Who We Are

PROFESSIONAL DEFENSE BASE ACT LAWYERS

The DBA Law firm Garfinkel Schwartz represents civilian contractors who work anywhere in the world supporting the U.S. Government and Longshoremen who work the ports, docks, coasts, rivers and U.S. waterways.

We are the oldest DBA law firm in the United States. We have resolved tens of thousands of cases for our clients, who come from all over the world.

WE FLY TO YOU WHEREVER YOU ARE

Garfinkel Schwartz is a compassionate resource for families and individuals who have been hurt or who have gotten sick while working for defense contractors or longshoremen. The Garfinkel/Schwartz family have helped injured workers for four (4) generations – Great Grandfather, Grandfather, Father and Sons.

Our incredibly skilled and compassionate staff are dedicated to providing our clients the right to receive excellent medical care and substantial compensation from their injuries. Additionally, we provide our clients with the latest medical information and assist our clients to obtain the best doctors to treat all their injuries.

Team of Lawyers

Our firm is recognized for our support of military veterans and their families.

Alan Garfinkel

FOUNDER

Giselle Garcia

DEFENSE BASE ACT ATTORNEY

Brian Wiklendt

DEFENSE BASE ACT ATTORNEY

Matthew “Matt” Rolla

DEFENSE BASE ACT ATTORNEY

Nydia Wallace

DEFENSE BASE ACT ATTORNEY

Brandon Ward

DEFENSE BASE ACT ATTORNEY

Michael Lapine

DEFENSE BASE ACT ATTORNEY

Ronja Lugo Åkergren

DEFENSE BASE ACT ATTORNEY

John Mallah, Esq.

Defense Base Act ATTORNEY

Savvanah Duffy

Defense Base Act Attorney

William T. Russell III

Attorney & Lt. Col. (Ret), USA

Sarah Mallah

JD Candidate 2024

Rory Tufts

Executive Intake and Case Management Specialist

Dustin Denman

Firm Administrator

Cristina Tapia

Paraprofessional Manager

Ina Jace

Client Relations

Scott Broomfield

Global Affairs Manager

HOW WE BEGAN

History and Heritage

The law firm is named for founder and attorney Alan Garfinkel, and in memoriam for deceased Longshore and Defense Base Act lawyer, John M. Schwartz and his father Sydney Schwartz.


John Schwartz and his father were Defense Base Act lawyers for more than 50 years. They represented injured workers and contractors around the world.

Alan Garfinkel and John M. Schwartz worked side by side for more than a dozen years. Together, they helped thousands of men and women working as overseas civilian contractors and longshoremen on U.S. Federal waterways who were denied DBA and Longshore Act compensation claims.

Brian Wiklendt and Giselle Garcia are Defense Base/Longshore Act lawyers and lead counsel for the firm. Schwartz’s grandsons while attending law school served as legal assistants and medical researchers working on the Garfinkel Schwartz team.

The Garfinkel-Schwartz families and law firm have a military service history that goes back more than 106 years, World War I with Alan Garfinkel’s grandfather, World War II with Alan’s Father and 3 uncles and Vietnam with John Schwartz. Currently, Garfinkel Schwartz has a lawyer that is in the Active Army Reserves and serves in the United States Military as a Lieutenant Colonel. Garfinkel Schwartz and our law firm family continue to devote their careers and lives in obtaining medical care and money for civilian contractors and longshoremen who get sick or injured on the job.

What Our Clients Say

Find out who receives our help. Read their stories, do they sound familiar?

WE CHANGE LIVES FOR THE BETTER