Our team is a vital part of the legal process. Meet the people who are involved in helping you with Family Law and Estate Planning.
LEGAL TEAM
Carmela Yabut
Carmela Yabut joined Candelaria LLP in October 2021 and is a paralegal for the firm. Carmela graduated from U.C. Berkeley and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a History minor. She was heavily involved in extracurricular activities which sparked her interest in the law such as the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity and the Undergraduate Legal Honors Society at U.C. Berkeley. She was also an External Vice Executive of the Pilipino American Alliance and the President of the Fiat Lux Scholars Association. Carmela’s time at Berkeley showed her the value of a good work ethic, helped her to find her passion and taught her the skills necessary to provide our clients with excellent and efficient service.
Since graduating from college, she has worked for different types of law firms such as personal injury and employment law. She plans to attend law school in the next 1-2 years and plans to continue to gain practical and professional experience at Candelaria LLP in both family law and estate planning matters.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, friends, and dogs, reading, attending concerts, caring for her many houseplants, and antique shopping!
Emily Olsen
Emily joined the Candelaria team in March 2022. She received her Paralegal Certification from California State University, East Bay in 2009 and has worked as a paralegal in different areas of law since. She has been an active probate paralegal since 2015 with experience in various types of probate matters including estate planning, probate and trust administration, conservatorships, and trust and probate litigation.
Emily is very passionate about the law and believes every person should have the opportunity for their day in court. She loves being a part of the client’s probate journey and knowing she is supporting them every step of the way and making a difference.
Emily has lived all over the Bay Area throughout her life and loves calling it home. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, crafting, relaxing with her husband, and cheering on the Oakland A’s either from her couch or at the stadium.
Kevin Pua
Kevin Pua joined Candelaria LLP in September 2023 and is a family law paralegal and network administrator for the firm.
Kevin has worked in the family law field as a legal assistant and paralegal since 2008. Given the intersection between law and technology, and given his interest in IT, starting in 2019 Kevin began pursuing a second career track as an IT support technician.
With this experience, Kevin is putting his many years of family law knowledge and IT know-how at the service of the firm and its clients.
In his personal life Kevin likes to hang out with his lovely wife and daughter, and his two canine children. He is also obsessed with pro football and, in particular, the San Francisco 49ers. Furthermore, Kevin likes to smoke up meat in his offset smoker and is fond of beer, particularly IPAs.
Hannah Probets
Hannah joined the Candelaria LLP team in February 2022. She values being able to use her experience in family law to connect with clients and offer support during such an emotional process. She aims to provide exceptional legal service, with compassion and care for Candelaria LLP clients.
She was born in the UK, and raised between the Bay Area and Surrey, England. She graduated from U.C. Davis with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and minor in Anthropology, with Honors distinctions. The broad range of subjects she studied provided her with a greater appreciation for the law, and following graduation, she joined family law as a Legal Assistant to gain experience before someday becoming an attorney. She appreciates working with the Candelaria LLP team to assist all clients with a range of family law and estate planning matters, and she looks forward to applying this knowledge in her future legal career.
In her spare time, she can be found hiking, cooking, reading, and caring for her houseplants.
Alyson Kubasta
Alyson Kubasta is a highly motivated and dedicated Legal Assistant with over 15 years of experience working in fast-paced environments. With a passion for helping others, Alyson has demonstrated exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail in her various roles. She is committed to developing a deep understanding of the intricacies of law as it relates to both family law and trust and estates work, and is currently pursuing her certification for Paralegal work.
Alyson has a deep love for animals which currently manifests as volunteer work through local rescue organizations. Her compassion for animals has instilled in her a strong sense of responsibility, which has translated into her professional work ethic.
Alyson’s family is an essential part of her life, and she believes that a strong family unit is the cornerstone of building a healthy society. She is dedicated to maintaining a healthy work-life balance and prioritizes quality time with her husband and three children.
Genevieve Wiley
Genevieve joined the Candelaria team as our File Clerk. She brings an extensive knowledge of the legal system and is an invaluable addition to our firm.
With a strong foundation in legal studies and political science, Genevieve embarked on her journey in the legal field as a Legal Process Clerk for the Santa Cruz Superior Court Criminal/Traffic Division. In this role, she served as a crucial member of the Court User Services Unit, stationed at the front counter. Here, she dedicated herself to providing legal information to diverse stakeholders, including the general public, attorneys, law enforcement officers, and other agencies. Genevieve’s responsibilities encompassed addressing inquiries and offering assistance on matters pertaining to traffic and criminal issues, showcasing her commitment to ensuring accessible and accurate legal resources for all.
Genevieve earned her bachelor's degree with honors from UC Santa Cruz, where she majored in Legal Studies and Political Science. Throughout her academic journey, she was actively engaged in campus life as a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority and Pre-Law Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity, and fostered a network of like-minded individuals passionate about philanthropy and the legal field. Additionally, Genevieve was an outreach intern for the UCSC Asian/American Pacific Islander Resource Center, further deepening her understanding of the importance of inclusivity and cultural competence in the legal realm. As she currently immerses herself in the rigorous preparation for the LSAT and navigates the law school application process, her experiences thus far solidify her aspiration to become an attorney dedicated to upholding justice and promoting legal access within the community.
In her free time, Genevieve loves to read, cook, and do anything outdoors, especially rock-climbing, running, and hiking! She also loves to spend time with her family, adorable nephews, and her fur baby pup, Jinks.
SUPPORT STAFF
Maria Probets
Maria was raised and educated in England but has now lived in the US longer than in her home country. She has 14 years experience as a family law office manager and joins Candelaria LLP from another local, well known, and prestigious family law firm. Before her own experience with divorce, Maria worked in construction defect litigation and brings her wealth of common sense and great British humor to Candelaria LLP.
Maria handles all administration at Candelaria LLP to ensure smooth running of the office along with billing matters, so please feel free to connect with her if you have any questions regarding your invoice.
Maria has lived around the world and enjoys traveling, wine tasting and being with friends. When she is not working Maria is looking for a good beach to hang out on, or laying in her hammock in the summer with a good book, or connecting with her extended family back in the UK.
Chloe Park
Chloe Park was born and raised in the Bay Area. She graduated from Clayton Valley High School and furthered her education in Early Childhood Education at Diablo Valley College. In the summer of 2021, she completed the Anti-Racism I course at the University of Colorado, Boulder to better herself as a person and as part of her community.
Chloe joined us as our Front Desk Administrator in September 2023. She has years of office experience, primarily in school education. She has exemplary organizational and relationship management skills which make her an asset to our firm.
Though Chloe does not come from a law background, her love of learning and dedication to a collaborative workplace make her a great addition to our team. Chloe believes in creating a welcoming environment and upholding our firm’s values to build up women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ communities. As the first contact for current and potential clients, she hopes to provide everyone with compassionate and supportive service.
When Chloe isn’t in the office helping clients, planning firm events, or supporting our office with administrative matters, you can find her out and about with her husband and son. A Disney fanatic, she is always planning her next Anaheim visit. Chloe is also an avid music lover and will use any excuse to bring up Taylor Swift in a conversation.
Sylvie Rush
Sylvie Rush was born and raised in the Bay Area. She earned a degree in Economics with a minor in Public Affairs from UCLA, where she volunteered as a camp counselor for underserved LA youth, as well as studied harm reduction strategies in previously incarcerated LA gang members. Doing this work, Sylvie realized her passion for helping others within the community and believes in carrying that ideology to her career.
Sylvie joined Candelaria LLP in November 2023 as our Intake Coordinator and hopes to provide all of our clients with a welcoming and compassionate experience. Sylvie comes to the office with an impressive administrative background and a wealth of experience in client services. Her dedication to providing exceptional support and her passion for learning about the legal field make her a valuable addition to the team.
Now residing part time in both LA and the Bay Area, Sylvie is unable to choose between the sunshine and Karl the fog. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her cat, Matcha.
Eleni Nicolas
Eleni is our childcare provider. She went to school for Early Childhood Education and has been working with children in school and home settings for over 10 years.
In her free time, she enjoys exploring our beautiful Bay Area, as well as spending her days with her daughter, family, and friends.