Athas Law Firm
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Exceptional Legal Advocacy
​954-292-7745
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Miami, Florida | Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Defense Strategy Professionals
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William L. Athas is an experienced criminal defense attorney with an illustrious multi-faceted career that provides you with an insider's view into the government's inner sanctum. As a nine (9) year Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) in the Southern District of Florida and a twenty-eight (28) year Senior Special Agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), I bring rare and valuable qualifications to the defense table. I will confidently and tenaciously protect your rights.
Professional Associations: I have seasoned associates, a few of which appear below, who offer various career specialties. Each brings specific skill sets and perspectives to the defense table and are onboard during cases requiring particular insights. My professional team includes veterans from the DOJ, FBI, DEA, and IRS, former senior executive government officials, sentencing guideline experts, and certified language interpreters. Professional associates having specific or unusual expertise are partners for any defense scenario. International expertise is no exception.
​Scroll down: Larry N. Holifield (CIS), Vito S. Guarino (The MPM Group, Inc.) and Pilar Fernandez (Certified Interpreting)
  • Forensics and Sentencing Professionals: I partner with professionals in various disciplines, such as federal sentencing guidelines experts to assist my defense team when called upon at time of sentencing. Included are forensic specialists to analyze the evidence and its validity from a scientific point of view.
  • Investigative Expertise: Former federal and state criminal investigators provide needed or helpful investigation, surveillance, and analysis needed for the defense of cases of drug trafficking, money laundering, fraud, asset seizures, and the gamut of legal charges. Technical and electronic equipment specialists assist as appropriate. We understand what the government relies upon to prosecute you and seize your assets and property, because most of us have prior government experience conducting those very activities.
  • Witnesses: I identify, interview, and direct background investigations of government witnesses who will testify against you, and identify and interview your defense witnesses to strengthen your case.
  • Cooperation and Plea Negotiations: If you elect to cooperate with the government and seek leniency from the court, I know exactly how to leverage information to your benefit, what to do, who to contact, and what to expect. I provide strong legal advocacy when you choose to enter into plea negotiations in return for leniency. I am also your strong advocate when you have already pleaded guilty to criminal charges, have cooperated with the government, and want leniency at sentencing or after incarceration.
William Athas
William L. Athas
 
I am comfortable conversing in Spanish, but native Spanish speakers are always available. Language is never a barrier to professional interpreter partners to make sure you are comfortable and confident with a clear understanding at all stages of representation.
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Read more at William Athas' Biography

Larry N. Holifield
Larry N. Holifield
305-796-7498

www.cisglobal.biz
[email protected]
Corporate Integrity Services, LLC (CIS) is a licensed private investigative agency providing discreet and highly effective consulting and investigative solutions to a large number of corporate entities, law firms, and individuals. CIS is led by two seasoned forensic investigators experienced in federal law enforcement and private sector investigations. CIS is not limited by geographic barriers. Utilizing a vetted network of professional colleagues and resources throughout the world, CIS can quickly and efficiently marshal these resources and respond to any situation wherever the need arises.
Larry N. Holifield's Background and Relevant Experience: Larry is a co-founder and Director of CIS. In 2008, after his retirement from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Larry joined TurnStone Investigative Group as a Regional Director in Miami, Florida, an investigative entity of a large international law firm. Larry was a firm-wide resource, managing and conducting complex domestic and international investigations involving many law firm practice areas. Larry has 37 years of combined law enforcement experience with the St. Louis Police Department and the DEA.
  • Served in senior positions at the DEA, including Senior Executive Service, Regional Director for Mexico and Central America, and Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the Miami Field Division
  • Management skills in technology utilizing state-of-the-art equipment available to law enforcement, such as satellite tracking devices, telephone intercepts, voice recognition systems and biometrics
  • Proficiency in directing sensitive, long-term, and complex domestic and international operations and investigations
  • Experienced in negotiations at the highest levels of policy makers among diverse cultures
  • International professional network of local, state, and federal agencies, as well as Fortune 500 companies
  • Excellent problem-solving skills capitalizing on over 12 years served in Latin America (Mexico, Guatemala, and Colombia)

Vito S. Guarino
Vito S. Guarino
www.thempmgroup.com
Vito S. Guarino | The MPM Group, Inc. | Marlton, New Jersey

Mr. Vito S. Guarino is a high-profile Senior Executive level Manager/Investigator with more than three decades of professional investigative experience, both domestically and internationally. Prior to retirement, he held multiple Senior Executive Service (SES) positions with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). These included Special Agent in Charge (Regional Director), Assistant Special Agent in Charge, and White House Liaison, DEA's representative to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, a component of the Executive Office of the President of the United States. Responsibilities included, but were not limited to, oversight of 26 Caribbean island nations to include all U.S. Embassy liaison matters, international investigative matters, security requirements, intelligence and surveillance programs. He is currently the Principle and Chief Operating Officer of the MPM Group (offices in New Jersey, New York, and Boston) with primary responsibility for complex investigations, federal/state litigation support, pharmaceutical / educational compliance programs and corporate security services to a diverse client base.
  • Comprehensive Litigation Support/Complex Investigations
  • Subject Expert in Federal/State Investigations and Surveillance
  • Corporate Security/Comprehensive Compliance Programs
  • Government Facility/Prison Security Issues
  • Foreign and Domestic Security Issues
  • International Operations and Security Training
  • Certified as New York 18B Expert Panel Member
  • Certified Legal Investigator
  • Licensed Private Investigator in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania
  • Approved Federal CJA and System for Award Management (SAM) Vendor
Professional Associations: Member of the International Chiefs of Police; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; American Society of Industrial Security Professionals; National Association of Investigative Assistants; Society of Professional Consultants

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Pilar Fernandez
Pilar Fernandez
Miami, Florida, USA
​serving Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties
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Pilar Fernandez Profile: Pilar is an interpreter and translator with many years of experience in language services. Having graduated with a B.A. in Writing for the Media from the University of the Sacred Heart in Santurce, Puerto Rico, and a Master’s degree in Bilingual Legal Interpreting from the University of Charleston, in Charleston, South Carolina, she is a certified Spanish court interpreter. Pilar holds both the Federal Court Interpreter Certification and the State of Florida Courts Certification. She has worked in South Florida as an interpreter and translator for more than fifteen years. Member in good standing of the American Translators Association and the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters & Translators. Pilar offers document translation services and interpreting services in a variety of languages.
When every word counts. Accurate, reliable, confidential legal interpreting and translation services
786-888-8636
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Defense Strategy
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U.S. District Court, Miami, Florida, USA
U.S. District Court, Miami, Florida, USA
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701 Brickell Avenue, Miami, Florida
701 Brickell Avenue, Miami, Florida
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WLA LAW

​Athas Law Firm, PLLC
William L. Athas
701 Brickell Avenue, Suite 1550
Miami, FL 33131
​954-292-7745
[email protected]
  • Welcome
  • Practice Areas
  • Defense Strategy
  • Biography
  • Professional Associates
  • Start a Conversation