Team Members

Natalie Italiano

Client Relations Specialist

Natalie is the Client Relations Specialist for Monk Law Firm. She facilitates the pairing of new clients with our attorneys and ensures that from start to finish Monk Law Firm clients have top notch, customized legal services and documents.

She is the a native of Charlotte, NC and acquired her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She joined Monk Law Firm in July of 2020. In her spare time, Natalie enjoys trips to the beach and spending time with her closest friends and family.

Liz Brunner

Legal Assistant

Liz is a legal assistant with Monk Law Firm where she works primarily with attorney Cindy Alvear in the areas of Elder Law and Special Needs Planning. Liz works closely with our clients requesting and gathering information and assisting with the preparation of documents for long term care, Veterans Benefits, Medicaid applications, Will and Trust Planning documents and special needs planning. She also acts as a liaison to communicate and provide status information between Cindy and Monk Law Firm clients.

Liz has an extensive background in client management and communication. Liz lives in Pineville, NC with her dog and volunteers & fosters animals with Halfway There Rescue.

Shelby Ryder

Reception

Shelby is our receptionist at Monk Law Firm. She is first friendly voice you hear when you call or come in.

Shelby received her undergraduate degree from East Tennessee State University and her Masters from Clemson University. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family – especially at Clemson football games! She also enjoys going to Disney any chance she can.

Courtney Kooken

Paralegal

Courtney is a paralegal with Monk Law Firm where she works primarily with attorneys Robert Lack and Simon O’Brien in the areas of estate planning, tax planning, business law and commercial real estate.

Courtney is originally from Overland Park, Kansas and went to college at Indiana State University. She recently moved to Charlotte and is finishing up her degree in Legal Studies with a minor in Criminal Justice, Corrections and Law and Administration. In her free time she likes to spend time with her dog, Koda, watching the Kansas City Chiefs play, and talking trash on fantasy football.

Marianne “M” Morrison

Paralegal

Marianne is a paralegal with Monk Law Firm where she works primarily with attorney Matthew Freeze in the area of estate administration. Marianne has over 35 years of experience working as an Estate and Trust Paralegal, mostly in the Boston area. She received her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with Honors from Northeastern University and her Paralegal Certificate from Bentley College.

She also taught in the Paralegal Certificate Program at Northeastern for 19 years as well as the Paralegal Program at Curry College in Milton, MA. Both programs used the Attorney/Paralegal Team-Teaching Method and her love of the paralegal profession was enhanced by the eagerness of her students to learn hands-on paralegal skills from seasoned professionals. To better serve the paralegal community, she held the positions of President and Vice-President/Primary Representative to the National Federation of Paralegal Associations for many years prior to moving to South Carolina.

She lives in Fort Mill, SC and enjoys spending time with her family and traveling to her family home on Cape Cod.

Kristin L. Whitten

Elder Advocate/Social Worker

Kristin is an Elder Advocate/Social Worker with Monk Law Firm, PLLC. She works primarily with the Elder Law team assisting clients and families who are navigating senior and special needs healthcare. Kristin has a passion for helping families assess care services, placement and understand insurance supports such as Medicare, Medicaid and long-term care insurance.

Kristin has worked as a senior healthcare social worker in the Charlotte area for over 17 years. She has experience in all levels of care from independent living to skilled nursing care. Kristin received her Bachelor of Social Work degree with Honors from University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Kristin is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the Field Advisory Board at UNCC. She has mentored BSW students at UNCC during the field practicum since 2014 as a field placement supervisor.

Kristin lives in Matthews, NC with her husband Steve and their 2 cats. In her spare time, Kristin enjoys spending time with her family, visiting her daughter who is currently at Appalachian State University, going to the beach and reading.