Staff

Stacy Horth-Neubert
Executive Director

Stacy Horth-Neubert joined the Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law as its Executive Director in December 2023. Stacy graduated Phi Beta Kappa graduate from the University of Florida with a B.S. in Telecommunication-News, and from Fordham University School of Law, cum laude and Order of the Coif. Stacy began her legal career as a litigation associate at Proskauer Rose LLP, where she first fell in love with pro bono legal service. But it was her move to Los Angeles with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP that heralded the beginning of a profound legacy in pro bono work and equal justice advocacy.

During her tenure at Skadden, Stacy not only maintained a high-paced commercial litigation practice, but also spearheaded the growth of the firm’s award-winning impact litigation program as a Pro Bono Coordinator for the Los Angeles office. She joined Sidley Austin LLP later in her career, where Stacy continued to blaze trails, as a litigator, pro bono leader, and champion for women in law. Stacy serves on the board and is a Past-President of WLALA and the WLALA Foundation, and on the Board of Trustees and Board of Directors of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California. For her legal skill and leadership, Stacy has been named one of the Top Women Lawyers in California by the Los Angeles Daily Journal, and one of the Most Influential Women Attorneys by the LA Business Journal. For her pro bono work, Stacy has received the prestigious California Lawyer of the Year Award (CLAY) for extraordinary contributions to the law, and both the ACLU of Southern California Pro Bono Advocacy Award and its Freedom of Information Award.

Rebecca L. Fischer
Director of Legal Services

Rebecca became the Director of Legal Services at the Buhai Center in November 2022. As Director of Legal Services, Rebecca manages the day-to-day operations of the Buhai Center’s legal and volunteer programs. Rebecca has been a contributing author to the Buhai Center’s publication “California Family Law Basics” since 2017 and is the current Editor-in-Chief of the publication. California Family Law Basics is a guide on family law designed to help both new and experienced legal professionals, as well as pro per litigants, file, and finish family law cases. As the Director of the Family Law Clinic, a joint program between the Buhai Center and Southwestern Law School, Rebecca teaches and supervises the Family Law Clinic, a program designed to provide law students with the opportunity to learn lawyering skills and family law while assisting on Buhai Center cases. Rebecca has been an Adjunct Professor at Southwestern Law School since 2018. Rebecca also supervises the Advanced Family Law Clinic when the course is offered.

A graduate of UCLA School of Law, Rebecca previously clerked at the Los Angeles County Public Defender and was a Law Student Intern at the Buhai Center. Rebecca has been a staff attorney at the Buhai Center since February 2016.

Arlene Rubio Teutla
Director of Client Services

Arlene joined the Buhai Center in September 2015 and became the Director of Client Services at the Buhai Center in December 2023. Arlene’s responsibilities include collaborating with the Director of Legal Services to address client-related issues, engage in outreach, supervise and educate client assistants, and improve service delivery. Arlene has extensive training in management, serving domestic violence victims, and ethics. She has honed her expertise through extensive experience, including a full-time fellowship at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse with JusticeCorps. Her fellowship involved guiding self-represented litigants through the complexities of the court system, specializing in family law matters. Arlene’s fluency in Spanish, and adeptness in managing large groups and navigating high-pressure environments underscores her ability to excel in diverse, demanding professional situations. Arlene is a passionate advocate for the Buhai Center’s clients and believes in the importance of community members feeling heard within the court system. Her firsthand experience and understanding of the challenges faced by individuals from the Latino community provide her with a unique perspective on issues faced by the Latino community. Arlene is deeply passionate about fostering an environment where these individuals feel represented, valued, and understood.

Hannah C. Santos
Director of Development

Hannah became the Director of Development in July 2023. Her responsibilities include overseeing private donor fundraising strategies, attaining foundation support, collaborating with the Executive Director to cultivate community relationships, and implementing initiatives to secure philanthropic support in line with the organization’s mission and goals. Hannah also supports the Buhai Center’s community-facing communications and public engagement efforts. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Denver, Hannah is an alumna of the Pioneer Leadership Program, an intensive four-year program designed to develop perspective and experience rooted in ethical leadership, global understanding, and social responsibility. Hannah also developed skills in various non-profit roles, notably as a Development Fellow at the international non-governmental organization, Daring Girls (formerly AfricAid). Hannah has a deep history of engaging in volunteer community work with low-income and diverse communities, including teaching English and U.S. Civics to immigrants seeking citizenship in the United States. Her passion for social justice work to promote and protect at-risk community members is reflected in her work at the Buhai Center. Hannah has been on the Buhai Center’s staff and development team since March 2021.

Noquomas Wilson
Director of Administration

Noquomas Wilson joined our team as Director of Administration in August 2024. Noquomas is responsible for overseeing all administrative aspects of finance, human resources, technology, and operations of the organization, as well as government grant management and compliance. Noquomas holds a B.A. in Mass Communication with a minor in Marketing from California State University-San Bernardino and an MBA with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership from National University. She has worked in the non-profit sector for over 15 years, mostly in the social services field. Noquomas was a freelance consultant for eight years, and also served as Chief Operating Officer at the LGBTQ Center of Long Beach. Noquomas is passionate about the mission of the Buhai Center and expanding its reach so more clients can be served.  

Karen Suri
Deputy Director of Legal Services

Karen Suri joined the Buhai Center as its Deputy Director of Legal Services in March 2024. She is responsible for the direction and development of the Buhai Center’s Pro Bono Program, assists the Director of Legal Services in managing the legal program, and maintains an active caseload as a staff attorney. She was admitted to practice in 2011 and as a Certified Family Law Specialist in 2016. After law school, she worked in family law private practice in Compton, focusing on serving a large volume of lower income and underserved clientele.

Karen opened her own law office in June of 2018. She provided a variety of services, including consultation-based, limited scope, and full scope. Her mission was to serve the public and provide flexible service options to empower people from all socio-economic strata by providing access to equitable private legal representation.

Karen is proud to have furthered her mission to serve lower income and underrepresented populations through her volunteer work. She has served Community Lawyers, Inc. in Compton as President and as Chair of the Fundraising Committee, and by running a monthly family law clinic for ten years. She has also served as Co-President and Board member of the National Lawyers Guild Los Angeles and volunteered to teach Constitutional Law and Community Property at the People’s College of Law.

Volunteer Programs

Carmen Hidalgo Kirschner
Volunteer Coordinator

Staff Attorneys

Elizabeth Erickson
Senior Counsel

Joel Garcia
Staff Attorney

Linda Gross
Senior Staff Attorney

Judy Schwartz-Behar
Staff Attorney

Cheryl Segal
Senior Staff Attorney

Client Assistants

Johanna Avelar
Client Assistant

Jaspree Borrayo
Client Assistant, Community College Homelessness Prevention Project

Elvira Castillo
Senior Client Assistant

Noemi Hidalgo
Client Assistant

Jocelyn Ramirez-Parada
Client Assistant

Claudia Rodriguez
Client Assistant

Sucely Victoria
Client Assistant

Development and Administration

Sarah Beach
Development Communications Writer

Jonathan Burgess
Development Associate

Esther Castillo
Operations Associate

Julianna De La Cruz
Grants Manager and Executive Assistant

Board of Directors

Officers

Jonathan Forgang (President)
Perkins Coie LLP
Member since 2019

Jonathan is a Partner with Perkins Coie LLP, an international law firm providing a full range of services. Prior to starting his legal practice, Jonathan was a co-founder and editor of Refinery29 Inc., a leading female-focused digital media company. Jonathan is a graduate of George Washington University and Fordham Law School, where he was an editor of the Fordham Law Review.

Amos Buhai (Vice President)
DeepElm
Member since 2014

Amos is Managing Partner at DeepElm, a political and government relations consulting firm. Prior to launching DeepElm, Amos was the VP of Government Relations at Endeavor, a global sports, entertainment and fashion company. He previously worked as Deputy National Political Director and Southwest Regional Director of J Street. Continuing in the activist tradition of his relative Harriett Buhai, Amos has substantial experience in managing political campaigns, fundraising, and legislative work.  Amos received a B.A. from The George Washington University.

Kimia Klein (Secretary)
Fox Rothschild LLP
Member since 2023

Kimia is an experienced family law practitioner for over a decade. She is a partner at the nationwide law firm of Fox Rothschild LLP. Kimia founded the firm’s Working Parents Group, which provides a forum for attorneys to support each other in their efforts to balance family life and a legal career. Despite her busy schedule, Kimia finds the time to represent needy individuals on a pro bono basis.

JB Rizzo (Treasurer)
Rizzo Forensics
Member since 2019

A forensic CPA since 1998, JB focuses on family law analyses, business valuations, and accounting or economic damage issues in litigation support matters. He is also a financial mediator assisting marital dissolution clients and their attorneys. JB has authored published articles and a book chapter on financial topics relating to California family law. He has served as the court’s neutral expert (California §730) and has testified in Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura County Superior Courts, as well as in depositions for federal matters. He is President of the ACFLS Charitable Foundation, Inc., which raises funds to grant to organizations connected with the California family law system. JB is a graduate of University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Serine A. Tsuda (Immediate Past-President)
Salisbury, Lee & Tsuda, LLP
Member since 2018

Serine is a partner at the firm of Salisbury, Lee & Tsuda, LLP, which specializes in family law. Her practice has been devoted exclusively to family law since being admitted to the California bar. Her relationship with the Center began as a law student intern, and she is a member of the Center’s Alumni All-Stars as well as participating pro bono attorney. Serine received a B.A. magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.

Members

Daniel R. Bemel
UBS Private Wealth Management
Member Since 2022

Dan is Senior Vice President-Wealth Management and a Private Wealth Advisor at UBS. He is also a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst. Prior to joining UBS in 2009, Dan practiced law at Los Angeles area firms in a wide variety of disciplines including trust and estates, corporate litigation, family law, and liability defense. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Dan earned a B.A. in sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. He holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities licenses, and is a member of the California Bar Association, and a member of the executive committee of the Beverly Hills Bar Association family law section.

Margo Bouchet (Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles Liaison)
Law Offices of Margo Bouchet
Member Since 2022

Margo Bouchet is a graduate of Howard University School of Law and has a solo practice focusing on family law, probate law and mediation. Throughout her career, she has also provided free legal services in her community through various clinics including the Harriett Buhai Center Legal Clinic. She is a founding member of the Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, a co-founder and co-sponsor of the Harriett Buhai Center. Margo has served on various other bar association boards including the National Bar Association, the Langston Bar Association, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the Inglewood Bar Association. Currently, Margo serves on the board of the Beverly Hills Bar Association, as well as the board of BWL.

Gloria Chang
Netflix
Member Since 2022

Gloria is currently a business and legal affairs executive at Netflix where she focuses on unscripted and documentary series content. Prior to working at Netflix, Gloria worked in business affairs at The CW Network and legal affairs at NBCUniversal. Gloria started her legal career as a corporate litigator at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP where she practiced for five years. She holds a J.D. from USC Law School and a B.A. in English from Columbia University. In her free time, she loves to travel, eat, play tennis and spend time with her family.

Alyssa Dickerson (Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles Liaison)
Fox Rothschild LLP
Member since 2021

Alyssa earned her JD from Southwestern Law School while simultaneously working with the Los Angeles community providing legal aid to women, children, and families in positions of need (including at the HBCFL).  She has spent her entire career working in family law at the largest female-run firm in California and tirelessly works to bring fair closure to her clients.

Greg Goldberg
Barta Goldberg
Member since 2024

Greg Goldberg is a savvy litigator with nearly two decades of experience. His law practice concentrates on commercial controversies, including pre-litigation dispute resolution, trials, mediation, and arbitration. Greg has deep subject-matter expertise in the rules of court and code of civil procedure. Greg also serves as general counsel for non-for-profit organizations in the office technology sector. Greg’s clients range from individuals to trade associations to small businesses and large corporations. Greg is a named partner in the Los Angeles law firm of Barta Goldberg. Previously, Greg managed the Litigation Services department at the flagship office of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP in Chicago, IL. Formerly, Greg was a partner at Stamos & Trucco LLP, also in Chicago. Greg is licensed in California, New York, Illinois, and Missouri. In 2019, Legal Aid Chicago awarded Greg Volunteer of the Year in its pro bono partnership with Katten. Greg is a 2002 graduate of Georgetown University. Greg graduated from the George Mason University School of Law in 2005. In law school, Greg served as a Legal Writing Fellow and as Managing Justice of the Moot Court Board. He is a proficient Spanish speaker and conversant in Portuguese.

Sam Josephs
Spertus, Landes & Josephs, LLP
Member since 2024

Sam Josephs is a partner at Spertus, Landes & Josephs, LLP, a litigation boutique in Los Angeles. His practice focuses on white-collar criminal matters and government enforcement actions, as well as complex civil litigation and administrative matters. Sam holds a J.D. from Georgetown and a B.A. in History from Columbia University. 

Dawn Kennedy
University of Southern California (USC)
Member since 2024

Dawn is Associate General Counsel in USC’s Office of the General Counsel, where she acts as the lead labor and employment attorney for the university. Prior to joining USC, Dawn was the head of litigation, labor, and employment for American Apparel. Dawn began her legal career as an associate in the Los Angeles office of Baker Hostetler LLP, where she practiced in the firm’s labor and employment department, representing large employers in a variety of industries, including healthcare, academia, manufacturing, and hospitality. Dawn earned her J.D. from the USC Gould School of Law and her B.A. in Government Relations from the University of Notre Dame.

Nicole King
Venable LLP
Member since 2023

Nicole is a trial attorney who champions and advises her clients in complex commercial litigation disputes. Nicole has over 11 years’ experience at two Am Law 100 law firms. As Counsel at Venable LLP, Nicole is not only integrated in every stage of the litigation process in her practice, she is also an active firm citizen. Nicole is a member of the Venable Los Angeles Hiring Committee and the Venable Success Network Black Affinity Group. Always engaged in public policy and public interest law, Nicole served in the office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee (2007-2009) and as a 2010 Trope and Trope Fellow at the Harriett Buhai Center. Nicole received a B.A. in Political Science, cum laude, at The George Washington University and a J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.

Sarah Luetto
Hersh Mannis, LLP
Member since 2022

Sarah is a partner at the firm of Hersh Mannis, LLP, where she specializes in family law. Her practice has been devoted exclusively to family law since being admitted to the California bar. Her relationship with the Center began as a law student intern, and she is a member of the Center’s Alumni All-Stars as well as a participating pro bono attorney. Sarah received a B.A. from the Honors Collegium Program at the University of California, Los Angeles and a J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.

Yolanda Martin (Latina Lawyers Bar Association Liaison) 
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
Member since 2021

Yolanda Martin is the managing attorney for CHIRLA’s removal defense unit. In her immigration law practice, she represents both detained and non-detained individuals before the Immigration Court, as well as representing children in family and probate court. She also volunteers with the Immigrant Defenders Law Center and Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project. Yolanda received a B.A. from University of California, San Diego, and a J.D. from Loyola Law School.

Jack J. McMorrow, Esq.
Harris • Ginsberg LLP
Member Since 2024

Mr. McMorrow is a Certified Family Law Specialist and Partner at the family law firm of Harris Ginsberg LLP. He has devoted his career exclusively to the practice of family law since joining the bar in 2014. His relationship with the Buhai Center began as a law student intern and has continued as a pro bono attorney over the years. He earned a B.S. from the University of Southern California and a J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law. 

Yvette Ochoa
Farzad & Ochoa Family Law Attorneys, LLP
Member Since 2024

Yvette is a partner at the firm of Farzad & Ochoa Family Law Attorneys, LLP, where she specializes in complex divorce and family law cases while managing the firm’s Los Angeles office. She is a volunteer, pro-bono attorney at Human Options in Orange County. Yvette received a B.A. from Pepperdine University in English Literature with an emphasis in Philosophy and a J.D. from Western State University College of Law.

David P. Shebby
Shebby • Hirashima LLP
Member since 2012

David is a Certified Family Law Specialist and a founding partner of Shebby • Hirashima LLP, a boutique firm dedicated to family law litigation. David has more than two decades of trial experience in both state and federal courts and has litigated scores of jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations to verdict. He has published articles and lectured for the State Bar of California, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the Beverly Hills Bar Association, the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, the American Inns of Court, and other organizations. David is a member of Los Angeles Catholic Lawyers Association and a volunteer for Christian Legal Aid of Los Angeles. David served as Board President from 2014 to 2016. In 2017, he was honored with the Center’s Hall of Fame award, and he continues to volunteer his time as a pro bono attorney. David received a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, and a J.D. from Stanford Law School.

M. Lynda Sheridan (Los Angeles County Bar Association Family Law Section Liaison)
Law Offices of M. Lynda Sheridan
Member since 2020

Lynda is a Certified Family Law Specialist with more than 20 years of experience in family law litigation, as well as related real estate and business matters. Her practice includes dissolution of marriage, high asset and routine asset division, complicated issues of reimbursements, tracing, business evaluations, real estate issues of value and equity, child custody and visitation litigation, and child and spousal support. Linda received a J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law.

Ex Officio

Also members of the Advisory Council                                                                                                                      

Yolande Adelson*
Blanche Bersch
Vera Brown-Curtis*
Valerie Cohen
Carolyn DeFrancesco
Mablean Ephriam, Co-founder
Deborah Ewing
Larry A. Ginsberg
Fahi Takesh Hallin
Nedra Jenkins
Candice K. Rogers
Joan Patsy Ostroy
Susan R. Stockel
Hon. Jessica A. Uzcategui
Beverly A. Williams

*Deceased

Advisory Council

Judith R. Forman, Chair
Leah M. Bishop
Judge Aviva Bobb, (Ret.)
Judy Bogen
Jeff Buhai
Bruce Clemens
Hon. Isabel R. Cohen, (Ret.)
Bruce Cooperman
Emily Shappell Edelman
Paula Kane
Tracy Farryl Katz
Robert Kaufman
Hon. Veronica Simmons McBeth
Joan Patsy Ostroy, Co-founder
Patricia Phillips
Hon. Robert Schnider, (Ret.)
Lance Spiegel
Laura A. Wasser
Scott Weston