As HGD Law Firm celebrates 20 years of serving our community, we find ourselves reflecting on what truly fuels our success. Yes, it’s our results in the courtroom. Yes, it’s our commitment to delivering white-glove service to every client who walks through our doors. But at the heart of it all are our people.
This season marks an exciting chapter of growth for HGD. We are proud to welcome two new team members and celebrate the promotions of four outstanding professionals whose hard work and dedication embody our client-centered culture.
Welcoming Michele Hill – Front Office Coordinator
First impressions matter—especially in personal injury law. When someone reaches out to HGD, it’s often during one of the most difficult seasons of their life. Our front office team plays a critical role in setting the tone: compassionate, organized, and ready to help.
We’re excited to welcome Michele Hill as our newest Front Office Coordinator. Michele joins us with a heart for service and a natural ability to make people feel heard and supported. In this role, she will be the welcoming presence many of our clients first encounter—whether by phone or in person.
At HGD, the front office is far more than a reception desk. It’s the gateway to a carefully designed client journey. Michele will help ensure every client feels respected and valued from day one. Her addition strengthens our commitment to delivering the kind of attentive, thoughtful experience our clients deserve.
Welcoming Xhulia Musaraj – Personal Injury Paralegal
We’re also thrilled to welcome Xhulia Musaraj to the firm as a Personal Injury Paralegal. In personal injury law, details matter. Behind every successful case is a team working tirelessly to gather records, manage timelines, communicate with clients, and prepare attorneys to advocate at the highest level.
Xhulia brings both skill and dedication to this role. As a PI Paralegal, she will work closely with our attorneys to guide cases from intake through resolution, ensuring clients are informed, supported, and positioned for the best possible outcome.
With 15 attorneys and a 30-person support team, HGD operates as a unified force on behalf of our clients. Xhulia’s addition enhances our ability to deliver the level of preparation and responsiveness that sets our firm apart.
Celebrating Promotions: Growth from Within
While welcoming new faces is always exciting, there is something particularly meaningful about celebrating team members who have grown within our walls. One of HGD’s core commitments is creating clear growth paths for every role in our firm. We believe talent should be developed, opportunity should be earned, and hard work should be recognized.
This month, we are proud to celebrate four well-deserved promotions.
Eliza Gauldin – MT Client Intake Specialist
Eliza began her journey at HGD as a Front Office Coordinator. In that role, she demonstrated exceptional professionalism, organization, and empathy. Her interactions with clients consistently reflected our core values—Client-Centered, Integrity Driven, Respectful, Committed, Leadership Oriented, and Excellence Focused.
Now stepping into the role of MT Client Intake Specialist, Eliza will play an even more direct role in guiding prospective clients through the first stage of their legal journey. Intake is more than gathering information—it’s about listening carefully, understanding each person’s story, and helping them feel confident about next steps. Eliza’s transition is a natural progression, and we are excited to see her thrive in this expanded capacity.
Abigail King – MT Legal Assistant
Like Eliza, Abigail King also began as a Front Office Coordinator. From the beginning, she approached her work with focus and a willingness to learn. She embraced every opportunity to grow her legal knowledge and deepen her understanding of case management.
Abigail has now moved into the role of MT Legal Assistant, where she will work more directly with attorneys and paralegals to support case preparation and client communication. Her promotion is a powerful example of what’s possible at HGD when dedication meets opportunity. We don’t simply fill roles—we build careers.
Kaye Ricco – MT Paralegal
Growth at HGD isn’t limited to one department. Kaye Ricco made an impressive transition from accounting into a legal role as an MT Paralegal. Her background in accounting gives her a unique perspective and attention to detail that will serve her—and our clients—extremely well.
Kaye’s move reflects one of our firm’s core beliefs: if you have the drive and commitment, there is room to grow. We encourage cross-training, education, and professional development because we know that investing in our team ultimately benefits every client we serve.
Chanlyn Free – Personal Injury Paralegal
Finally, we are proud to celebrate Chanlyn Free, who has moved from an MT role into a full Personal Injury Paralegal position. Chanlyn has demonstrated consistent growth, reliability, and a deep understanding of our case process.
Her promotion represents not just a title change, but the result of sustained effort and a commitment to excellence. As a PI Paralegal, Chanlyn will continue to help clients navigate complex legal processes with clarity and care.
A Culture Built on Opportunity
As we celebrate 20 years in practice, we are especially mindful that our longevity is rooted in our people. HGD was built with the vision of creating a firm that prioritizes clients without sacrificing culture. That means providing white-glove service to those we represent while also creating meaningful career paths for those who serve them.
At HGD, we are large enough to deliver sophisticated legal representation and small enough to remain deeply personal. That balance is intentional.
We believe in promoting from within because we believe in our people. We provide structured growth paths across all support roles—from front office to intake, legal assistant to paralegal, and beyond. We encourage continued education, mentorship, and hands-on development. When someone joins HGD, they are not stepping into a static position—they are stepping into a trajectory.
This culture of growth strengthens our client experience. When team members advance, they carry forward institutional knowledge, deepened skills, and a firsthand understanding of our standards. Clients benefit from a team that is experienced, aligned, and invested.
Celebrating the People Who Keep Us Going
Anniversaries are milestones, but they are also reminders. Twenty years of service does not happen by accident. It happens because of consistent dedication—day after day, case after case, client after client.
To Michele and Xhulia, welcome to HGD. We are grateful you’ve chosen to be part of this team.
To Eliza, Abigail, Kaye, and Chanlyn, congratulations. Your promotions reflect your hard work and the bright futures ahead of you.
As we celebrate two decades of advocacy, we are also celebrating the people who make it possible. The attorneys who lead. The support team who keeps every case moving. The front office professionals who offer reassurance. The intake specialists who listen carefully to each new story.
At HGD, growth isn’t accidental. It’s cultivated. And as we look toward the next 20 years, we are confident that with a team like this, our best chapters are still ahead.
