Rafael Muilenburg
Raf grew up on and around St. John (Cruz Bay, Lovango Cay, East End, Coral Bay), much of the time living on and off sailboats.
He moved off St. John to attend Dartmouth College, Harvard Law School, and practice law in California as a partner at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter and Hampton in San Diego.
Raf relocated to St. John in 2009 to establish Morrisette & Muilenburg, LLP. The firm became Muilenburg Law LLC in 2021.
Raf handles matters primarily in real estate, probate, corporate / entity formation, contracts, finance, land use / environmental law, litigation, as well as divorce / family law and trusts and estates.
He and his wife, Thia, own homes in both Coral Bay and Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Raf now divides his time between the two locations, working remotely as well as from the firm's office in Cruz Bay.
For more information, please click these links: Read Bio | Read Resume
He moved off St. John to attend Dartmouth College, Harvard Law School, and practice law in California as a partner at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter and Hampton in San Diego.
Raf relocated to St. John in 2009 to establish Morrisette & Muilenburg, LLP. The firm became Muilenburg Law LLC in 2021.
Raf handles matters primarily in real estate, probate, corporate / entity formation, contracts, finance, land use / environmental law, litigation, as well as divorce / family law and trusts and estates.
He and his wife, Thia, own homes in both Coral Bay and Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Raf now divides his time between the two locations, working remotely as well as from the firm's office in Cruz Bay.
For more information, please click these links: Read Bio | Read Resume
Other Attorneys
Michael L. SheesleyAssociated CounselMichael grew up in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area in a small town called Aliquippa. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh obtaining a BSE in Bio-medical Engineering with a concentration in bio-mechanics and artificial organ development. Michael also obtained in minor in Administration of Justice. Michael went on to obtain his JD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law with a concentration of studies in Intellectual Property.
Michael moved to St. Thomas in 2005 and has actively practiced law in the U.S. Virgin Islands until the present. Michael is admitted to practice in the U.S. Virgin Islands, New York, New Jersey and the Third Circuit Court of Appeal. Michael practices a wide variety of law including corporate and business matters, general civil litigation, criminal defense, family law, real estate, bankruptcy, medical malpractice and intellectual property. Mike is an avid ultra-marathon runner who has completed some of the world's most grueling multi-day, self supported desert races as well as a lifelong animal lover and board member of the St. Thomas Humane Society. Education 2002 University of Pittsburgh, BSE Bio-medical Engineering, minor Administration of Justice 2005 University of Pittsburgh, JD |
Management
Gabrielle AudainOffice Manager / ParalegalGabrielle Audain comes to us from our home island St. John, where she spent most of her childhood and adolescent years. While Gabrielle was born and raised in South Florida, she didn't allow distance to get in the way of keeping deeply in touch with her cultural roots on St. John. She graduated from Spelman College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English where she studied various genres of literature from Shakespeare to Caribbean Women Writers. Gabrielle brings to our firm a tenacious background in Writing and Editing, where her perspicacity and technique have led her to roles in the fields of Education and Public Relations. Gabrielle serves as the Secretary and a director, as well as on the marketing & communications committee for the St. John Land Conservancy, where she exercises her writing, administrative and social media management skills. After years of spending her summer vacations on St. John, Gabrielle decided to permanently stay on the island with a vision to work and engage with her community. We are extremely pleased to have Gabby as our Office Manager!
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Cynthia MuilenburgBusiness ConsultantCynthia has been our business consultant since inception, and became our business manager in February of 2017, responsible for the firm's finances, communications, website and overall business administration. Originally from Long Island, NY, Thia received her BFA in Arts Management, with a minor in Business, from Long Island University, and her MA in Expressive Arts Therapies from Lesley College in Cambridge, MA. She has extensive experience in business management, as the owner of her vacation villa management business, Parrotfish Villas, LLC, based on St. John since 2005. Other ventures include 18 years working as a board-certified music therapist and expressive arts therapist, an early childhood music educator, and Professor of Music Therapy at the University of California, San Diego Extension. Thia served a 5-year term as president of the San Diego Music Therapy Association, plays guitar, piano, and enjoys singing and performing. A long time proponent of environmental conservation, Thia served for five years as Secretary and is currently the Treasurer and a director of the St. John Land Conservancy. She is also chair of SJLC's Marketing & Communications committee. Thia lives with her husband Raf and their two daughters in Florida, where they run the firm remotely, and enjoys regular visits to their second home in Coral Bay, St. John.
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Gwendolyn ArcadiaAdministrative AssistantGwendolyn comes to our firm with over 20 years of experience in the areas of property management, bookkeeping and administrative services. She managed properties and provided administrative assistance for companies throughout the east coast, before becoming a licensed realtor and selling properties in New Jersey. Gwen made to move to St. John in 2012. Once on island, she became immersed in vacation villa management, first working for Parrotfish Villas LLC in Coral Bay for two years, then eventually becoming a sole proprietor. Gwen excelled as a property manager, and she gained a strong reputation on St. John as a highly responsible, trust-worthy and personable property-manager. Her role included not only management, but doing bookkeeping for many of her clients. When she moved to Salt Lake City in 2020 to help with her grandchild’s arrival, Gwen began work with our firm as an administrative assistant in charge of the firm’s bookkeeping and accounts. We are very pleased to have Gwen on our team!!
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