TAMARA ROFF
Owner/Partner

Tamara Roff has 17 years of experience working as an attorney fighting for appropriate educational opportunities for children with special needs. She has represented the families of hundreds of children in a variety of capacities, including advocacy at IEP meetings, mediation and representation throughout the impartial hearing process. Tammi has also represented parents in appeals to the New York State Review Officer and federal court. She represented the parents in the landmark decision Mr. and Mrs. A v NYCDOE, which ensured that families with limited financial resources could seek direct tuition funding of an appropriate private school placement from their local school district when the school district failed to offer their child a free and appropriate public education.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Tammi worked with individuals with disabilities in a variety of capacities and settings. She has managed group homes, coordinated the clinical care of a region of group homes, and conducted clinical assessments. Tammi has provided individual therapy to adults with developmental disabilities and conducted clinical intake assessments at a not-for profit clinic for the developmentally disabled. She has experience in developing and administering applied behavioral analysis programs to children with autism, both in school and home settings. She also taught legal, psychology and writing courses as an online instructor for the University of Phoenix. Tammi has guest-lectured at a variety of agencies that provide special education and/or advocacy services. She earned her Juris Doctor Degree from City University of New York School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Binghamton University, and a Master of Arts Degree in Psychology from Queens College.

Tammi lives on Long Island with her husband, her two children, and her two bulldogs, Walter and Ruth. Tammi enjoys traveling and spending time with her family at the beach.

TUNERIA TAYLOR
Junior Partner

Tuneria Taylor has over 10 years of experience working as an attorney in the field of special education law. Ms. Taylor earned her J.D. from Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University and is admitted to practice in New York. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Law from Binghamton University. Throughout law school, she served as a student associate for the Center for Children, Families and the Law at Hofstra University. Through the Center, Tuneria assisted children and families involved with the legal system through community service, public policy and research projects. She also completed a clinical program with the Child Advocacy Clinic at Hofstra, where she advocated on behalf of youth in special immigrant juvenile matters and child maltreatment cases in the Queens, Nassau and Suffolk Family Courts. During the summer of 2009, Tuneria interned at the Children’s Law Center, where she assisted with the representation of the interests of children at the heart of child maltreatment, guardianship, custody and visitation disputes in Brooklyn Family Court. Tuneria represents parents at impartial hearings, appeals, guardianship proceedings and is admitted to practice in the Southern District of New York.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, she currently resides there with her family. Tuneria enjoys spending time with her family and friends and traveling to visit family in the Bahamas, spending time boating and fishing.

BETH KENNELLY
Associate

Beth Kennelly has more than twenty years’ experience as a litigation attorney handling trials and appeals. Ms. Kennelly earned her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and is admitted in New York State in both state and federal court. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Fordham University. Due to her interest in special education and recognition of the unique needs and challenges facing children in the education system, Ms. Kennelly earned a masters’ degree in General Education and Special Education. She worked for years as a special education teacher in NYC public schools. Ms. Kennelly is trained in the Orton-Gillingham method of reading instruction with a focus on students with dyslexia and specific reading disabilities. 

Ms. Kennelly happily resides with her husband, children and bulldog Brady in Rockaway Beach, New York. She enjoys traveling with her family and spending time at the beach.

JENNIFER MATEAR
Associate

Jennifer has worked as an education law attorney for over six years, first spending four years representing school districts in the Hudson Valley and Westchester County primarily in student suspension hearings, and now over two years representing families on behalf of their children with special needs in New York City. She is excited to continue helping children with special needs obtain the education they need and are entitled to! Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Arts in Science and Technology Studies from Cornell University, and her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.

She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, especially exploring new cities with her husband.

Jesse Carbonaro
Associate

Jessica “Jesse” Carbonaro attended the University of Dayton, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Education Studies, a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Biology, and a minor in Operations and Supply Chain Management. She earned her J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. During Law School, Jesse served as Editor-In-Chief of UIC Law Review and was an active member of Moot Court. Among other internships in law school, she worked in the Chicago Public School’s legal department. Jesse is passionate about educational law and eager to fight for the rights of students.

In her free time, Jesse is an avid reader, enjoys baking, and loves the outdoors.

TODD L. MOYER

Associate

Todd Moyer has a bachelor’s degree from Temple University, a Juris Doctorate from Tulane University, and is currently licensed to practice law in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Todd has spent over a decade working to improve the lives of children and adults with disabilities. He spent the first six years of his career at the ARC, where he helped develop and run a recreational program tailored to meet the needs of over 40 children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities.

Outside of work, Todd can be found hiking, playing board games, and spending time with his fiancé.

SHAYNA MICHALOWSKI

Law Clerk

Shayna Michalowski is a Legal Intern at our firm. She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications with a minor in Studio Arts from Yeshiva University, and is currently a law student at Fordham University School of Law. Shayna is a proud CODA, and being raised in the Deaf community instilled in her a strong passion for advocacy work from a young age. Prior to law school, Shayna worked for two years as a paralegal for a firm representing plaintiffs in employment discrimination cases.

A few of Shayna’s favorite things include listening to podcasts, crisp fountain sodas, and spending time with family.

ALEXANDRA (“ALLY”) SVENDSEN
Law Clerk

Alexandra (“Ally”) Svendsen is a law clerk who began as an intern at our firm in May of 2019. Ally earned her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Social Sciences Interdisciplinary (concentration in Legal Studies and Sociology (with a specialization in Crime, Law, and Justice) from the University at Buffalo; she also minored in Political Science as an undergraduate. She then earned her Juris Doctorate from Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University. During law school, Ally worked as the Page Proof Editor of the Family Court Review. Ally was also a student advocate on the 17-A Guardianship Demonstration Project in law school, working directly with the Surrogate’s Court of Nassau County in filing petitions for developmentally disabled individuals. 

Ally lives in New York with her dog, Archie, whom she recently rescued from South Korea. She enjoys photography, interior design, and listening to true crime podcasts in her free time.

YASMINE NARTEY
Paralegal/Case Manager

Yasmine Nartey is currently a Paralegal and Case Manager at our firm. She holds her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Law, from Binghamton University (SUNY). She is currently on track to attend law school in the Fall of 2023 and is interested in pursuing Corporate or Business Law.

Yasmine hails from the Bronx, NY, and enjoys traveling to her family’s native country, Ghana. She is an avid fan of “How to Get Away with Murder” and loves Chipotle any
day of the week.

MADDY CALICK
Paralegal/Case Manager

Maddy Calick is a recent graduate from Cornell University. She studied at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations with a minor in Communications. Maddy has three plus years of experience working in the legal field, and two years with education disability law. She is planning on attending law school within the next couple of years with a focus on educational law. She is very passionate about this field and hopes to pursue it for the rest of her career. 

In her free time, Maddy enjoys exercising, going to movie theaters, and watching the New York Yankees with her mom and sister.

SAMI MARTIN
Office Administrator

Sami Martin holds her M.A. and M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Prior to joining the Firm as the Administrative Assistant, Sami worked for a company dedicated to helping New Yorkers receiving public assistance find employment.

Sami has always enjoyed watching “The Golden Girls” and “Murder, She Wrote.”

PATRICE ROFF
Accounts Manager

Patrice is an invaluable part of the team. Before joining the firm, Patrice managed the financial accounts of a large multi-location paint company for over 20 years. Patrice manages the accounts and payment processing for the firm.

Patrice is an avid traveler and enjoys spending time with her 4 grandchildren.