2026- 2027 GSCBWLA LEADERSHIP |
Directors Devon Vickers Ashley Turner Gabrielle Higgins Jori Opara Jalesa Johnson Angelica Knight PaulMarie Bobb |
Domini Gibbs-Sorey, Esq. • President
Attorney Gibbs-Sorey was born in Nassau Bahamas and raised in Boynton Beach, Florida. She earned her Juris Doctorate degree from Florida A&M University College of Law and holds an MBA and Bachelor's Degree in Business from Lynn University. She has worked for the City of Miami for over 10 years. She currently serves as an Assistant City Attorney. Mrs. Gibbs-Sorey was a fellow in the Florida Bar Leadership Academy Class VII and is a current member of the Florida Bar's Government and Public Advocacy Committee, Board Member of the City, County, Local Government Committee of the Florida Bar and Co-Chair of the CCLG CLE Committee. Shes also serves as a Board Member of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Southern Florida and the Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease Research. Her contributions, leadership and dedication to service have been recognized with awards to include the National Bar Association's Top 40 Lawyers Under 40, Legacy South Florida's 40 Under 40 Leaders of Today & Tomorrow, and Florida Trend's Legal Elite top 50 Government/Non-profit attorneys in South Florida awards. In her free time she loves traveling, shopping, cooking, and spending time with her family, especially with her daughter and loving husband.
Michaèl's Déborah Saint-Vil, Esq. • President - Elect
Michaèl’s Déborah Saint-Vil, Esq. is Managing Attorney at Catholic Legal Services, Archdiocese of Miami, where she oversees legal operations, provides strategic guidance, and represents vulnerable immigrant populations. Her practice includes representation before Immigration Courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Asylum Office, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Attorney Saint-Vil is a dedicated legal advocate and bar leader. She serves as President-Elect of the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association, a Governor of The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, Immediate Past President of the Haitian Lawyers Association, and Secretary of the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association. She also co-chairs the Miami-Dade Bar's Voluntary Bar Liaison and Immigration Committees and serves as Secretary of the National Bar Association's International Law Committee.
Passionate about mentorship and expanding access to the legal profession, she has championed scholarship initiatives awarding over $39,000 to 13 students, including founding the Haitian Lawyers Scholarship.
Her legal leadership and community service have earned numerous distinctions, including The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division's 2024 Pro Bono Service Award and 2025 36 Under 36 Professionalism Award, the National Bar Association's 40 Under 40 Top Lawyers, the Virgil Hawkins Chapter's Young Lawyer Award, and the Miami-Dade Bar's Rising Leader in Immigration Circle of Excellence Award. She is also a graduate of The Florida Bar's William Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy and several other distinguished leadership programs.
Attorney Saint-Vil earned her bachelor's degree from Oakwood University and her Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University School of Law. She is admitted to practice before the Florida Bar and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Above all, Déborah is a proud mother, committed to service, mentorship, and advancing opportunities for underrepresented communities.
Representative Ashley Gantt, Esq. • Immediate Past-President
Representative Gantt was born on April 14, 1985 in Miami-Dade County. In 2007 Gantt graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and became a Teach for America Mississippi Delta Corps (TFA) member. Gantt returned home to teach in Miami-Dade County Public Schools for seven years before beginning law school. In 2016, Gantt graduated from NSU Shepard Broad College of Law. While in law school, Ms. Gantt served as chapter Secretary and President of the Black Law Students Association. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Ashley V. Gantt, Esq. is the founder and managing partner of Gantt Legacy Law, P.A. In 2022, Ms. Gantt currently serves as the representative for FL House District 109.
Mallorie D. Milord, Esq. • Vice-President
Attorney Milord focuses her practice on general liability and commercial litigation matters. She represents businesses, insurers, and their insureds through all phases of litigation, helping clients evaluate risk, navigate complex disputes, and develop practical strategies for resolution. Drawing on nearly a decade of litigation experience, she approaches each matter with an emphasis on efficiency, responsiveness, and achieving favorable outcomes aligned with her clients’ objectives.
Before joining GRSM, Attorney Milord practiced with national and regional law firms where she handled complex civil litigation matters involving liability, damages, and insurance-related disputes. She brings a practical, client-focused approach to litigation and is committed to helping clients navigate challenging matters efficiently and effectively.
An active leader within Florida’s legal community, Attorney Milord currently serves as Vice President and Executive Director of the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association and previously served as the organization’s Secretary. She also previously served as Secretary and Vice President of the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association. She is a graduate of The Florida Bar Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy, Class XIII. Her commitment to service and professional leadership has earned her Member of the Year recognition from both the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association and the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association.
Deidra E. Rogers, Esq. • Secretary
Deidra Rogers is an attorney with Legal Services of Greater Miami, where she represents clients in family law matters and is dedicated to advancing access to justice for underserved individuals and families. She earned her Juris Doctor from Florida International University College of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, cum laude, from the University of South Florida, where she was initiated into the Kappa Iota Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
Committed to professional excellence and servant leadership, Attorney Rogers actively serves as Secretary of the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association. Her professional interests include community advocacy, leadership development, and fostering meaningful engagement within the legal profession. Through both her legal practice and community involvement, she remains dedicated to empowering others and creating lasting impact throughout South Florida.
Jamila A. Williams, Esq. • Treasurer
Ms. Williams is an Attorney at Pierrot Law, PLLC, with expertise in personal injury, general liability, and administrative law. She earned her B.S. in Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Management Information Systems from the University at Buffalo and her J.D. from Nova Southeastern University. After law school, she began her career as a defense attorney, handling primary litigation in insurance subrogation, medical malpractice, and personal injury cases. She then joined the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as an Attorney Advisor, where she provided legal guidance on healthcare administrative matters. Beyond her legal career, Attorney Williams serves on the board of XtraOrdinary Ladies, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to mentoring high school girls. She is also an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and the T.J Reddick Bar Association.
PaulMarie E. Bobb, Esq., LLM • Board of Directors
Attorney Bobb, serves as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of North Miami, Florida, where she advises City departments and boards on contracts, special projects, legislative matters, public records compliance, and other issues involving municipal operations and governance. She represents the City in trial and appellate litigation in state and federal courts involving governmental liability, civil rights, and negligence. She also serves as the City’s Municipal Prosecutor and as Police Legal Advisor to the North Miami Police Department.
Mrs. Bobb’s service to the City spans nearly twelve years across executive and legal roles, giving her a distinctive understanding of municipal government from both administrative and legal perspectives. A proud first-generation Haitian-American, she is fluent in English, French, and Haitian Creole and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
Education: Master of Laws in Government Affairs and Advocacy, summa cum laude, Albany Law School (2026); Juris Doctor, Certificate in Real Estate Law, and Certificate in Environmental Sustainability, St. Thomas University College of Law (2021); Master of Arts in Communication and Media Studies, Université du Québec à Montréal (2014); Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts, St. Thomas University (2010).
Gabrielle Higgins, Esq. • Board of Directors
Attorney Higgins, an associate at Ben Crump Law, brings with her a deep commitment to justice and a focus on amplifying the voices of the disenfranchised. With a background as a former public defender, Attorney Higgins passionately advocated for numerous clients in both felony and misdemeanor trial divisions, with her litigation experience and compassion forming the foundation of her practice.
Raised in South Florida to Jamaican immigrants, Attorney Higgins was instilled with a passion for service from an early age. In addition to serving as a board member for Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association, Gabrielle serves as President-elect of the T.J. Reddick Bar Association and as Co-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Young Advocates Committee.
Jalesa Johnson, Esq. • Board of Directors
Attorney Johnson is a Partner at Goldstein Law Group, where she focuses her practice on civil defense litigation with an emphasis on insurance defense. Recognized for her strategic approach and commitment to client service, she is equally passionate about mentoring and developing the next generation of attorneys, serving as a trusted leader and resource for associates within her firm.
Licensed to practice in Florida and before the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Jalesa is actively engaged in advancing the legal profession through leadership and service. She previously served on The Florida Bar's Diversity and Inclusion Committee, currently serves as Chair of The Florida Bar's Grievance Committee, and is a graduate of the prestigious Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy.
Her dedication to service extends well beyond her legal practice. Jalesa serves on the Board of Directors of both the T.J. Reddick Bar Association and the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association. She also mentors young women through the Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program and volunteers with numerous philanthropic organizations, reflecting her longstanding commitment to empowering others and strengthening her community.
Jalesa earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Florida and her Juris Doctor from Florida A&M University College of Law.
Whether advocating for clients, mentoring emerging attorneys, or serving her community, Jalesa is committed to excellence, integrity, and meaningful leadership. Her dedication to the legal profession and her passion for service continue to make a lasting impact on those she represents, mentors, and serves.
Angelica Knight, Esq., LLM. • Board of Directors
Attorney Knight has since June 2024 at the City of Miami - Office of the City Attorney, where she serves in the Land Use and Government Division. In this role, she handles building and unsafe structures issues for the Building Department. Prior to becoming an Assistant City Attorney, Ms. Knight practiced in private law, focusing on various litigation and municipal matters. A native of Miami, Florida, Attorney Knight earned her Juris Doctorate from St. Thomas University School of Law in 2023. She also holds an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Miami School of Law (2024). She first joined the Office of the City Attorney as a law student intern in the Fall of 2022, gaining valuable experience that contributed to her current role.
Education: LL.M. in Taxation (2024), University of Miami School of Law; Juris Doctorate (2023), St. Thomas University School of Law; Master of Public Administration (2020), Florida Atlantic University; Bachelor of Arts (2018), Florida Atlantic University.
Jori Opara, Esq. • Board of Directors
Attorney Opara is an Assistant Public Defender with the Law Office of the Public Defender for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in Broward County, Florida, where she represents indigent individuals in juvenile, misdemeanor, and felony criminal proceedings. She is committed to protecting the rights of those she serves, advocating for equitable access to justice, and ensuring that every client receives zealous representation.
Attorney Opara earned her Juris Doctor from Florida A&M University College of Law and her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Miami. Beyond her legal practice, she is actively involved in the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association, where she supports initiatives that foster professional development, community engagement, and the advancement of Black women in the legal profession. Through her work and service, she is dedicated to empowering her community, cultivating meaningful professional relationships, and contributing to a more inclusive and equitable legal profession.
Ashley S. Turner, Esq. • Board of Directors
Attorney Turner is a Florida public defender dedicated to advocating for the rights of the accused and serving as a voice for the voiceless. She is passionate about promoting justice, protecting individual rights, and ensuring that every person receives meaningful and zealous representation, regardless of their circumstances.
Beyond her work in criminal defense, she is committed to increasing the representation of Black women in the legal profession. She believes in the importance of mentorship, community, and creating opportunities for Black women to thrive in spaces where they have historically been underrepresented. Through her involvement in Gwen S. Cherry, she hopes to support the next generation of Black women attorneys, foster meaningful professional relationships, and contribute to a legal community that reflects the diversity of the people it serves.
Attorney Turner is proud to be part of a community of women who are committed to excellence, empowerment, and uplifting one another while making a lasting impact on the legal profession and the communities they serve.
Devon M. Vickers, Esq. • Board of Directors
Attorney Vickers works at Greenberg Traurig, LLP in the Miami Land Use Practice and focuses her practice on virtually all aspects of the land development and entitlement process. In doing so, she is experienced with representing a broad range of private land developers and managing several development projects throughout the entitlement process - starting from the site due diligence phase, to preparing land use and zoning applications for public hearing review and approval, and throughout the permitting process. Attorney Vickers' multi-jurisdictional experience and strong relationships with local government and municipalities enables her to navigate complex projects that require seamless collaboration and positive rapport with local government and community stakeholders. She represents clients in established and emerging development markets throughout Miami-Dade County, including City of North Miami, City of North Miami Beach, City of Coral Gables and City of Miami Beach, among many other Miami-Dade County municipalities.
While she focuses her practice on obtaining land use and zoning approvals for mid-scale and large-scale mixed-use, commercial, and residential developments throughout Miami-Dade County – she has also successfully represented small-scale developments and private homeowners before local zoning and code enforcement boards in surrounding Miami-Dade County municipalities.