputy District Attorney, her background includes work for multiple judges and government entities (including Federal District Court Judge James Knoll Gardner and the United States Department of Homeland Security) as well as private sector experience defending clients wrongfully accused of crimes.

Erica Esquivel

Erica Esquivel is the lead attorney for the firm's California cases. She has won multiple post-conviction cases throughout the state, and single-handedly transformed the firm's California advocacy, improving attorney-client communication while presenting a "never surrender" attitude.  Erica has a fiery drive to win while making sure that her clients' voices are never silenced.  Her recent successful outcomes include obtaining a "time-served" release for a client originally sentenced to 80 years to life (10/7/24), reducing a 31-year-to-life sentence to 15-year-to-life sentence (10/30/24), winning a California writ of habeas corpus resulting in a new appeal (9/24/24), and freeing a client wrongfully convicted of murder by having his case transferred to juvenile court (6/11/24).

Matt Daher

Matt Daher is the lead attorney for the firm's Texas cases, which includes direct appeals, 11.07 motions, and federal writs, and other post-conviction relief.  He has extensive experience litigating both criminal and civil cases in state and federal courts throughout the United States. He brings the same cutthroat tenacity as a litigator to the work he does on criminal appeals. Drawing from personal experience, as well as the experiences of his clients, Matt is deeply aware of the challenges everyone faces when navigating through labyrinthian court systems that often seem more concerned with efficiency than the truth. Mr. Daher received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri – Columbia School of Law and his Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from the University of Utah. He is admitted to practice law in Texas and Missouri state courts, as well as all Texas federal courts.

Danie McCreary

Danie McCreary, the firm’s Law Office Manager, has over ten years of experience working as a trial assistant and office manager in a criminal defense law firm. She is extremely capable, organized, and committed to the firm's goals of client service and maximizing positive outcomes

Gina Faris

Gina Faris is a crucial member of the firm's leadership team, holding a variety of roles.  She is head paralegal, business manager, and the head of the firm's client intake team.  Gina started at the firm over five years ago, and every body of work she has been assigned has been done flawlessly.  She adds incredible value to the firm's clients through her organizational skills, attention to detail, and commitment to the firm's goals of delivering to its clients hard work, fierce advocacy, and respect.

Katie Winchester

Katie Winchester is the firm's Assistant Office Manager.  She is also the head of the administrative team for the firm's Pennsylvania, New York, and Michigan cases.  Katie has an extensive background in the realm of courts and the law, including experience as a California Superior Court deputy court clerk and as an investigator for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Travasa Ellis

Travasa Ellis is a Senior Paralegal at the firm and also serves as the California Office Manager.  Her prior experience includes managing all the court filings for the firm, as well as other duties in the area of administrative leadership.  She has over a decade of court and paralegal experience, including work for multiple judges and courts.  Travasa has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and a Paralegal Studies Certificate.

Michael Alfi

​Michael Alfi is the firm's mailroom manager.  As a post-conviction law practice, the firm has an enormous amount of mail that it receives on a regular basis, including tens of thousands of pages of court transcripts.  Michael manages the incoming and outgoing mail while also digitizing the court records for the use of the firm's attorneys.

Jenn DeTeso

Jenn DeTeso is one of the attorneys employed by the firm.  Her practice area primarily focuses on New York cases, including New York direct appeals and CPL 440 motions.  Jenn is known at the firm as a brilliant researcher and writer, and she regularly handles some of the most complex matters that the firm litigates. She has practiced law since 1998 and is admitted as an attorney in New York.

Jacob Galvan

Jacob Galvan is a case manager.  His work involves regular interaction with clients, and he has assisted with parlegal work as well.  Jacob has a legal-oriented mind, and he plans to attend law school.

Jim Castro

Jim Castro is a case manager. He brings to the firm experience working at other law firms and also serving as a criminal deputy court clerk in Hays County, Texas.

Megan Priaulx

Megan Priaulx is a legal researcher and drafter who assists the attorneys primarily on New York and California cases.  She also recently passed the New York Bar Exam and anticipates being admitted as an attorney in New York.  Prior to her employment at the firm, Megan drafted New York CPL 440 criminal appeals motions at the Freedom Clinic of the Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice at Cardozo Law School.