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T A M P A ’s
BestLawyers
®
2 0 1 1 E d i T i o n THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN TAMPA
WHO ARE THE
LAWyERS OF THE yEAR?
BARRy COHEN
COMMITMENT
AND PASSION
A sPE c i A l A dv E r T ising suPPl E ME n T T o A s P E c i A l s u P P l E M E n T T o
C o h e n , F o s t e r & r o m i n e , P. a .
SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN
T A M P A ’s
B
LAWYERS
®
®
From Left: Stephen L. Romine, Esq., Todd A. Foster, Esq., Barry A. Cohen, Esq., Patricia Allen, Investigator, Kimberly A. 2011 EDITION
DeGroat, Investigator, Kevin J. Darken, Esq., Everett S. Rice, Esq., Rohom Khonsari, Esq., Christina L. Kimball, Investigator, Barry a. Cohen
Steven L. Cohen, MA, Michael L. Rubinstein, Esq., Chinwe O. Fossett, Esq., Jack M. Ross, Esq., Michael A. Gold, Esq.,
Kevin J. DarKen
Brian J. Lefferts, Financial Investigator
ToDD FosTer
C
Alex McNight
ohen, Foster & romine is a tampa-based Firm that Lawyer, a distinction held by less than 1% of all Florida
provides legal counsel and representation in the areas of attorneys. Mr. Romine has represented clients in many of
criminal defense, civil litigation, commercial litigation, the firm’s most high profile cases and in 2010 received a
and qui tam/ false claims act or whistleblower actions. Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award for his
Selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers representation of a young man fighting a wrongful
in America® in the area of White Collar Criminal Defense conviction and 30 year prison sentence. Kevin J. Darken,
are Barry A. Cohen (1983-2010), Todd Foster (2010) and who heads up the firm’s qui tam division, is a former
Kevin J. Darken (2009-2010). In addition, Mr. Cohen is Assistant U.S. Attorney, an experienced litigator, and
recognized in 2010 by The Best Lawyers in America® in the author of a leading national treatise on qui tam and
areas of Personal Injury Litigation, Medical Malpractice, health care fraud litigation.
and Non-White Collar Criminal Defense. This is his
27th consecutive year of recognition byThe Best Lawyers the litigation team also includes Keith thomas, a
in America®. Martindale-Hubble AV rated civil trial attorney, who with
a background in mechanical engineering and over twenty
the Firm is comprised oF a meticulously assembled team years of civil trial experience brings a unique and valuable
of attorneys and support personnel who bring their prospective to litigating complex product liability,
independent strengths to the firm’s legal arsenal. Firm medical malpractice, personal injury, wrongful death and
members are no strangers to the courtroom, and they commercial litigation cases; Chinwe Fossett, a former
utilize their litigation skills not only in trial, but also in prosecutor and national trial team champion; Michael
negotiations with opposing counsel. Rubinstein, a former Assistant US Attorney with over 35
years of federal criminal and civil experience; Rohom
Founding partner barry a. cohen with over 40 years Khonsari, a former prosecutor and experienced criminal
of practice as a criminal and civil trial attorney, has defense and civil trial advocate; Michael Gold, an experi-
represented a number of high profile clients and, as enced civil and criminal litigator who earned his LL.M. in
evidenced by this year’s 27th consecutive inclusion in The securities law from Georgetown University; and Jack Ross,
Best Lawyers in America®, he has consistently earned a former prosecutor and commercial litigator with a
the respect of his peers. Partner Todd Foster, a former strong background in political and international affairs.
FBI special agent and federal prosecutor who heads the
federal criminal division, has almost 30 years of federal while each lawyer is highly involved in the investigation
criminal experience, is a nationally recognized speaker of cases, their in-house investigative staff boasts the
on trial advocacy, and defends clients, including lawyers, presence of a former FBI special agent, a former
doctors and business professionals, in matters including HHS-OIG (health care fraud) special agent, a forensic
securities, tax and bank fraud, conspiracy, and money accountant, and Everett Rice, the former Sheriff of
laundering. Partner Stephen Romine, with over 18 years Pinellas County, who, in addition to his work with the firm
of criminal trial experience, heads the firm’s state criminal as a lawyer, participates and supervises investigations
division and is a Florida Bar Board Certified Criminal Trial that benefit from his experience.
5/3 C e n t e r , 201 e a s t K ennedy B o u l e va r d , s u i t e 1000, t a m pa , Fl 33602
P h : 800.308.8426 o r 813.225.1655 • www.tampalawfirm.com
METHodologY
THE GUIDE TO TAMPA’S T his list is excerpted from the 2011 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, the
preeminent referral guide to the legal profession in the United States. Published
TOP ATTORNEyS for nearly three decades, Best Lawyers® lists attorneys in 82 practice areas, representing
all 50 states and the District of Columbia, who have been chosen through an
exhaustive survey in which thousands of the nation’s top lawyers confidentially evaluate
It’s inevitable—at some point in your life, you’re going to need a lawyer, their professional peers. The 2011 edition of Best Lawyers, which will be published
in November 2010, is based on more than 3.1 million evaluations of lawyers by
and you won’t always be able to predict when that need will arise. Whether other lawyers.
you’re starting a business or selling one, getting married or divorced, The method used to compile Best Lawyers remains unchanged since the first edition
patenting your invention, litigating a contract, or buying a home—there was compiled more than 28 years ago. Lawyers are chosen for inclusion based solely on a
is a talented and highly competent attorney listed in this guide who can vote of their peers. Listings cannot be bought, and no purchase is required to be included.
In this regard, Best Lawyers remains the gold standard of reliability and integrity in lawyer
help. Perhaps you or a family member is involved in an accident or accused ratings. The nomination pool for the 2011 edition consisted of all lawyers whose names
of a crime. These are all serious matters for which you need first-rate legal appeared in the previous edition of Best Lawyers, lawyers who were nominated since the
representation. previous survey, and new nominees solicited from listed attorneys. In general, lawyers
Tampa’s Best Lawyers® helps take the mystery out of locating a high- were asked to vote only on nominees in their own practice area in their own jurisdiction.
Lawyers in closely related practice areas were asked to vote across practice areas, as were
quality advocate to protect you, your family, your business and all other as- lawyers in smaller jurisdictions. Where practice areas are national or international in
sets The exceptional attorneys listed in this guide are only those attorneys nature, lawyers were asked to vote nationally as well as locally. Voting lawyers were also
listed in The Best Lawyers in America®. given an opportunity to offer more detailed comments on nominees.
Voting lawyers were provided this general guideline for determining if a nominee
These attorneys were nominated by and voted in by their peers. Lawyers
should be listed: “If you had a close friend or relative who needed a real estate lawyer (for
cannot buy their way into this guide. They must earn a spot through example), and you could not handle the case yourself, to whom would you refer them?”
exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. To remain All votes and comments were solicited with a guarantee of confidentiality – a critical factor
on the list, they must be at the top of their game, year after year. Best in the viability and validity of Best Lawyers surveys. To ensure the rigor of the selection
process, lawyers were urged to use only their highest standards when voting, and to
Lawyers, the leading referral list in the legal profession, and ALM, the na- evaluate each nominee based only on his or her individual merits. The additional
tion’s leading legal journalism and information company, have teamed up comments were used to make more accurate comparisons between voting patterns and
to provide this invaluable resource for readers, whatever your legal needs weight votes accordingly. Best Lawyers uses various methodological tools to identify and
may be. Lawyers in this guide are arranged by their legal specialty—from correct for anomalies in both the nomination and voting process.
Ultimately, of course, a lawyer’s inclusion is based on the subjective judgments of his
Administrative Law to Workers’ Compensation Law—which makes it easy or her fellow attorneys. While it is true that the lists may at times disproportionately reward
to find the professional advice you need. visibility or popularity, the breadth of the survey, the candor of the respondents, and the
Keep this comprehensive guide available for those times when you sophistication of the polling methodology largely correct for any biases. For all these
need a first-rate advocate to assist you. The lawyers listed in Tampa’s Best reasons, Best Lawyers lists continue to represent the most reliable, accurate and useful
guide to the legal profession in the United States.
Lawyers are eager to help. Best Lawyers lists are available at www.bestlawyers.com. “Best Lawyers” and
“The Best Lawyers in America”are registered trademarks of Woodward/White, Inc.
Congratulations to our 2011 Best Lawyers in America:
Marie a. Borland thoMaS n. henderSon, iii Brett J. PreSton
Michael P. Brundage BenJaMin h. hill, iii r. JaMeS roBBinS, Jr.
Mark a. danzi John l. holcoMB roBert a. ShiMBerg
david S. FelMan StePhen M. hudoBa W. laWrence SMith
John B. grandoFF, iii tiMothy a. hunt Brian c. SParkS
gina k. griMeS c. hoWard hunter r. denniS tWeed
WilliaM c. guerrant, Jr. Jonathan P. JenneWein kirSten l. vignec
Bret t. haMlin roBert e. v. kelley, Jr. denniS P. Waggoner
r. reid haney david t. knight alton c. Ward
linda d. hartley erik Matheney
Most Tier One Practice Rankings Among Tampa Law Firms
U.S. News & World Report “2010 Best Law Firms”
View our 19 Tier One Rankings at www.hwhlaw.com.
3700 Bank of America Plaza, 101 E. Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, Fl 33602
For more info go to www.law.com/tampabest tampa’s Best lawyers 3
T A M P A ’s
B
Ta m P a’ s B e s T l a W y e r s B y s P e C i a lT y
Administrative Law 6 Immigration Law 10
Alternative Dispute Resolution 6 Information Technology Law 10
Antitrust Law 6 Insurance Law 10
LAWYERS
® Appellate Law 6 Intellectual Property Law 10
Banking Law 6 International Trade and Finance Law 10
Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Labor and Employment Law 10
Rights Law 6 Land Use & Zoning Law 10
Bet-the-Company Litigation 6 Legal Malpractice Law 10
Biotechnology Law 6 Leveraged Buyouts and
Civil Rights Law 6 Private Equity Law 10
2011 EDITION Commercial Litigation 6 Maritime Law 11
Construction Law 8 Mass Tort Litigation 11
Corporate Governance and Media Law 11
Compliance Law 9 Medical Malpractice Law 11
Barry Cohen on Corporate Law 9
Criminal Defense: Non-White-Collar 9
Mergers & Acquisitions Law 11
Municipal Law 11
Commitment and Criminal Defense: White-Collar 9
Elder Law 9
Natural Resources Law 11
Non-Profit/Charities Law 12
Passion 5 Eminent Domain and
Condemnation Law 9
Personal Injury Litigation 12
Private Funds Law 12
Employee Benefits Law 9 Product Liability Litigation 12
2011 Lawyers Energy Law 9
Entertainment Law 9
Professional Malpractice Law 12
Public Finance Law 12
of the year 8 Environmental Law 9
Equipment Finance Law 9
Real Estate Law 12
Securities Law 13
Family Law 9 Tax Law 13
Family Law Mediation 10 Technology Law 14
First Amendment Law 10 Transportation Law 14
Food and Beverage Law 10 Trusts and Estates 14
Franchise Law 10 Venture Capital Law 14
Cover Photograph by Alex McNight Government Relations Law 10 Water Law 14
Health Care Law 10 Workers’ Compensation Law 14
wiand Guerra KinG PL
Wiand Guerra King is aof experience. more
than one hundred years
new firm with
Launched in November 2009 by six partners
of one of Florida’s largest and most highly-re-
garded firms, the firm continues to devote its
energies to complex commercial litigation,
the resolution of business disputes, regulatory
compliance and white collar criminal matters.
The firm maintains a nationally recognized
practice in matters involving securities and
financial services, including class action and
other complex multiparty litigation, arbitra- SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN
tion, regulatory enforcement, and white collar T A M P A ’s
criminal defense. Four of Wiand Guerra King’s
attorneys have been selected by their peers B
LAWYERS
®
for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®
in the area of commercial litigation: George 2011 EDITION
L. Guerra, Peter B. King, Katherine C. Donlon, KaTherine C. Donlon
and firm chairman Burton W. Wiand, who GeorGe l. Guerra
PeTer B. KinG
was also recognized as a Bet-the-Company BurTon W. WianD
Litigator. Standing from left: Elaine M. Rice,
In just its first year in existence, the firm was recognized in U.S. News and World Report as a Tier 1 Tampa firm in George L. Guerra, Michael S. Lamont,
Peter B. King, Gianluca Morello.
four practice areas: general commercial litigation, securities and capital markets, alternative dispute resolution, Seated from left: Burton W. Wiand,
and criminal defense – white collar. Mr. Wiand, who spent fourteen years in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, is Katherine C. Donlon
currently acting as the federal court-appointed receiver in an SEC enforcement action against Arthur Nadel, the
former Florida hedge fund manager who was involved in a Ponzi scheme that bilked investors out of over $330 W iand G uerra K inG PL
million. With the firm as his counsel, Mr. Wiand is recovering money through litigation and other procedures and 3000 Bayport drive
investigating, gathering, and managing other assets for eventual distribution among defrauded investors. Wiand suite 600, tampa, Fl 33607
Guerra King’s clients include Fortune 500 companies, national, regional, and local financial services firms, officers ph: 813.347.5100
and directors of public and private companies, and individuals. The firm has enjoyed considerable growth in its Fax: 813.347.5199
infancy, adding three lawyers this year to its original ten. www.wiandlaw.com
4 tampa’s Best lawyers For more info go to www.tbo.com/bestlawyers
COVER
sPotLight
Barry Cohen
Commitment and Passion
make the Lawyer
W
hen young lawyers come to interview at Barry Cohen’s “As a lawyer, when you deal with people’s freedom you deal with their
high-profile practice in Tampa, the man who used to cut class to economic futures. In my view, there is absolutely no room for mediocrity.”
watch trials as a teenager makes one thing crystal clear to those Cohen—whose firm employs full-time psychologists and former federal
potential additions to his firm: “If you don’t live it, that’s agents as investigators, says “People put their faith in you and you have to
ok . . . but they should not accept the earn it. It’s my philosophy that lawyers should do
responsibility of being a lawyer without everything they need to do to make sure no stone’s
having the passion and the commitment to it.” left unturned. This is not just a job. If you think
it is, you need to go into another area of law
Cohen-who founded his first law firm back in where people don’t count on you for help
1975-takes his work seriously and wants the 11 regarding their freedom, their lives, and their eco-
attorneys working on his team to follow his lead. nomic futures.”
Along with his co-partners Todd Foster (a former
U.S. Department of Justice lawyer and FBI Special After several years of criminal defense, Cohen
Agent) and Stephen Romine (a Florida Bar Board decided to branch out into civil litigation. “It was
Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer), Cohen’s firm another challenge,” he says. “I was tired of people
handles criminal defense, civil litigation, commercial saying ‘He’s just a criminal lawyer.’ I thought it was
litigation, and has a qui tam division that handles a little condescending.” Cohen has strived to
whistle blower actions. Cohen called his partners develop a “creative approach to the practice of law.
“very talented,” adding that he “couldn’t For example, we get out on the street ourselves and
“
W
imagine two more principled guys.” hEn yOu interview people. We do not rely on others to
develop our cases or defenses”
dEal With
Cohen got his start as a state prosecutor
in Tampa after earning his JD at Mercer pEOplE’s Cohen encourages his team to work together,
University’s Walter F. George School of fREEdOm and yOu so that every legal mind is involved in each case. “Every lawyer should get
Law, and served in that capacity for four the benefit of the entire practice, and each other’s independent thinking.
years before starting a practice with for-
dEal With thEiR I encourage them to think outside of the box.”
mer Hillsborough County State Attorney ECOnOmiC futuREs,
Paul Antinori. Five years later, Cohen Cohen says the lawyers at Cohen, Foster & Romine, are proud to be a part
thERE is absOlutEly
-whose first case as a solo practitioner of the firm because of the principles it stands for. “They like being part of
came defending Jimmy Burke, who was nO ROOm a firm that will not back down because we may get criticized. They like
portrayed famously in the film Goodfellas fOR mEdiOCRity.” being part of a firm that has the respect we do in the legal community,”
by actor Robert DeNiro-started his Cohen explains.
–baRRy COhEn
current practice, which in addition to its
current 11 lawyers, recently brought on Outside of the office, the firm works with organizations like Big Brothers,
Keith Thomas a civil litigator with over 20 years of courtroom experience. Big Sisters and even organizes events for area youth. The firm recently
sponsored a screening of the film The Great Debaters, a film that inspired Cohen.
Alex McNight
Cohen-who handpicks every lawyer on the payroll-said he is excited about “We brought 300 lower-income children and showed them this movie. After
Thomas’ addition to the firm, where the legal staff are mentored by the the film, we brought in (the female lead) Jurnee Smollett and
partners and encouraged to continuously study and perfect their craft. she spoke to them. It was very inspiring.”
–Chris Harris
For more info go to www.law.com/tampabest tampa’s Best lawyers 5
TAMPA’S
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
B E s T l A wY E r s
®
Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL
Matthews, Eastmoore, Hardy, Crauwels
& Garcia | Sarasota, FL
ARTHUR LAMAR MATTHEWS, JR.
Shook, Hardy & Bacon | Tampa, FL
JAMES B. MURPHY, JR.
DAvID S. FELMAN Trenam Kemker | Tampa, FL
Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL MARVIN E. BARKIN, WILLIAM C. FRYE
RHEA F. LAW, DAVID C. SHOBE
813.221.3900 | Page 3
Wiand Guerra King | Tampa, FL
Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL Holland & Knight | Tampa, FL
BURTON W. WIAND
ROBERT A. SHIMBERG CHARLES L. STUTTS
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick | Tampa, FL 813.347.5100 | Page 4
813.221.3900 | Page 3 WILLIAM KENT IHRIG, DARRELL C. SMITH
Trenam Kemker | Tampa, FL Zuckerman Spaeder | Tampa, FL
Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg | Sarasota, FL MARVIN E. BARKIN DELMAR LEE FUGATE, MORRIS “SANDY” WEINBERG, JR.
WILLIAM W. MERRILL III
Manson Law Group | Tampa, FL
BANkRUPTCy AND BIOTECHNOLOGy LAW
DOUGLAS P. MANSON
CREDITOR-DEBTOR RIGHTS LAW Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION CHRISTOPHER PARADIES
Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL Bush Ross | Tampa, FL CIVIL RIGHTS LAW
MICHAEL F. NUECHTERLEIN HAROLD BRADLEY STAGGS,
Cary R. Singletary | Tampa, FL JEFFREY W. WARREN Farmer & Fitzgerald | Tampa, FL
CARY R. SINGLETARY MATTHEW FARMER
813.224.9255 | Page 11
Charles W. Ross | St. Petersburg, FL
CHARLES W. ROSS Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL
COMMERCIAL LITIGATION
Glenn, Rasmussen, Fogarty & Hooker | Tampa, FL JOHN J. LAMOUREUX, HYWEL LEONARD Addison & Howard | Tampa, FL
MARK A. HANLEY Foley & Lardner | Tampa, FL MICHAEL C. ADDISON
Holland & Knight | Tampa, FL MARK J. WOLFSON Akerman Senterfitt | Tampa, FL
WILLIAM S. DUFOE Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL LESLIE E. JOUGHIN III, MARGARET D. MATHEWS, L.
Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg | Sarasota, FL JOHN D. EMMANUEL, DONALD R. KIRK, EDWARD M. JOSEPH SHAHEEN, JR., WAYNE LEE THOMAS
THOMAS F. ICARD, JR. WALLER, JR. Bajo Cuva Cohen and Turkel | Tampa, FL
Lau, Lane, Pieper, Conley & McCreadie | Tampa, FL Glenn, Rasmussen, Fogarty & Hooker | Tampa, FL KENNETH G. TURKEL
MARY A. LAU ROBERT B. GLENN, GREGORY M. MCCOSKEY, Banker Lopez Gassler | Tampa, FL
Peter J. Grilli | Tampa, FL EDWIN G. RICE RICHARD M. SEBEK
PETER J. GRILLI Greenberg Traurig | Tampa, FL Barnett, Bolt, Kirkwood, Long & McBride | Tampa, FL
William E. Hahn | Tampa, FL ROBERT A. SORIANO THOMAS G. LONG
WILLIAM E. HAHN
Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & Wein | St. Petersburg, FL
Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL STEPHEN J. WEIN
ANTITRUST LAW MICHAEL P. BRUNDAGE Broad and Cassel | Tampa, FL
813.221.3900 | Page 3 STEVEN G. BURTON
Bush Ross | Tampa, FL Buckley & Fudge | St. Petersburg, FL
JONATHAN C. KOCH Holland & Knight | Tampa, FL FREDRIC S. ZINOBER
ROD ANDERSON, NOEL R. BOEKE, WILLIAM KEITH Buell & Elligett | Tampa, FL
813.224.9255 | Page 11
FENDRICK, LEONARD H. GILBERT MARK P. BUELL
Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns | Clearwater, FL
Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL
MICHAEL C. MARKHAM Bush Ross | Tampa, FL
CHRIS S. COUTROULIS J. CARTER ANDERSEN,
Shutts & Bowen | Tampa, FL
Holland & Knight | Tampa, FL
STACY D. BLANK
LYNN WELTER SHERMAN DAvID C. BANKER,
JONATHAN C. KOCH,
APPELLATE LAW Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Prosser | Tampa, FL EDWARD O. SAvITZ
RUSSELL M. BLAIN, 813.224.9255 | Page 11
Akerman Senterfitt | Tampa, FL
WAYNE LEE THOMAS
CHARLES A. POSTLER,
Banker Lopez Gassler | St. Petersburg, FL RICHARD C. PROSSER, Carey, O’Malley, Whitaker & Mueller | Tampa, FL
MICHAEL R. CAREY
CHARLES W. HALL HARLEY E. RIEDEL II,
Carlton Fields | St. Petersburg, FL
Brannock & Humphries | Tampa, FL DON M. STICHTER, STEVEN C. DUPRÉ, LEE H. RIGHTMYER
STEVEN L. BRANNOCK, CELENE HUMPHRIES SCOTT A. STICHTER Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL
Buell & Elligett | Tampa, FL
RAYMOND T. ELLIGETT, JR., AMY S. FARRIOR
813.229.0144 | Page 14 MARK A. BROWN, CHRIS S. COUTROULIS, EDWARD W.
GERECKE, KEVIN J. NAPPER, THOMAS J. ROEHN,
Carlton Fields | St. Petersburg, FL GARY L. SASSO, SYLVIA H. WALBOLT, GWYNNE A.
Trenam Kemker | St. Petersburg, FL
ROBERT BIASOTTI YOUNG
MICHAEL P. HORAN
Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL Conwell Kirkpatrick | Tampa, FL
Trenam Kemker | Tampa, FL
GARY L. SASSO, SYLVIA H. WALBOLT GEORGE DONOVAN CONWELL, JR.
ROBERTA A. COLTON, WILLIAM KNIGHT ZEWADSKI
Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL de la Parte & Gilbert | Tampa, FL
HALA A. SANDRIDGE
Gunn Appellate Practice | Tampa, FL
BET-THE-COMPANy LITIGATION RICHARD A. GILBERT
Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL
TRACY RAFFLES GUNN Buell & Elligett | Tampa, FL WILLIAM DONALD COX, G. CALVIN HAYES, PAUL R.
MARK P. BUELL PIZZO, RICHARD G. SALAZAR, EDWARD M. WALLER, JR.
Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL Frost Van den Boom & Smith | Bartow, FL
MARIE A. BORLAND CHRIS S. COUTROULIS, EDWARD W. GERECKE, JOHN W. FROST II
813.221.3900 | Page 3 KEVIN J. NAPPER, GARY L. SASSO Glenn, Rasmussen, Fogarty & Hooker | Tampa, FL
Frost Van den Boom & Smith | Bartow, FL TIMOTHY A. ANDREU, MICHAEL B. COLGAN, ROBERT
Kubicki Draper | Tampa, FL JOHN W. FROST II B. GLENN, MICHAEL S. HOOKER
BETSY E. GALLAGHER GrayRobinson | Lakeland, FL
Kynes, Markman & Felman | Tampa, FL
Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL ROBERT L. TROHN
JAMES E. FELMAN, STUART C. MARKMAN BENJAMIN H. HILL III GrayRobinson | Tampa, FL
Schropp Law Firm | Tampa, FL 813.221.3900 | Page 3 RICHARD M. ZABAK
CHARLES P. SCHROPP Greenberg Traurig | Tampa, FL
Vaka, Larson & Johnson | Tampa, FL Holland & Knight | Tampa, FL GREGORY W. KEHOE, DAVID B. WEINSTEIN
GEORGE A. VAKA WILLIAM S. DUFOE, BRADFORD D. KIMBRO,
JOSEPH H. VARNER III
Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL
BANkING LAW Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns | Clearwater, FL WILLIAM C. GUERRANT, JR.,
FRED WALLACE POPE, JR. BENJAMIN H. HILL III,
Akerman Senterfitt | Tampa, FL
AILEEN S. DAVIS
Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns | Tampa, FL ROBERT E. v. KELLEY, JR.,
GUY M. BURNS DAvID T. KNIGHT,
Glenn, Rasmussen, Fogarty & Hooker | Tampa, FL
Keane Reese Vesely & Gerdes | St. Petersburg, FL
ROBERT B. GLENN
MICHAEL J. KEANE
DENNIS P. WAGGONER
Kynes, Markman & Felman | Tampa, FL 813.221.3900 | Page 3
STUART C. MARKMAN
6 tampa’s Best lawyers For more info go to www.tbo.com/bestlawyers
T
G u n n L a w G r o u P, P. a . he gunn law group is a statewide
plaintiff’s practice focused primarily on
issues of insurance coverage and bad
faith, medical malpractice, and complex
personal injury. The firm has garnered
numerous multi-million dollar recover-
ies on behalf of clients.
aFter seventeen years spent deFending
insurance companies and hospitals,
founder Lee D. Gunn IV made the deci-
sion to become a plaintiff’s advocate.
For over ten years he has been solely
dedicated to the representation of
injured people, policyholders, patients,
and consumers. Mr. Gunn relishes using
his years of experience to hold busi-
nesses accountable for their conduct
and insurers accountable for their
promises. “I am frequently humbled by
the opportunity our civil justice system
affords to change the lives of our cli-
ents who have experienced a devastat-
ing loss,” says Mr. Gunn.
mr. gunn’s time spent on both sides
of the courtroom gives him the insight
and balance he needs to help provide
his clients with financial security and
justice at a time when possibly every-
thing else has been taken away through
serious injury or the death of a loved
one. “I never take for granted what a
privilege it is to be allowed to represent
people in need,” says Mr. Gunn.
more than ninety percent oF gunn law
Group’s cases and client referrals come
from fellow attorneys. Lee Gunn is
greatly flattered that his peers would
deem his talent appropriate for them to
send clients his way. Gunn Law Group
makes it a priority to respect the attor-
ney-client relationships of referring
attorneys.
mr. gunn is board certiFied as a
specialist in Civil Trial Practice by The
Florida Bar and the National Board of
Trial Advocates, is AV- rated by
Martindale-Hubbell, and has been
named among Leading American
Attorneys and to Florida Trend
Magazine’s Legal Elite. He has been
recognized in The Best Lawyers in
SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN
America®, and in Florida Super Lawyers
since 2006.
T A M P A ’s
B
LAWYERS
®
2011 EDITION 400 north ashley drive, suite 2050
tampa, Fl 33602
Alex McNight
lee D. Gunn iv toll Free: 866.Gunnlaw
ph: 813.228.7070 Fax: 813.228.9400
www.gunlawgroup.com
Holland & Knight | Tampa, FL
STACY D. BLANK, MICHAEL L. CHAPMAN, WILLIAM S.
DUFOE, LEONARD H. GILBERT, FRED GRADY,
BRADFORD D. KIMBRO, JOSEPH H. VARNER III,
CHARLES A. WACHTER
Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg | Sarasota, FL
2011 Lawyers of the year
CHARLES BARTLETT
Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns | Clearwater, FL
FRED WALLACE POPE, JR., CHARLES SAMARKOS
Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns | Tampa, FL
GUY M. BURNS, FRANK R. JAKES, DARRYL R. RICHARDS
Best lawyers has named individuals as lawyers oF the year in tampa, Keane Reese Vesely & Gerdes | St. Petersburg, FL
MICHAEL J. KEANE
Based on their partiCularly hiGh level oF peer reCoGnition. Knopik Deskins Law Group | Tampa, FL
CHRISTOPHER S. KNOPIK
Kynes, Markman & Felman | Tampa, FL
STUART C. MARKMAN
Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen | Clearwater, FL
Jeffrey W. Warren
JOSHUA MAGIDSON
Matthews, Eastmoore, Hardy, Crauwels
TAMPA’S LAWyERS OF THE yEAR & Garcia | Sarasota, FL
ARTHUR LAMAR MATTHEWS, JR.
Bush Ross aLternative dispute resoLution Peterson & Myers | Lakeland, FL
Bankruptcy and Lawyer of the year: ROBERT E. PUTERBAUGH
Phelps Dunbar | Tampa, FL
charLes w. ross
creditor-deBtor appeLLate Lawyer of the year:
KARL J. BRANDES, LAWRENCE P. INGRAM, JOHN E.
PHILLIPS, SETH M. SCHIMMEL, DONALD H.
rights Law syLvia h. waLBoLt WHITTEMORE
Banking Lawyer of the year: Quarles & Brady | Tampa, FL
roBert B. gLenn WILLIAM F. HAMILTON
B orn in Jersey City in 1948 and raised in
Starke, Florida, Jeff Warren graduated from
the University of Florida in 1969, after securing
Bankruptcy and creditor-deBtor rights
Lawyer of the year:
Jeffrey w. warren
Shook, Hardy & Bacon | Tampa, FL
JAMES B. MURPHY, JR.
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick | Tampa, FL
C. PHILIP CAMPBELL, JR.
Bet-the-company Litigator of the year:
an athletic scholarship. Sadly, the offensive guard fred waLLace pope, Jr.
Steven D. Hutton | Sarasota, FL
STEVEN D. HUTTON
sat on the bench, “and never played a down of construction Lawyer of the year: Thomas, LoCicero & Bralow | Tampa, FL
varsity football.” Three years later, he earned his michaeL r. carey GREGG D. THOMAS
JD from the University of Florida and passed the corporate Lawyer of the year: Trenam Kemker | Tampa, FL
MARVIN E. BARKIN, ROBERT H. BUESING, STANLEY H.
bar that same year. nathanieL L. doLiner
ELEFF, WILLIAM C. FRYE, CHARLES F. KETCHEY
Warren got his non-white-coLLar criminaL defense
Lawyer of the year: Wiand Guerra King | Tampa, FL
start with McFarlane, wiLLiam f. Jung KATHERINE C. DONLON,
Ferguson, Allison & white-coLLar criminaL defense GEORGE L. GUERRA,
Kelly, representing Lawyer of the year:
PETER B. KING,
several banks and James e. feLman
BURTON W. WIAND
financial institutions. eminent domain and condemnation
813.347.5100 | Page 4
Lawyer of the year:
Five years later, the s. cary gayLord
Bankruptcy Code empLoyee Benefits Lawyer of the year: Williams Schifino Mangione
was enacted, which caroL L. myers & Steady | Tampa, FL
Bet-the-Company Litigation – Columbus, OH OH
Commercial Litigation – Columbus,WILLIAM J. SCHIFINO, JR.
changed the course environmentaL Lawyer of the year:
of his concentration roger d. schwenke 813.221.2626 | Back Cover
famiLy Lawyer of the year:
and in 1981, he was caroLine kapusta BLack Zuckerman Spaeder | Tampa, FL
one of the founding heaLth care Lawyer of the year: JACK E. FERNANDEZ, JR., DELMAR LEE FUGATE,
partners of Bush Ross, PA. He made a name for thomas B. smith
MORRIS “SANDY” WEINBERG, JR.
himself representing Celotex Corporation, and is immigration Lawyer of the year: CONSTRUCTION LAW
a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy wiLLiam J. fLynn iii
insurance Lawyer of the year: Adams and Reese | St. Petersburg, FL
and a member of the American Bankruptcy V. JAMES DICKSON
BenJamin h. hiLL iii
Institute, where he is a contributing editor for the inteLLectuaL property Lawyer of the year:
Banker Lopez Gassler | St. Petersburg, FL
American Bankruptcy Institute Journal. stefan v. stein
DAVID L. BRESLER
Warren—who has an AV-rating by LaBor and empLoyment Lawyer of the year: Bush Ross | Tampa, FL
Martindale-Hubbell—has penned several chap- richard c. mccrea, Jr. EDWARD O. SAvITZ
ters for publication for The Florida Bar and Land use & Zoning Lawyer of the year: 813.224.9255 | Page 11
keith w. BrickLemyer
numerous articles regarding creditors’ rights
LegaL maLpractice Lawyer of the year: Carey, O’Malley, Whitaker & Mueller | Tampa, FL
issues. But mentoring is where he derides most of thomas d. masterson MICHAEL R. CAREY
his joy these days. maritime Lawyer of the year: Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL
“Having the opportunity to see young lawyers david f. pope GEORGE J. MEYER, MICHAEL F. NUECHTERLEIN, LUIS
PRATS, HARDY L. ROBERTS III, WILLIAM CARY WRIGHT
come to my firm and watch them grow, prosper medicaL maLpractice Lawyer of the year: Conrad J. Lazo | Bradenton, FL
and become good lawyers, and have a high degree James d. cLark CONRAD J. LAZO
personaL inJury Litigator of the year:
of integrity and sense of professionalism...that is roBert e. Banker
Deeb & Durkin | St. Petersburg, FL
BRIAN P. DEEB
very rewarding,” Warren—who teaches the puBLic finance Lawyer of the year: Donald D. Clark | Bradenton, FL
occasional advanced course on bankruptcy prac- steven e. miLLer DONALD D. CLARK
tice—says. “Professionalism is important. Lawyers reaL estate Lawyer of the year: Forizs & Dogali | Tampa, FL
ANTHONY ANDERSON BENTON DOGALI
need to understand the need to deal with civility david r. Brittain
Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL
and courtesy dealing with opposing counsel and securities Lawyer of the year: DALE W. VASH
roBert c. rasmussen
the judiciary and the need for ethical conduct and tax Lawyer of the year:
Glenn, Rasmussen, Fogarty & Hooker | Tampa, FL
GEORGE E. SPOFFORD IV
professionalism.” michaeL d. annis Gurley & Associates | Sarasota, FL
Warren and his wife Susan have two children, trusts and estates Lawyer of the year: DAVID E. GURLEY
Matthew and Laura. JoeL d. Bronstein
–Chris Harris
8 tampa’s Best lawyers For more info go to www.tbo.com/bestlawyers
TAMPA’S B E s T l A wY E r s ®
John M. Fitzgibbons | Tampa, FL James A. Helinger, Jr. | St. Petersburg, FL
Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL JOHN M. FITZGIBBONS JAMES A. HELINGER, JR.
TIMOTHY A. HUNT Jung & Sisco | Tampa, FL Peterson & Myers | Lake Wales, FL
813.221.3900 | Page 3 WILLIAM F. JUNG JACK P. BRANDON
Kynes, Markman & Felman | Tampa, FL Trenam Kemker | Tampa, FL
Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg | Sarasota, FL JAMES E. FELMAN ROBERT H. BUESING
THOMAS F. ICARD, JR. Ronald K. Cacciatore | Tampa, FL William B. Smith | Tampa, FL
Meirose & Friscia | Tampa, FL RONALD K. CACCIATORE WILLIAM B. SMITH
LEO H. MEIROSE Tragos & Sartres | Clearwater, FL
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick | Tampa, FL GEORGE E. TRAGOS EMPLOyEE BENEFITS LAW
STEVEN G. SCHEMBER Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL
Trenam Kemker | Tampa, FL Trombley & Hanes | Tampa, FL
RUSSELL BUHITE
ROBERT H. BUESING, STANLEY H. ELEFF, GARY R. TROMBLEY
JOHN S. VENTO 813.229.7918 | Page 12 Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL
BRET HAMLIN,
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE R. DENNIS TWEED,
AND COMPLIANCE LAW CRIMINAL DEFENSE: WHITE-COLLAR
KIRSTEN vIGNEC,
Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL ALTON C. WARD
Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL
KEVIN J. NAPPER, EDWARD J. PAGE
NATHANIEL L. DOLINER 813.221.3900 | Page 3
Foley & Lardner | Tampa, FL Cohen, Foster & Romine | Tampa, FL
MARTIN A. TRABER Holland & Knight | Tampa, FL
Glenn, Rasmussen, Fogarty & Hooker | Tampa, FL
BARRY A. COHEN, FREDERICK M. ROTHENBERG
ROBERT C. RASMUSSEN KEvIN J. DARKEN, Myers & Shaw | Sarasota, FL
GrayRobinson | Tampa, FL TODD FOSTER CAROL L. MYERS
MICHAEL NEUKAMM 813.225.1655 | Page 2 Shutts & Bowen | Tampa, FL
Holland & Knight | Tampa, FL STEVEN K. BARBER
CHESTER E. BACHELLER, ROBERT J. GRAMMIG, Denis M. de Vlaming | Clearwater, FL Squire, Sanders & Dempsey | Tampa, FL
RICHARD B. HADLOW DENIS M. DE VLAMING JOSEPH D. EDWARDS
Shutts & Bowen | Tampa, FL George & Titus | Tampa, FL Trenam Kemker | Tampa, FL
ROBERT ALAN HIGBEE PETER E. GEORGE, DOUGLAS J. TITUS, JR. ROBERTA CASPER WATSON
Trenam Kemker | Tampa, FL
RICHARD M. LEISNER, GARY I. TEBLUM Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL ENERGy LAW
ERIK MATHENEY
CORPORATE LAW 813.221.3900 | Page 3
Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL
LAUREL E. LOCKETT, JAMES MICHAEL WALLS
Akerman Senterfitt | Tampa, FL
DAVID M. DONEY John M. Fitzgibbons | Tampa, FL ENTERTAINMENT LAW
Barnett, Bolt, Kirkwood, Long & McBride | Tampa, FL JOHN M. FITZGIBBONS
Jung & Sisco | Tampa, FL McDermott & Thacker | Brandon, FL
LESLIE J. BARNETT
WILLIAM F. JUNG, PAUL M. SISCO MICHAEL J. MCDERMOTT
Bronstein, Carlson, Gleim & Smith | St. Petersburg, FL
JOEL D. BRONSTEIN Kynes, Markman & Felman | Tampa, FL
JAMES E. FELMAN, STUART C. MARKMAN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
Bush Ross | Tampa, FL Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL
JOHN N. GIORDANO Law Offices of Ed Suarez | Tampa, FL
LAUREL E. LOCKETT, ROGER D. SCHWENKE
813.224.9255 | Page 11 EDUARDO A. SUAREZ Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL
813.229.0040 | Page 15 RHEA F. LAW, RONALD H. NOBLE
Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL Gayle B. Carlson | Tampa, FL
NATHANIEL L. DOLINER Rochelle A. Reback | Tampa, FL GAYLE BUTTRAM CARLSON
Drummond Wehle & Ross | Tampa, FL ROCHELLE A. REBACK George F. Gramling, III | Tampa, FL
CARY ROSS Ronald K. Cacciatore | Tampa, FL GEORGE F. GRAMLING III
Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL RONALD K. CACCIATORE Greenberg Traurig | Tampa, FL
OLGA M. PINA, DAVID C. SHOBE The Byrd Law Firm | Sarasota, FL DAVID B. WEINSTEIN
Glenn, Rasmussen, Fogarty & Hooker | Tampa, FL LARRY BYRD Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen | Tampa, FL
ROBERT C. RASMUSSEN Tragos & Sartres | Clearwater, FL WILLIAM B. TAYLOR IV
GrayRobinson | Tampa, FL GEORGE E. TRAGOS Mechanik Nuccio Hearne & Wester | Tampa, FL
MICHAEL NEUKAMM, JOHN I. VAN VORIS FRANK L. HEARNE, DAVID M. MECHANIK
Trombley & Hanes | Tampa, FL Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick | Tampa, FL
Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL RONALD P. HANES, THEODORE C. TAUB
MARK A. DANZI, GARY R. TROMBLEY
DAvID S. FELMAN, Williams Schifino Mangione
813.229.7918 | Page 12
& Steady | Tampa, FL
R. REID HANEY,
R. JAMES ROBBINS, JR. Zuckerman Spaeder | Tampa, FL SCOTT I. STEADY
JACK E. FERNANDEZ, JR., DELMAR LEE FUGATE, 813.221.2626 | Back Cover
813.221.3900 | Page 3 MARCOS E. HASBUN, MORRIS “SANDY” WEINBERG, JR.
Holland & Knight | Tampa, FL
CHESTER E. BACHELLER, ANDERSON L. BALDY III,
ELDER LAW EqUIPMENT FINANCE LAW
ROBERT J. GRAMMIG, RICHARD B. HADLOW Banker Lopez Gassler | Tampa, FL Holland & Knight | Tampa, FL
Mark T. Tate | Tampa, FL RICHARD M. SEBEK LEONARD H. GILBERT
MARK T. TATE
Robert E. Aylward | Tampa, FL EMINENT DOMAIN FAMILy LAW
ROBERT E. AYLWARD
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick | Tampa, FL
AND CONDEMNATION LAW Allen Dell | Tampa, FL
PAUL R. LYNCH, DARRELL C. SMITH, GREGORY C. MARIAN P. MCCULLOCH
Brigham Moore | Sarasota, FL
YADLEY S. WILLIAM MOORE
Givens Law Group | Tampa, FL
Shutts & Bowen | Tampa, FL STANN W. GIVENS
Brigham Moore | St. Petersburg, FL
ROBERT ALAN HIGBEE JACKSON H. BOWMAN IV, GREGORY S. RIX
Hastings and Estreicher | St. Petersburg, FL
Trenam Kemker | Tampa, FL MICHAEL L. HASTINGS
Buell & Elligett | Tampa, FL
NELSON T. CASTELLANO, RICHARD M. LEISNER, MARK P. BUELL, RAYMOND T. ELLIGETT, JR.,
Himes & Hearn | Tampa, FL
HAROLD W. MULLIS, JR., GARY I. TEBLUM MARC IRA SACHS
JOHN FRASER HIMES
James P. Knox | Tampa, FL
De Young Law Group | Tampa, FL
CRIMINAL DEFENSE: NON-WHITE-COLLAR DONALD TOBYN DEYOUNG
JAMES P. KNOX
Jeanne T. Tate | Tampa, FL
Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL Gaylord Merlin Ludovici Diaz & Bain | Tampa, FL
JEANNE T. TATE
EDWARD J. PAGE PAUL D. BAIN, ANDREW G. DIAZ, S. CARY GAYLORD,
LORENA HART LUDOVICI, KIMBEL L. MERLIN Koch, Smith & Hoffman | Clearwater, FL
WAYNE J. BOYER, KY M. KOCH, KINNEAR KING SMITH
Cohen, Foster & Romine | Tampa, FL
Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL Law Office of Larry K. Coleman | Bradenton, FL
BARRY A. COHEN LARRY K. COLEMAN
813.225.1655 | Page 2
ROBERT E. v. KELLEY, JR.
Maney, Damsker, Jones & Kuhlman | Tampa, FL
813.221.3900 | Page 3 DAVID A. MANEY
Denis M. de Vlaming | Clearwater, FL
DENIS M. DE VLAMING
For more info go to www.law.com/tampabest tampa’s Best lawyers 9
2011 s u r v E Y
Mason Black & Caballero | Tampa, FL
r E s u lT s
Phelps Dunbar | Tampa, FL Kelly & McKee | Tampa, FL
CAROLINE KAPUSTA BLACK, HARVEY S. KAUGET MARK F. KELLY, ROBERT F. MCKEE
ALEX CABALLERO, Kwall, Showers & Barack | Clearwater, FL
MIRIAM E. MASON
INSURANCE LAW RYAN D. BARACK
Lau, Lane, Pieper, Conley & McCreadie | Tampa, FL
813.251.9200 | Page 15 Akerman Senterfitt | Tampa, FL MARY A. LAU
Raleigh Lee Greene | St. Petersburg, FL PHILIP BRUCE CULPEPPER
Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith | Tampa, FL
RALEIGH LEE GREENE Banker Lopez Gassler | Tampa, FL J. ROBERT MCCORMACK
Raymond A. Alley, Jr. | Tampa, FL BRUCE A. AEBEL
Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen | Tampa, FL
RAYMOND A. ALLEY, JR. Barr Murman & Tonelli | Tampa, FL FRANK E. BROWN, JANET GOLDBERG MCENERY
Robert W. Fields | Tampa, FL DANIEL P. MITCHELL
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart | Tampa, FL
ROBERT W. FIELDS Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL TONY B. GRIFFIN, EDMUND J. MCKENNA, GRANT D.
Ronald J. Russo | Tampa, FL WILLIAM DONALD COX PETERSEN, KEVIN D. ZWETSCH
RONALD J. RUSSO
Phelps Dunbar | Tampa, FL
Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL DENNIS M. MCCLELLAND, JOHN D. MULLEN, JOHN E.
FAMILy LAW MEDIATION BENJAMIN H. HILL III, PHILLIPS
Raleigh Lee Greene | St. Petersburg, FL BRETT J. PRESTON Phyllis J. Towzey | St. Petersburg, FL
RALEIGH LEE GREENE 813.221.3900 | Page 3 PHYLLIS J. TOWZEY
Raymond A. Alley, Jr. | Tampa, FL Reeser, Rodnite, Outten & Zdravko | Palm Harbor, FL
RAYMOND A. ALLEY, JR. ANGELA E. OUTTEN
Merlin Law Group | Tampa, FL
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick | Tampa, FL
WILLIAM F. MERLIN, JR.
FIRST AMENDMENT LAW 813.229.1000 | Page 15
MARY LI CREASY
The Fraley Law Firm | Tampa, FL
Rahdert, Steele, Bole & Reynolds | St. Petersburg, FL Phelps Dunbar | Tampa, FL RONALD W. FRALEY
GEORGE KARL RAHDERT MATTHEW L. LITSKY The Linesch Firm | Palm Harbor, FL
Thomas, LoCicero & Bralow | Tampa, FL Schropp Law Firm | Tampa, FL DAVID J. LINESCH
CAROL J. LOCICERO, GREGG D. THOMAS CHARLES P. SCHROPP Thompson, Sizemore, Gonzalez & Hearing | Tampa, FL
Vaka, Larson & Johnson | Tampa, FL JAMES M. CRAIG, THOMAS M. GONZALEZ, GREGORY
FOOD AND BEVERAGE LAW GEORGE A. VAKA A. HEARING, KEVIN D. JOHNSON
Wenzel Fenton Cabassa | Tampa, FL
GrayRobinson | Tampa, FL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTy LAW MATTHEW K. FENTON
RICHARD M. BLAU
Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL
LAND USE & ZONING LAW
FRANCHISE LAW CHARLES DOUGLAS MCDONALD, JR.
Conwell Kirkpatrick | Tampa, FL Bricklemyer Smolker & Bolves | Tampa, FL
Quarles & Brady | Tampa, FL GEORGE DONOVAN CONWELL, JR., JAMES M. KEITH W. BRICKLEMYER
DAVID A. BEYER MATULIS Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL
Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL RHEA F. LAW, ANDREA E. ZELMAN
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS LAW MONICA B. MASON George F. Gramling, III | Tampa, FL
GrayRobinson | Tampa, FL GEORGE F. GRAMLING III
Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL STEFAN V. STEIN
RHEA F. LAW Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns | Tampa, FL Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL
Steven A. Anderson | Tampa, FL FRANK R. JAKES
STEVEN A. ANDERSON JOHN B. GRANDOFF III,
Phelps Dunbar | Tampa, FL
HARVEY S. KAUGET
GINA K. GRIMES
HEALTH CARE LAW Quarles & Brady | Tampa, FL 813.221.3900 | Page 3
Akerman Senterfitt | Tampa, FL WILLIAM F. HAMILTON
Holland & Knight | Tampa, FL
KIRK S. DAVIS, JOSEPH W. RUGG Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick | Tampa, FL
JAMES H. SHIMBERG, JR.
Allen Dell | Tampa, FL J. TODD TIMMERMAN
Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg | Sarasota, FL
CYNTHIA A. MIKOS
Banker Lopez Gassler | Tampa, FL INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND FINANCE LAW MICHAEL J. FUREN, ROBERT K. LINCOLN, WILLIAM W.
MERRILL III
RICHARD M. SEBEK Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL
Bronstein, Carlson, Gleim & Smith | St. Petersburg, FL Mark Bentley | Tampa, FL
RICHARD A. JACOBSON
THOMAS B. SMITH MARK S. BENTLEY
Holland & Knight | Tampa, FL
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney | Tampa, FL 813.223.5050| Page 15
CHESTER E. BACHELLER, ROBERT J. GRAMMIG
JAMES J. KENNEDY, RICHARD ANDREW ROCK Mechanik Nuccio Hearne & Wester | Tampa, FL
Sharp Kemm | Tampa, FL DAVID M. MECHANIK
WILLIAM M. SHARP
Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL Peterson & Myers | Lake Wales, FL
C. HOWARD HUNTER LABOR AND EMPLOyMENT LAW JACK P. BRANDON
813.221.3900 | Page 3 Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick | Tampa, FL
Akerman Senterfitt | Tampa, FL THEODORE C. TAUB
KAREN MEYER BUESING, SCOTT T. SILVERMAN Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson |
Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell | Tampa, FL
Allen, Norton & Blue | Tampa, FL Tampa, FL
BRUCE D. LAMB
WILLIAM REYNOLDS ALLEN, DAVID J. STEFANY RONALD L. WEAVER
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick | Tampa, FL
Burr & Smith | Tampa, FL Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen | Sarasota, FL
RONALD A. CHRISTALDI
SAM SMITH CHARLES D. BAILEY, JR.
Trenam Kemker | St. Petersburg, FL
Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL
JACQUELINE M. CRAIN, RICHARD O. JACOBS
Trenam Kemker | Tampa, FL JOHN P. MCADAMS, JAMES R. WILEY LEGAL MALPRACTICE LAW
DON B. WEINBREN Constangy, Brooks & Smith | Tampa, FL Banker Lopez Gassler | Tampa, FL
Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen | Sarasota, FL JOHN W. CAMPBELL, MICHAEL D. MALFITANO
FRANK H. GASSLER
CAROL ANN KALISH Cynthia N. Sass | Tampa, FL Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL
CYNTHIA N. SASS
GARY L. SASSO
IMMIGRATION LAW Fisher & Phillips | Tampa, FL
THERESA M. GALLION Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL
Christian & Associates | Tampa, FL Fisher Law Group | St. Petersburg, FL
TERRY C. CHRISTIAN SCOTT A. FISHER
BENJAMIN H. HILL III,
Florin Roebig | Palm Harbor, FL BRETT J. PRESTON
Dilip Patel | Oldsmar, FL
WOLFGANG M. FLORIN, CHRISTOPHER D. GRAY 813.221.3900 | Page 3
DILIP PATEL Ford & Harrison | Tampa, FL
813.855.0066 | Page 15 Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen | Tampa, FL
ROBERT D. HALL, JR., TRACEY K. JAENSCH,
Dilip Patel | Oldsmar, FL TAMMIE L. RATTRAY STEPHEN H. SEARS
GERALD P. SEIPP Masterson Law Group | St. Petersburg, FL
Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL
Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL CATHY JO BEVERIDGE, JOHN W. ROBINSON IV, THOMAS D. MASTERSON
WILLIAM J. FLYNN III RICHARD G. SALAZAR
Lund & O’Flaherty | Tampa, FL
JOHN E. LUND
Glenn, Rasmussen, Fogarty & Hooker | Tampa, FL LEVERAGED BUyOUTS
MARK A. HANLEY
Timothy M. Spridgeon | Clearwater, FL Greenberg Traurig | Tampa, FL
AND PRIVATE EqUITy LAW
TIMOTHY M. SPRIDGEON RICHARD C. MCCREA, JR., PETER W. ZINOBER
Holland & Knight | Tampa, FL Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGy LAW WILLIAM B. DEMEZA, JR. DAvID S. FELMAN
Conwell Kirkpatrick | Tampa, FL Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns | Clearwater, FL 813.221.3900 | Page 3
GEORGE DONOVAN CONWELL, JR. JOAN M. VECCHIOLI
10 tampa’s Best lawyers For more info go to www.tbo.com/bestlawyers
TAMPA’S B E s T l A wY E r s ®
Holland & Knight | Tampa, FL Beytin, Bolin, McLaughlin & Willers | Tampa, FL Valenzuela & Stern | Tampa, FL
ROBERT J. GRAMMIG KENNETH A. BEYTIN HENRY E. VALENZUELA
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick | Tampa, FL William E. Hahn | Tampa, FL
GREGORY C. YADLEY Bush Ross | Tampa, FL WILLIAM E. HAHN
Trenam Kemker | Tampa, FL DAvID C. BANKER,
GARY I. TEBLUM TROY J. CROTTS, MERGERS & ACqUISITIONS LAW
MARITIME LAW JAMES J. EvANGELISTA Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL
813.224.9255 | Page 11 NATHANIEL L. DOLINER
Bajo Cuva Cohen and Turkel | Tampa, FL Foley & Lardner | Tampa, FL
ANTHONY J. CUVA CURT P. CREELY, CAROLYN T. LONG, MARTIN A.
Banker Lopez Gassler | Tampa, FL
Cohen, Foster & Romine | Tampa, FL TRABER, STEVEN W. VAZQUEZ
DAVID F. POPE, ALLEN K. VON SPIEGELFELD BARRY A. COHEN Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL
Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL 813.225.1655 | Page 2 DAVID C. SHOBE
CARL R. NELSON Glenn, Rasmussen, Fogarty & Hooker | Tampa, FL
Lau, Lane, Pieper, Conley & McCreadie | Tampa, FL Florin Roebig | Palm Harbor, FL ROBERT C. RASMUSSEN
TIMOTHY C. CONLEY, DAVID W. MCCREADIE WIL H. FLORIN
Munch and Munch | Tampa, FL Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL
JACOB J. MUNCH Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL DAvID S. FELMAN
Wagner, Vaughan & McLaughlin | Tampa, FL BENJAMIN H. HILL III, 813.221.3900 | Page 3
JOHN J. MCLAUGHLIN, ROGER A. VAUGHAN, JR. JOHN L. HOLCOMB,
C. HOWARD HUNTER Holland & Knight | Tampa, FL
MASS TORT LITIGATION 813.221.3900 | Page 3 CHESTER E. BACHELLER, ANDERSON L. BALDY III
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick | Tampa, FL
Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL
DARRELL C. SMITH, GREGORY C. YADLEY
EDWARD W. GERECKE, KEVIN J. NAPPER, GARY L. Knopik Deskins Law Group | Tampa, FL
SASSO CHRISTOPHER S. KNOPIK Shutts & Bowen | Tampa, FL
Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen | Clearwater, FL ROBERT ALAN HIGBEE
MEDIA LAW JAMES A. MARTIN, JR. Trenam Kemker | Tampa, FL
HAROLD W. MULLIS, JR.
Masterson Law Group | St. Petersburg, FL
Thomas, LoCicero & Bralow | Tampa, FL THOMAS D. MASTERSON
GREGG D. THOMAS Morgan, Lamb, Goldman & Valles | Tampa, FL MUNICIPAL LAW
CARL A. GOLDMAN, ROLAND J. LAMB, KELLY LAMB,
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAW RODNEY W. MORGAN
Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL
RHEA F. LAW
Akerman Senterfitt | Tampa, FL Rissman, Barrett, Hurt, Donahue & McLain | Tampa, FL Susan Johnson-Velez | Tampa, FL
KIRK S. DAVIS RICHARD MANGAN SUSAN JOHNSON-VELEZ
Alley, Clark & Greiwe | Tampa, FL Stephens Lynn Klein LaCava & Puya | Tampa, FL
JAMES D. CLARK, DONALD GREIWE LOUIS J. LACAVA
The Yerrid Law Firm | Tampa, FL
NATURAL RESOURCES LAW
Banker Lopez Gassler | Tampa, FL
ROBERT E. BANKER, RICHARD K. BOWERS C. STEVEN YERRID Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL
Barr Murman & Tonelli | Tampa, FL Thompson, Goodis, Thompson, Groseclose, Richardson LAUREL E. LOCKETT
DAVID S. NELSON, CLIFFORD L. SOMERS & Miller | St. Petersburg, FL
JEFFREY M. GOODIS
SELECTED FOR
INCLUSION IN
T A M P A ’S
B
LAWYERS
®
Practice Areas: Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights • Business, Tax and Corporate Finance
Casualty Practice • Commercial Collections • Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Community Associations • Estate Planning • Health Care Practice • Real Property and Lending
2011 EDITION
J. CaRtER andERsEn daVid C. bankER
CommerCial liTiGaTion CommerCial liTiGaTion
Sports and Entertainment • Trial and Appellate Practice
tROy J. CROtts samuEl b. JamEs J. EVanGElista
healTh Care anD Civil Trial dOlCimasCOlO healTh Care anD Civil Trial
esTaTe PlanninG
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Business, Tax CommerCial liTiGaTion CommuniTy assoCiaTions
anD CorPoraTe FinanCe
1801 n o r t h h i G h l a n d a v e n u e , t a m pa , F l o r i d a 33602-2656
p h : 813.224.9255 F a x : 813.223.9620 • www.bushross.com
EdWaRd O. saVitz h. bRadlEy staGGs JEffREy W. WaRREn
The hiring of an attorney is an important decision which should not be based solely on advertisements. Before you CommerCial liTiGaTion BanKruPTCy anD BanKruPTCy anD
decide, please ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. The content of CreDiTors’ riGhTs CreDiTors’ riGhTs
this advertisement was approved by Jeffrey Warren.
For more info go to www.law.com/tampabest tampa’s Best lawyers 11
2011 s u r v E Y r E s u lT s
de la Parte & Gilbert | Tampa, FL Valenzuela & Stern | Tampa, FL
NON-PROFIT/CHARITIES LAW RICHARD A. GILBERT HENRY E. VALENZUELA
Florin Roebig | Palm Harbor, FL Wagner, Vaughan & McLaughlin | Tampa, FL
Akerman Senterfitt | Tampa, FL THOMAS D. ROEBIG, JR. KEVIN MCLAUGHLIN, ROGER A. VAUGHAN, JR.,
FRANK J. RIEF Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL BILL WAGNER, ALAN F. WAGNER
Barnett, Bolt, Kirkwood, Long & McBride | Tampa, FL GARY W. MARTIN Weekly Schulte Valdes | Tampa, FL
LESLIE J. BARNETT, PETER T. KIRKWOOD George & Titus | Tampa, FL CHRISTOPHER SCHULTE
DOUGLAS J. TITUS, JR. Wilkes & McHugh | Tampa, FL
PERSONAL INjURy LITIGATION GrayRobinson | Lakeland, FL BENNIE LAZZARA, JR., TIMOTHY C. MCHUGH,
ROBERT L. TROHN JAMES L. WILKES II
Alley, Clark & Greiwe | Tampa, FL
Grossman Roth | Sarasota, FL William E. Hahn | Tampa, FL
C. TODD ALLEY, JAMES D. CLARK
WILLIAM E. PARTRIDGE WILLIAM E. HAHN
Banker Lopez Gassler | St. Petersburg, FL
William F. Blews | St. Petersburg, FL
DAVID L. BRESLER, JEFFREY P. WINKLER
Gunn Law Group | Tampa, FL WILLIAM F. BLEWS
Banker Lopez Gassler | Tampa, FL
ROBERT E. BANKER, THOMAS R. BOPP, LOUIS ROBERT LEE D. GUNN Iv
813.228.7070 | Page 7 Williams Schifino Mangione
BOURGEOIS, RICHARD K. BOWERS, FRANK H.
GASSLER, JOHN A. KRENTZMAN, JOSEPH K. LOPEZ,
& Steady | Tampa, FL
BRADLEY E. POWERS ROBERT M. STOLER
Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & Wein | St. Petersburg, FL Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL 813.221.2626 | Back Cover
AUBREY O. DICUS, JR. JOHN L. HOLCOMB,
Brennan, Holden, Kavouklis | Tampa, FL
C. HOWARD HUNTER
WELDON EARL BRENNAN
813.221.3900 | Page 3
PRIVATE FUNDS LAW
Buell & Elligett | Tampa, FL
MARK P. BUELL
Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg | Sarasota, FL Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL
Bush Graziano & Rice | Tampa, FL
RONALD E. BUSH
ROBERT G. LYONS DAvID S. FELMAN
Knopik Deskins Law Group | Tampa, FL 813.221.3900 | Page 3
Bush Ross | Tampa, FL CHRISTOPHER S. KNOPIK
DAvID C. BANKER, Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen | Tampa, FL
STEPHEN H. SEARS
TROY J. CROTTS,
Masterson Law Group | St. Petersburg, FL
PRODUCT LIABILITy LITIGATION
JAMES J. EvANGELISTA THOMAS D. MASTERSON Banker Lopez Gassler | Tampa, FL
813.224.9255 | Page 11 Rissman, Barrett, Hurt, Donahue & McLain | Tampa, FL FRANK H. GASSLER
RICHARD MANGAN Bush Graziano & Rice | Tampa, FL
RONALD E. BUSH
Carey & Leisure | Clearwater, FL Rywant, Alvarez, Jones, Russo Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL
THOMAS W. CAREY & Guyton | Tampa, FL EDWARD W. GERECKE, KEVIN J. NAPPER
727.799.3900 | Page 14 MICHAEL S. RYWANT Shook, Hardy & Bacon | Tampa, FL
813.229.7007 | Page 13 DANIEL F. MOLONY
Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL
KEVIN J. NAPPER Swope Rodante | Tampa, FL PROFESSIONAL MALPRACTICE LAW
DALE M. SWOPE
Banker Lopez Gassler | Tampa, FL
Cohen, Foster & Romine | Tampa, FL The Yerrid Law Firm | Tampa, FL
ROBERT E. BANKER
BARRY A. COHEN C. STEVEN YERRID
813.225.1655 | Page 2 Valenti Campbell Trohn Tamayo Bush Ross | Tampa, FL
& Aranda, P.A. | Lakeland, FL
JONATHAN B. TROHN JAMES J. EvANGELISTA,
EDWARD O. SAvITZ
813.224.9255 | Page 11
Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL
BENJAMIN H. HILL III
813.221.3900 | Page 3
PUBLIC FINANCE LAW
Bryant Miller & Olive | Tampa, FL
DUANE D. DRAPER
GrayRobinson | Lakeland, FL
HENRY M. MORGAN, JR.
GrayRobinson | Tampa, FL
FRANK N. FLEISCHER
Holland & Knight | Lakeland, FL
RICHARD B. STEPHENS, EDWARD W. VOGEL III
Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson | Tampa, FL
L. THOMAS GIBLIN, STEVEN E. MILLER, JOHN R.
STOKES
Squire, Sanders & Dempsey | Tampa, FL
ALEXANDRA M. MACLENNAN
REAL ESTATE LAW
Adams and Reese | St. Petersburg, FL
Pictured: Wesley Trombley, Gary Trombley, Ronald Hanes and Matt Luka
DAVID S. BERNSTEIN
Akerman Senterfitt | Tampa, FL
AILEEN S. DAVIS
Congratulations Trombley & Hanes Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & Wein | St. Petersburg, FL
ANTHONY S. BATTAGLIA
Bricklemyer Smolker & Bolves | Tampa, FL
KEITH W. BRICKLEMYER
Gary Trombley & Ronald Hanes have been selected for inclusion Bryant Miller & Olive | Tampa, FL
SAMUEL P. QUEIROLO
in Best Lawyers in America for another consecutive year.
Bush Ross | Tampa, FL
Concentrating in federal and state criminal matters and complex civil litigation. STEvEN H. MEZER
813.224.9255 | Page 11
707 N. Franklin St., 10th Floor, Tampa Theatre Building | Tampa, FL 33602
Carlton Fields | St. Petersburg, FL
Phone: (813) 229-7918 | Fax: (813) 223-5204 | Web: www.trombleyhaneslaw.com JOEL B. GILES, RICHARD C. LINQUANTI,
DAVID R. PUNZAK
12 tampa’s Best lawyers For more info go to www.tbo.com/bestlawyers
TAMPA’S B E s T l A wY E r s ®
Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick | Tampa, FL Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick | Tampa, FL
ROBERT S. FREEDMAN, EDGEL C. LESTER, JR., ROGER C. GRAHAM CAROTHERS, JR., WILLIAM KENT IHRIG, DARRELL C. SMITH, GREGORY C. YADLEY
D. SCHWENKE, MICHAEL J. VIRGADAMO JOHN S. INGLIS, THEODORE C. TAUB Trenam Kemker | Tampa, FL
DLA Piper | Tampa, FL Squire, Sanders & Dempsey | Tampa, FL NELSON T. CASTELLANO, RICHARD M. LEISNER,
MICHAEL A. BEDKE JEFFREY DREW BUTT, STEPHEN J. MITCHELL GARY I. TEBLUM
Fisher & Sauls | St. Petersburg, FL Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff
LOUIE N. ADCOCK, JR. & Sitterson | Tampa, FL Williams Schifino Mangione
Foley & Lardner | Tampa, FL RONALD L. WEAVER & Steady | Tampa, FL
THOMAS M. LITTLE, FRED S. RIDLEY, STEPHEN J. Trenam Kemker | St. Petersburg, FL WILLIAM J. SCHIFINO, JR.
SZABO ROBERT C. DECKER, ROBERT DONALD MASTRY
813.221.2626 | Back Cover
Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL Trenam Kemker | Tampa, FL
RHEA F. LAW, JEFFREY C. SHANNON J. ALAN ASENDORF, DAVID R. BRITTAIN, MARY H.
QUINLAN, RICHARD H. SOLLNER, ROBERT G. STERN
GrayRobinson | Tampa, FL
JEANETTE M. FLORES, STEPHEN L. KUSSNER Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen | Sarasota, FL
TAx LAW
J. MICHAEL HARTENSTINE Akerman Senterfitt | Tampa, FL
Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL WILLIAM KALISH, AUGUST M. VAN EEPOEL
GINA K. GRIMES, SECURITIES LAW Barnett, Bolt, Kirkwood, Long & McBride | Tampa, FL
THOMAS N. HENDERSON III, Akerman Senterfitt | Tampa, FL
LESLIE J. BARNETT, PETER T. KIRKWOOD, DAVID L.
STEPHEN M. HUDOBA, DAVID M. DONEY
KOCHE
Bronstein, Carlson, Gleim & Smith | St. Petersburg, FL
JONATHAN P. JENNEWEIN, JOEL D. BRONSTEIN, SUSAN W. CARLSON
ROBERT E. v. KELLEY, JR., Bush Ross | Tampa, FL
Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL
R. JAMES ROBBINS, JR., JOHN N. GIORDANO DAVID P. BURKE
W. LAWRENCE SMITH 813.224.9255 | Page 11 Foley & Lardner | Tampa, FL
813.221.3900 | Page 3 MICHAEL D. ANNIS
Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL
Holland & Knight | Tampa, FL RICHARD A. DENMON, NATHANIEL L. DOLINER E. JACKSON BOGGS, HUNTER J. BROWNLEE,
RICHARD D. ECKHARD, JAMES H. SHIMBERG, JR. Foley & Lardner | Tampa, FL MITCHELL I. HOROWITZ
Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg | Sarasota, FL CURT P. CREELY, MARTIN A. TRABER,
Gardner Law Firm | Tampa, FL
MICHAEL J. FUREN STEVEN W. VAZQUEZ
Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL MERRITT A. GARDNER
Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns | Clearwater, FL
DAVID C. SHOBE 813.288.9600 | Page 15
ROGER A. LARSON
Glenn, Rasmussen, Fogarty & Hooker | Tampa, FL Harrison & Guerrini | Tampa, FL
McNamara & Carver | Tampa, FL
ROBERT C. RASMUSSEN WILLIAM T. HARRISON III
CHARLES H. CARVER
Phelps Dunbar | Tampa, FL GrayRobinson | Tampa, FL
MICHAEL NEUKAMM Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL
BARBARA H. LUIKART, DONALD H. WHITTEMORE
Powell, Carney, Gross, Maller & Ramsay | St. Petersburg, FL Holland & Knight | Tampa, FL ROBERT E. v. KELLEY, JR.,
MARY JO CARNEY, JAMES N. POWELL CHESTER E. BACHELLER, ROBERT J. GRAMMIG, BRIAN C. SPARKS
Preston O. Cockey, Jr. | Tampa, FL RICHARD B. HADLOW 813.221.3900 | Page 3
PRESTON O. COCKEY, JR. Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns | Tampa, FL
GUY M. BURNS
ry wa n t, a Lva r e z , J o n e s, r u s s o a n d G u y t o n, Pa
Alex McNight
R ywant, Alvarez, Jones, Russo and Guyton,
PA is a law firm specializing in litigation. Our
practice involves insurance disputes, personal
injury and wrongful death claims, family law,
and criminal law. The firm’s clients are diverse,
ranging from individual consumers to
business associations to insurance companies.
Its lawyers are licensed to practice in all
Florida state and federal courts. The firm has
offices in Tampa, Inverness, and Gainesville.
The firm’s five shareholders—Michael S.
Rywant, Manuel J. Alvarez, Gregory D. Jones,
Andrew F. Russo, and John A. Guyton III—are
all Florida Bar Board Certified Civil Trial
Lawyers, which is the highest evaluation of the
competency and experience for attorneys in
the approved areas. Together, they bring
more than a century of combined experience
to the practice, using their expertise to help
clients find the best solution to fit their needs.
All of the partners are Florida Super
From Left: Mike Rywant, Greg Jones, Manny Alvarez, Andrew Russo, John Guyton
Lawyers, and have received an AV Peer Rating SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN
from Martindale-Hubbell—the highest such T A M P A ’s r yWant , a Lvarez , J ones , r usso and G uyton , Pa
rating available to any individual lawyer. Mike
Rywant acted as lead counsel in Berges vs.
B Tampa • 109 Brush street, suite 500, tamPa, FL 33602 • Ph: 813.229.7007
LAWYERS
®
Gainesville • 2440 s.W. 76th street, suite 130, GainesviLLe, FL 32608 • Ph:
Infinity Insurance, a leading Florida Supreme 2011 EDITION
352.333.3700
Court decision explaining insurer obligations. miChael s. ryWanT inverness • 407 Courthouse square, inverness, FL 34450 • Ph: 352.341.4441
www.rywantalvarez.com
For more info go to www.law.com/tampabest tampa’s Best lawyers 13
2011 s u r v E Y
Holland & Knight | Tampa, FL
r E s u lT s
Akerman Senterfitt | Tampa, FL
BERNARD A. BARTON, JR., JACK A. LEVINE, TECHNOLOGy LAW WILLIAM KALISH, FRANK J. RIEF,
DOUGLAS A. WRIGHT AUGUST M. VAN EEPOEL
Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns | Clearwater, FL GrayRobinson | Tampa, FL Barnett, Bolt, Kirkwood, Long & McBride | Tampa, FL
BRUCE H. BOKOR BRENT C.J. BRITTON LESLIE J. BARNETT, PETER T. KIRKWOOD
Mark T. Tate | Tampa, FL Phelps Dunbar | Tampa, FL Baskin Fleece | Clearwater, FL
MARK T. TATE HARVEY S. KAUGET JOSEPH W. FLEECE III
Sharp Kemm | Tampa, FL Bronstein, Carlson, Gleim & Smith | St. Petersburg, FL
WILLIAM M. SHARP TRANSPORTATION LAW JOEL D. BRONSTEIN
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick | Tampa, FL
Banker Lopez Gassler | Tampa, FL Bush Ross | Tampa, FL
BRUCE H. GORDON
ALLEN K. VON SPIEGELFELD
Trenam Kemker | Tampa, FL SAMUEL B. DOLCIMASCOLO
HAROLD W. MULLIS, JR., ALBERT C. O’NEILL, JR.
Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen | Sarasota, FL
TRUSTS AND ESTATES 813.224.9255 | Page 11
E. JOHN WAGNER II Adams and Reese | Sarasota, FL Fergeson, Skipper, Shaw, Keyser, Baron & Tirabassi |
BARRY F. SPIVEY Sarasota, FL
RICHARD R. GANS, J. RONALD SKIPPER
Fisher & Wilsey | St. Petersburg, FL
GEORGE F. WILSEY
THoMAs cArEY & jodi lEisurE Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL
E. JACKSON BOGGS, AMELIA M. CAMPBELL, DONNA
LONGHOUSE
P E r s o n A l i n j u r Y l i T i g AT i o n Gardner Law Firm | Tampa, FL
MERRITT A. GARDNER
Thomas Carey received his AB degree from Georgetown, 813.288.9600 | Page 15
University, his Juris Doctorate degree, cum laude, from Suffolk GrayRobinson | Lakeland, FL
University in 1978, and his LLM degree from New York JOHN K. VREELAND
GrayRobinson | Tampa, FL
University Law School in 1979 on full Academic Fellowship. In MICHAEL J. NOLAN II
1977 he was admitted to the Rhode Island Bar and the
Massachusetts Bar, and in 1978 he was admitted to the Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL
Florida Bar. He is Board Certified as a Civil Trial Lawyer and as a Civil Trial Advocate by the LINDA D. HARTLEY,
National Board of Trial Advocacy. He has been selected for inclusion since 2006 as a BRIAN C. SPARKS
Florida Super Lawyer. 813.221.3900 | Page 3
Jodi Leisure is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar and the National Board Holland & Knight | Tampa, FL
JOHN ARTHUR JONES, ROBERT JAMES KLINE,
of Trial Advocacy. Ms. Leisure received her Juris Doctorate degree, magna cum laude, from EDWARD F. KOREN, JR., WILLIAM R. LANE, JR.
Stetson University College of Law in 1999, and her Bachelor of Science degree in business Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns | Clearwater, FL
administration, magna cum laude, from Palm Beach Atlantic College in 1989. She was BRUCE H. BOKOR
selected for inclusion as a Florida Super Lawyer in 2010. Linda C. Hanna | Tampa, FL
LINDA C. HANNA
Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell | Tampa, FL
622 Bypass Drive, Clearwater, FL 33764
Carey & Leisure Toll Free: 800.927.0400 Ph: 727.799.3900
DEBRA L. BOJE
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick | Tampa, FL
www.careyandleisure.com BRUCE H. GORDON
Shutts & Bowen | Tampa, FL
ROBERT H. WALTUCH
The Payne Law Group | Sarasota, FL
L. HOWARD PAYNE
Trenam Kemker | St. Petersburg, FL
BRUCE MARGER
Trenam Kemker | Tampa, FL
THOMAS D. AITKEN, J. ERIC TAYLOR
Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Prosser, P.A. is proud to William Fletcher Belcher | St. Petersburg, FL
WILLIAM FLETCHER BELCHER
have six firm lawyers recognized as “Best Lawyers”
William R. Platt | Tampa, FL
WILLIAM R. PLATT
in the 2011 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America in ® Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen | Sarasota, FL
JOHN BERTEAU, RIC GREGORIA
the category of Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights VENTURE CAPITAL LAW
Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL
Don Stichter, Harley Riedel, Russ Blain, been listed for more than twenty years in this DAvID S. FELMAN
Richard Prosser, Charles Postler, and Scott category and Richard Prosser and Russ Blain 813.221.3900 | Page 3
Stichter are listed in the “Bankruptcy have been listed for over ten years.
Lawyers” section of Best Lawyers in
Harley Riedel was also named the WATER LAW
America® for 2011.
Best Lawyers® 2010 Tampa Bankruptcy Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL
and Creditor-Debtor Rights Lawyer of ROGER D. SCHWENKE
Since 2001, the firm has had at de la Parte & Gilbert | Tampa, FL
least four attorneys continuously the Year. EDWARD P. DE LA PARTE, JR.
Manson Law Group | Tampa, FL
listed in the “Bankruptcy Lawyers” Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Prosser, P.A., DOUGLAS P. MANSON
section of Best Lawyers in America®. is a 16-lawyer firm specializing in the
It is the only firm in Florida, representation of parties in bankruptcy cases,
WORkERS’ COMPENSATION LAW
Georgia and Alabama (the three states within insolvency matters, out-of-court workout Banker Lopez Gassler | St. Petersburg, FL
GREGORY A. BROOKS
the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeal) to be so arrangements, and related civil litigation. Banker Lopez Gassler | Tampa, FL
honored. Don Stichter and Harley Riedel have DONALD S. BENNETT, DAVID C. LOCKWOOD,
TIMOTHY D. WOLF
Law Office of James H. Smith | Tampa, FL
JAMES H. SMITH
110 E. Madison St., Suite 200 Stiles, Taylor & Grace | Tampa, FL
Tampa, Florida 33602-4700 www.srbp.com MARY ANN STILES
(813) 229-0144
14 tampa’s Best lawyers For more info go to www.tbo.com/bestlawyers
tampa’s B e s t L a wy e r s ®
Caroline Kapusta blaCK alexanDer Caballero
FamILy Law FamILy Law
Land Use and Zoning Caroline has held numerous Alex is board certified in Marital and
Eminent Domain positions related to her practice Family Law and exclusively practices
area, including Fellow in the family law. He is a partner at Mason
Governmental Law American Academy of Matrimonial Black & Caballero, PA. He is a former
Lawyers, President of the prosecutor with the Hillsborough
Mark Bentley, Esq., AICP Hillsborough County Bar Association, County State Attorney’s Office.
Chair of the Florida Bar Family Law He is a former Executive Council
Mark has been selected as a Florida Super Section and past-Chair of the Hillsborough County Bar member of The Florida Bar and current Executive
Lawyer, a Florida Legal Elite, one of the Association Family Law Section. She is AV-rated by Council member and Secretary/Treasurer of the
“Best Lawyers of Tampa Bay” by Tampa Bay Martindale Hubbell and mentioned in The Best Lawyers Hillsborough County Family Law Section. Alex was
in America®. She has been published in The Florida Bar appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to The Florida
Magazine, and “Planner of the Year” by the
Continuing Legal Education Publications on Family Board of Bar Examiners and is currently an Emeritus
Sun Coast Section of the American Planning Law. She is a Board Certified marital and family lawyer Member of the Board of Bar Examiners. He is past
Association. Mark also serves as an adjunct by The Florida Bar’s Board of Certification. chair of two separate Bar Grievance Committees.
professor for the University of South Florida’s Alex received his Juris Doctorate with high honors
Masters of Urban and Regional Planning from Florida State University College of Law in 1993.
Program, where he teaches land use law. He graduated cum laude from the University of
South Florida.
Board Certified by The Florida Bar
as an Expert in City, County and mason Black & caBallero pa mason Black & caBallero pa
Local Government Law 307 S. Magnolia Avenue 307 S. Magnolia Avenue
Tampa, FL 33606 Tampa, FL 33618
www.bentleylawfirm.net ph: 813.251.9200 fax: 813.254.6841 ph: 813.251.9200 fax: 813.254.5841
P: (813) 223-5050 F: (813) 223-3555 www.mbc-lawoffice.com www.mbc-lawoffice.com
caroline@mbc-lawoffice.com alex@mbc-lawoffice.com
merrItt a. gardner MiriaM e. Mason WilliaM F. “Chip” Merlin, Jr.
FamILy Law Insurance Law
Gardner Law Firm
Watermark 5, Suite 200 Miriam has held numerous positions William F. “Chip” Merlin, Jr. is
related to her practice area, includ- founder and president of Merlin Law
5415 Mariner Street ing President of the American Group, P. A. A graduate of the
Tampa, Florida 33609 Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, University of Florida School of Law,
President of the Florida Chapter of Mr. Merlin was admitted to the
Tel: 813.288.9600 the American Academy of Florida Bar in 1983. He has dedicat-
Matrimonial Lawyers, Chair of the ed his career to seeking justice for
Family Law Section of the Florida Bar, Chair of The insurance policyholders. Mr. Merlin’s practice focuses
Florida Bar’s Family Law Rules Committee, and Editor on insurance disputes and insurance bad faith claims.
• Business, estate of the Family Law Commentator Miriam is a past-Presi- He is routinely asked to speak at some of the nation’s
and tax PLanning dent of The Athena Society, Inc. and past-President of most prestigious conferences and seminars on
the J. Clifford Cheatwood American Inn of Court. She is insurance issues and insurance bad faith. Mr. Merlin
• estate and also a Diplomat of the American College of Family Trial is widely regarded as one of the foremost practitioners
trust administration Lawyers, a Fellow of the International Academy of
Matrimonial Lawyers and is AV-rated by Martindale-
of insurance claim litigation in the country and
actively promotes consumer protection legislation
• tax and ProBate Hubbell, and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in for policyholders.
America®. She is a board-certified marital and family
Litigation lawyer by The Florida Bar’s Board of Certification.
Selected For Inclusion in merlin law Group, pa
Tampa’s Best Lawyers® mason Black & caBallero pa 777 S. Harbour Island Blvd. Suite 950
307 South Magnolia Avenue Tampa, FL 33602
Certified Tax Lawyer Tampa, FL 33606 ph: 813.229.1000 fax: 813.229.3692
ph: 813.251.9200 fax: 813.254.6841 www.merlinlawgroup.com
The Florida Bar www.mbc-lawoffice.com www.propertyinsurancecoveragelaw.com
Dilip patel, esq eD suarez
ImmIgratIon Law crImInaL DeFense:
whIte-coLLar
Dilip Patel has practiced immigration
law from the Tampa Bay area for the Ed Suarez has tried a wide range of
to order reprints of tampa’s Best Lawyers,
past 20 years. Dilip is one of only
54 attorneys Board Certified by the
cases in front of juries in the state and
federal courts of Florida. He graduated
please contact 877.257.3382
Florida Bar in Immigration and
Nationality Law. He has achieved
from Florida State University, College of
Law in 1987, where he was a member
or reprintscustomerservice@alm.com
Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating of the moot court team, mock trial
for legal ability and ethical standards. He is also listed in team, and a recipient of the James Harold Thompson
The Best Lawyers in America® for immigration law. The Scholarship. In 1988, he was admitted to the Florida state
lawyer rating agency AVVO has ranked him “Superb” bar and the United States District Court for the Middle Woodward/White Inc. has used its best efforts in assembling material for
with a score of 10/10. Dilip received his LLB law degree District of Florida. He is also a member of the Eleventh this list but does not warrant that the information contained herein is
from The London School of Economics at the University Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme complete or accurate. Neither Woodward/ White Inc. nor ALM Media,
of London in 1980. He received his JD Degree with high Court. Ed Suarez began his career as a prosecutor in LLC (or either party’s affiliates, employees, officers, directors or agents)
honors from the Florida State University College of Law assumes, and both parties hereby disclaim, any liability to any person for
Florida’s 13th Judicial Circuit, prosecuting cases including any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein, whether such
in 1990. He is a past Chair of the Central Florida Chapter fraud and other financial crimes, capital sexual battery, child errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause.
of AILA and currently serves on the Florida Bar abuse, and other serious felony offenses. Since 1991, Ed This magazine includes paid attorney advertising. Consumers should
Immigration and Nationality Law Certification has concentrated his efforts on helping clients with criminal contact the state bar for verification and additional information prior to
Committee. Dilip’s family originated from Gujarat, India. and personal injury matters in the Tampa Bay area. securing the legal services of any attorney. For more information, see
He was born in Uganda, East Africa and lived in London, www.bestlawyers.com.
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