attorneys
Cristian Valois
Cristian Valois is a founding partner of Hernandez & Valois. Mr. Valois received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the State University of New York College at Buffalo. Upon completion of his undergraduate studies, Mr. Valois continued his education at the Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, where he earned his Juris Doctorate.
Mr. Valois previously served as an Assistant State Attorney with the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office, where he specialized in the prosecution of capital sexual battery and child abuse/homicide cases. He has also previously practiced with several large insurance defense firms.
Mr. Valois is licensed with both the State and Federal Bars in Florida and is a member of the American Bar Association, Miami-Dade, and Broward County Bar Associations, and the Defense Research Institute. He is the lead partner in charge of the firm’s liability division and his primary practice areas include auto negligence, construction defect, construction injury, insurance coverage, premises liability and 1st party property damage litigation.
Mr. Valois also has a passion for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and trains regularly with Rafael Rebello from American Top Team.
DIANE HERNANDEZ
Diane Hernandez is a founding partner of HERNANDEZ & VALOIS. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Miami in 1990. Upon completion of her undergraduate studies, Ms. Hernandez continued her education at the University of Miami, where she earned her Juris Doctorate in 1993. Her primary practice areas include workers’ compensation and labor law. She is licensed to practice law in both State and Federal Courts in Florida and specializes in the representation of self-insured employers, PEO’s, municipalities and insurance carriers.
Ms. Hernandez has served as the Secretary, Treasurer, Chair-Elect, and Chair of the American Bar Association’s Workers’ Compensation and Employer’s Liability Law Committee. In addition, Ms. Hernandez has written various periodicals for the American Bar Association’s national newsletter on behalf of large employers and insurance carriers. She is also a member of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Florida Bar. Ms. Hernandez was also featured in Hispanic Executive Magazine.
When not immersed in the everyday responsibilities and intricacies of her law practice, Ms. Hernandez devotes most of her time to her family. Her favorite pastimes include paddle-boarding, hot yoga, and reading. Ms. Hernandez has even penned several novels of her own.
Colin Milam
Colin Milam is a senior associate at Hernandez & Valois. Mr. Milam double majored at the Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance and Political Science. During his time in Tallahassee, Mr. Milam worked for a data analytics firm that focused on political fundraising. Upon completion of his undergraduate studies, Mr. Milam continued his education in Gainesville, Florida, at the University of Florida, Levine College of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctorate. While in law school, Mr. Milam served on the Executive Board for the Journal of Law and Public Policy. He also had the opportunity to participate in a Semester in Practice, where he worked as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Burton Conner of Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal. After graduation, Mr. Milam served as an Assistant State Attorney with the Miami Dade County State Attorney’s Office. While working as an ASA, Mr. Milam tried multiple cases to guilty verdict, and finished his prosecutorial career focusing on major drug trafficking and sexual assault cases.
Mr. Milam now focuses primarily on defending insurers in first party disputes.
In his spare time, Mr. Milam likes to cook, snowboard, and play hockey.
Melissa Muros
Melissa Muros is an Associate at Hernandez & Valois. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Seton Hall University. Upon completion of her undergraduate studies, Ms. Muros continued her education at Nova Southeastern University, where she earned her Master of Business Administration and then her Juris Doctorate.
Ms. Muros began her career as an attorney practicing in New York and New Jersey representing commercial trucking companies in insurance defenses cases. After moving to Florida, she began representing construction companies in commercial litigation matters and later worked as a supervising attorney with a national law firm representing financial institutions in title curative cases, including re-foreclosure, quite title, declaratory, reformation, ejectment, and unlawful detainer actions. Ms. Muros now focuses primarily on defending insurers in 1st party disputes and defense in 3rd party actions.
Ms. Muros is licensed in the State and Federal Bars in Florida, New York, and New Jersey. She is also a member of the South Palm Beach County Chapter of Florida Association of Women Lawyers.
Ms. Muros loves spending time with her family and friends. She also enjoys reading, traveling, and attending the theatre.
P: 754-755-0050
Email: cvalois@hvdefense.com
2400 E Commercial Blvd Suite 1030 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33308
