David A. M. Ware
Attorney at Law

Mr. Ware graduated from Yale University in 1977, receiving his B.A. in Latin American Studies. He completed his Juris Doctor at the University of Texas in 1981, and has practiced exclusively in the area of immigration and nationality law since 1982. Mr. Ware is active in the National Association of Foreign Student Affairs: Association of International Educators. He is a former member of AILA’s Foreign Student and Texas Service Center Liaison Committees. He has held an AV rating in Martindale Hubbell for many years, and is a member of The Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He has repeatedly been selected by New Orleans magazine as among the top immigration attorneys in Louisiana. Mr. Ware is a frequent speaker and author on immigration topics throughout the U.S. and abroad, and teaches immigration law at Southern University School of Law. Click here to view Mr. Ware's curriculum vitae. He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.
Kathleen Gasparian
Associate Attorney
Ms. Gasparian earned her law degree in 2002 from Loyola University New Orleans where she earned the Joseph V. Bologna Prize for 1998-1999 as well as outstanding achievement awards in the Administration of Criminal Justice I and Property Law. While attending Loyola University’s evening program, Ms. Gasparian began her career in immigration by working in the Loyola University Department of International Student Affairs. Upon completion of her degree, she served in the Attorney General’s Honors Program as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Executive Office of Immigration Review. She has authored and co-authored several articles on various aspects of immigration law. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and has served as the AILA Mid-South treasurer. She is currently the AILA Mid-South Vice Chair and is liaison to the New Orleans Executive Office of Immigration Review.

Steve Springer
Associate Attorney
Mr. Springer earned his law degree in 1986, from the University of Alabama. After working for several years as a litigator, he earned a graduate degree in cultural studies, served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Poland, managed immigration services for several major research universities for nearly a decade, and managed his own immigration law practice. Mr. Springer has held a variety of leadership positions in NAFSA: Association of International Educators including Manager of the International Scholar Advising Network, Chair of the Employment Issues Working Group, Dean of the “J-1 for Beginners” Professional Development Program, USCIS service center liaison, Region I Secretary and team member, Region VII team member, and member of several other committees and working groups. Mr. Springer served on the team that developed the J-1 Advanced Professional Development Program, has presented over 40 workshops and sessions at national and regional NAFSA conferences, and was awarded “NAFSAn of the Year” by Region I. Mr. Springer also co-created a video-based intercultural communications training program for university administrators who work with international students that remains widely used among NAFSAns. Mr. Springer is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and has also presented sessions at its conferences.

Elaine Kimbrell
Associate Attorney
Ms. Kimbrell graduated from the George Washington University in 2000 where she earned her B.A. in International Affairs. She earned her J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans in 2005. She was a member of the Maritime Law Journal and participated in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. Ms. Kimbrell previously served as a constituent services representative for U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu. In this capacity, she assisted constituents with their applications for federal benefits and specialized in immigration cases. She continued her federal service as Senator Landrieu’s projects assistant, focusing on federal funding opportunities for state and local communities. Ms. Kimbrell is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and is skilled in all areas of immigration law.

Sylvia G. Munoz
Senior Paralegal, Office Manager

Ms. Munoz, with the firm since 1987, is a native of Mexico and is fluent in Spanish and French. Ms. Munoz is skilled in all areas of immigration law, with specialization in business immigration and labor certification.

Mabel M. Vincent
Senior Paralegal

Ms. Vincent, a native of Cuba, received a B.A. from Loyola University in New Orleans, and Certificate in Paralegal Studies from the University of New Orleans. She has been with the firm since 1996. She is fluent in Spanish and is skilled in all areas of immigration law, specializing in litigation and removal.

Chithra Kumar
Senior Paralegal

Mrs. Kumar joined the firm in 1994. She is a native of India and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Madras, India. She has also received a Paralegal Certificate from the University of New Orleans. She is fluent in Tamil and Hindi and has extensive experience in the immigration law field. She works in both employment and family based areas, specializing in visas for nurses, religious workers and for international adoptions.

Nancy Quant Lauland
Paralegal

Ms. Lauland was born in Nicaragua, with family roots in Hong Kong. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Communications at the University of New Orleans and is ABA certified from Louisiana State University's Paralegal Studies program. She is skilled in nonimmigrant work visas.

Lorena Mendoza
Paralegal

Ms. Mendoza was born in Guatemala and has lived in the New Orleans area since 1982. She is fluent in Spanish and has extensive experience in the immigration Law field. She handles family-based immigration cases.

Lucy W. McMellan
Paralegal

Ms. McMellan was born in La Ceiba, Honduras, and has lived in New Orleans since 1972. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems at Loyola University in New Orleans, and her certification from the University of New Orleans Paralegal Studies program. She is fluent in Spanish, and is experienced in both employment-based and family-based immigration law.

Karen Kobzoff
Paralegal

A California native, Ms. Kobzoff has lived in many Latin American countries. She is fluent in Spanish and Italian and has been with the firm since 1996. She previously worked for the Italian Embassy in Guatemala City. She is skilled in several areas of immigration law specializing in consular processing, criminal records and complex citizenship cases.

Astrid Andara
Paralegal

Ms. Andara was born in Honduras and has lived in Louisiana since 1986. She received a B.A. from Loyola University in New Orleans in 2003, and a Certificate in Paralegal Studies from the Herzing College in 2005. She is fluent in Spanish and specializes in employment based, family based, and removal cases.

America Lorena Colina
Paralegal

Ms. Colina, a native of Venezuela, received a J.D. degree from Universidad Santa Maria and an M.B.A. from Universidad Metropolitana in Caracas. Her previous experience includes teaching at two major universities and managing an organization funded by the U.S. Department of State. She has been with David Ware & Associates since 2005 and has extensive experience in employment-based immigration law, primarily labor certification.

Anielka (Ani) Rodriguez
Paralegal

Ms. Rodriguez, a native of Nicaragua, received a Certificate in Paralegal Studies from the University of New Orleans. She is currently attending Delgado Community College to finish her Associate Degree in Criminal Justice. Ani has been with David Ware & Associates since March 2006 and handles family and employment base cases, labor certification, and change of status cases.

Michael Karam
Paralegal

Mr. Karam received a B.A. from Loyola University in New Orleans. He is experienced in employment-based and family-based applications.

Jeffrey Laborie
Paralegal

Mr. Laborie, a New Orleans native, earned a B.A. in English from the University of New Orleans and Certificate in Paralegal Studies from Tulane University. He works mainly with employment-based immigration cases.

Tonya Butler
Paralegal

A native of New Orleans, Ms. Butler received her B.A. in English (Pre-law) from the University of New Orleans. She has experience with family-based and change of status cases.