Meet the Team
Attorneys
Clare Murphy Shaw, J.D.
Executive Director
Clare joined the McCrummen Immigration Law Group in 2017 as an associate attorney. Her practice is mainly focused on humanitarian-based applications, including asylum. She also manages the firms contract to represent children in the United States without a parent or guardian and who are facing deportation. Clare has an extensive background in non-profit work including attaining 501(c)(3) tax exempt status, writing by-laws, and establishing boards. She is an accomplished grant-writer and has submitted grants for a broad scope of community-based organizations. Clare is a 2005 graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law and is fluent in Spanish.
Leslie Tabb, J.D.
Managing Attorney
Afghan Legal Services Project
Leslie is a former corporate legal executive who joined the ACKC board in 2020 with a desire to become more involved in helping the immigrant community in the United States. Leslie has recently joined the ACKC practice to begin working hands-on in immigration law. After she left her corporate practice, she has volunteered at a local immigration office working on T-Visa applications and spent the winter of 2019 in Peru learning Spanish. In addition to 25 years of corporate and transactional practice, Leslie has experience doing nonprofit organizational work, serving on other nonprofit boards, and working with tax exempt entities.
Douglas Bartel, J.D.
Associate Attorney
IJC Fellow
Doug joined ACKC as an Immigrant Justice Corps Fellow in 2023. As a Fellow, Doug represents unaccompanied children, focusing primarily on humanitarian-based applications. Before law school, Doug was a Teach for America Corps Member. As a Corps Member, he taught and administered an ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) program for four years. While at the University of Kansas School of Law, Doug was the Symposium Editor for Kansas Law Review, and he won the 2022 National NALSA Moot Court Competition. Doug speaks French and Spanish.
Haeli Maas, J.D.
Associate Attorney
Haeli is an associate attorney working primarily within the Vera Unaccompanied Children's Project. Haeli's work focuses on representation for undocumented children in the United States without their parents. Haeli graduated Cum Laude from Washburn University School of Law where she earned various awards, including the Irvine E. Ungerman Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice, the Outstanding Advanced Intern Award, the John K. Kleinheksel Prize for Excellence in Advocacy, the Pro Bono Honors Award, and more.
Haeli was active with the Washburn Law Clinic, and dedicated her time in law school to serving low-income and indigent clients through her work with the clinic and other pro bono opportunities. Haeli started at ACKC as a law clerk in August 2022 while still in law school, and joined the team as an attorney after passing the bar exam in September 2023.
Aly Englander, J.D.
Associate Attorney
Aly joined our team in March 2024 and works primarily within the Unaccompanied Children’s Project. Her focus is on unaccompanied children placed in long-term foster care. Aly went to law school to become an immigration lawyer after studying the brokenness of the immigration system during her undergraduate degree and hearing countless stories of how immigration changes lives, including within her own family. As an attorney her utmost focus is advocating for the marginalized, and she loves having the opportunity to fight for family unity, long-term stability, and peace of mind for her clients. Aly has three young children who were both born during law school, and she graduated at the top of her class.
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Becky Tolman, J.D.
Associate Attorney
Becky is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law where she served as the president of the International Law Society, as well as the student chair for the KC chapter of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society. Becky returned to school after an almost 20-year break so that she could learn and have the tools necessary to help those seeking legal status in the United States. Becky thrives on the support of her husband and three lovely daughters.
She is a recipient of the Dillingham Award, an acknowledgement of significant public service and connections to the Northland. She is also a grateful recipient of the Oliver Fellowship for public service.
Staff
Ayse Tary
Senior Paralegal
Afghan Legal Services Project
Ayse joined ACKC in September 2021. Coming from a human rights background, she brings nonprofit experience having worked with unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors in the UK as well as indigent girls in rural Cambodia. After earning an M.A. in Understanding and Securing Human Rights from the University of London and receiving the school’s Albie Sachs Prize, she is currently working on her PhD in post-conflict reconciliation. Ayse enjoys experiencing different cultures and is driven to support those affected by conflict on their immigration journey.
Luz Guevara
Paralegal
Luz joined ACKC in May 2024. She assists with preparing applications to be submitted to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Science and Criminal Justice where she graduated on the Dean's Honor Roll. As a Kansas City native, Luz is passionate about helping the local community. Coming from a banking and finance background, she is driven to assist individuals and families in finding a solution to obtaining status in the United States. She is passionate about breaking language barriers between clients to ensure each client has the same opportunity in their case.
Carlos Garza
Law Clerk
Carlos joined ACKC in January 2024. He is a dedicated third-year law student at Washburn University School of Law, where he has honed his skills and passion for advocacy through diverse legal experiences. During his time in law school, Carlos has worked at the Washburn Law Clinic serving indigent clients, gaining valuable insights into the challenges faced by underrepresented communities. He has also worked at a multi-practice law firm in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, where he primarily assisted Spanish speaking clients. Before embarking on his legal education, Carlos worked in a personal injury law firm and spent his free time volunteering for educational non-profits for marginalized communities in Austin, Texas.
Vanessa Segura
Paralegal
Vanessa Segura joined ACKC in July 2023. Vanessa received a B.A. in Communication from Wichita State University. Her experience with various nonprofits in Wichita and community work led her to the Kansas City area. She has worked within fundraising, community engagement and production management. Vanessa’s passion reflects her work by representing underserved communities with a purpose to advocate for communities, businesses, and individuals in need.
Grace Cote
Paralegal
Grace joined ACKC in July 2024. She graduated with honors from Creighton University where she studied International Relations and Spanish with a minor in Cultural Anthropology. She is passionate about community-based development and sustainability, having previously interned with grassroots community organizers in Colombia and having worked at a public health center in the Dominican Republic. She is driven to serve underserved communities, specifically representing children with dignity throughout the asylum process.