DOLORES LASCALA, estate planning administrator

Dolores joined Pesner l Kawamoto l Conway staff in March 2005, along with Karen Loulakis, as a part-time assistant in the Estate Planning Group.  Dolores provides support for Karen Loulakis  assisting with scheduling appointments, establishing client files, drafting documents, making client revisions to documents, and assembling the final package for client signature.  During meetings with clients, Dolores supervises and notarizes documents, and prepares the final documents for distribution.  

Dolores’ previous experience in the administrative and secretarial fields has provided her with the ability to handle a large work load which requires knowledge of various word processing and data base programs. 

Dolores can be reached at 703-506-9440 ext. 250 or by e-mail at dlascala@pkc-law.com.

DONNA BESTEBREURTJE, accountant

Donna is the owner of DCB, Inc. and an independent consultant to Pesner l Kawamoto l Conway. She began working with our firm in the spring of 2001. As our on-site accountant, Donna manages our accounts and maintains records of all transactions and billings.  She also works in the preparation of inventories and accountings for our estate administration department.

Donna can be reached by e-mail at donnab@pkc-law.com or you can reach her directly at (703) 506-9440 x 230.

ROZITA DECKER, senior processor/legal assistant

Rozita joined Pesner | Kawamoto | Conway in January of 2008.  She is a Processor and legal assistant to Susan Pesner, and works primarily with her in her builder and residential real estate practice.  Rozita comes to us with over ten years of experience in real estate settlements and the title industry. Prior to that, Rozita worked as a Mortgage Processor at Chase Manhattan and WMC Mortgage.  

Rozita can be reached via email at rdecker@pkc-law.com,  or you can contact her directly at  703-506-9440 x 233

MARTINA S. HUFF, mortgage lending/real estate assistant

Martina joined Astoria Federal Mortgage Corporation and Pesner l Kawamoto l Conway in July 2005. She assists Nivin Joudeh by closing Astoria loans and ensuring a seamless post-closing process. She coordinates closing schedules between mortgage brokers and the lender, assists in the preparation of loan documents and distributes funds for Astoria’s loans.

Recently, Martina began processing documents for real estate closings while working in conjunction with lenders and buyers to ensure smooth settlement.

Before joining our staff, Martina studied in Mexico as an exchange student for two semesters and graduated in May 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in Government and International Politics. During college Martina worked for the Department of Defense and Fairfield Resorts. The knowledge she gained from the administrative and sales industries greatly assists her in handling the daily transactions of our business. Martina can be reached by email at mhuff@pkc-law.com or you can contact her directly at 703-506-9440 ext. 228.

MONA LAZKANI, legal assistant

Mona started with our law firm on August 1, 2006. Answering phones and greeting clients is an everyday task. Mona joined the firm and assists the office in a variety of capacities including document integration, scheduling, some post closing work, and warmly greeting our clients.

Mona is currently studying at a community college and will be transferring to the Art Institute of Washington to pursue a career in Interior Design. Mona can be reached by email at mlazkani@pkc-law.com or you can contact her directly at 703-506-9440.

NIVIN JOUDEH, marketing director

Nivin has twenty years of Real Estate experience along with her BS Degree in Accounting, MBA in Finance and a second MBA in Marketing.   She started working with Astoria Federal Mortgage, a NY bank, in 1996 by assisting the bank in closing their loans originated in the Metropolitan Area.

Nivin joined our law firm in February 2003 and continues to close Astoria’s loans in conjunction with other duties within the law firm including the Marketing for the firm.  She runs her closing department by providing closing documents, insures funding, assists borrowers and provides them with a complete understanding of the mortgage process.  Nivin is also very attentive to her Brokers and provides them with excellent service; she will go the extra mile for them. She also conducts Real Estate closings for both purchases and refinances.

Prior to working for Astoria Federal Mortgage, Nivin was an Assistant Vice President to the mortgage division of Union First Bank and Trust. She supervised the closing, post closing, funding and investor departments.

Nivin can be reached via e-mail at njoudeh@pkc-law.com or you can contact her directly at (703) 506-9440 x 234

PATTI TAYLOR,  litigation paralegal

Patti was hired as a Litigation Paralegal for Martin C. Conway with Pesner l Kawamoto l Conway in 2004.  As Mr. Conway’s assistant, Patti appreciates the opportunity to interact with our clients.  Patti conducts initial client screening to determine if the matter is one within the scope of representation provided by this firm.  After scheduling an appointment for the prospective clients, she instructs them of the relevant documents that Mr. Conway will need for his review of their case. 

Under the supervision of Mr. Conway, Patti drafts legal pleadings such as motions, demurrers, subpoenas, orders, discovery responses, discovery requests, and consumer complaints with the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulations.  In addition to legal writing and research, Patti enjoys the trial preparation.  Gathering facts and obtaining records for the case are just the first step.  She finds assembling the documents into trial notebooks that flow in an orderly manner for the actual trial to be the most rewarding part of litigation. 

Prior to joining the Pesner l Kawamoto l Conway litigation team, Patti assisted in civil and criminal litigation in both State and Federal Courts since receiving her Paralegal Degree in 1992.  Her many years experience with court systems range from the General District Courts in Virginia to the United States Supreme Court.

If you have a matter that needs the attention of the litigation team, please call Patti at 703-506-9440, extension 225, or via email at ptaylor@pkc-law.com, and she will be glad to assist you.  We, at Pesner l Kawamoto l Conway, believe that the utilization of her paralegal experience will reduce the cost of litigation greatly, while providing more individualized attention.

RHONDA AWAD

Rhonda joined Pesner l Kawamoto l Conway in the summer of 2003 as a part-time assistant. She assists Nivin Joudeh in the post closing department. She also deals with all the brokers in scheduling their loans and informs them to fax all of the appropriate documents needed to close their loan in a timely manner.

Rhonda is currently a full-time student finishing her last year at George Mason University and looks forward to obtain her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in December 2007.

Rhonda can be reached via e-mail at rawad@pkc-law.com or you can contact her directly at (703) 506-9440 x 232.

SUZANNA FOSTER, paralegal for real estate

Suzanna joined Pesner | Kawamoto | Conway in March of 2007.  She is paralegal to Craig Kawamoto, and works primarily with him in his commercial and residential real estate practice.  Suzanna has worked in the real estate settlement and title industry for over nine years in a variety of capacities including processor, lien specialist, post closing, settlement officer, marketing, and is a licensed title insurance agent in Maryland and Virginia. 

Suzanna received her Bachelor’s Degree from George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia with Honors in the Major, and completed a graduate level writing course in the Spring of 2002.  Her familiarity with the real estate settlement process and title issues has helped to make her transition to the PKC staff a smooth one.

Suzanna can be reached via email at sfoster@pkc-law.com, or you can contact her directly at 703-506-9440 x 231.