Meet our Managers and Partners
Our multidisciplinary team of professionals will support and advise you throughout the entire surrogacy process. Your Case Manager will be guiding you through the process to make sure that every step is completed successfully.
We provide 24/7 phone support in case you need assistance, have questions or need support.
Program Director
Karen Estrada
Manager
Kimberly Dees
Kimberly lives in Northern California with her husband, Alan, and her two children, Allison, who is 8 and Oliver, who is 4. Her most well known hobby is asking questions and she never gets tired of learning new things about people. She is an experienced surrogate, giving birth to her first surrobaby in February 2017.
Kimberly loves surrogacy and never misses the chance to share her knowledge and experience with both those who want to know more about surrogacy or those considering surrogacy as an option in their lives. Completing her surrogacy journey only intensified her love for surrogacy and intensified her desire to stay involved in the surrogacy community; both in pursuing another journey as well as having the amazing opportunity to work in the field, continuing to help other families’ dreams come true.
She is honored and thrilled to work as Manager for Gestacy, LLC; an agency that deeply cares about their clients and seek to make it not just a transaction, but a lifetime experience. Kimberly prides herself on being approachable so please feel free to contact her at any time with all your questions and concerns!!
Founding Partner
Santiago Agustin
Santiago is a founding partner of GESTACY and is in charge of the psychological and social care area. He holds a PhD in Psychology and was a professor in the Interfaculty Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology at the Autonomous University of Madrid until 2016.
His two main areas of work and research have been childhood and couple relationships. He is the author of numerous publications, among which the report “Homoparental Families in Spain: Social Integration, Needs, and Rights” stands out. Until March 2014, he was the coordinator of the childhood and adolescence group of the Official College of Psychologists of Madrid. Finally, Santiago regularly collaborates with local and national media to address issues related to surrogacy, child protection, or sexual education.
Founding Partner
Salvador Escamochero
Salvador is a founding partner of GESTACY and is responsible for the biomedical area. He is trained as a biologist and biomedical researcher. His professional career has always been linked to the health sector, and he has worked in institutions such as the “La Paz” University Hospital in Madrid, the Public Health Institute of the Community of Madrid, and the Spanish Foundation for the Promotion of Research in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (FUNDELA).
Salvador is the author of several scientific publications, most of which focus on the study of adverse drug reactions.
Lead Case Manager for Surrogates
Paola del Razo
Paola is a graduate of International Business Management. Her undergraduate studies have helped her navigate the unique dynamics of each case she has handled and values fostering a positive relationship with her surrogates knowing their pivotal role in the surrogacy process, Paola ensures they receive all the support and care they rightfully deserve.
Case Manager for Intended Parents
Ingrid Santos
Ingrid has a major in Biotech engineering and has experience in finance, administration and customer service. She has travelled all over Europe and speaks fluent English, Spanish, German and basic French. Being a case manager at Gestacy USA has provided her the opportunity to further develop her language, customer service, and organizational skills while helping people all over the world to fulfill their dream of having children. She will guide you through every step of your surrogacy process and provide you with personalized attention. , has a major in Biotech engineering and has experience in finance and administration.
Case Manager for Surrogates
Paulina Garcini
Our dedicated Case Manager for Surrogates, holds a degree in Literary and Culture Studies, and has always been interested in multicultural perspectives and fostering personal growth and with this she has found surrogacy. Driven by her passion for helping others lead fulfilling lives, Paulina brings eight years of versatile administrative experience to her role with a natural ability to connect with people and empathize with their needs. Paulina, goes beyond conventional duties as a case manager. She is a compassionate guide who fosters close relationships, coordinates, and surrogates through every step of their journey. Her goal is to ensure that GCs feel not only comfortable but also have the most enriching and valuable surrogacy experience possible.
Case manager for surrogates
Valeria Animas
Case Manager for Surrogates, is a holder of a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and is a dedicated professional with a strong focus on customer service. With a wealth of experience in organization, development, and teamwork, she brings a dynamic skill set to our agency. Valeria plays a crucial role within the agency, excelling in tasks such as information collection, meticulous monitoring, efficient scheduling, and effective communication with her surrogates. She is devoted to accompanying her surrogates and ensuring that their journey is not only well-managed but also an exceptional and unforgettable experience.
Case manager for Intended Parents
Athalia Morelos
Case Manager for Intended Parents, has an academic background in public administration, political science and international relations. Her educational foundation has helped her immensely in coordinating the cases of her intended parents. Her profound understanding of the intricacies of the surrogacy process empowers her to anticipate potential challenges and proactively devise solutions. Meticulously organized, she consistently keeps intended parents abreast of the ongoing process. Her satisfaction arises from efficiently managing cases, ensuring seamless coordination, and actively contributing to the company’s goal of delivering high-quality service.
Doctors
World-renowned fertility expert with unparalleled IVF success rates
Dr. Susanna J. Park
Her passion is to combine her extensive experience as an infertility physician with compassionate and individualized care for all families. Dr. Park has developed a large international referral practice due to her ability to speak multiple languages and create high pregnancy rates with a variety of treatments including IVF, egg freezing, donor eggs, and gestational surrogacy.
Dr. Park has been a fertility physician for nearly 20 years. She is double board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She graduated summa cum laude from Siena College and obtained her medical degree at Albany Medical College. Dr. Park then completed her residency, and her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. After working as a fertility physician at Columbia University, considered to be one of the leading IVF programs in the United States, Dr. Park joined San Diego Fertility Center in 2012. Dr. Park has been consistently named “Top Doctor” by the San Diego County Medical Society.
“The road to parenthood can be a challenging journey. I am committed to helping you achieve your dream of parenthood to travel the journey with you with compassion and professionalism.”
Languages: English, Spanish, Korean
Dr. Said Daneshmand, M.D. F.A.C.O.G.
Dr. Daneshmand
Daneshmand of the San Diego Fertility Center is an internationally renowned fertility specialist with extensive experience in complex in vitro fertilization (IVF) and third-party reproduction.
He has collaborated to develop IVF protocols, including PTEC (post-thaw extended culture) as one of the most successful IVF regimens currently available. These groundbreaking advances have been published in the internationally respected medical journal, Fertility and Sterility.
He completed his residency and fellowship at UCLA. He is specialty board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and subspecialty board certified in Reproductive Endocrinology.
Dr. Daneshmand has expertise in complex IVF cases and his research has featured work on endometrial receptivity as a significant factor in the success of IVF. He is internationally recognized for his expertise in egg donation and surrogacy; He is one of the main providers of third-party care in the United States, with patients traveling from more than 35 countries in 2016 alone to seek his care. Dr. Daneshmand has presented his research internationally before leading IVF experts from the Americas, Asia, Australia and Europe. He is known for developing and implementing cutting-edge technologies, including NGS (next generation sequencing), the latest and most precise technique for assessing embryonic genetic health.
Dr. Daneshmand is passionate about his field and helping his patients build their families. Languages: English, Farsi, French, Spanish.
Physician
Dr. Foulk
With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Foulk has helped thousands of families from around the world achieve their dream of having a baby.
Dr. Foulk is an internationally renowned expert in the field of reproductive endocrinology. He has established various fertility treatment centers in four US states. One of the greatest joys in Dr. Foulk’s life is helping others find hope and develop their personalized path to parenthood.
He has appeared as a fertility expert on multiple famous talk shows including: The Oprah Winfrey, Motel Williams, Leesa Gibsons, Inside Edition, BBC, Tokyo Broadcasting Company.
Physician
Dr. Conway
Dr. Conway’s passion for reproductive endocrinology stems from the rapidly evolving and cutting-edge nature of the field.
She has won numerous research and teaching awards during her training, and she enjoys educating patients throughout the course of their workup and treatment for infertility. Her areas of interest include fertility preservation, polycystic ovary syndrome, premature ovarian insufficiency and third-party reproduction.
The most rewarding part of her day, however, is giving every patient the highest chance of success to realize the dream of parenthood.
Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility specialist
Dr. Maas
Dr. Kevin Maas is a Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility specialist. Dr. Maas is currently board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and board eligible in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Dr. Maas graduated from the University of California, Davis with Highest Honors, earning a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and minoring in Comparative Literature. He earned his M.D. degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and completed a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology during his medical training. While pursuing research on autoimmune disorders, he earned the American College of Rheumatology REF/Abbott award for outstanding graduate research, and had two papers named as noteworthy by the Faculty of 1000.
Dr. Maas completed his residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Stanford University. During his time at Stanford, he won numerous teaching awards and was twice awarded the Julianne O’Callahan Award for compassion in patient care.
Dr. Maas has presented his research at a number of national conferences and written numerous scientific publications in a range of nationally recognized journals. Most recently during fellowship at the University of California, San Diego, he has investigated mechanisms of androgen excess in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Dr. Maas is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Dr. Maas also speaks Spanish, enjoys cross-country skiing, and is looking forward to exploring Boise and the surrounding areas.
Fertility specialist focusing in third-party reproduction
Dr. De Pinho's
Dr De Pinho is a world-renowned fertility specialist focusing in third-party reproduction. Dr De Pinho has participated as an advocate worldwide for the rights to parenthood through surrogacy at local European legislative and medical forums. He is well respected by the leading surrogacy and donor matching agencies in assisting prospective parents in the LGBTQ communities globally on their journey to parenthood. Dr De Pinho has received numerous awards and publications, resulting in advances for improving sperm and egg freezing and genetic selection. He speaks Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese.
Dr De Pinho’s Expertise and Special Interest focus on:
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
- Third Party Reproduction
- Donor Egg IVF
- Surrogacy
- Fertility Preservation
- Decrease Ovarian Reserve
- Male infertility
- LBGTQ Assisted Reproduction Fertility
- International Assisted Reproduction
Fertility Specialist
John M. Norian, MD FACOG
Dr. John Norian, double board certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, his medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons, completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine program and his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the National Institutes of Health.
His philosophy in helping those realize their dream of having a family combines both the precision and science of reproductive medicine with a warm and compassionate style of doctoring. Dr. Norian and his team regularly provide high quality, personal care with high success rates to many international patients throughout the world. He is passionate about helping men and women achieve their goals of family building especially those needing a gestational surrogate. In addition, he focuses his practice on assisting gay men and women as they become parents through advanced reproductive care. His expertise includes IVF, Pre-implantation Genetic Screening (PGS) of embryos, IVF with donor eggs, and gestational surrogacy. He and his team are fluent in medical Spanish.
Dr. Norian has authored over 25 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters focusing on reproductive biology and infertility. He has earned numerous distinctions and awards throughout his career. Several of his often cited articles have helped to broaden our scientific understanding and have guided clinical care. When in fellowship at the NIH, Dr. Norian was a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Public Health Service and had the privilege of providing care for military families.
As an executive board member of Path2Parenthood, Dr. Norian has greatly helped to raise awareness and develop usable information about fertility options for gay men and the greater LGBT community. He is a leader within the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (SART) which is the primary organization that improves the safety and transparency of IVF in America. He is an active member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Dr. Norian is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of California at Riverside, School of Medicine and at Western University of the Health Sciences. His personal interests include trail running, reading and enjoying time in the outdoors with his family.
Doctors
Dr. Said Daneshmand, M.D. F.A.C.O.G.
Dr. Daneshmand
Dr. Said Daneshmand, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.
Daneshmand of the San Diego Fertility Center is an internationally renowned fertility specialist with extensive experience in complex in vitro fertilization (IVF) and third-party reproduction.
He has collaborated to develop IVF protocols, including PTEC (post-thaw extended culture) as one of the most successful IVF regimens currently available. These groundbreaking advances have been published in the internationally respected medical journal, Fertility and Sterility.
He completed his residency and fellowship at UCLA. He is specialty board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and subspecialty board certified in Reproductive Endocrinology.
Dr. Daneshmand has expertise in complex IVF cases and his research has featured work on endometrial receptivity as a significant factor in the success of IVF. He is internationally recognized for his expertise in egg donation and surrogacy; He is one of the main providers of third-party care in the United States, with patients traveling from more than 35 countries in 2016 alone to seek his care. Dr. Daneshmand has presented his research internationally before leading IVF experts from the Americas, Asia, Australia and Europe. He is known for developing and implementing cutting-edge technologies, including NGS (next generation sequencing), the latest and most precise technique for assessing embryonic genetic health.
Dr. Daneshmand is passionate about his field and helping his patients build their families. Languages: English, Farsi, French, Spanish.
Expert in the treatment of infertility
Dr. Foulk
Russell A. Foulk, M.D is an internationally renowned expert in the treatment of infertility. He has a strong passion for overcoming infertility and has helped thousands of couples from around the world to achieve their dreams of having a baby. This drive has led him to establish several fertility treatment centers in Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Hawaii, and Belgrade in Serbia in order to enable all those who suffer from infertility to find an affordable and effective way to conceive.
He graduated magna cum laude with dual majors in microbiology and Asian studies, and dual minors in zoology and Korean. He finished at the top of his class at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine. During his training he received a prestigious National Institute of Health grant, published numerous papers and presented before many national organizations. While part of the faculty at University of California his research endeavors focused on implantation physiology, in which he shares two patents on unique immunologic proteins expressed by placental cells. He continues his research interests through multi-center investigative trials and basic research into the mechanisms of implantation and stem cells.
Dr. Foulk is an associate clinical professor at the University of Washington, Department of Ob/Gyn and at the University of Nevada, School of Medicine. He routinely teaches medical students, residents and general education courses. He served for 8 years on the Board of Directors of the Pacific Coast Reproductive Society and served as the President of the Society.
On a regular basis, he presents at international meetings and local conferences. Nationally, he has appeared as a fertility expert on the Oprah Winfrey show twice, the Montel Williams show, the Leeza Gibbons show, Inside Edition and German national television. The British Broadcasting Company profiled Dr. Foulk’s expertise on reproductive ethics. He presented in Valencia, Spain and in Japan on the Tokyo Broadcasting Company for his work in third party reproduction. He has been quoted in the Associated Press, Reuters, Wall Street Journal and many of the nation’s newspapers.
Child magazine in 2005 ranked Dr. Foulk’s center in Nevada among the top six in the nation. In 2009, The Nevada Center for Reproductive Medicine was ranked among the 17 “Fertility Centers of Excellence” by the Contemporary Ob/Gyn Journal.
Dr. Foulk is a founding member of StemLifeline, a stem cell research company. In 2006, he was invited to Washington D.C. by Dr. Bill Frist, the Senate Majority Leader, to brief him on embryology and stem cell research. While there, Dr. Foulk met with President George W. Bush for 1 hour in the White House Oval Office before his vote on the subject.
Dr. Foulk and his wife personally suffered from infertility, but then experienced the tremendous happiness in having their five children. Professionally, he now finds the greatest joy by helping others to create families themselves. He strongly believes every cause of infertility can be overcome and a family can be created.
Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility specialist
Dr. Maas
Dr. Kevin Maas is a Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility specialist. Dr. Maas is currently board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and board eligible in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Dr. Maas graduated from the University of California, Davis with Highest Honors, earning a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and minoring in Comparative Literature. He earned his M.D. degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and completed a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology during his medical training. While pursuing research on autoimmune disorders, he earned the American College of Rheumatology REF/Abbott award for outstanding graduate research, and had two papers named as noteworthy by the Faculty of 1000.
Dr. Maas completed his residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Stanford University. During his time at Stanford, he won numerous teaching awards and was twice awarded the Julianne O’Callahan Award for compassion in patient care.
Dr. Maas has presented his research at a number of national conferences and written numerous scientific publications in a range of nationally recognized journals. Most recently during fellowship at the University of California, San Diego, he has investigated mechanisms of androgen excess in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Dr. Maas is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Dr. Maas also speaks Spanish, enjoys cross-country skiing, and is looking forward to exploring Boise and the surrounding areas.
Fertility Specialist
John M. Norian, MD FACOG
Dr. John Norian, double board certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, his medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons, completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine program and his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the National Institutes of Health.
His philosophy in helping those realize their dream of having a family combines both the precision and science of reproductive medicine with a warm and compassionate style of doctoring. Dr. Norian and his team regularly provide high quality, personal care with high success rates to many international patients throughout the world. He is passionate about helping men and women achieve their goals of family building especially those needing a gestational surrogate. In addition, he focuses his practice on assisting gay men and women as they become parents through advanced reproductive care. His expertise includes IVF, Pre-implantation Genetic Screening (PGS) of embryos, IVF with donor eggs, and gestational surrogacy.
Dr. Norian has authored over 25 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters focusing on reproductive biology and infertility. He has earned numerous distinctions and awards throughout his career. Several of his often cited articles have helped to broaden our scientific understanding and have guided clinical care. When in fellowship at the NIH, Dr. Norian was a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Public Health Service and had the privilege of providing care for military families.
As an executive board member of Path2Parenthood, Dr. Norian has greatly helped to raise awareness and develop usable information about fertility options for gay men and the greater LGBT community. He is a leader within the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (SART) which is the primary organization that improves the safety and transparency of IVF in America. He is an active member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Dr. Norian is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of California at Riverside, School of Medicine and at Western University of the Health Sciences. His personal interests include trail running, reading and enjoying time in the outdoors with his family.
Fertility specialist focusing in third-party reproduction
Dr. De Pinho's
Dr De Pinho is a world-renowned fertility specialist focusing in third-party reproduction. Dr De Pinho has participated as an advocate worldwide for the rights to parenthood through surrogacy at local European legislative and medical forums. He is well respected by the leading surrogacy and donor matching agencies in assisting prospective parents in the LGBTQ communities globally on their journey to parenthood. Dr De Pinho has received numerous awards and publications, resulting in advances for improving sperm and egg freezing and genetic selection. He speaks Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese.
Dr De Pinho’s Expertise and Special Interest focus on:
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
- Third Party Reproduction
- Donor Egg IVF
- Surrogacy
- Fertility Preservation
- Decrease Ovarian Reserve
- Male infertility
- LBGTQ Assisted Reproduction Fertility
- International Assisted Reproduction
Attorneys
Assisted Reproduction
ELISEO AREBALOS
Eliseo began his work in the assisted reproduction technology field in 2003, holding a financial analyst position at a Los Angeles-based surrogacy agency. Eliseo earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Relations and Spanish, with a minor in French and his legal experience spans multiple practice areas. He is a licensed attorney in a number of states and has argued constitutional matters in several jurisdictions. A Texas native, Eliseo has resided in Los Angeles since 1998. You can also visit their website: https://irlawgroup.com/
Assisted Reproduction
Molly O’Brien
Molly O’Brien has worked in the field of Assisted Reproduction since 2005. Previously, she worked for an Egg Donation Agency and a Surrogacy Agency where she became familiar with all aspects of assisted reproduction. Since becoming an attorney in 2011, she has gained extensive experience in drafting and negotiating Surrogacy Contracts, Egg Donation and Sperm Donation Contracts, and Embryo Donation Contracts and has extensive experience in obtaining all documents necessary for her clients to return to their home country. Molly O’Brien serves on the Executive Board of the ASRM Legal Professional Group as Secretary. Additionally, Ms. O’Brien is a member of the ABA A.R.T. committee.
Brian Klein
At Falletta & Klein, we measure the value of our services by how we benefit people. We found that by helping our clients build families, we do more than benefit people; we change lives.
Headquartered in San Diego, California, we are world leaders in fertility law. With over 30 years of experience, we are the most reliable choice for guidance and support in your journey to build your family through assisted reproductive technologies.
Brian Klein is a partner at Falletta & Klein, and joined the firm in 2011. Brian manages Falletta & Klein’s international business, assisting over five hundred families per year through the surrogacy and egg donation process. Brian Klein is a frequent guest speaker at international surrogacy seminars to provide guidance on cross-border surrogacy and egg donation issues, and to provide insight on California’s laws. Brian Klein is a member of the legal committee in the Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy (SEEDS).
James P
James grew up in San Diego County, California. He earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Southern California in 2006, and a dual-degree B.S. in Political Science and Economics from the United States Naval Academy in 2007. After graduating from the Naval Academy, James earned a full ride academic scholarship to Cambridge University in the United Kingdom, where he completed a Master of Philosophy Degree in Chinese Studies and Chinese Economics.
Following his time at Cambridge, James served on Active Duty in the US Navy for eight years as a nuclear submarine officer. James left active duty in 2015 and enrolled at Stanford Law School, graduating as a member of the Class of 2018. He then completed his weekend MBA at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business in 2021. Currently, James is licensed in a number of states and manages his own law firm, The Surrogate’s Corner, where his practice is dedicated to representing surrogates and donors during their family building journeys. James has often said there is no greater reward than helping those who help others build the families of their dreams.
To find out more about James and his law practice, please visit The Surrogate’ Corner, PLLC
Assisted Reproduction
Karen Persis
Karen Persis of Karen Persis, P.A. represents couples and individuals in matters involving assisted reproductive technology law and adoption. She has served Intended Parents on 5 continents. Ms. Persis has been practicing law since 2005, and is AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. In 2016, she was invited to join the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, an organization with fewer than 200 attorneys worldwide who are selected based on their high ethical standards and professional competence.
Ms. Persis was awarded the Lawrence G. Matthews Award for Professionalism by the Orange County Bar Association in 2017. From 2010-2018, Karen was selected as a “Rising Star” by Florida Super Lawyers, a distinction awarded to no more than 2.5% of lawyers under the age of 40 in Florida. In 2014 and 2017, Karen was also selected as a Florida Trend Legal Elite Up and Comer.
Karen serves as an elected member of the Orange County Bar Association’s Executive Council. She currently serves on a Grievance Committee for The Florida Bar Asssociation, and previously was appointed by the Chief Judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit to serve on the circuit’s Local Professionalism Panel. She served as President of the Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Association from 2014-2015, and has represented the Ninth Circuit as an elected Governor for The Florida Bar Association Young Lawyers Division from 2013-17. Throughout her service to the Florida Bar Association and the Orange County Bar Association, she has chaired more than a dozen committees and events, many of which served as fundraisers for local community organizations. Ms. Persis is also an active member of the American Bar Association’s Assisted Reproductive Technology Law committee, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Legal Group, and RESOLVE.
She graduated from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, in the top 10 percent of her class, in 2004. Prior to starting her legal career, Karen was a Fellow for the Women’s Research and Education Institute in Washington, D.C., where she worked on Capitol Hill, drafting and analyzing legislation affecting women and children. She graduated from the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communication in the top 5 percent of her class in 2001, with a Bachelor of Science in journalism and an outside concentration in women’s studies. In 2001, she was admitted into the University of Florida Hall of Fame.
Tabitha L. Koh
Tabitha L. Koh, Esq. was born and raised in Portland and attended Cleveland High School before moving to the East Coast to earn a liberal arts degree from Wellesley College. Tabitha first worked for the firm from 2001 to 2004 as the office manager and bookkeeper and providing general client support. After graduating from the University of California Berkeley Law School in 2007, she served as a litigation associate at Orrick, Herrington, and Sutcliffe, before rejoining the team in 2009 as an attorney. In 2015 she became a named partner in the firm.
Tabitha is licensed to practice law in Oregon, Washington, and California. Her practice areas include adoption, surrogacy, and assisted reproductive technology, as well as estate planning and probate. She is a member of Oregon Women Lawyers (OWLS) and the Oregon Gay and Lesbian Law Association. She is also a member of four sections of the Oregon State Bar Association: the Diversity, Elder Law, Family Law, and Estate Planning & Administration sections.
Outside of work, Tabitha enjoys cooking, gardening, and being outdoors. She and her wife live in Portland with their 2 children.
Assisted Reproduction
Chelsea Caldwell
Chelsea Caldwell is an assisted reproduction and surrogacy attorney and is a partner of Midwest Fertility Law Group, PLC. She has experience of serving clients worldwide seeking to build their families through surrogacy, gamete donation, embryo donation, and stepparent adoption. As both an adoptee and having personal infertility experience, Chelsea brings compassion and understanding to her clients and knows both personally and professionally the challenges that arise within family formation.
Chelsea is a passionate advocate for ensuring that infertility treatment is affordable and accessible for all individuals that desire to grow their family, and has co-authored legislation in Tennessee in an effort to provide access and affordability of family building options to Tennesseans.
Chelsea is published in both The University of Memphis Law Review and the Florida International University Law Review on the topic of assisted reproduction. She is also an active member of the American Bar Association Assisted Reproductive Technology Committee, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Legal Professionals Group, the Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy (“SEEDS”), and various bar associations.
Chelsea received a B.S. in Biology with academic honors from Lyon College, followed by two years of medical school. Chelsea earned a Juris Doctorate with academic honors from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.
Tim Schlesinger
Tim Schlesinger has been practicing law for 40 years, and has devoted the last 15 years of his practice to surrogacy and assisted reproduction, where he has earned an international reputation as a preeminent surrogacy and ART attorney.
Tim is proud to dedicate his career to securing parental rights and helping to shape the legal landscape for parents having children through ART. In addition, he uses his extensive litigation background in the rare instances in which litigation arises from disputes relating to ART arrangements, as he did when he successfully litigated a groundbreaking Missouri case regarding frozen embryos.
Tim is a Fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys, and is a member of the Executive Council of the American Bar Association (Family Law Section) ART Committee. In addition, he been published on the topic of surrogacy and ART by Cambridge University Press, Aspatore Publishing, the Family Court Review and the American Journal of Family Law, among many others.
Attorneys
Assisted Reproduction
Molly O’Brien
Molly O’Brien has worked in the field of Assisted Reproduction since 2005. Previously, she worked for an Egg Donation Agency and a Surrogacy Agency where she became familiar with all aspects of assisted reproduction. Since becoming an attorney in 2011, she has gained extensive experience in drafting and negotiating Surrogacy Contracts, Egg Donation and Sperm Donation Contracts, and Embryo Donation Contracts and has extensive experience in obtaining all documents necessary for her clients to return to their home country. Molly O’Brien serves on the Executive Board of the ASRM Legal Professional Group as Secretary. Additionally, Ms. O’Brien is a member of the ABA A.R.T. committee.
Assisted Reproduction
Brian Klein
At Falletta & Klein, we measure the value of our services by how we benefit people. We found that by helping our clients build families, we do more than benefit people; we change lives.
Headquartered in San Diego, California, we are world leaders in fertility law. With over 30 years of experience, we are the most reliable choice for guidance and support in your journey to build your family through assisted reproductive technologies.
Brian Klein is a partner at Falletta & Klein, and joined the firm in 2011. Brian manages Falletta & Klein’s international business, assisting over five hundred families per year through the surrogacy and egg donation process. Brian Klein is a frequent guest speaker at international surrogacy seminars to provide guidance on cross-border surrogacy and egg donation issues, and to provide insight on California’s laws. Brian Klein is a member of the legal committee in the Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy (SEEDS).
Assisted Reproduction
Karen Persis
Karen Persis of Karen Persis, P.A. represents couples and individuals in matters involving assisted reproductive technology law and adoption. She has served Intended Parents on 5 continents. Ms. Persis has been practicing law since 2005, and is AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. In 2016, she was invited to join the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, an organization with fewer than 200 attorneys worldwide who are selected based on their high ethical standards and professional competence.
Ms. Persis was awarded the Lawrence G. Matthews Award for Professionalism by the Orange County Bar Association in 2017. From 2010-2018, Karen was selected as a “Rising Star” by Florida Super Lawyers, a distinction awarded to no more than 2.5% of lawyers under the age of 40 in Florida. In 2014 and 2017, Karen was also selected as a Florida Trend Legal Elite Up and Comer.
Karen serves as an elected member of the Orange County Bar Association’s Executive Council. She currently serves on a Grievance Committee for The Florida Bar Asssociation, and previously was appointed by the Chief Judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit to serve on the circuit’s Local Professionalism Panel. She served as President of the Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Association from 2014-2015, and has represented the Ninth Circuit as an elected Governor for The Florida Bar Association Young Lawyers Division from 2013-17. Throughout her service to the Florida Bar Association and the Orange County Bar Association, she has chaired more than a dozen committees and events, many of which served as fundraisers for local community organizations. Ms. Persis is also an active member of the American Bar Association’s Assisted Reproductive Technology Law committee, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Legal Group, and RESOLVE.
She graduated from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, in the top 10 percent of her class, in 2004. Prior to starting her legal career, Karen was a Fellow for the Women’s Research and Education Institute in Washington, D.C., where she worked on Capitol Hill, drafting and analyzing legislation affecting women and children. She graduated from the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communication in the top 5 percent of her class in 2001, with a Bachelor of Science in journalism and an outside concentration in women’s studies. In 2001, she was admitted into the University of Florida Hall of Fame.
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