Wayne A. J. Wattley
Was born on January 5, 1974 in St. Kitts, West Indies. His mom is a lifelong educator having taught for 24 years before retiring from a second career in customer service. His dad was a construction business manager before retiring as a fast-food restaurant manager. Wayne moved with his parents and older sister to the United States in 1989. He attended Adlai E. Stevenson High School in the Bronx where he skipped the eleventh (11th) grade. He graduated from New York University magna cum laude in 1995 and New York Law School in 1998. Wayne has been a practicing attorney for twenty-seven (27) years, all representing injured plaintiffs with the exception of one (1) year at defense firm Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman and Dicker where he was an Of Counsel Partner in the General Litigation Unit.
Wayne is currently a Partner and Senior Trial Attorney at Elefterakis, Elefterakis and Panek (EEP), New York’s Premier Personal Injury, Labor Law and Civil Rights firm where he specializes in motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, civil rights and construction accidents. Wayne’s trial resume includes countless multi-million-dollar results for victims of accidents and injustice. His inaugural verdict with EEP, obtained just weeks after joining the firm, was a $3.64 million dollar verdict for a bus matron who sustained serious injuries in a motor vehicle accident. After the verdict, that case ultimately settled for $3.9 million dollars. The pretrial offer by the insurance company to settle this case was only $300,000. One of Wayne's verdicts in 2024 was for over $53.1 million dollars for a bus operator who himself was hit by a NYCTA bus on his day off of work. A few weeks later, Wayne obtained a $5.5 million dollar verdict for two brothers who were passengers in a NCYTA bus that was rear ended by another NCYTA bus.
Wayne has been published in the New York Law Journal Top Verdicts and Settlements since 2015 and featured in “Super Lawyers”, which is the annual list of Top Attorneys in the New York Metro area. In 2021 Wayne was showcased for having obtained one of the top ten (10) jury verdicts in New York State as well as the 25th highest bench award in the United States that year. Wayne has been invited to lecture other trial attorneys on jury selection and courtroom techniques.
In addition to his legal work, Wayne enjoys giving back to his community through his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He is a past Basileus/President of his Chapter and has been honored twice as Omega Man of the Year as a result of his commitment to charitable endeavors. Prior to becoming Basileus, Wayne has served his Chapter as Vice-Basileus, Parliamentarian, Keeper of Finance, Assistant House Manager and chair of numerous committees. Wayne is also a past Chairperson and President of the Bronx County Bar Association and a twice winning Coach in the Thurgood Marshall Junior Mock Trial Competition.
Wayne is married to Terryanne, his wife of twenty years, and is the proud father of Janiyah, an active 11th grader. Wayne’s favorite thing to do other than cross-examine witnesses is spend time with his family, cooking, traveling or cheering on Janiyah at her volleyball and soccer games.
Shawndrica N. Simmons, the LawChic
Shawndrica Simmons focuses her civil litigation practice on labor and employment, family, probate, and contractual law. She engages in litigation against unions and the employer for workplace discrimination, harassment, retaliation, improper calculations of retirement benefits, and failure to fairly represent matters. She also specializes in handling high-risk divorces where there are allegations of abuse. Ms. Simmons has arbitrated more than 100 union labor grievances and was recognized by labor unions for her 90 percent win rate. Her professional experience has evolved from being a 3rd Circuit Court clerk domestic relations specialist to a litigator. She is admitted to practice in Michigan state courts as well as the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Ms. Simmons is currently chair of the State Bar of Michigan’s Solo and Small Firm Section and council member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section. She previously served as president of the Black Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, general counsel of the Coalition of Black Women Lawyers, and treasurer of the University of Michigan Black Alumni Association. Through her extensive training through Harvard Law School's Trade Union Program, she is now a certified labor executive and was elected twice as the financial leader of the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO.
Aaron B. Abram is an associate attorney with the Ferguson Law Firm, bringing a wealth of leadership, advocacy, and strategic experience from his time at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law. During law school, Mr. Abram distinguished himself as a dynamic leader, serving as both 1L and 2L Class President before being elected Student Bar Association President. In that role, he acted as a vital liaison between students and faculty, representing the student body on key governance matters.
An accomplished oral and written advocate, Mr. Abram served as Senior Editor of the Thurgood Marshall Law Review and competed on the Mock Trial team. His advocacy prowess is evidenced by victories in the Helen Dawn Williams Mock Trial Competition, the Sports Negotiation Competition, and the Great Debate Black History Month Classic, where he secured back-to-back wins. Additionally, Mr. Abram played a key role in preparing the National Trial Competition team, which advanced to the Regional Semi-Finals.
Mr. Abram's dedication to service has earned him numerous honors, including the Association of Corporate Counsel Diversity Scholarship, the Houston Lawyer Association Bar Scholarship, and the Sterling Johnson, Jr. “Just the Beginning” Pipeline Scholarship.
Before law school, Mr. Abram cultivated expertise in higher education, food and beverage operations, development, and fundraising, excelling in roles involving strategic management, marketing, and program leadership. Passionate about giving back, he has worked with various boards and nonprofits focused on youth empowerment, workplace equity, urban education, and healthcare access.
Outside the office, Mr. Abram enjoys spending time with his nieces and nephews, affectionately known as his “children,” finding joy and balance in family life.
Ms. Stephen earned her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School with honors in legal writing. While in law school, Ms. Stephen held a law clerk position in the Hearings Unit of Baltimore’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, completed an externship with Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity, and interned with a plaintiff-side employment law firm in Philadelphia.
During law school, Ms. Stephen was the Community Editor for The Regulatory Review and an Associate Editor for the University Pennsylvania Journal of Law and Social Change. Additionally, Ms. Stephen was also a board member of the Black Law Student Association and the Education and Advocacy Coordinator of If/When/How, a student pro bono organization focused on advancing reproductive rights and justice.
Prior to attending law school, Ms. Stephen was the recipient of a Fulbright Award for which she spent a year as an English Teaching Assistant at a high school in Malaysia.
As an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, Ms. Stephen won an English departmental prize for her thesis titled Black Travel through Time and Space: Music Videos from Sun Ra to Erykah Badu, in which she explored Afrofuturism in the music space. As a member of the Performing Arts Council Executive Board, she headed up the After School Arts Program, a university-funded arts program for youth in West Philadelphia public schools. Ms. Stephen graduated summa cum laude and was selected to be a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Outside of work, Ms. Stephen is a musician, creative writer, and avid moviegoer.