About Us

Stephanie Himel-Nelson has been practicing law for more than 25 years and serves as the firm’s principal estate planning attorney. She believes firmly that everyone needs an estate plan and is dedicated to helping Virginia families safeguard their assets and protect their financial future at every stage of life.

Stephanie is licensed in Virginia and Washington, D.C., and is also a seasoned litigator with extensive experience in complex commercial contract litigation, government contracts, construction law, and negotiating and drafting commercial agreements. After more than a decade practicing as a litigator, she co-founded Blue Star Families, an influential nonprofit organization supporting military families nationwide.

Originally from Louisiana, Stephanie grew up around the world in a military family. After attending the University of Miami and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, she met her husband, a proud Navy servicemember, before relocating to Virginia. She earned her law degree from The George Washington University Law School, where she served as Executive Notes Editor of the International Law Review.

Now based in the Hampton Roads area, Stephanie is expanding the firm’s estate planning practice across the Commonwealth of Virginia. She is deeply committed to community service and has served in numerous leadership roles, including president of the board of directors for her children’s swim clubs, PTA board member, band booster board member, and contracts chair for the Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach. She currently serves as Secretary of the Hampton Roads chapter of the Virginia Women Attorneys Association and as a member of the Programming Committee for the Hampton Roads Estate Planning Council.

Outside the office, Stephanie serves as a stroke and turn official for USA Swimming, the Virginia High School League, the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association, and the Virginia Beach Swim League. On weekends, you will often find her on the pool deck at swim meets or cheering on Virginia Tech football, though she still roots for the Miami Hurricanes when the two teams face off.

Dedicated to making the law accessible for all, Michelle is committed to helping clients navigate the complexities of personal injury law. She strongly believes that everyone deserves to have their voice heard and is eager to amplify the voice of every client. After obtaining a combined Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in English from the University of Georgia, Michelle attended the University of Richmond School of Law where she gained invaluable experience working with vulnerable populations through her numerous internships and externships. From those professional experiences, she has learned the importance of hard work, perseverance, and transparency.

A second-generation Korean American, Michelle has lived in the United States and South Korea, providing her with close insight to the lives of immigrant and multicultural communities. She recognizes how comforting and empowering it can be to have a legal advocate by your side, especially for those who may struggle to ask for help. Outside of work, she enjoys taking landscape photos, spending time with her family and friends, and perfecting her recipes.

A passion for helping people drew Allison Alvey to the field of personal injury law. After witnessing firsthand the difference her work could make in a client’s life, she knew she had found the right calling.

Allison finds great satisfaction in helping individuals who have been injured in accidents access the resources they need to rebuild their lives and move forward. As part of the close-knit team at Jennifer Porter Law, she values the collaboration between colleagues and the meaningful relationships she builds with clients throughout their cases.

Her role includes maintaining ongoing client communication, gathering intake information from new clients, and requesting documentation to ensure complete and accurate case files. She conducts research to locate supporting records, drafts case-related documents, and processes bills and medical records to create thorough, well-organized files that strengthen each matter.

Outside the office, Allison is dedicated to helping animals as well as people. She spends much of her time caring for rescued pets, including seven cats, one leopard gecko, and six turtles. She also enjoys crocheting, cozy gaming, building book nooks, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

Michele “Missy” B. Thompson grew up in the City of Alexandria, Virginia. She is an experienced personal injury paralegal with over 40 years of law firm experience. Her experience of helping injured individuals has allowed her to tap into her passion for taking care of and encouraging others.   She earned her paralegal studies – paralegal certification (8.4 CEUs) at George Mason University.  Missy launched her entrepreneurial vision in 2018 which led her to more offices in need of in-person assistance.

Missy has held leadership as the Chair of the Deacons, Director of the Seniors’ Ministry, Director of Vacation Bible School, and lead a churchwide Christmas in April event.  Missy has held a role as an authorized representative for an individual who suffers with mental health challenges.

Missy has been on a breast cancer (TNBC) journey since her diagnosis in December 2023. In April 2025, she learned of being cancer free.  Missy has been blessed to be able to share this journey as a published, co-author in the devotional:  A Call to Prayer –  a 31-Day Prayer Devotional by Global Compass Prayer Ministries, Inc. and Friends.  She speaks of her journey at different events.

In Missy’s spare time, she enjoys assisting seniors with their daily needs, distributing food to those in need, going on local homeless missions with her church, enjoys her prayer time with her prayer family, and spending quality time with her adult daughter, son, daughter-in-law, family and friends.  She cannot leave out that she’s a foodie.

Erin Williams is a Legal Assistant supporting the firm’s Estate Planning practice. In her role, she assists with client intake, document preparation, and day-to-day administrative support to help ensure each matter moves forward smoothly and efficiently.

With a natural desire to help others, Erin finds estate planning to be both meaningful and rewarding. She enjoys being part of a process that helps individuals and families plan for the future with clarity and confidence, and she takes pride in creating a welcoming and supportive experience for clients.

Outside the office, Erin enjoys spending time outdoors, camping, and making memories with her children. She is also a fan of all things Disney and the world of Harry Potter, and she loves bringing creativity and fun into everyday life.

Andria is an accomplished bookkeeper with a genuine passion for numbers and meticulous organization. With her extensive experience in the legal sector, she has developed an innate understanding of the financial requirements specific to law firms. Andria takes great pride in ensuring that these needs are consistently met, contributing to the smooth functioning of the firm.

Andria enjoys the warm and caring atmosphere that Jennifer Porter Law presents, making collaborative work genuinely fulfilling.

During her free time, Andria practices yoga and finds joy in the company of her beloved Cane Corso.

Lupe is a dedicated part of our team, bringing enthusiasm, reliability, and a genuine desire to help others. She supports our firm by keeping projects organized, assisting with marketing tasks, and helping maintain smooth day-to-day operations so our attorneys can stay focused on serving clients. Lupe enjoys creating clarity and structure, whether it’s coordinating schedules, organizing materials, or contributing to team workflows. 

As part of our close-knit team, she takes pride in collaborating with the attorneys and learning more about the legal field while helping ensure clients feel informed and supported. 

Outside of work, Lupe channels her creativity into singing and playing guitar; she even performed in a band for several years. She also enjoys photography and capturing meaningful moments, and she treasures spending time with her loved ones, finding balance, inspiration, and joy in the people and passions that matter most to her.