She/Her/Hers

Carmela Starace is the lead estate and fiduciary litigation attorney at The Law Office of Cristy Carbón-Gaul. She has been licensed to practice law in New Mexico since 2006. She attended the University of New Mexico School of Law where she was a member of the Law Review and won the Clinical Honors Award for the class of 2005. Her career has included civil litigation as a defense attorney at Rodey, Dickason, Sloan, Akin, & Robb, P.A. and as a plaintiff’s attorney at Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway, P.C., as well as criminal prosecution as the Senior Trial Attorney at the Eighth Judicial Office of the District Attorney. In addition to her practice in New Mexico, she is also licensed to practice law in New York, where she focuses on real property law and is a former associate at the Law Firm of Nica B. Strunk, PLLC.

She/Her/Hers

Lisa started as a client of Cristy’s and was more than happy to join the firm as an Administrative Assistant in 2021. Lisa has 20 + years of experience as an Executive Admin in the Corporate America/Government Contracting industries. Lisa assists with Probate and Trust Administration cases. She came back to the Land of Enchantment to be a caregiver for her aging parents after spending 15 years in New York City. She enjoys spending her free time assisting with theater production and singing karaoke!

She/Her/Hers

Sasha has been with The Law Office of Cristy J. Carbón-Gaul since 2021. She began as an Administrative Assistant and is now a Paralegal with the firm. She officially joined the Paralegal Division of the State Bar in 2025 and is an active Notary Public. She received her bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Arizona State University in 2024 and intends to apply to Law School in the Fall of 2027. In her role with Cristy, Sasha mainly assists with Guardianship and Conservatorships, but also enjoys assisting with the deed work for Estate Planning clients. Outside of work, Sasha enjoys reading, studying, and spending time with her wife and their pets at home.

Any Pronouns Okay

Smitty arrived at The Law Office of Cristy J. Carbón-Gaul in July of 2025, but she is not new to estate planning. Smitty dedicated 15 years of her life from 2009 to 2024 as a caregiver for her two elderly parents and managed all aspects of their lives as their POA for Finances and Health, Trustee, Representative Payee, Federal Fiduciary, Estate Executor, and more. Smitty was born and raised in California’s San Francisco Bay Area, received her BA in Art from University of California at Santa Cruz after 1992, and she wore many impactful hats at Bay Area non-profit and for-profit organizations between 1993 and 2009. Smitty relocated to Albuquerque in 2020, married a wonderful woman named Melissa in 2022, and they adopted two kittens. Smitty is bilingual in Spanish and English, once lived abroad in her mother’s home country of Peru, and she is passionate about helping people in need.

She/Her/Hers/They/Them/Theirs

Kae Rojo holds both a bachelor’s degree from Southern New Hampshire University and an associate degree from the University of New Mexico, with experience across multiple fields including administration, education, and mental health. Kae grew up in Belen, New Mexico and moved to Albuquerque in 2019 where she met her partner. In 2024, Kae married her best friend and bought a house that was a fixer upper in Rio Rancho and enjoys working on and improving it. Outside of work and working on her house, Kae enjoys being creative, playing games, and spending time with her partner, along with their two dogs and two cats. Kae is excited to be part of the team at The Law Office of Cristy J. Carbón-Gaul and helps with Estate Planning and a little bit of everything else.

She/Her/Hers

Deiva is a bilingual (Spanish) paralegal with nearly twenty years of experience. She began her career in 2007, as an Immigration paralegal, and later spent two years in Probate Court, where she developed a strong understanding of court procedures and the needs of families during significant life transitions. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication with a concentration in Journalism, a field which she worked in for five years before entering the legal profession. As the caregiver of her elderly parents, Deiva brings a compassionate and patient approach to her work. She supports the firm’s Guardianship and Probate matters with care and respect for the families she serves. Outside of the office she enjoys reading, crafting, and spending time with her husband and their three children. Her youngest child loves visiting Cristy’s office and supports Bentley’s role as Chief Security Officer.

He/Him/His

Russell joined The Law Office of Cristy J. Carbón-Gaul in 2026 as an Assistant Fiduciary. With a UNM finance degree and over a decade of diverse customer service experience, he brings technical accuracy and genuine care to the complex financial landscapes of probate, estate, and trust administration.

A former bartender who can still mix a mean cocktail, Russell can usually be found at a billiards table, golf course, or poker table when he isn’t in the office or fretting over the stock market.

a.k.a. Permanent Employee of the Month

Pinta is an nine-year-old Pit-Bull/”Cow” mix. She is a strong advocate for Bully Breeds and loved showing clients her kind and loving heart. She has many degrees and certifications from Basic Training at PetSmart to her Service Dog Certification from the American Kennel Club. Pinta has been the VIP of the office, and is now happily retired, spending her days at her Grandma’s house.

a.k.a. Chief Security Officer (and Occasional Dictator of Snacks)

Bentley is a 13 year old Chihuahua/Cairn Terrier mix. Joining the team in 2024, he quickly clawed his way to the top, fueled by ambition, sass, and an unwavering belief that belly rubs should be mandatory. Known for his feisty leadership style, Bentley isn’t afraid to bark orders (literally) and demand results—preferably in the form of treats. His specialties include strategic napping, hostile takeovers of office chairs, and enforcing happiness through sheer force of personality. When he’s not micromanaging humans, Bentley can be found conducting high-level reconnaissance at the park or plotting his next snack acquisition strategy.
Fun Fact: Bentley doesn’t “sit” for anyone—unless there’s cheese involved.