Sharon D. Taylor, CP, TBLS, is a paralegal in the law firm of Boyar & Miller PC, in Houston, Texas. Ms. Taylor has been a practicing paralegal for more than 28 years and a CLA since 1986. She currently practices in civil trial (bankruptcy) law where her duties include maintaining and assisting in monitoring various bankruptcy cases, computer research, electronic case filing, preparing notices of appearance, routine bankruptcy pleadings, proofs of claim, organization of file material, communication with clients and/or their representatives and maintaining accurate records of time spent and billing. Ms. Taylor also practices and is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the area of civil trial law where she assists with cases involving contract disputes, trade secret violations, MDL litigation, commercial landlord/tenant actions and sworn account. Her duties include maintaining and assisting the prosecution and/or defense of cases, including research, preparation of pleadings, electronic case filing, review of file material, requesting records, scheduling depositions, preparation for trial, preparation of trial notebooks, organization of file material, communication with clients and/or their representatives, maintaining accurate records of time spent and billing. Ms. Taylor has been a guest speaker for the San Jacinto College Paralegal Program. She is a member of the Paralegal Division, State Bar of Texas (chair, Professional Development Committee; co-sub chair, Public Relations Committee), State Bar College, American Bar Association (Legal Assistants Division), American Bankruptcy Institute and the Houston Paralegal Association (former 2nd VP/chair, membership). Ms. Taylor is a graduate of Houston Community College, North Harris County College and holds her association degree in paralegal studies from Texas Paralegal College.

Dr. Allan Gerson is recognized as the first attorney to engineer a practical basis for suing foreign governments for acts of terrorism. After the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, he initiated the first civil suit against a foreign state (Libya) on behalf of families of the victims. In 1996, Dr. Gerson’s efforts were instrumental in the passage of the Anti Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act which provides U.S. citizens with the right to sue foreign governments in U.S. courts for complicity in terrorism. Dr. Gerson earned a J.D. from NYU Law School (1969), an LL.M. from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1972), and a J.S.D. from Yale Law School (1976). In 1977, Dr. Gerson joined the U.S. Justice Department as a trial attorney. In 1981, Dr. Gerson was chosen to serve as Senior Counsel to U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Jeane Kirkpatrick, and in 1985 to her successor, Gen. Vernon Walters. He was Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Legal Counsel and Counselor for International Affairs with the U.S. Department of Justice (1985-1986) and later was Senior Fellow for International Law and Organizations at the Council on Foreign Relations (1998-2002). In 2003, he was Senior Counsel to the U.S. Delegation to the Commission on Human Rights. He is admitted to the New York and D.C. Bars, the U.S. Supreme Court Bar, and various U.S. Courts of Appeals Bars. A prolific author, he has authored several books and contributed to many professional journals.

Mitru Ciarlante is a lifelong children’s advocate with more than 25 years of leadership experience developing youth outreach and advocacy programs and training multi-disciplinary professionals. She served as director of the Youth Initiative at the National Center for Victims of Crime for seven years and recently joined the Boys and Girls Clubs of America as Director of Child & Club Safety. Her accomplishments include creating a comprehensive children’s advocacy program, founding the Children’s Advocates’ Task Force of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, establishing the S.T.O.P> Abuse (Students Together for Outreach and Prevention of Abuse) high school peer education program, and organizing the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape’s youth activist network, R.Y.O.T. Against Rape (Rallying Youth Organizers Together Against Rape).