Attorney Gage Herbst is a seasoned legal advocate whose practice is defined by precision, integrity, and a deep commitment to client service. He has represented hundreds of individuals in complex immigration matters before courts and agencies throughout the United States, as well as clients facing serious criminal proceedings in the State of Utah. His immigration practice includes high-stakes removal defense, including cancellation of removal and asylum cases, where strategic judgment and careful advocacy are paramount.

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Gage holds a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from Brigham Young University and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Akron. Fluent in Spanish, he brings both linguistic skill and cultural fluency to his representation. Known for his thoughtful approach and meticulous preparation, Gage is committed to delivering sophisticated legal counsel while ensuring clients are fully informed and confident at every stage of their case. He is admitted to practice law in Utah and in federal courts.

Nicholle Pitt White is a Shareholder and Managing Attorney at Contigo Law, PLLC, recognized for principled, fearless advocacy on behalf of immigrants facing removal. Admitted to the Utah Bar in 2018, she is known for strategic litigation and an unwavering commitment to due process.

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Nicholle earned her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Spanish from Southern Utah University, including study abroad in Granada, Spain, and her Juris Doctor from Duquesne University School of Law, with additional legal studies in Belfast and Dublin, Ireland. She has been recognized for excellence in trial advocacy and oral argument.

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Her practice focuses on immigrant removal defense and post-conviction criminal matters. Nicholle has publicly addressed aggressive enforcement practices through major media outlets, including KSL, the Deseret News, and Utah News Dispatch.

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Nicholle serves as Vice Chair of the AILA Utah Chapter and as a liaison with the Utah Immigrant Advocacy Coalition. In 2025, Voices for Utah Children recognized her as one of 40 outstanding advocates for her impact on immigrant rights and legal education.

Attorney Alec Bracken has had a passion for immigrant rights from an early age growing up in St. George, Utah. He has since dedicated his entire career to providing excellent legal representation to immigrant populations who have trusted him with their case. Alec graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor's degree in communications in 2016. He attended The University of Tulsa College of Law where he obtained a Juris Doctorate. While at the University of Tulsa, Alec founded and served as the president of Tulsa's immigration law society, was an editor for law review, and graduated with the highest honors. While in law school, Alec was served as a student representative for Tulsa's Immigrant Rights Project, the Tulsa Immigrant Resource Network, and Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services. Alec also was a summer fellow for the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinic in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and served as an Albert Schweitzer Fellow. 

After law school, Alec was selected to participate in the Department of Justice's Honors Program where he was hired as an attorney advisor for the Immigration Court system. Alec served as an advisor for immigration judges for three and a half years. Afterwards, he was the managing immigration attorney for Dunham and Jones in Fort Worth Texas. Alec is now excited to be back in Utah working at Contigo law! In his freetime he likes to go hiking, camping, be in the mountains, and travel. 

Shelly W. Schools served as a U.S. Immigration Judge for six years, from 2019 to 2025, at the
Fort Worth Immigration Adjudication Center in Texas. She presided over more than 4,000
hearings, including removal proceedings, expedited removal proceedings, custody hearings, and competency inquiries. She adjudicated applications for asylum, withholding of removal,
protection under the Convention Against Torture, cancellation of removal for permanent and
non-permanent residents, various types of adjustment of status, and removal of conditions on residence. Shelly offers behind-the-scenes insight into immigration court operations and
understands how the ever-changing landscape of immigration policy impacts removal cases.
 

Shelly also proudly served as a judge advocate in the United States Air Force for 22 years. She held various positions, including prosecutor, defense counsel, appellate defense counsel, military judge, and Chief Trial Judge of the Air Force. Her depth of experience in criminal law matters proved valuable in her role as an immigration judge given the impact of criminal convictions on relief from removal. Shelly earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1994 and a Juris Doctor in 1997 from the University of Mississippi and is a member of the Mississippi Bar.

Maria is a Utah native but was raised in the city of Durango, Mexico. After living there for her first 18 years of life, she is happy to be back in Utah and looks forward to kicking off her career. She loves to travel and loves to cook. Maria has traveled to multiple countries and has more to check off her list. In her free time she also enjoys reading and spending time with her fur baby. Maria especially loves to work with children and is excited for what this position will bring.

Mayeli was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. She grew up in Rose Park after her Family immigrated from Michoacán, Mexico. She graduated from West High School in 2019. There she was active as a member of programs such as AVID, IB, and the National Honors Society. She was also an elected student body officer. Mayeli is currently an honors student at the University of Utah and is majoring in Criminology. After her undergrad she looks forward to expanding her career in the legal field by attending law school. She loves plants, Starbucks, reading and spending time with her siblings and friends. Mayeli has always wanted to help others, and is excited to help those in her community. Witnessing her family go through the immigration process, she knows it’s not an easy task. She looks forward to helping and supporting others through the process. 

Fiorella was born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, but now calls Utah her home. She is a

proud daughter of Peruvian immigrants and, because of this, she is thrilled to work in an environment that helps immigrants like her parents. She graduated from Granger High School as a member of Latinos In Action and the National Honors Society. She attended Ensign College for her AS degree and Paralegal Studies certificate and will attend the University of Utah for her Bachelor's degree to double major in Philosophy and Writing and Rhetoric Studies. Fiorella is excited about what is to come in her future and looks forward to attending law school. She loves playing water polo, reading, or spending time with her family. Fiorella is grateful to be part of a team that cares about its clients and who helps them through the immigration process.

Ekatherina Valdez was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico where she currently resides. She’s the mother of two little ones who keep her active. She considers herself a kind, happy, proactive, creative and helpful person, which she considers essential to her approach to her work helping others.  She learned English as a second language during her stay in Illinois, USA. She has experience teaching English and has a TESOL certification. She likes to learn new things and do her best for her position as a bilingual paralegal. Her moto: "Whatever you do, do it well."

Saira was born in El Paso, Texas and moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where she went to high school. Having immigrant parents from Chihuahua, Mexico has taught her how hard it can be for those that hope for a better future. She now finds herself working for an immigration law firm where she can help other people pursue a better future for themselves and their family. She truly enjoys traveling and hopes to one day travel the whole world. She is extremely humble, generous but overall genuine to those that seek her help.

David was born and raised in Long Beach, California. He moved to Utah after graduating from Indiana University with majors in International Studies, Political Science, and History with a minor in Spanish. While at Indiana University, he conducted original research on map analysis of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine within the context of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Before joining the team at Contigo Law, he worked on studying the efficacy of efforts to end armed conflicts within Sub-Saharan Africa. David plans to attend law school in the near future, with the goal of specializing in either Admiralty Law or Comparative Law.