Your Defense Team
Meet your Carolina Defense Team that fights for you and cares about you.
Mia Alzagari
Case Manager
Mia is originally from Palestine and has been a Gastonia native for most of her life. Mia lives with her loving husband, Samer while doing what she is passionate about every day.
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Education
- Gaston College – Associate in Arts
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte – Bachelors in Criminal Justice
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte – Paralegal Certification
Favorite Quote
“It always seems impossible, until its done” – Nelson Mandela
Zeiny Blas Chavez
Case Manager
Zeiny was born and raised in Asheville, NC, and is bilingual in English and Spanish. She loves her sourdough starter, cooking, and hiking.
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Educational Summary
- Asheville-Buncombe Community College: Associate’s in Criminal Justice
Favorite Quote
“You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – Winnie the Pooh
Meredith Cairo
Associate Attorney
Meredith Cairo is a native of Statesville, North Carolina, but her love for the community of Johnston County has made it her permanent home. Meredith enjoys cooking and hosting get-togethers with her loved ones, spending time outside with her cat, George, and delving into true crime documentaries and movies.
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Education
- B.A. in Psychology from Wake Forest University
- Campbell University School of Law
- Member of North Carolina Advocates for Justice
Favorite Quote
“Champions keep playing until they get it right” – Billie Jean King
Kristen Dewar
Associate Attorney
Kristen graduated from Charlotte School of Law, cum laude, with a Juris Doctor and a Certificate in Art of Advocacy Skills in 2015, and has been licensed to practice law in North Carolina since 2015.
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Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Kristen was told by teachers at a young age that she had a “strong sense of justice.”
She graduated from the University of Toronto (B.A., Political Science, 2008), and continued her previous career in retail management and human resources until Kristen also decided to make good on what she had always been told, and went to Charlotte School of Law, where she was on Dean’s List, and was a member of Order of the Crown.
Allie Dunlap
Associate Attorney
Allie is a Piedmont-Triad native and is passionate about serving her local community. She graduated from Elon University School of Law in Greensboro, NC. Allie serves as a Board Member for the Greensboro Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section and the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys. She now lives in Stokesdale, NC with her husband, her son and 2 cats.
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Education
Allie received her undergraduate degree from Campbell University, where she was a member of the Division I Women’s Soccer Team. Go Camels!
She has successfully completed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s course on DUI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, a 24-hour course taught to officers trained in DWI investigations.
Favorite Quote
“I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” – Thomas Jefferson
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Favorite Quote
“Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next” -Oprah
Kenia Garcia
Client Relations Manager
Kenia was born in New Jersey but proudly from Salvadorian descent. I am currently a college student, I am bilingual in English & Spanish and I seek to help you!
!Hola¡ Hablo Español, Deseo ayudarle con lo que pueda! Somos un equipo muy trabajador y dedicado a nuestros clientes.
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Education
Kenia is currently enrolled in school for a business degree.
Favorite Quote
“When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.” – William Arthur Ward
Stephanie Heller
Paralegal
Stephanie was born and raised in Asheville, NC and has continued to call it home. She loves spending time with her family, planning get togethers with friends, and reading all different types of books in her downtime. She graduated from South College with her associates in Paralegal Studies and has been a NC certified paralegal since 2017.
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Favorite Quote
“Never settle for anything less than pure joy” – Amy Atheston
Jake Kennon
Intake Team Member
Jake is Georgia born, but answered the call of the mountains and moved to Asheville. He wants to use the rest of his bio to encourage you to support your local library.
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Educational Summary
- Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising from the University of Georgia
Favorite Quote
“What cannot be changed, must be endured” – Robert Jordan
Jeannine Krug
Intake Specialist
Jeannine, a Mass Communication graduate born and raised in Concord, NC, loves to read and bake. She enjoys working with her local community.
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Educational Summary
- B.A. in Mass Communication from UNC Asheville
Favorite Quote
“What we do is more important than what we say or what we believe” – bell hooks
Gint Krulikas
Equity Partner
Gint Krulikas grew up in the mountains of Asheville but has since migrated to the coastal region of North Carolina where he lives with his wife Margaret and their son Sam. Gint enjoys mixing it up between enjoying the outdoors and staying inside playing video games.
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Education
- Charlotte School of Law – Magna Cum Laude
- Appalachian State University – Magna Cum Laude
- Notable CLEs
- NHTSA DWI Detection and SFST Training
- NHTSA Advance Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement Overview / Refresher
- NHTSA Drug Recognition Expert Overview / Refresher
Favorite Quote
“Never tell me the odds.” – Han Solo
Stephanie Leyva
Case Manager
Stephanie is bilingual in English and Spanish, graduated from Kaskaskia Community College with an Associates in Criminal Justice, and lives with her loving husband, Jessie.
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Favorite Quote
“I didn’t get there by wishing for it or hoping for it, but by working for it.” – Estée Lauder
Blake Marcus
Managing Partner
Blake was born in South Florida, but fell in love with the Mountains of Western Carolina. Blake lives in Asheville with his wife, two kids, and three cats.
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Education
- Florida State University – Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance, Magna Cum Laude (2006-2010)
- Michigan State University College of Law – Magna Cum Laude (2011-2014)
Favorite Quote
“It is hard to fail, but it is worse to never have tried to succeed.” -Teddy Roosevelt
James "Jake" Minick
Equity Partner
Jake was raised in Waynesville and has always called the mountains of North Carolina home. Jake and his beautiful wife Laura live with their 7 children in Weaverville.
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Favorite Quote
“What we do in life, echoes in eternity.” – Maximus, Gladiator
Kelsey Myers
Attorney
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Educational Summary
Kelsey graduated from Campbell Law School as a Dean’s Excellence Scholarship Recipient, a Torts Teaching Scholar to Dean Emeritus, Melissa Essary, a Research Assistant to Matthew Sawchak, and the Symposium Editor for the Campbell Law Review. At graduation, Kelsey was awarded the Robert A. Jenkins Award for her achievements and effort as a member of the Trial Team program.
Favorite Quote
— Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Holly O'Brien
Billing Administrator
Holly is a native Floridian who graduated with honors from Tulane University in International Relations while working for the US Attorney’s Office in New Orleans.
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Holly went on to a career as linguist, contracting specialist and project manager for the US Government before traveling the world. The highlight of her time overseas was working as the Ambassador’s Self-Help Coordinator in Asmara, Eritrea.
Holly was drawn to settle in Asheville by the kindness of its citizens and is committed to easing the process of facing charges for our clients.
Holly has worked with the Literacy Council of Buncombe Co teaching English to Spanish speaking immigrants and studies Spanish and Russian intensely to keep in constant communication with our clients.
Will Shuford
Associate Attorney
Will is a native of the Western North Carolina but is now living on the coast. He loves the ocean and the people but misses good barbecue.
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Education
Will graduated from Western Carolina University with a degree in Political Science and from the University of South Carolina School of Law. While there he served as President of the law school’s chapter of the American Constitution Society.
Favorite Quote
“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.”-FDR
Amy Smith
Associate Attorney
Amy graduated cum laude from Campbell Law School in Raleigh, North Carolina. She received her undergraduate degree in mass communication at UNC Asheville. Amy has successfully completed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s course on DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing.
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Education
- UNC Asheville
- Campbell University School of Law, Cum Laude
- Attended the 24 hour DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Course and the 7th Annual DWI Super Symposium
- NCAJ member, Buncombe Bar Member, NC Bar Association Member
Thomas Tracy
Traffic Case Manager
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Educational Summary
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Appalachian State University – B.S. Criminal Justice – Summa Cum Laude
Lance Williams
Equity Partner
Lance is a Louisiana swamp native transplanted to the Carolinas. He has an awesome wife Brandy and two teenaged boys that he constantly drives from place to place.
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Education
He is a graduate of the Charlotte School of Law in Charlotte, NC. During law school, Lance interned at the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office. He is certified in DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (24 hour training) and Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (16 hour training) by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Favorite Quote
“I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.”
-Groucho Marx
Contact Us
Get the defense you want and need. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
Our Mission
The Minick Law team aims to provide our clients with outstanding legal representation. Our attorneys are constantly improving their knowledge of the law, in an effort to arm our clients with the defense they deserve.
