LEAD TO LEGACY

Ross Cellino is the founder of Cellino Law and the former co-founder of the nationally recognized personal injury firm, Cellino & Barnes.

After graduating from law school in 1983, Ross launched a solo practice where he managed every aspect of the business himself—from personally typing legal documents on a Wang Computer/Word Processor to bringing cases to trial. At the time, hiring a legal secretary was too costly, but placing a small business card size ad in the Yellow Paqes proved to be a worthwhile investment. In the early years, Ross handled a wide range of cases, including criminal defense, adoptions, matrimonial matters, real estate, and personal injury.

In 1986, he joined his father’s general practice, working alongside him and another senior partner. Ross encouraged the firm to invest in advertising, including a full-page ad in the Yellow Pages, to attract more personal injury clients. The campaign was a success and helped drive growth.

After his father retired in 1992, Steve Barnes joined the firm. Ross and Steve started trying smaller PI cases and obtained successful verdicts. In 1995, they separated from the former firm and officially founded Cellino & Barnes. The firm decided to focus its practice on personal injury cases. After both, Ross and Steve recovered their first million-dollar verdicts, that success inspired them to exclusively handle personal injury cases. The firm significantly expanded its marketing through TV, radio, and billboard advertising.

As the firm grew, (54 lawyers in its peak), so did the quality and complexity of its cases. Ross and Steve turned down a 6MM settlement offer just prior to jury selection on a brain injury case and proceeded to jointly try the case to verdict. They obtained a landmark $47 million verdict in Upstate New York. It was the largest verdict in Upstate NY at the time. That result elevated the firm’s profile and fueled its expansion into major markets, including New York City and Los Angeles.

Today, Ross continues to lead Cellino Law and its 30 lawyers with the same dedication that shaped his early career. Throughout his 40 year career, he has handled and overseen more than $2 billion in verdicts and settlements. Under his leadership, the firm now represents clients across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
Ross’s is a proud father of six and grandfather to twelve. And five of his children are lawyers – four of whom have followed him into the firm.

James Helm, the CEO of TopDog Law, turned his life around from being arrested five times to earning a law degree and now fights for families. With a passion for competition fostered by a sports-filled upbringing, James applies his competitive nature in the courtroom, building TopDog Law into a powerhouse firm.

A straight shooter, James shares his personal struggle with addiction, having battled it from 17 to 25. After finally seeking treatment in 2016, he has been sober since. Overcoming adversity, James excelled at Rutgers Law School and the School of Business, choosing to help individuals impacted by addiction rather than pursuing a corporate law career.

James was part of the inaugural Personal Injury Mastermind Conference in 2024, and due to his recent successes and growth is pleased to be joining us again as a "KeyGOAT" speaker for 2025.

Alex is a first-generation bilingual attorney of Cuban decent. Alex is originally from Florida and came up to Indiana in 1999 to play football at Hanover College. Alex went to law school in 2004 and was a law clerk at Mitchell, Hurst, Jacobs and Dick (predecessor of Hurst Limontes LLC) during most of his law school career. 

He graduated from Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis in 2007 and began his career as a trial attorney with the Marion County Public Defender Agency. Alex returned to work with Bill Hurst in 2011 and currently focuses his practice on plaintiff’s personal injury work.

Since 2019, Alex has managed the Practice now known as Hurst Limontes LLC. Alex is licensed to practice Law in Indiana and Florida. Alex is also a Certified Civil Mediator.

Angel L. Reyes, III is the Founder and Managing Partner of Angel Reyes & Associates, a premier personal injury law firm based in Dallas, Texas.

With a career that began on Wall Street, Angel brought his financial and legal expertise to Texas in 1993, establishing a firm that has since helped over 75,000 injury victims recover more than $1 billion in compensation.

Bill “The Lawman” Umansky is a veteran attorney with over 30 years of experience and the founder of a nearly eight-figure law firm powered by a team of 10 attorneys and 38+ staff, including a global network of virtual assistants. Starting as a solo practitioner, Bill grew his firm through high-volume casework but faced early challenges scaling without formal business training.

Committed to mastering the business side of law, Bill invested over $750,000 into leadership development, coaching, and systems like EOS. His transformation journey has turned his practice into a scalable, well-run operation backed by a full C-suite team—proof that investing in yourself can build a law firm that runs like a business.

Chris Dreyer is the Founder and CEO of Rankings.io, a digital marketing agency that helps elite law firms—especially personal injury attorneys—dominate their markets. Under his leadership, Rankings has landed on the Inc. 5000 list seven years in a row. Chris is also a Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling author, podcast host of Personal Injury Mastermind, and a real estate investor.

Chris’s path to legal marketing is anything but conventional. A former world-ranked collectible card game player and top online poker competitor, he started his professional life with a degree in History Education and a job supervising a detention room. That quiet gig gave him the space to build a thriving affiliate marketing business, eventually managing over 100 sites. Today, he channels that same strategic thinking and hustle into helping lawyers grow powerhouse practices.

Christopher Earley is the founder and CEO of Earley Law Group Injury Lawyers, a personal injury firm based in downtown Boston. A recognized thought leader in the legal space, he writes monthly for the American Bar Association, speaks regularly to attorney audiences nationwide, and hosts The Earley Show Podcast, where he interviews top attorney-entrepreneurs in the industry.

Christopher is also the author of the memoir Scaling the Wall: One Man’s Journey of Healing Childhood Trauma to Find Fulfillment and Success. When he’s not focused on growing his firm, he enjoys family time with his wife and two kids—and occasionally playing (badly) on the drums. Passionate about mentorship, he actively encourages law students and fellow attorneys to reach out for guidance and support.

Danny Daniel is a founding partner of Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers, a nationally recognized personal injury firm headquartered in Texas. Since opening the doors in 2000, Danny has grown the firm into a powerhouse of more than 160 professionals, including 38 trial lawyers, all dedicated to one mission: keeping people from getting taken advantage of by big insurance companies.

In 2008, Daniel co-founded Legal Monkeys, a technology-enabled legal services company serving law firms nationwide. After selling the business and honoring a non-compete, he relaunched the company in 2023, introducing innovative products like Boomerang Records and BAM Analytix to help firms streamline document retrieval and bring new technology to lawyer advertising.

Daniel’s entrepreneurial drive extends beyond the legal industry. He and his wife own Vaquera House, a luxury boutique hotel in Crested Butte, Colorado, known for its personalized service and mountain-town charm. He also owns and operates a 600-acre ranch focused on regenerative cattle ranching and land stewardship.

An instrument-rated commercial pilot, Daniel combines precision, discipline, and vision in both aviation and business. He is a former founding president of the Bryan-College Station chapter of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and is a frequent speaker on leadership, firm growth, and innovation in the legal profession.

Whether in law, entrepreneurship, the cockpit, or on the ranch, Danny approaches every endeavor with the same philosophy: live life with passion and help others find success.

David W. Craig is a nationally recognized truck wreck attorney and Managing Partner of Craig, Kelley & Faultless, a personal injury law firm with attorneys licensed across seven states. Board Certified in Truck Accident Law, David is a leading voice in the field, frequently speaking on trucking litigation and co-chairing the annual Winning Truck Wreck Cases seminar for the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association. He also serves on the Board of Regents for the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys.

Named to the Top 50: Indiana Super Lawyers since 2023 and honored as a Super Lawyers selectee every year since 2011, David has also been recognized among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers and Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers. He’s the author of two bestselling books and hosts the After the Crash podcast, offering insight and guidance to truck crash victims and their families.

George Salinas is the founder of George Salinas Injury Lawyers, a San Antonio-based firm with additional offices in Austin and Laredo. Since launching the firm in 2011, George has grown it into a 35-person team serving predominantly Hispanic communities through a strategic blend of digital, outdoor, radio, and TV advertising.

A graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, George began his career in insurance defense before quickly shifting to plaintiff work. He’s a six-time Texas Super Lawyer, a Texas Bar Foundation Fellow, a 2021 inductee into the American Board of Trial Advocates, and a past president of the San Antonio Trial Lawyers Association.

Laura Ramos James is the Founder and Sole Owner of Ramos James Law, an 8-figure personal injury firm based in Austin, Texas. A personal injury survivor turned fierce advocate, she’s been named a “Changemaker” by Austin Woman Magazine, a Super Lawyers “Rising Star,” and one of Austin Monthly’s top personal injury attorneys since 2022.

A sought-after speaker and two-time Amazon bestselling author, Laura holds lifetime memberships in the Million and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums and has been recognized among the Top 100 National Trial Lawyers. She draws her greatest inspiration from her husband, Jon, and their two daughters, Victoria and Alexandra.

Lee Rudin of RUDIN LAW opened his law firm in 2023 after coming to the realization that he was tired of watching the little guy get taken advantage of by those in power. At RUDIN LAW, the message is simple: its time to stop letting Insurance Companies and Corporate America push you around; it's time to stop being polite... and GET RUDE!

For six years in a row (2019-2024), Lee has been selected to the Louisiana "Rising Stars" list by Super Lawyers Magazine, an honor bestowed upon less than 2.5% of Louisiana attorneys. Lee received his trial and deposition training through the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA). He serves on NITA's faculty and has done so for nearly a decade.

Mark Breyer is a nationally recognized personal injury and wrongful death attorney and co-founder of The Husband & Wife Law Team. Practicing in Arizona for nearly three decades alongside his wife and partner, Alexis, Mark has built a reputation for legal excellence, compassion, and results. He is a certified specialist in injury and wrongful death law—a distinction held by fewer than 2% of Arizona attorneys.

Originally from Michigan, Mark earned his undergraduate degree from Michigan State and his law degree from Syracuse University, where he met Alexis. Since launching their firm in 1996, Mark has secured numerous successful verdicts and settlements, becoming a trusted advocate for clients across Arizona.

Michael Cowen is a trial lawyer with a nationwide practice. He has over 120 jury trials and has handled over 1,000 trucking and company vehicle cases. Michael is board certified in truck accident law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. 

Michael also hosts Trial Lawyer Nation, one of the leading podcasts for plaintiffs’ attorneys.

Sam Aguiar is the founder of Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers, a Kentucky-based firm known for groundbreaking verdicts, a client-first approach, and a bold commitment to doing things differently—both in personal injury law and in the community. He’s secured dozens of seven- and eight-figure results in trucking, civil rights, and wrongful death cases, with work that’s sparked police reforms, insurer policy changes, and national media coverage from outlets like 20/20, The New York Times, CNN, and NPR.

A sought-after speaker and educator, Sam is known for pushing boundaries in firm culture, civil rights strategy, and legal marketing. His purpose-driven philosophy shines through in campaigns like his viral “positivity billboards”—uplifting messages placed across Kentucky with no logos or calls to action—and in his widely followed LinkedIn storytelling.

Driven, focused, and passionate about helping attorneys reach their full potential, Steve Fretzin is regarded as the premier coach, skills trainer, and roundtable facilitator on business development for attorneys. Over the past 17 years, Steve Fretzin has devoted his career to helping lawyers master the art of business development to achieve their business goals and the peace of mind that comes with developing a successful law practice.In addition to writing five books on legal marketing and business development, Steve has a highly-rated podcast BE THAT LAWYER, which is findable on all major platforms and on Above the Law, where he also writes a monthly column.

Steven Gursten is a nationally recognized trial attorney and the lead attorney at Michigan Auto Law, where he’s secured the largest auto and truck accident settlement in Michigan history. Over the years, he’s consistently achieved the state’s top reported settlements and jury verdicts in auto and truck cases, earning honors from Michigan Lawyers Weekly and Verdict Reporter.

Named Lawyer of the Year by both Michigan Lawyers Weekly and Best Lawyers, Steven has also been ranked among Michigan’s Top 50 attorneys by Super Lawyers for multiple years. He’s a past president of several key American Association for Justice litigation groups and is a leading voice on topics like traumatic brain injury, truck accidents, and auto No-Fault law. A sought-after speaker, Steven frequently teaches attorneys across the country on trial strategy and maximizing case value.

Brandon Dawson is one of the four founding attorneys The Thumbs Up Guys. While his early career focused on advocating for injured clients in workers’ compensation and personal injury cases, Brandon now oversees the strategic direction of the firm. He dedicates his time to managing operations, marketing, client intake, referrals and fostering the firm’s growth while ensuring the delivery of five-star client experiences.

Brandon has been recognized for his leadership and professional achievements, earning accolades such as inclusion in the prestigious South Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2019–2024), National Trial Lawyer Top 100 and receiving the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Attorney rating in 2024 and 2025. These distinctions reflect his commitment to excellence and his reputation as a trusted advocate for personal injury victims in South Carolina.

Under Brandon’s leadership, the firm lives its mission of providing client-centered care through a proven five-step process. This vision has helped The Thumbs Up Guys become a trusted name in personal injury law, recovering over a hundred million dollars for injured clients since 2020 alone while prioritizing compassion and transparency.

Beyond the courtroom, Brandon, a Charleston native, is deeply invested in the greater Charleston community. The firm has partnered with numerous charitable organizations, including:

Every 1 Voice Matters, sponsoring a Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway with over 1,000 backpacks and supplies donated.
Every 1 Voice Matters, sponsoring a Christmas at City Hall, where they distributed over 200 bikes, hundreds of winter coats, shoes, and Christmas gifts.
Multiple Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaways, providing more than 2,000 turkeys to families in need in 2024 alone.
Blood Drives, Food Drives, Cancer Research Funding, Lowcountry Etiquette, Tens of Thousands of dollars for local student-athletes through the Friday Night Rivals & High School Hoops College Scholarships and so much more!
Brandon has also shared his insights as a guest on notable podcasts like Personal Injury Mastermind, Spaghetti on the Wall, Going Forward, and Success of a Hot Mess. Additionally, he has spoken at industry events, including LitiQuest and 8 Figure Firm, where he helped inspire other personal injury attorneys to build client-focused practices.

Brandon graduated from Porter-Gaud School in 2003 before earning a degree in Finance and Accounting from Clemson University. He went on to attend the Charleston School of Law, where he graduated in the top 10% of his class and served on the prestigious Charleston Law Review and Moot Court – he was one of only a few who were selected to both.

Brandon is married to his wife, Jessica, a real estate attorney, amateur artist and free spirit. Together, they enjoy traveling the world, spending time on the water, and rooting for Clemson sports with their two children.

Favorite Quote – “Time is precious, make the most of it.”

When you’re facing one of the hardest moments of your life, you need a lawyer who will fight for you like family. That’s exactly why Attorney Brooke Goff founded Goff Law Group—to redefine personal injury law with a modern, client-focused approach that puts people first.

Law, Leadership & The Love of the Game

Brooke Goff is the visionary founder of Goff Law Group, bringing passion, dedication, and a human-centered approach to personal injury law. Hailing from Hudson Falls, New York, Brooke established roots in Connecticut after graduating from Quinnipiac University School of Law, where she discovered her calling as an advocate for those who have been injured.

Clients enjoy working with Brooke and her team because she treats people like people. She and her firm never back down from a fight or from doing the right thing. As a prominent personal injury attorney in Connecticut, Brooke Goff has never shied away from a challenge, regardless of who the opponent may be. Notably, Attorney Goff pursued sexual abuse cases against the Boy Scouts of America, which were covered by TIME and CNN.

A Fearless Advocate for the Injured

When you’re facing a life-changing injury, you need an attorney who truly understands what’s at stake. As a fearless leader of a growing legal team with locations across Connecticut, Brooke is pioneering a next-generation law firm that values client attention, empathetic advocacy, and equality.

Our team will never treat you like a case number—when you choose Goff Law Group, you become part of our family. Contact Brooke and her team for a free consultation today if you have a serious injury.

Caring for Clients Like Family

Brooke Goff’s clients have access to her by cell phone 24/7 because she wants to be there when they need her most. She has made countless house calls and hospital visits to make her clients’ lives easier and works extra hours to provide clients with the service and level of communication they deserve. \

Revolutionizing Personal Injury Law

Brooke is redefining what it means to be a personal injury lawyer in Connecticut. Her client-first, no-nonsense approach delivers a red-carpet experience that sets her firm apart from those that have been around for decades. She has built Goff Law Group into a modern, innovative, and results-driven law firm—one that refuses to settle for anything less than what clients deserve.

An Award-Winning Leader

Brooke’s bold, forward-thinking approach has earned her recognition across Connecticut and beyond:

• Memorable billboard campaigns
• Educational TV segments airing on all major networks
• Popular radio shows on Hot 93.7, Jammin 107.7, and Bomba Radio
• Her social media baking show, Brooke’s Bites

Her dedication and legal excellence have also earned her the following prestigious industry accolades:

• Super Lawyers Rising Stars award in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024
• Top 40 Under 40 by Connecticut Magazine
• Numerous other professional honors recognizing her commitment to justice

A New Era of Legal Marketing

Brooke isn’t just changing personal injury law—she’s changing how law firms connect with their communities. By partnering with Vanilla Ice, Flavor Flav, Jared Goff, and Mike Tyson, she has taken legal marketing to the next level, proving that law doesn’t have to be old-fashioned. She is setting a new standard, pushing the legal industry forward, and showing that firms must innovate, invest in their clients, and embrace change—or risk being left behind.

Track Record of Success

Thousands of injured individuals have turned to Goff Law Group for help—and more than nine out of 10 of Brooke’s clients successfully obtain an out-of-court settlement or court award. Her team is known for being experienced, reputable, and relentless in securing results. At Goff Law Group, clients aren’t just cases—they are people who deserve compassion, justice, and a law firm that treats you like family.

“It is a field that allows you to fight the good fight every single day while at the same time helping people in ways they cannot imagine. The ability to use my strengths to make the world a better place is a superpower, and I am so lucky I found the field of personal injury law at the beginning of my career." 

From Silver Screen to Courtroom

Brooke's journey to becoming an attorney began with inspiration from an unexpected source. "Being a lawyer is something that I only saw in the movies growing up," she shares. "I would watch the court trials, watch the judges, and admire the lawyers and hang on to every word they would say when advocating for their clients."

Her natural disposition proved perfectly suited for legal advocacy: "I am an extrovert to the max, and my personality lends itself to a life of negotiation and zealous representation for those injured."

A Firm Built on Human Connection

As the founder of Goff Law Group, Brooke has created something truly special. "Changing the world every single day," she says when asked about her favorite aspect of the firm.

"We have a different view on what is important when dealing with people and employees, and we really care about our clients."

This philosophy permeates the entire organization: "Every attorney that works with us is personally invested in their clients and the outcome of cases. We are not just lawyers—we are human beings like the people that we represent, and our ability to connect with our clients at that level really elevates and changes the client experience during a period of time that is so intimidating to those injured."

Beyond the Office

When she's not championing the rights of her clients, Brooke treasures time with her wife and children. A passionate sports enthusiast, she admits, "I watch football every single moment it is on the television, and I play tons of golf." This balance of family time and personal interests helps Brooke bring renewed energy and perspective to her leadership role at the firm.