Our Staff at the Law Offices of James A. Welcome

Theodore Pappas - Of Counsel

Attorney “Ted” Pappas is of counsel to the Law Offices of James A. Welcome. In 1972, he graduated from Lafayette College with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Education. In 1978, he received his J.D. from the University of Louisville. Ted joined our office in the summer of 2015 and has since then used his vast experience in workers’ compensation and personal injury law to consult on and litigate complex cases with Attorney Welcome. Prior to 2015, Ted worked for Travelers Insurance as staff counsel for 17 years. In his free time, Ted enjoys traveling, playing chess, and pastel painting.

Nicholas “Nick” Papadakos - Attorney

Attorney Nicholas “Nick” Papadakos is an associate at the Law Offices of James A. Welcome. Nick earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the Roger Williams University School of Law in 2018 and was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 2018. Additionally, Nick holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.) from Nichols College. A recent addition to the office, Nick previously worked as a Recruiter and National Account Manager in the technical staffing industry while studying law. Nick also gained valuable insight and experience in U.S. Immigration Law while doing pro bono legal work at the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants in Hartford, CT. He looks forward to the opportunity to vigorously advocate on behalf of the firm's clients and give each of them the attention their case deserves while developing his legal skills in the areas of personal injury, worker's

Anthony Bravo - Legal Assistant & Translator

Anthony is currently pursuing a degree in Art History and Literature from Western Connecticut State University. Anthony began working at our office in January of 2017. Anthony has been an intern at the Mattatuck Museum and at his high school IT department. Tony enjoys the outdoors and history.

Lucia Bravo - Immigration Paralegal

Lucia received a bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems from Western Connecticut State University and has been part of our team since 2008. She works diligently with clients on immigration cases and provides stellar legal advice. Lucia is fluent in English and Spanish, making it easier for her to assist our clients through the immigration process. Lucia's interest includes hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family, friends and adopted dog.

Sharon Leas - Paralegal

Sharon has over 40 years of experience in personal injury, workers' compensation, and civil litigation; allowing her to provide excellent service to our clients. Sharon received a Bachelor of General Studies from the University of Connecticut with a concentration in pre-law. She joined our office in September of 2009 as a paralegal. Sharon enjoys reading, walking, attending concerts, and vacationing with her family. She is also a member of the knitting club at the Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, in Waterbury.

Leslie Quintero - Legal Secretary

Leslie studied commercial aviation at Columbia Center of Studies in Lima, Peru. After graduating college, she began working in the customer service industry for several years. Through this she acquired excellent skills interacting with people from different countries. Leslie began working at our office in early 2017. Leslie is fluent in English and Spanish. She enjoys volunteering to help her community and spending time with her son.

Robert Scagliarini - Workers' Compensation Representative

Bob graduated Central Connecticut State University and received a bachelor’s degree in Education. Bob worked as a workers’ compensation claim professional for Traveler’s Insurance for 30 years and joined our team in 2014. In his spare time, Bob is a Coach for the Senior Men's Baseball League. Hiking in Maine at Acadia National Park is his favorite recreation.

Jose D. Benitez - Legal Assistant

Jose D. Benitez started working for the Law Offices of James A. Welcome in early January of 2019. Jose obtained an associate’s degree in human services with a specialization in families. It has been Jose's mission to advocate for legal status for undocumented families in the United States. As a new member of the Law Offices of James A. Welcome family, Jose looks forward to families obtaining the legal representation they deserve. Previously, Jose worked for The Hispanic Center of Greater Danbury advocating for families who required legal guidance to remain in the United States. During Jose's free time he enjoys swimming, reading classic literature, and spending time with his adopted cat "Oreo."

Ahmed Malik - Marketing

Ahmed Malik joined The Law Offices of James A. Welcome in February of 2019. Mr. Malik currently is a Freshman at the University of Connecticut with a dual major in Finance and Political Science. Ahmed's graduate goals include obtaining a law degree and an MBA. After running various marketing campaigns for businesses across the state, Ahmed founded his own marketing business; Malik Marketing Group LLC this year. Ahmed is currently mentored by the CEO of CWN Home Development and CWN Home Services based in Naples, Florida since 2014. As the head of our marketing campaign for The Law Offices of James A. Welcome; Ahmed's goals include expanding our social media platforms, optimizing our website performance, advertisement management in various theaters, and providing multiple marketing materials for our firm and clients. Increasing our customer satisfaction and providing the necessary information for our clients is at the forefront of his agenda. Ahmed is an active long-distance runner, often running six to nine miles a day and swimming long distances as well. Ahmed's hobbies include deep sea fishing, golfing in Naples, pottery, swimming, and traveling around the world. Interacting with various cultures and learning from history has provided Ahmed with a diverse background in world affairs.