Karen McCarthy
Founder
Attorney Karen McCarthy is the founder of Elevation Law, LLC. Karen has extensive experience in all areas of immigration law, including naturalization, green cards, visas, deportation, and asylum. Karen thrives on the challenges of immigration cases and the complexity of handling a variety of legal issues. Throughout her legal career, Karen has helped clients with affirmative and defensive petitions, permitting individuals and families to live in the United States lawfully and qualify for better jobs.
Bar Admissions
Colorado
Hawaii
New York
Education
Washington College of Law, American University, J.D., 2009
College of William and Mary, B.A. 2004
University of Morelia, Michoacán, 2002
Professional Associations and Memberships
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
Colorado Bar Association (CBA)
Colorado Women’s Bar Association (CWBA)
Continental Divide Bar Association (CDBA)
Summit Chamber of Commerce
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Community Service and Leadership
Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN)
Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC)
AILA Access to Services Committee
CBA Environmental Sustainability Program
Kayla Choun
Associate
Kayla is an attorney based in Denver and was born and raised in Colorado. Before law school, Kayla served in the Peace Corps in Benin (West Africa) for over two years. In this role, Kayla worked alongside a local nonprofit that advocated for women’s and children’s rights. Kayla attended law school at the University of Denver. She received the Chancellor's Scholarship, which is a full-tuition public interest scholarship. During law school, she interned at the Colorado Supreme Court and with a local immigration law firm. She also worked as a student attorney in DU’s Immigration Law and Policy Clinic. Since graduating, Kayla has continued to work in immigration law and most recently lived in Guatemala to study Spanish.
Kayla is excited to continue her work in immigration law for Elevation Law and to serve clients in the community where she grew up. In her free time, Kayla enjoys long distance hiking and biking. She has completed various through-hikes, including the Pacific Crest Trail at 2,600 miles, and she has biked from Florida to California with the nonprofit Bike & Build.
Education
University of Denver Sturm College of Law, J.D.
London School of Economics, MSc in Human Rights & Politics
Lake Forest College, B.A. in Economics and Political Science
Bar Admission
Colorado
Micah Laplante
Paralegal
Micah is a paralegal for Elevation Law. Originally from Maine, Micah became interested in the Spanish-speaking community after extensive travel to Central and South America.
She has a degree in International Spanish for Business from the University of Colorado Boulder, and a Certificate in Translation Studies from the University of Denver. She has worked in Nicaragua educating communities on the importance of nutrition and is also a Spanish interpreter for the Summit School District.
She is passionate about immigration law and the significant role it plays in helping our diverse mountain community. When not in the office, you can find her skiing, rafting, or traveling.
Viridiana Cruz
Paralegal
Viridiana Cruz is originally from Oaxaca, Mexico. She migrated with her mother when she was 2 years old and grew up in Summit County, Colorado. She graduated from Summit High School in 2017. Viridiana is a DACA recipient and has been working for Elevation Law as a legal assistant since 2017. She has a passion for helping her immigrant community and equality for everyone regardless of their immigration status. She has participated in protests with Mountain Dreamers to fight for a path to citizenship for DACA recipients.
Estela Conchas
Paralegal
​​Estela, a California native with strong ties to Colorado, has dedicated herself to advocating for immigrant rights, inspired by her own family's experience with the immigration system. Growing up in Colorado for the past 20 years, Estela witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by immigrants and resolved to make a difference in their lives.
In 2020, Estela graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Colorado-Denver, where she developed a solid foundation in the legal field. Committed to furthering her impact, she is currently pursuing her law degree with the goal of becoming an attorney specializing in immigration and civil rights law.
Estela combines her personal experiences and academic background to provide compassionate and knowledgeable support to those navigating the complex immigration system. In her spare time, Estela cherishes moments with her family and friends, enjoys staying up-to-date with the latest movies and shows, and appreciates the diverse community that has shaped her passion for advocacy.
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Alex Carranza
Financial Operations Specialist
Alex Carranza is the Financial Operations Specialist at Elevation Law. With a background in finance and sustainability, he has experience in roles ranging from financial analysis to client support and operations. Alex enjoys ensuring that everything runs smoothly while providing support to both the team and our clients.
