Sarah A. Okrzynski
Managing Member
Sarah A. Okrzynski is the founding attorney and Managing Member of the firm. Ms. Okrzynski is a creditors’ rights attorney. Ms. Okrzynski has represented local, regional and national Banks, Lending Institutions, Credit Card Companies, Debt Buyers and other creditors. She has managed teams of paralegals and attorneys to meet the objectives of clients, focusing on cost effective and efficient litigation.
Ms. Okrzynski graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor’s Degree in Editorial Journalism. Upon graduation, Ms. Okrzynski attended law school at Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law. While in law school, Ms. Okrzynski worked for two different creditors’ rights law firms giving her practical experience in this area of law prior to graduation. Ms. Okrzynski graduated in the top third of her class. Upon graduation, Ms. Okrzynski started her practice as the Supervising Collections Attorney at a Cincinnati law firm where she began her career in 2003. Since then, she has held positions as an Associate Litigation Counsel for a large foreclosure law firm in Cincinnati, Ohio and, most recently, Ms. Okrzynski held the position of Managing Attorney for the Default Services Practice Group of a regional law firm, focusing on foreclosure, bankruptcy and eviction law.
Ms. Okrzynski is a dog lover and a poodle fancier. She has one standard poodles and one miniature poodle. Her poodles were adopted from animal rescue organizations and she is a supporter of Stray Animal Adoption Program (SAAP) and the Kentucky Humane Society.
State Bar Admissions:
Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana
Federal Bar Admissions:
US District Court Northern & Southern District of Ohio
US District Court Eastern & Western District of Kentucky
US District Court Northern & Southern District of Indiana
US District Court Eastern & Western District of Michigan
Brady J. Lighthall
Managing Attorney Default Services
Brady Lighthall is the firm Managing Attorney for Default Services. Brady has over 15 years of experience as a creditors’ rights attorney and is licensed to practice law in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. His focus is primarily on leading the firm’s efforts to assist mortgage servicers, banks, credit unions and private lenders in matters involving mortgage foreclosure, loss mitigation, title issue resolution, and compliance with federal and state regulation.
Brady has been an active participant in Mortgage Default Industry organizations including the American Legal & Financial Network and the Mortgage Bankers Association. He has also lectured for continuing legal education seminars on topics such as foreclosure, loss mitigation, and title issue resolution. He has earned academic degrees from Utah Valley University (B.S., 2001) and Northern Kentucky University (J.D. and M.B.A., 2005).
In addition to his professional responsibilities, Brady serves as President of the Cincinnati Ohio Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is also a current committee member and past Chair of the Regional Youth Leadership Committee sponsored by the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. He is married and is the father of 7 children.
State Bar Admissions:
Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana
Professional associations:
Kentucky Bar Association
Ohio Bar Association
J. Reuben Clark Law Society
Pamela S. Petas
Senior Litigation Attorney
Pamela S. Petas is an attorney focusing on creditor’s rights and commercial litigation and appellate work including defense of claims against mortgage lenders and servicers within contested foreclosures, bankruptcy adversaries and other litigation. Ms. Petas is admitted to practice in all of the federal district and bankruptcy courts and state courts in Ohio and Kentucky and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Ms. Petas received her undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree from The Ohio State University and received her Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo, College of Law. Ms. Petas was licensed as an attorney in 1992 and held the position as the Managing Attorney for the Litigation Practice Group in a mid-sized firm located in the greater Cincinnati area. She has represented creditors in contested foreclosures and other consumer-driven litigation for over 20 years. Ms. Petas handles the firms contested and litigation cases.
State Bar Admissions:
Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana
Federal Bar Admissions:
US District Court Northern & Southern District of Ohio
US District Court Eastern & Western District of Kentucky
US Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
Professional associations:
Kentucky Bar Association
Ohio Bar Association
Cincinnati Bar Association
Frank J. Veneziano
Senior Counsel
Frank J. Veneziano is the firm’s Senior Counsel. Frank is a Creditor Rights attorney who has been partnering with financial institutions and various lenders across most major product lines for more than 30 years. He is a trusted advisor with a proven ability to optimize processes, grow revenues, reduce expenses, assist his clients in managing risks and assist clients in managing their vendor relationships.
Frank’s role in the firm will be focused on building relationships across all lines of firm business, including developing a national replevin and impound attorney network, retail and commercial recoveries, foreclosures and bankruptcy, equipment leasing, and business banking. He will facilitate growth of the firm by developing new business and streamlining procedures.
State Bar Admissions:
Ohio
Professional associations:
Ohio Bar Association
American Financial Services Association
Samuel B. McAlpin
Associate Attorney
Recently admitted to the Kentucky and Indiana Bars, Associate Attorney Samuel B. McAlpin is the newest lawyer to join the firm.
Mr. McAlpin attended Northern Kentucky University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice as well as his Juris Doctor from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law. He started with the firm as a Law Clerk prior to his Kentucky and Indiana licensures and is now working towards building his experience and expertise by supporting the other attorneys in their various endeavors. He is also seeking admission to the Ohio Bar Association to continue expanding the scope of his representation.
Outside of the firm, Mr. McAlpin enjoys reading, cooking and strength training at the gym. He plays several instruments and writes and performs music both independently and with various local bands.
State Bar Admissions:
Kentucky and Indiana
Professional associations:
Kentucky Bar Association
Indiana Bar Association