BARRy COHEN BARRy COHEN - Offical Contest Rules

T A M P A ’s 

BestLawyers 

2 0 1 1 E d i T i o n 

WHO ARE THE 

LAWyERS OF THE yEAR? 

BARRy COHEN 

COMMITMENT 

AND PASSION 

A sPEciAl AdvErTising suPPlEMEnT To A s P E c i A l s u P P l E M E n T T o 

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN TAMPA 

®

C o h e n , F o s t e r & r o m i n e , P . a . 

From Left: Stephen L. Romine, Esq., Todd A. Foster, Esq., Barry A. Cohen, Esq., Patricia Allen, Investigator, Kimberly A. 

DeGroat, Investigator, Kevin J. Darken, Esq., Everett S. Rice, Esq., Rohom Khonsari, Esq., Christina L. Kimball, Investigator, 

Steven L. Cohen, MA, Michael L. Rubinstein, Esq., Chinwe O. Fossett, Esq., Jack M. Ross, Esq., Michael A. Gold, Esq., 

Brian J. Lefferts, Financial Investigator 

Cohen, Foster & romine is a tampa-based Firm t h at 

provides legal counsel and representation in the areas of 

criminal defense, civil litigation, commercial litigation, 

and qui tam/ false claims act or whistleblower actions. 

Selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers 

in America® in the area of White Collar Criminal Defense 

are Barry A. Cohen (1983-2010), Todd Foster (2010) and 

Kevin J. Darken (2009-2010). In addition, Mr. Cohen is 

recognized in 2010 by The Best Lawyers in America ® in the 

areas of Personal Injury Litigation, Medical Malpractice, 

and Non-White Collar Criminal Defense. This is his 

27th consecutive year of recognition byThe Best Lawyers 

in America ®. 

the Firm is comprised oF a meticulously assembled team 

of attorneys and support personnel who bring their 

independent strengths to the firm’s legal arsenal. Firm 

members are no strangers to the courtroom, and they 

utilize their litigation skills not only in trial, but also in 

negotiations with opposing counsel. 

Founding partner barry a. cohen w it h over 40 years 

of practice as a criminal and civil trial attorney, has 

represented a number of high profile clients and, as 

evidenced by this year’s 27th consecutive inclusion in The 

Best Lawyers in America®, he has consistently earned 

the respect of his peers. Partner Todd Foster, a former 

FBI special agent and federal prosecutor who heads the 

federal criminal division, has almost 30 years of federal 

criminal experience, is a nationally recognized speaker 

on trial advocacy, and defends clients, including lawyers, 

doctors and business professionals, in matters including 

securities, tax and bank fraud, conspiracy, and money 

laundering. Partner Stephen Romine, with over 18 years 

of criminal trial experience, heads the firm’s state criminal 

division and is a Florida Bar Board Certified Criminal Trial 

5/3 Center, 201 ea s t Ke n n e d y Bo u l e va r d, su i t e 1000, ta m pa , Fl 33602 

Ph: 800.308.8426 o r 813.225.1655 • www.tampalawfirm.com 

SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN 

B 


® 

LAWYERS 

2 0 1 1 E D I T I O N 

Barry a. Cohen 

Kevin J. DarKen 

ToDD FosTer 

Lawyer, a distinction held by less than 1% of all Florida 

attorneys. Mr. Romine has represented clients in many of 

the firm’s most high profile cases and in 2010 received a 

Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award for his 

representation of a young man fighting a wrongful 

conviction and 30 year prison sentence. Kevin J. Darken, 

who heads up the firm’s qui tam division, is a former 

Assistant U.S. Attorney, an experienced litigator, and 

author of a leading national treatise on qui tam and 

health care fraud litigation. 

the litigation team also includes Keith thomas, a 

Martindale-Hubble AV rated civil trial attorney, who with 

a background in mechanical engineering and over twenty 

years of civil trial experience brings a unique and valuable 

prospective to litigating complex product liability, 

medical malpractice, personal injury, wrongful death and 

commercial litigation cases; Chinwe Fossett, a former 

prosecutor and national trial team champion; Michael 

Rubinstein, a former Assistant US Attorney with over 35 

years of federal criminal and civil experience; Rohom 

Khonsari, a former prosecutor and experienced criminal 

defense and civil trial advocate; Michael Gold, an experienced 

civil and criminal litigator who earned his LL.M. in 

securities law from Georgetown University; and Jack Ross, 

a former prosecutor and commercial litigator with a 

strong background in political and international affairs. 

while each lawyer is highly involved in the investigation 

of cases, their in-house investigative staff boasts the 

presence of a former FBI special agent, a former 

HHS-OIG (health care fraud) special agent, a forensic 

accountant, and Everett Rice, the former Sheriff of 

Pinellas County, who, in addition to his work with the firm 

as a lawyer, participates and supervises investigations 

that benefit from his experience. 

Alex McNight

T H E G U I D E T O T A M P A ’ S 

T O P A T T O R N E y S 

It’s inevitable—at some point in your life, you’re going to need a lawyer, 

and you won’t always be able to predict when that need will arise. Whether 

you’re starting a business or selling one, getting married or divorced, 

patenting your invention, litigating a contract, or buying a home—there 

is a talented and highly competent attorney listed in this guide who can 

help. Perhaps you or a family member is involved in an accident or accused 

of a crime. These are all serious matters for which you need first-rate legal 

representation. 

Tampa’s Best Lawyers ® helps take the mystery out of locating a highquality 

advocate to protect you, your family, your business and all other assets 

The exceptional attorneys listed in this guide are only those attorneys 

listed in The Best Lawyers in America ®. 

These attorneys were nominated by and voted in by their peers. Lawyers 

cannot buy their way into this guide. They must earn a spot through 

exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. To remain 

on the list, they must be at the top of their game, year after year. Best 

Lawyers, the leading referral list in the legal profession, and ALM, the nation’s 

leading legal journalism and information company, have teamed up 

to provide this invaluable resource for readers, whatever your legal needs 

may be. Lawyers in this guide are arranged by their legal specialty—from 

Administrative Law to Workers’ Compensation Law—which makes it easy 

to find the professional advice you need. 

Keep this comprehensive guide available for those times when you 

need a first-rate advocate to assist you. The lawyers listed in Tampa’s Best 

Lawyers are eager to help. 

For more info go to www.law.com/tampabest 

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 

for nearly three decades, Best Lawyers ® METHodologY 

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 

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 

other lawyers. 

The method used to compile Best Lawyers remains unchanged since the first edition 

was compiled more than 28 years ago. Lawyers are chosen for inclusion based solely on a 

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 

ratings. The nomination pool for the 2011 edition consisted of all lawyers whose names 

appeared in the previous edition of Best Lawyers, lawyers who were nominated since the 

previous survey, and new nominees solicited from listed attorneys. In general, lawyers 

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 

lawyers in smaller jurisdictions. Where practice areas are national or international in 

nature, lawyers were asked to vote nationally as well as locally. Voting lawyers were also 

given an opportunity to offer more detailed comments on nominees. 

Voting lawyers were provided this general guideline for determining if a nominee 

should be listed: “If you had a close friend or relative who needed a real estate lawyer (for 

example), and you could not handle the case yourself, to whom would you refer them?” 

All votes and comments were solicited with a guarantee of confidentiality – a critical factor 

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 

evaluate each nominee based only on his or her individual merits. The additional 

comments were used to make more accurate comparisons between voting patterns and 

weight votes accordingly. Best Lawyers uses various methodological tools to identify and 

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 

or her fellow attorneys. While it is true that the lists may at times disproportionately reward 

visibility or popularity, the breadth of the survey, the candor of the respondents, and the 

sophistication of the polling methodology largely correct for any biases. For all these 

reasons, Best Lawyers lists continue to represent the most reliable, accurate and useful 

guide to the legal profession in the United States. 

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 

Michael P. Brundage 

Mark a. danzi 

david S. FelMan 

John B. grandoFF, iii 

gina k. griMeS 

WilliaM c. guerrant, Jr. 

Bret t. haMlin 

r. reid haney 

linda d. hartley 

thoMaS n. henderSon, iii 

BenJaMin h. hill, iii 

John l. holcoMB 

StePhen M. hudoBa 

tiMothy a. hunt 

c. hoWard hunter 

Jonathan P. JenneWein 

roBert e. v. kelley, Jr. 

david t. knight 

erik Matheney 

Brett J. PreSton 

r. JaMeS roBBinS, Jr. 

roBert a. ShiMBerg 

W. laWrence SMith 

Brian c. SParkS 

r. denniS tWeed 

kirSten l. vignec 

denniS P. Waggoner 

alton c. Ward 

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 

tampa’s Best lawyers 3

T BA M P A ’s 

LAWYERS 

® 

2 0 1 1 E D I T I O N 

Barry Cohen on 

Commitment and 

Passion 5 

2011 Lawyers 

of the year 8 

Cover Photograph by Alex McNight 

wiand Guerra KinG PL 

Wiand Guerra King is a new firm with more 

than one hundred years of experience. 

Launched in November 2009 by six partners 

of one of Florida’s largest and most highly-regarded 

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, arbitration, 

regulatory enforcement, and white collar 

criminal defense. Four of Wiand Guerra King’s 

attorneys have been selected by their peers 

for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America ® 

in the area of commercial litigation: George 

L. Guerra, Peter B. King, Katherine C. Donlon, 

and firm chairman Burton W. Wiand, who 

was also recognized as a Bet-the-Company 

Litigator. 


B 


LAWYERS 

2 0 1 1 E D I T I O N 

KaTherine C. Donlon 

GeorGe l. Guerra 

PeTer B. KinG 

BurTon W. WianD 

TamPa’s BesT laWyers By sPeCialTy 

Administrative Law 6 

Alternative Dispute Resolution 6 

Antitrust Law 6 

Appellate Law 6 

Banking Law 6 

Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor 

Rights Law 6 

Bet-the-Company Litigation 6 

Biotechnology Law 6 

Civil Rights Law 6 

Commercial Litigation 6 

Construction Law 8 

Corporate Governance and 

Compliance Law 9 

Corporate Law 9 

Criminal Defense: Non-White-Collar 9 

Criminal Defense: White-Collar 9 

Elder Law 9 

Eminent Domain and 

Condemnation Law 9 

Employee Benefits Law 9 

Energy Law 9 

Entertainment Law 9 

Environmental Law 9 

Equipment Finance Law 9 

Family Law 9 

Family Law Mediation 10 

First Amendment Law 10 

Food and Beverage Law 10 

Franchise Law 10 

Government Relations Law 10 

Health Care Law 10 

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 

four practice areas: general commercial litigation, securities and capital markets, alternative dispute resolution, 

and criminal defense – white collar. Mr. Wiand, who spent fourteen years in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, is 

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 

million. With the firm as his counsel, Mr. Wiand is recovering money through litigation and other procedures and 

investigating, gathering, and managing other assets for eventual distribution among defrauded investors. Wiand 

Guerra King’s clients include Fortune 500 companies, national, regional, and local financial services firms, officers 

and directors of public and private companies, and individuals. The firm has enjoyed considerable growth in its 

infancy, adding three lawyers this year to its original ten. 

® 

Immigration Law 10 

Information Technology Law 10 

Insurance Law 10 

Intellectual Property Law 10 

International Trade and Finance Law 10 

Labor and Employment Law 10 

Land Use & Zoning Law 10 

Legal Malpractice Law 10 

Leveraged Buyouts and 

Private Equity Law 10 

Maritime Law 11 

Mass Tort Litigation 11 

Media Law 11 

Medical Malpractice Law 11 

Mergers & Acquisitions Law 11 

Municipal Law 11 

Natural Resources Law 11 

Non-Profit/Charities Law 12 

Personal Injury Litigation 12 

Private Funds Law 12 

Product Liability Litigation 12 

Professional Malpractice Law 12 

Public Finance Law 12 

Real Estate Law 12 

Securities Law 13 

Tax Law 13 

Technology Law 14 

Transportation Law 14 

Trusts and Estates 14 

Venture Capital Law 14 

Water Law 14 

Workers’ Compensation Law 14 

Standing from left: Elaine M. Rice, 

George L. Guerra, Michael S. Lamont, 

Peter B. King, Gianluca Morello. 

Seated from left: Burton W. Wiand, 

Katherine C. Donlon 

Wia n d Guerra Ki n G PL 

3000 Bayport drive 

suite 600, tampa, Fl 33607 

ph: 813.347.5100 

Fax: 813.347.5199 

www.wiandlaw.com 

4 tampa’s Best lawyers For more info go to www.tbo.com/bestlawyers

Alex McNight 

Barry Cohen 

Commitment and Passion 

make the Lawyer 

When young lawyers come to interview at Barry Cohen’s 

high-profile practice in Tampa, the man who used to cut class to 

watch trials as a teenager makes one thing crystal clear to those 

potential additions to his firm: “If you don’t live it, that’s 

ok . . . but they should not accept the 

responsibility of being a lawyer without 

having the passion and the commitment to it.” 

Cohen-who founded his first law firm back in 

1975-takes his work seriously and wants the 11 

attorneys working on his team to follow his lead. 

Along with his co-partners Todd Foster (a former 

U.S. Department of Justice lawyer and FBI Special 

Agent) and Stephen Romine (a Florida Bar Board 

Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer), Cohen’s firm 

handles criminal defense, civil litigation, commercial 

litigation, and has a qui tam division that handles 

whistle blower actions. Cohen called his partners 

“very talented,” adding that he “couldn’t 

imagine two more principled guys.” 

Cohen got his start as a state prosecutor 

in Tampa after earning his JD at Mercer 

University’s Walter F. George School of 

Law, and served in that capacity for four 

years before starting a practice with former 

Hillsborough County State Attorney 

Paul Antinori. Five years later, Cohen 

-whose first case as a solo practitioner 

came defending Jimmy Burke, who was 

portrayed famously in the film Goodfellas 

by actor Robert DeNiro-started his 

current practice, which in addition to its 

current 11 lawyers, recently brought on 

Keith Thomas a civil litigator with over 20 years of courtroom experience. 

Cohen-who handpicks every lawyer on the payroll-said he is excited about 

Thomas’ addition to the firm, where the legal staff are mentored by the 

partners and encouraged to continuously study and perfect their craft. 


“ WhEn yOu 

dEal With 

pEOplE’s 

fREEdOm and yOu 

dEal With thEiR 

ECOnOmiC futuREs, 

thERE is absOlutEly 

nO ROOm 

fOR mEdiOCRity.” 

–baRRy COhEn 

COVER 

sPotLight 

“As a lawyer, when you deal with people’s freedom you deal with their 

economic futures. In my view, there is absolutely no room for mediocrity.” 

Cohen—whose firm employs full-time psychologists and former federal 

agents as investigators, says “People put their faith in you and you have to 

earn it. It’s my philosophy that lawyers should do 

everything they need to do to make sure no stone’s 

left unturned. This is not just a job. If you think 

it is, you need to go into another area of law 

where people don’t count on you for help 

regarding their freedom, their lives, and their economic 

futures.” 

After several years of criminal defense, Cohen 

decided to branch out into civil litigation. “It was 

another challenge,” he says. “I was tired of people 

saying ‘He’s just a criminal lawyer.’ I thought it was 

a little condescending.” Cohen has strived to 

develop a “creative approach to the practice of law. 

For example, we get out on the street ourselves and 

interview people. We do not rely on others to 

develop our cases or defenses” 

Cohen encourages his team to work together, 

so that every legal mind is involved in each case. “Every lawyer should get 

the benefit of the entire practice, and each other’s independent thinking. 

I encourage them to think outside of the box.” 

Cohen says the lawyers at Cohen, Foster & Romine, are proud to be a part 

of the firm because of the principles it stands for. “They like being part of 

a firm that will not back down because we may get criticized. They like 

being part of a firm that has the respect we do in the legal community,” 

Cohen explains. 

Outside of the office, the firm works with organizations like Big Brothers, 

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. 

“We brought 300 lower-income children and showed them this movie. After 

the film, we brought in (the female lead) Jurnee Smollett and 

she spoke to them. It was very inspiring.” –Chris Harris 


TAMPA’S 

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW 

Fowler White Boggs | Tampa, FL 

RHEA F. LAW, DAVID C. SHOBE 

Hill Ward Henderson | Tampa, FL 

ROBERT A. SHIMBERG 

813.221.3900 | Page 3 

Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg | Sarasota, FL 

WILLIAM W. MERRILL III 

Manson Law Group | Tampa, FL 

DOUGLAS P. MANSON 

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION 

Carlton Fields | Tampa, FL 

MICHAEL F. NUECHTERLEIN 

Cary R. Singletary | Tampa, FL 

CARY R. SINGLETARY 

Charles W. Ross | St. Petersburg, FL 

CHARLES W. ROSS 

Glenn, Rasmussen, Fogarty & Hooker | Tampa, FL 

MARK A. HANLEY 

Holland & Knight | Tampa, FL 

WILLIAM S. DUFOE 


THOMAS F. ICARD, JR. 

Lau, Lane, Pieper, Conley & McCreadie | Tampa, FL 

MARY A. LAU 

Peter J. Grilli | Tampa, FL 

PETER J. GRILLI 

William E. Hahn | Tampa, FL 

WILLIAM E. HAHN 

ANTITRUST LAW 

Bush Ross | Tampa, FL 

JONATHAN C. KOCH 

813.224.9255 | Page 11 


CHRIS S. COUTROULIS 


STACY D. BLANK 

APPELLATE LAW 

Akerman Senterfitt | Tampa, FL 

WAYNE LEE THOMAS 

Banker Lopez Gassler | St. Petersburg, FL 

CHARLES W. HALL 

Brannock & Humphries | Tampa, FL 

STEVEN L. BRANNOCK, CELENE HUMPHRIES 

Buell & Elligett | Tampa, FL 

RAYMOND T. ELLIGETT, JR., AMY S. FARRIOR 

Carlton Fields | St. Petersburg, FL 

ROBERT BIASOTTI 


GARY L. SASSO, SYLVIA H. WALBOLT 


HALA A. SANDRIDGE 

Gunn Appellate Practice | Tampa, FL 

TRACY RAFFLES GUNN 


MARIE A. BORLAND 

813.221.3900 | Page 3 

Kubicki Draper | Tampa, FL 

BETSY E. GALLAGHER 

Kynes, Markman & Felman | Tampa, FL 

JAMES E. FELMAN, STUART C. MARKMAN 

Schropp Law Firm | Tampa, FL 

CHARLES P. SCHROPP 

Vaka, Larson & Johnson | Tampa, FL 

GEORGE A. VAKA 

BANkING LAW 


AILEEN S. DAVIS 


ROBERT B. GLENN 

B EsT l A w Y E r s® 


DAvID S. FELMAN 

813.221.3900 | Page 3 


CHARLES L. STUTTS 

Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick | Tampa, FL 

WILLIAM KENT IHRIG, DARRELL C. SMITH 

Trenam Kemker | Tampa, FL 

MARVIN E. BARKIN 

BANkRUPTCy AND 

CREDITOR-DEBTOR RIGHTS LAW 


HAROLD BRADLEY STAGGS, 

JEFFREY W. WARREN 

813.224.9255 | Page 11 


JOHN J. LAMOUREUX, HYWEL LEONARD 

Foley & Lardner | Tampa, FL 

MARK J. WOLFSON 


JOHN D. EMMANUEL, DONALD R. KIRK, EDWARD M. 

WALLER, JR. 


ROBERT B. GLENN, GREGORY M. MCCOSKEY, 

EDWIN G. RICE 

Greenberg Traurig | Tampa, FL 

ROBERT A. SORIANO 


MICHAEL P. BRUNDAGE 

813.221.3900 | Page 3 


ROD ANDERSON, NOEL R. BOEKE, WILLIAM KEITH 

FENDRICK, LEONARD H. GILBERT 

Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns | Clearwater, FL 

MICHAEL C. MARKHAM 

Shutts & Bowen | Tampa, FL 

LYNN WELTER SHERMAN 

Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Prosser | Tampa, FL 

RUSSELL M. BLAIN, 

CHARLES A. POSTLER, 

RICHARD C. PROSSER, 

HARLEY E. RIEDEL II, 

DON M. STICHTER, 

SCOTT A. STICHTER 

813.229.0144 | Page 14 

Trenam Kemker | St. Petersburg, FL 

MICHAEL P. HORAN 


ROBERTA A. COLTON, WILLIAM KNIGHT ZEWADSKI 

BET-THE-COMPANy LITIGATION 


MARK P. BUELL 


CHRIS S. COUTROULIS, EDWARD W. GERECKE, 

KEVIN J. NAPPER, GARY L. SASSO 

Frost Van den Boom & Smith | Bartow, FL 

JOHN W. FROST II 


BENJAMIN H. HILL III 

813.221.3900 | Page 3 


WILLIAM S. DUFOE, BRADFORD D. KIMBRO, 

JOSEPH H. VARNER III 


FRED WALLACE POPE, JR. 

Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns | Tampa, FL 

GUY M. BURNS 

Keane Reese Vesely & Gerdes | St. Petersburg, FL 

MICHAEL J. KEANE 


STUART C. MARKMAN 

Matthews, Eastmoore, Hardy, Crauwels 

& Garcia | Sarasota, FL 

ARTHUR LAMAR MATTHEWS, JR. 

Shook, Hardy & Bacon | Tampa, FL 

JAMES B. MURPHY, JR. 


MARVIN E. BARKIN, WILLIAM C. FRYE 

Wiand Guerra King | Tampa, FL 

BURTON W. WIAND 

813.347.5100 | Page 4 

Zuckerman Spaeder | Tampa, FL 

DELMAR LEE FUGATE, MORRIS “SANDY” WEINBERG, JR. 

BIOTECHNOLOGy LAW 


CHRISTOPHER PARADIES 

CIVIL RIGHTS LAW 

Farmer & Fitzgerald | Tampa, FL 

MATTHEW FARMER 

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION 

Addison & Howard | Tampa, FL 

MICHAEL C. ADDISON 


LESLIE E. JOUGHIN III, MARGARET D. MATHEWS, L. 

JOSEPH SHAHEEN, JR., WAYNE LEE THOMAS 

Bajo Cuva Cohen and Turkel | Tampa, FL 

KENNETH G. TURKEL 

Banker Lopez Gassler | Tampa, FL 

RICHARD M. SEBEK 

Barnett, Bolt, Kirkwood, Long & McBride | Tampa, FL 

THOMAS G. LONG 

Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & Wein | St. Petersburg, FL 

STEPHEN J. WEIN 

Broad and Cassel | Tampa, FL 

STEVEN G. BURTON 

Buckley & Fudge | St. Petersburg, FL 

FREDRIC S. ZINOBER 


MARK P. BUELL 


J. CARTER ANDERSEN, 

DAvID C. BANKER, 

JONATHAN C. KOCH, 

EDWARD O. SAvITZ 

813.224.9255 | Page 11 

Carey, O’Malley, Whitaker & Mueller | Tampa, FL 

MICHAEL R. CAREY 


STEVEN C. DUPRÉ, LEE H. RIGHTMYER 


MARK A. BROWN, CHRIS S. COUTROULIS, EDWARD W. 

GERECKE, KEVIN J. NAPPER, THOMAS J. ROEHN, 

GARY L. SASSO, SYLVIA H. WALBOLT, GWYNNE A. 

YOUNG 

Conwell Kirkpatrick | Tampa, FL 

GEORGE DONOVAN CONWELL, JR. 

de la Parte & Gilbert | Tampa, FL 

RICHARD A. GILBERT 


WILLIAM DONALD COX, G. CALVIN HAYES, PAUL R. 

PIZZO, RICHARD G. SALAZAR, EDWARD M. WALLER, JR. 

Frost Van den Boom & Smith | Bartow, FL 

JOHN W. FROST II 


TIMOTHY A. ANDREU, MICHAEL B. COLGAN, ROBERT 

B. GLENN, MICHAEL S. HOOKER 

GrayRobinson | Lakeland, FL 

ROBERT L. TROHN 

GrayRobinson | Tampa, FL 

RICHARD M. ZABAK 


GREGORY W. KEHOE, DAVID B. WEINSTEIN 


WILLIAM C. GUERRANT, JR., 

BENJAMIN H. HILL III, 

ROBERT E. v. KELLEY, JR., 

DAvID T. KNIGHT, 

DENNIS P. WAGGONER 

813.221.3900 | Page 3 


G u n n L a w G r o u P , P . a . 


B 


LAWYERS 

2 0 1 1 E D I T I O N 

lee D. Gunn iv 

® 

The 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 recoveries 

on behalf of clients. 

aFter seventeen years spent deFending 

insurance companies and hospitals, 

founder Lee D. Gunn IV made the decision 

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 businesses 

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 clients 

who have experienced a devastating 

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 everything 

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 attorney-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 

America ®, and in Florida Super Lawyers 

since 2006. 

400 north ashley drive, suite 2050 

tampa, Fl 33602 

toll Free: 866.Gunnlaw 

ph: 813.228.7070 Fax: 813.228.9400 

www.gunlawgroup.com 

Alex McNight

2011 Law y ers of the year 

Best lawyers has named individuals as lawyers oF the year in tampa, 

Based on their partiCularly hiGh level oF peer reCoGnition. 

Jeffrey W. Warren 

Bush Ross 

Bankrup tcy and 

creditor-deBtor 

rights Law 

Born in Jersey City in 1948 and raised in 

Starke, Florida, Jeff Warren graduated from 

the University of Florida in 1969, after securing 

an athletic scholarship. Sadly, the offensive guard 

sat on the bench, “and never played a down of 

varsity football.” Three years later, he earned his 

JD from the University of Florida and passed the 

bar that same year. 

Warren got his 

start with McFarlane, 

Ferguson, Allison & 

Kelly, representing 

several banks and 

financial institutions. 

Five years later, the 

Bankruptcy Code 

was enacted, which 

changed the course 

of his concentration 

and in 1981, he was 

one of the founding 

partners of Bush Ross, PA. He made a name for 

himself representing Celotex Corporation, and is 

a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy 

and a member of the American Bankruptcy 

Institute, where he is a contributing editor for the 

American Bankruptcy Institute Journal. 

Warren—who has an AV-rating by 

Martindale-Hubbell—has penned several chapters 

for publication for The Florida Bar and 

numerous articles regarding creditors’ rights 

issues. But mentoring is where he derides most of 

his joy these days. 

“Having the opportunity to see young lawyers 

come to my firm and watch them grow, prosper 

and become good lawyers, and have a high degree 

of integrity and sense of professionalism...that is 

very rewarding,” Warren—who teaches the 

occasional advanced course on bankruptcy practice—says. 

“Professionalism is important. Lawyers 

need to understand the need to deal with civility 

and courtesy dealing with opposing counsel and 

the judiciary and the need for ethical conduct and 

professionalism.” 

Warren and his wife Susan have two children, 

Matthew and Laura. 

–Chris Harris 

TAMPA’S LAWyERS OF THE yEAR 

aLt er nat i v e dispute resoLution 

Lawyer of the year: 

charLes w. ross 

appeLLate Lawyer of the year: 

syLvia h. waLBoLt 

Banking Lawyer of the year: 

roBert B. gLenn 

Bankruptcy and creditor-deBtor rights 


Jeffrey w. warren 

Bet-the-company Li t igator of the year: 

fred waLLace pope, Jr. 

construction Lawyer of the year: 

michaeL r. carey 

corporate Lawyer of the year: 

nathanieL L. doLiner 

non-white-coLLar criminaL defense 


wiLLiam f. Jung 


STACY D. BLANK, MICHAEL L. CHAPMAN, WILLIAM S. 

DUFOE, LEONARD H. GILBERT, FRED GRADY, 

BRADFORD D. KIMBRO, JOSEPH H. VARNER III, 

CHARLES A. WACHTER 


CHARLES BARTLETT 


FRED WALLACE POPE, JR., CHARLES SAMARKOS 


GUY M. BURNS, FRANK R. JAKES, DARRYL R. RICHARDS 

Keane Reese Vesely & Gerdes | St. Petersburg, FL 

MICHAEL J. KEANE 

Knopik Deskins Law Group | Tampa, FL 

CHRISTOPHER S. KNOPIK 


STUART C. MARKMAN 

Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen | Clearwater, FL 

JOSHUA MAGIDSON 

Matthews, Eastmoore, Hardy, Crauwels 

& Garcia | Sarasota, FL 

ARTHUR LAMAR MATTHEWS, JR. 

Peterson & Myers | Lakeland, FL 

ROBERT E. PUTERBAUGH 

Phelps Dunbar | Tampa, FL 

KARL J. BRANDES, LAWRENCE P. INGRAM, JOHN E. 

PHILLIPS, SETH M. SCHIMMEL, DONALD H. 

WHITTEMORE 

Quarles & Brady | Tampa, FL 

WILLIAM F. HAMILTON 


JAMES B. MURPHY, JR. 


C. PHILIP CAMPBELL, JR. 

Steven D. Hutton | Sarasota, FL 

STEVEN D. HUTTON 

Thomas, LoCicero & Bralow | Tampa, FL 

GREGG D. THOMAS 


MARVIN E. BARKIN, ROBERT H. BUESING, STANLEY H. 

ELEFF, WILLIAM C. FRYE, CHARLES F. KETCHEY 

white-coLLar criminaL defense 


James e. feLman 

eminent domain and condemnation 


s. cary gayLord 

Wiand Guerra King | Tampa, FL 

KATHERINE C. DONLON, 

GEORGE L. GUERRA, 

PETER B. KING, 

BURTON W. WIAND 

813.347.5100 | Page 4 

empLoyee Benefits Lawyer of the year: 

Williams Schifino Mangione 

caroL L. myers 

& Steady | Tampa, FL 

Bet-the-Company Litigation – Columbus, OH Commercial Litigation – Columbus, OH 

environmentaL Lawyer of the year: 

WILLIAM J. SCHIFINO, JR. 

roger d. schwenke 

famiLy Lawyer of the year: 

813.221.2626 | Back Cover 

caroLine kapusta BLack 


he a Lt h care Lawyer of the year: 

thomas B. smith 

JACK E. FERNANDEZ, JR., DELMAR LEE FUGATE, 

MORRIS “SANDY” WEINBERG, JR. 

immigration Lawyer of the year: 

wiLLiam J. fLynn iii 

CONSTRUCTION LAW 

insurance Lawyer of the year: 

Adams and Reese | St. Petersburg, FL 

BenJamin h. hiLL iii 

V. JAMES DICKSON 

inteLLectuaL property Lawyer of the year: 

stefan v. stein 


DAVID L. BRESLER 

LaBor and empLoyment Lawyer of the year: Bush Ross | Tampa, FL 

richard c. mccrea, Jr. 


Land use & Zoning Lawyer of the year: 

keith w. BrickLemyer 

813.224.9255 | Page 11 

LegaL maLpractice Lawyer of the year: 

Carey, O’Malley, Whitaker & Mueller | Tampa, FL 

thomas d. masterson 

MICHAEL R. CAREY 

maritime Lawyer of the year: 


david f. pope 

medicaL maLpractice Lawyer of the year: 

James d. cLark 

personaL inJury Li t igator of the year: 

roBert e. Banker 

GEORGE J. MEYER, MICHAEL F. NUECHTERLEIN, LUIS 

PRATS, HARDY L. ROBERTS III, WILLIAM CARY WRIGHT 

Conrad J. Lazo | Bradenton, FL 

CONRAD J. LAZO 

Deeb & Durkin | St. Petersburg, FL 

BRIAN P. DEEB 

puBLic finance Lawyer of the year: 

Donald D. Clark | Bradenton, FL 

steven e. miLLer 

DONALD D. CLARK 

reaL estate Lawyer of the year: 

david r. Bri t tain 

securities Lawyer of the year: 

roBert c. rasmussen 

tax Lawyer of the year: 

Forizs & Dogali | Tampa, FL 

ANTHONY ANDERSON BENTON DOGALI 


DALE W. VASH 


GEORGE E. SPOFFORD IV 

michaeL d. annis 

Gurley & Associates | Sarasota, FL 

trusts and estates Lawyer of the year: 

JoeL d. Bronstein 

DAVID E. GURLEY 



TIMOTHY A. HUNT 

813.221.3900 | Page 3 


THOMAS F. ICARD, JR. 

Meirose & Friscia | Tampa, FL 

LEO H. MEIROSE 


STEVEN G. SCHEMBER 


ROBERT H. BUESING, STANLEY H. ELEFF, 

JOHN S. VENTO 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 

AND COMPLIANCE LAW 


NATHANIEL L. DOLINER 


MARTIN A. TRABER 


ROBERT C. RASMUSSEN 


MICHAEL NEUKAMM 


CHESTER E. BACHELLER, ROBERT J. GRAMMIG, 

RICHARD B. HADLOW 


ROBERT ALAN HIGBEE 


RICHARD M. LEISNER, GARY I. TEBLUM 

CORPORATE LAW 


DAVID M. DONEY 


LESLIE J. BARNETT 

Bronstein, Carlson, Gleim & Smith | St. Petersburg, FL 

JOEL D. BRONSTEIN 


JOHN N. GIORDANO 

813.224.9255 | Page 11 



Drummond Wehle & Ross | Tampa, FL 

CARY ROSS 


OLGA M. PINA, DAVID C. SHOBE 




MICHAEL NEUKAMM, JOHN I. VAN VORIS 


MARK A. DANZI, 

DAvID S. FELMAN, 

R. REID HANEY, 

R. JAMES ROBBINS, JR. 

813.221.3900 | Page 3 


CHESTER E. BACHELLER, ANDERSON L. BALDY III, 

ROBERT J. GRAMMIG, RICHARD B. HADLOW 

Mark T. Tate | Tampa, FL 

MARK T. TATE 

Robert E. Aylward | Tampa, FL 

ROBERT E. AYLWARD 


PAUL R. LYNCH, DARRELL C. SMITH, GREGORY C. 

YADLEY 




NELSON T. CASTELLANO, RICHARD M. LEISNER, 

HAROLD W. MULLIS, JR., GARY I. TEBLUM 

CRIMINAL DEFENSE: NON-WHITE-COLLAR 


EDWARD J. PAGE 

Cohen, Foster & Romine | Tampa, FL 

BARRY A. COHEN 

813.225.1655 | Page 2 

Denis M. de Vlaming | Clearwater, FL 

DENIS M. DE VLAMING 


John M. Fitzgibbons | Tampa, FL 

JOHN M. FITZGIBBONS 

Jung & Sisco | Tampa, FL 

WILLIAM F. JUNG 


JAMES E. FELMAN 

Ronald K. Cacciatore | Tampa, FL 

RONALD K. CACCIATORE 

Tragos & Sartres | Clearwater, FL 

GEORGE E. TRAGOS 

Trombley & Hanes | Tampa, FL 

GARY R. TROMBLEY 

813.229.7918 | Page 12 

CRIMINAL DEFENSE: WHITE-COLLAR 


KEVIN J. NAPPER, EDWARD J. PAGE 


BARRY A. COHEN, 

KEvIN J. DARKEN, 

TODD FOSTER 

813.225.1655 | Page 2 

Denis M. de Vlaming | Clearwater, FL 

DENIS M. DE VLAMING 

George & Titus | Tampa, FL 

PETER E. GEORGE, DOUGLAS J. TITUS, JR. 


ERIK MATHENEY 

813.221.3900 | Page 3 

John M. Fitzgibbons | Tampa, FL 

JOHN M. FITZGIBBONS 

Jung & Sisco | Tampa, FL 

WILLIAM F. JUNG, PAUL M. SISCO 


JAMES E. FELMAN, STUART C. MARKMAN 

Law Offices of Ed Suarez | Tampa, FL 

EDUARDO A. SUAREZ 

813.229.0040 | Page 15 

Rochelle A. Reback | Tampa, FL 

ROCHELLE A. REBACK 

Ronald K. Cacciatore | Tampa, FL 

RONALD K. CACCIATORE 

The Byrd Law Firm | Sarasota, FL 

LARRY BYRD 

Tragos & Sartres | Clearwater, FL 

GEORGE E. TRAGOS 

Trombley & Hanes | Tampa, FL 

RONALD P. HANES, 

GARY R. TROMBLEY 

813.229.7918 | Page 12 


JACK E. FERNANDEZ, JR., DELMAR LEE FUGATE, 

MARCOS E. HASBUN, MORRIS “SANDY” WEINBERG, JR. 

ELDER LAW 



EMINENT DOMAIN 

AND CONDEMNATION LAW 

Brigham Moore | Sarasota, FL 

S. WILLIAM MOORE 

Brigham Moore | St. Petersburg, FL 

JACKSON H. BOWMAN IV, GREGORY S. RIX 


MARK P. BUELL, RAYMOND T. ELLIGETT, JR., 

MARC IRA SACHS 

De Young Law Group | Tampa, FL 

DONALD TOBYN DEYOUNG 

Gaylord Merlin Ludovici Diaz & Bain | Tampa, FL 

PAUL D. BAIN, ANDREW G. DIAZ, S. CARY GAYLORD, 

LORENA HART LUDOVICI, KIMBEL L. MERLIN 


ROBERT E. v. KELLEY, JR. 

813.221.3900 | Page 3 

TAMPA’S 


James A. Helinger, Jr. | St. Petersburg, FL 

JAMES A. HELINGER, JR. 

Peterson & Myers | Lake Wales, FL 

JACK P. BRANDON 


ROBERT H. BUESING 

William B. Smith | Tampa, FL 

WILLIAM B. SMITH 

EMPLOyEE BENEFITS LAW 


RUSSELL BUHITE 


BRET HAMLIN, 

R. DENNIS TWEED, 

KIRSTEN vIGNEC, 

ALTON C. WARD 

813.221.3900 | Page 3 


FREDERICK M. ROTHENBERG 

Myers & Shaw | Sarasota, FL 

CAROL L. MYERS 


STEVEN K. BARBER 

Squire, Sanders & Dempsey | Tampa, FL 

JOSEPH D. EDWARDS 


ROBERTA CASPER WATSON 

ENERGy LAW 


LAUREL E. LOCKETT, JAMES MICHAEL WALLS 

ENTERTAINMENT LAW 

McDermott & Thacker | Brandon, FL 

MICHAEL J. MCDERMOTT 

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW 


LAUREL E. LOCKETT, ROGER D. SCHWENKE 


RHEA F. LAW, RONALD H. NOBLE 

Gayle B. Carlson | Tampa, FL 

GAYLE BUTTRAM CARLSON 

George F. Gramling, III | Tampa, FL 

GEORGE F. GRAMLING III 


DAVID B. WEINSTEIN 

Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen | Tampa, FL 

WILLIAM B. TAYLOR IV 

Mechanik Nuccio Hearne & Wester | Tampa, FL 

FRANK L. HEARNE, DAVID M. MECHANIK 


THEODORE C. TAUB 



SCOTT I. STEADY 

813.221.2626 | Back Cover 

EqUIPMENT FINANCE LAW 


LEONARD H. GILBERT 

FAMILy LAW 

Allen Dell | Tampa, FL 

MARIAN P. MCCULLOCH 

Givens Law Group | Tampa, FL 

STANN W. GIVENS 

Hastings and Estreicher | St. Petersburg, FL 

MICHAEL L. HASTINGS 

Himes & Hearn | Tampa, FL 

JOHN FRASER HIMES 

James P. Knox | Tampa, FL 

JAMES P. KNOX 

Jeanne T. Tate | Tampa, FL 

JEANNE T. TATE 

Koch, Smith & Hoffman | Clearwater, FL 

WAYNE J. BOYER, KY M. KOCH, KINNEAR KING SMITH 

Law Office of Larry K. Coleman | Bradenton, FL 

LARRY K. COLEMAN 

Maney, Damsker, Jones & Kuhlman | Tampa, FL 

DAVID A. MANEY 


2011 

survEY rEsulTs 

Mason Black & Caballero | Tampa, FL 

CAROLINE KAPUSTA BLACK, 

ALEX CABALLERO, 

MIRIAM E. MASON 

813.251.9200 | Page 15 

Raleigh Lee Greene | St. Petersburg, FL 

RALEIGH LEE GREENE 

Raymond A. Alley, Jr. | Tampa, FL 

RAYMOND A. ALLEY, JR. 

Robert W. Fields | Tampa, FL 

ROBERT W. FIELDS 

Ronald J. Russo | Tampa, FL 

RONALD J. RUSSO 

FAMILy LAW MEDIATION 

Raleigh Lee Greene | St. Petersburg, FL 

RALEIGH LEE GREENE 

Raymond A. Alley, Jr. | Tampa, FL 

RAYMOND A. ALLEY, JR. 

FIRST AMENDMENT LAW 

Rahdert, Steele, Bole & Reynolds | St. Petersburg, FL 

GEORGE KARL RAHDERT 


CAROL J. LOCICERO, GREGG D. THOMAS 

FOOD AND BEVERAGE LAW 


RICHARD M. BLAU 

FRANCHISE LAW 


DAVID A. BEYER 

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS LAW 


RHEA F. LAW 

Steven A. Anderson | Tampa, FL 

STEVEN A. ANDERSON 

HEALTH CARE LAW 


KIRK S. DAVIS, JOSEPH W. RUGG 

Allen Dell | Tampa, FL 

CYNTHIA A. MIKOS 




THOMAS B. SMITH 

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney | Tampa, FL 

JAMES J. KENNEDY, RICHARD ANDREW ROCK 


C. HOWARD HUNTER 

813.221.3900 | Page 3 

Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell | Tampa, FL 

BRUCE D. LAMB 


RONALD A. CHRISTALDI 


JACQUELINE M. CRAIN, RICHARD O. JACOBS 


DON B. WEINBREN 

Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen | Sarasota, FL 

CAROL ANN KALISH 

IMMIGRATION LAW 

Christian & Associates | Tampa, FL 

TERRY C. CHRISTIAN 

Dilip Patel | Oldsmar, FL 

DILIP PATEL 

813.855.0066 | Page 15 

Dilip Patel | Oldsmar, FL 

GERALD P. SEIPP 


WILLIAM J. FLYNN III 

Lund & O’Flaherty | Tampa, FL 

JOHN E. LUND 

Timothy M. Spridgeon | Clearwater, FL 

TIMOTHY M. SPRIDGEON 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGy LAW 


GEORGE DONOVAN CONWELL, JR. 


HARVEY S. KAUGET 

INSURANCE LAW 


PHILIP BRUCE CULPEPPER 


BRUCE A. AEBEL 

Barr Murman & Tonelli | Tampa, FL 

DANIEL P. MITCHELL 


WILLIAM DONALD COX 



BRETT J. PRESTON 

813.221.3900 | Page 3 

Merlin Law Group | Tampa, FL 

WILLIAM F. MERLIN, JR. 

813.229.1000 | Page 15 


MATTHEW L. LITSKY 

Schropp Law Firm | Tampa, FL 

CHARLES P. SCHROPP 

Vaka, Larson & Johnson | Tampa, FL 

GEORGE A. VAKA 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTy LAW 


CHARLES DOUGLAS MCDONALD, JR. 


GEORGE DONOVAN CONWELL, JR., JAMES M. 

MATULIS 


MONICA B. MASON 


STEFAN V. STEIN 


FRANK R. JAKES 




WILLIAM F. HAMILTON 


J. TODD TIMMERMAN 

INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND FINANCE LAW 


RICHARD A. JACOBSON 


CHESTER E. BACHELLER, ROBERT J. GRAMMIG 

Sharp Kemm | Tampa, FL 

WILLIAM M. SHARP 

LABOR AND EMPLOyMENT LAW 


KAREN MEYER BUESING, SCOTT T. SILVERMAN 

Allen, Norton & Blue | Tampa, FL 

WILLIAM REYNOLDS ALLEN, DAVID J. STEFANY 

Burr & Smith | Tampa, FL 

SAM SMITH 


JOHN P. MCADAMS, JAMES R. WILEY 

Constangy, Brooks & Smith | Tampa, FL 

JOHN W. CAMPBELL, MICHAEL D. MALFITANO 

Cynthia N. Sass | Tampa, FL 

CYNTHIA N. SASS 

Fisher & Phillips | Tampa, FL 

THERESA M. GALLION 

Fisher Law Group | St. Petersburg, FL 

SCOTT A. FISHER 

Florin Roebig | Palm Harbor, FL 

WOLFGANG M. FLORIN, CHRISTOPHER D. GRAY 

Ford & Harrison | Tampa, FL 

ROBERT D. HALL, JR., TRACEY K. JAENSCH, 

TAMMIE L. RATTRAY 


CATHY JO BEVERIDGE, JOHN W. ROBINSON IV, 

RICHARD G. SALAZAR 


MARK A. HANLEY 


RICHARD C. MCCREA, JR., PETER W. ZINOBER 


WILLIAM B. DEMEZA, JR. 


JOAN M. VECCHIOLI 

Kelly & McKee | Tampa, FL 

MARK F. KELLY, ROBERT F. MCKEE 

Kwall, Showers & Barack | Clearwater, FL 

RYAN D. BARACK 


MARY A. LAU 

Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith | Tampa, FL 

J. ROBERT MCCORMACK 


FRANK E. BROWN, JANET GOLDBERG MCENERY 

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart | Tampa, FL 

TONY B. GRIFFIN, EDMUND J. MCKENNA, GRANT D. 

PETERSEN, KEVIN D. ZWETSCH 


DENNIS M. MCCLELLAND, JOHN D. MULLEN, JOHN E. 

PHILLIPS 

Phyllis J. Towzey | St. Petersburg, FL 

PHYLLIS J. TOWZEY 

Reeser, Rodnite, Outten & Zdravko | Palm Harbor, FL 

ANGELA E. OUTTEN 


MARY LI CREASY 

The Fraley Law Firm | Tampa, FL 

RONALD W. FRALEY 

The Linesch Firm | Palm Harbor, FL 

DAVID J. LINESCH 

Thompson, Sizemore, Gonzalez & Hearing | Tampa, FL 

JAMES M. CRAIG, THOMAS M. GONZALEZ, GREGORY 

A. HEARING, KEVIN D. JOHNSON 

Wenzel Fenton Cabassa | Tampa, FL 

MATTHEW K. FENTON 

LAND USE & ZONING LAW 

Bricklemyer Smolker & Bolves | Tampa, FL 

KEITH W. BRICKLEMYER 


RHEA F. LAW, ANDREA E. ZELMAN 

George F. Gramling, III | Tampa, FL 

GEORGE F. GRAMLING III 


JOHN B. GRANDOFF III, 

GINA K. GRIMES 

813.221.3900 | Page 3 


JAMES H. SHIMBERG, JR. 


MICHAEL J. FUREN, ROBERT K. LINCOLN, WILLIAM W. 

MERRILL III 

Mark Bentley | Tampa, FL 

MARK S. BENTLEY 

813.223.5050| Page 15 

Mechanik Nuccio Hearne & Wester | Tampa, FL 

DAVID M. MECHANIK 

Peterson & Myers | Lake Wales, FL 

JACK P. BRANDON 


THEODORE C. TAUB 

Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson | 

Tampa, FL 

RONALD L. WEAVER 


CHARLES D. BAILEY, JR. 

LEGAL MALPRACTICE LAW 


FRANK H. GASSLER 


GARY L. SASSO 



BRETT J. PRESTON 

813.221.3900 | Page 3 


STEPHEN H. SEARS 

Masterson Law Group | St. Petersburg, FL 

THOMAS D. MASTERSON 

LEVERAGED BUyOUTS 

AND PRIVATE EqUITy LAW 



813.221.3900 | Page 3 



ROBERT J. GRAMMIG 


GREGORY C. YADLEY 


GARY I. TEBLUM 

MARITIME LAW 

Bajo Cuva Cohen and Turkel | Tampa, FL 

ANTHONY J. CUVA 


DAVID F. POPE, ALLEN K. VON SPIEGELFELD 


CARL R. NELSON 


TIMOTHY C. CONLEY, DAVID W. MCCREADIE 

Munch and Munch | Tampa, FL 

JACOB J. MUNCH 

Wagner, Vaughan & McLaughlin | Tampa, FL 

JOHN J. MCLAUGHLIN, ROGER A. VAUGHAN, JR. 

MASS TORT LITIGATION 


EDWARD W. GERECKE, KEVIN J. NAPPER, GARY L. 

SASSO 

MEDIA LAW 


GREGG D. THOMAS 

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAW 


KIRK S. DAVIS 

Alley, Clark & Greiwe | Tampa, FL 

JAMES D. CLARK, DONALD GREIWE 


ROBERT E. BANKER, RICHARD K. BOWERS 

Barr Murman & Tonelli | Tampa, FL 

DAVID S. NELSON, CLIFFORD L. SOMERS 


Beytin, Bolin, McLaughlin & Willers | Tampa, FL 

KENNETH A. BEYTIN 



TROY J. CROTTS, 

JAMES J. EvANGELISTA 

813.224.9255 | Page 11 



813.225.1655 | Page 2 


WIL H. FLORIN 



JOHN L. HOLCOMB, 


813.221.3900 | Page 3 



Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen | Clearwater, FL 

JAMES A. MARTIN, JR. 



Morgan, Lamb, Goldman & Valles | Tampa, FL 

CARL A. GOLDMAN, ROLAND J. LAMB, KELLY LAMB, 

RODNEY W. MORGAN 

Rissman, Barrett, Hurt, Donahue & McLain | Tampa, FL 

RICHARD MANGAN 

Stephens Lynn Klein LaCava & Puya | Tampa, FL 

LOUIS J. LACAVA 

The Yerrid Law Firm | Tampa, FL 

C. STEVEN YERRID 

Thompson, Goodis, Thompson, Groseclose, Richardson 

& Miller | St. Petersburg, FL 

JEFFREY M. GOODIS 

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 

Sports and Entertainment • Trial and Appellate Practice 

1801 no r t h hi G h l a n d av e n u e, ta m pa , Fl o r i d a 33602-2656 

ph: 813.224.9255 Fa x: 813.223.9620 • www.bushross.com 

The hiring of an attorney is an important decision which should not be based solely on advertisements. Before you 

decide, please ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. The content of 

this advertisement was approved by Jeffrey Warren. 

B 

TAMPA’S 

S E L E C T E D F O R 

INCLUSION IN 

T A M P A ’S 

LAWYERS 

2 0 1 1 E D I T I O N 

tROy J. CROtts 

healTh Care anD Civil Trial 

JOhn n. GiORdanO 

Business, Tax 

anD CorPoraTe FinanCe 

EdWaRd O. saVitz 

CommerCial liTiGaTion 

Valenzuela & Stern | Tampa, FL 

HENRY E. VALENZUELA 




MERGERS & ACqUISITIONS LAW 




CURT P. CREELY, CAROLYN T. LONG, MARTIN A. 

TRABER, STEVEN W. VAZQUEZ 


DAVID C. SHOBE 





813.221.3900 | Page 3 


CHESTER E. BACHELLER, ANDERSON L. BALDY III 


DARRELL C. SMITH, GREGORY C. YADLEY 




HAROLD W. MULLIS, JR. 

MUNICIPAL LAW 


RHEA F. LAW 

Susan Johnson-Velez | Tampa, FL 

SUSAN JOHNSON-VELEZ 

NATURAL RESOURCES LAW 


LAUREL E. LOCKETT 

® 

J. CaRtER andERsEn 


samuEl b. 

dOlCimasCOlO 

esTaTe PlanninG 

JOnathan C. kOCh 


h. bRadlEy staGGs 

BanKruPTCy anD 

CreDiTors’ riGhTs 

daVid C. bankER 


JamEs J. EVanGElista 

healTh Care anD Civil Trial 

stEVEn h. mEzER 

CommuniTy assoCiaTions 

JEffREy W. WaRREn 

BanKruPTCy anD 

CreDiTors’ riGhTs 


2011 

12 tampa’s Best lawyers 


NON-PROFIT/CHARITIES LAW 


FRANK J. RIEF 


LESLIE J. BARNETT, PETER T. KIRKWOOD 

PERSONAL INjURy LITIGATION 

Alley, Clark & Greiwe | Tampa, FL 

C. TODD ALLEY, JAMES D. CLARK 


DAVID L. BRESLER, JEFFREY P. WINKLER 


ROBERT E. BANKER, THOMAS R. BOPP, LOUIS ROBERT 

BOURGEOIS, RICHARD K. BOWERS, FRANK H. 

GASSLER, JOHN A. KRENTZMAN, JOSEPH K. LOPEZ, 

BRADLEY E. POWERS 


AUBREY O. DICUS, JR. 

Brennan, Holden, Kavouklis | Tampa, FL 

WELDON EARL BRENNAN 


MARK P. BUELL 

Bush Graziano & Rice | Tampa, FL 

RONALD E. BUSH 



TROY J. CROTTS, 

JAMES J. EvANGELISTA 

813.224.9255 | Page 11 

Carey & Leisure | Clearwater, FL 

THOMAS W. CAREY 

727.799.3900 | Page 14 


KEVIN J. NAPPER 



813.225.1655 | Page 2 


RICHARD A. GILBERT 


THOMAS D. ROEBIG, JR. 


GARY W. MARTIN 

George & Titus | Tampa, FL 

DOUGLAS J. TITUS, JR. 


ROBERT L. TROHN 

Grossman Roth | Sarasota, FL 

WILLIAM E. PARTRIDGE 

Gunn Law Group | Tampa, FL 

LEE D. GUNN Iv 

813.228.7070 | Page 7 


JOHN L. HOLCOMB, 


813.221.3900 | Page 3 


ROBERT G. LYONS 




STEPHEN H. SEARS 



Rissman, Barrett, Hurt, Donahue & McLain | Tampa, FL 

RICHARD MANGAN 

Rywant, Alvarez, Jones, Russo 

& Guyton | Tampa, FL 

MICHAEL S. RYWANT 

813.229.7007 | Page 13 

Swope Rodante | Tampa, FL 

DALE M. SWOPE 

The Yerrid Law Firm | Tampa, FL 

C. STEVEN YERRID 

Valenti Campbell Trohn Tamayo 

& Aranda, P.A. | Lakeland, FL 

JONATHAN B. TROHN 

Pictured: Wesley Trombley, Gary Trombley, Ronald Hanes and Matt Luka 

Congratulations Trombley & Hanes 

Gary Trombley & Ronald Hanes have been selected for inclusion 

in Best Lawyers in America for another consecutive year. 

Concentrating in federal and state criminal matters and complex civil litigation. 

707 N. Franklin St., 10 th Floor, Tampa Theatre Building | Tampa, FL 33602 

Phone: (813) 229-7918 | Fax: (813) 223-5204 | Web: www.trombleyhaneslaw.com 

Valenzuela & Stern | Tampa, FL 

HENRY E. VALENZUELA 

Wagner, Vaughan & McLaughlin | Tampa, FL 

KEVIN MCLAUGHLIN, ROGER A. VAUGHAN, JR., 

BILL WAGNER, ALAN F. WAGNER 

Weekly Schulte Valdes | Tampa, FL 

CHRISTOPHER SCHULTE 

Wilkes & McHugh | Tampa, FL 

BENNIE LAZZARA, JR., TIMOTHY C. MCHUGH, 

JAMES L. WILKES II 



William F. Blews | St. Petersburg, FL 

WILLIAM F. BLEWS 



ROBERT M. STOLER 

813.221.2626 | Back Cover 

PRIVATE FUNDS LAW 



813.221.3900 | Page 3 

PRODUCT LIABILITy LITIGATION 


FRANK H. GASSLER 

Bush Graziano & Rice | Tampa, FL 

RONALD E. BUSH 


EDWARD W. GERECKE, KEVIN J. NAPPER 


DANIEL F. MOLONY 

PROFESSIONAL MALPRACTICE LAW 


ROBERT E. BANKER 


JAMES J. EvANGELISTA, 


813.224.9255 | Page 11 


BENJAMIN H. HILL III 

813.221.3900 | Page 3 

PUBLIC FINANCE LAW 

Bryant Miller & Olive | Tampa, FL 

DUANE D. DRAPER 


HENRY M. MORGAN, JR. 


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 


ALEXANDRA M. MACLENNAN 

REAL ESTATE LAW 

Adams and Reese | St. Petersburg, FL 

DAVID S. BERNSTEIN 


AILEEN S. DAVIS 


ANTHONY S. BATTAGLIA 

Bricklemyer Smolker & Bolves | Tampa, FL 

KEITH W. BRICKLEMYER 

Bryant Miller & Olive | Tampa, FL 

SAMUEL P. QUEIROLO 


STEvEN H. MEZER 

813.224.9255 | Page 11 


JOEL B. GILES, RICHARD C. LINQUANTI, 

DAVID R. PUNZAK 

For more info go to www.tbo.com/bestlawyers


ROBERT S. FREEDMAN, EDGEL C. LESTER, JR., ROGER 

D. SCHWENKE, MICHAEL J. VIRGADAMO 

DLA Piper | Tampa, FL 

MICHAEL A. BEDKE 

Fisher & Sauls | St. Petersburg, FL 

LOUIE N. ADCOCK, JR. 


THOMAS M. LITTLE, FRED S. RIDLEY, STEPHEN J. 

SZABO 


RHEA F. LAW, JEFFREY C. SHANNON 


JEANETTE M. FLORES, STEPHEN L. KUSSNER 


GINA K. GRIMES, 

THOMAS N. HENDERSON III, 

STEPHEN M. HUDOBA, 

JONATHAN P. JENNEWEIN, 


R. JAMES ROBBINS, JR., 

W. LAWRENCE SMITH 

813.221.3900 | Page 3 


RICHARD D. ECKHARD, JAMES H. SHIMBERG, JR. 


MICHAEL J. FUREN 


ROGER A. LARSON 

McNamara & Carver | Tampa, FL 

CHARLES H. CARVER 


BARBARA H. LUIKART, DONALD H. WHITTEMORE 

Powell, Carney, Gross, Maller & Ramsay | St. Petersburg, FL 

MARY JO CARNEY, JAMES N. POWELL 

Preston O. Cockey, Jr. | Tampa, FL 

PRESTON O. COCKEY, JR. 



C. GRAHAM CAROTHERS, JR., WILLIAM KENT IHRIG, 

JOHN S. INGLIS, THEODORE C. TAUB 


JEFFREY DREW BUTT, STEPHEN J. MITCHELL 

Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff 

& Sitterson | Tampa, FL 

RONALD L. WEAVER 


ROBERT C. DECKER, ROBERT DONALD MASTRY 


J. ALAN ASENDORF, DAVID R. BRITTAIN, MARY H. 

QUINLAN, RICHARD H. SOLLNER, ROBERT G. STERN 


J. MICHAEL HARTENSTINE 

SECURITIES LAW 


DAVID M. DONEY 


JOHN N. GIORDANO 

813.224.9255 | Page 11 


RICHARD A. DENMON, NATHANIEL L. DOLINER 


CURT P. CREELY, MARTIN A. TRABER, 

STEVEN W. VAZQUEZ 


DAVID C. SHOBE 




MICHAEL NEUKAMM 


CHESTER E. BACHELLER, ROBERT J. GRAMMIG, 

RICHARD B. HADLOW 


GUY M. BURNS 

TAMPA’S 



DARRELL C. SMITH, GREGORY C. YADLEY 


NELSON T. CASTELLANO, RICHARD M. LEISNER, 

GARY I. TEBLUM 



WILLIAM J. SCHIFINO, JR. 

813.221.2626 | Back Cover 

TAx LAW 


WILLIAM KALISH, AUGUST M. VAN EEPOEL 


LESLIE J. BARNETT, PETER T. KIRKWOOD, DAVID L. 

KOCHE 


JOEL D. BRONSTEIN, SUSAN W. CARLSON 


DAVID P. BURKE 


MICHAEL D. ANNIS 


E. JACKSON BOGGS, HUNTER J. BROWNLEE, 

MITCHELL I. HOROWITZ 

Gardner Law Firm | Tampa, FL 

MERRITT A. GARDNER 

813.288.9600 | Page 15 

Harrison & Guerrini | Tampa, FL 

WILLIAM T. HARRISON III 



BRIAN C. SPARKS 

813.221.3900 | Page 3 

rywant, aLvarez, Jones, russo and Guyton, Pa 

Rywant, 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 

Lawyers, and have received an AV Peer Rating 

from Martindale-Hubbell—the highest such 

rating available to any individual lawyer. Mike 

Rywant acted as lead counsel in Berges vs. 

Infinity Insurance, a leading Florida Supreme 

Court decision explaining insurer obligations. 


B 


LAWYERS 

2 0 1 1 E D I T I O N 

miChael s. ryWanT 

® 

From Left: Mike Rywant, Greg Jones, Manny Alvarez, Andrew Russo, John Guyton 

ryW a n t, aLvarez, Jo n e s, russo a n d Gu y t o n, Pa 

Alex McNight 

Tampa • 109 Brush street, suite 500, tamPa, FL 33602 • Ph: 813.229.7007 

Gainesville • 2440 s.W. 76th street, suite 130, GainesviLLe, FL 32608 • Ph: 

352.333.3700 

inverness • 407 Courthouse square, inverness, FL 34450 • Ph: 352.341.4441 

www.rywantalvarez.com 


2011 



BERNARD A. BARTON, JR., JACK A. LEVINE, 

DOUGLAS A. WRIGHT 


BRUCE H. BOKOR 

Mark T. Tate | Tampa, FL 

MARK T. TATE 

Sharp Kemm | Tampa, FL 

WILLIAM M. SHARP 


BRUCE H. GORDON 


HAROLD W. MULLIS, JR., ALBERT C. O’NEILL, JR. 


E. JOHN WAGNER II 

TECHNOLOGy LAW 


BRENT C.J. BRITTON 



TRANSPORTATION LAW 


ALLEN K. VON SPIEGELFELD 

TRUSTS AND ESTATES 

Adams and Reese | Sarasota, FL 

BARRY F. SPIVEY 

THoMAs cArEY & jodi lEisurE 

Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Prosser, P.A. is proud to 

have six firm lawyers recognized as “Best Lawyers” 

in the 2011 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America ® in 

the category of Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights 

Don Stichter, Harley Riedel, Russ Blain, 

Richard Prosser, Charles Postler, and Scott 

Stichter are listed in the “Bankruptcy 

Lawyers” section of Best Lawyers in 

America® for 2011. 

Since 2001, the firm has had at 

least four attorneys continuously 

listed in the “Bankruptcy Lawyers” 

section of Best Lawyers in America®. 

It is the only firm in Florida, 

Georgia and Alabama (the three states within 

the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeal) to be so 

honored. Don Stichter and Harley Riedel have 

110 E. Madison St., Suite 200 

Tampa, Florida 33602-4700 

(813) 229-0144 

PErsonAl injurY liTigATion 

Thomas Carey received his AB degree from Georgetown, 

University, his Juris Doctorate degree, cum laude, from Suffolk 

University in 1978, and his LLM degree from New York 

University Law School in 1979 on full Academic Fellowship. In 

1977 he was admitted to the Rhode Island Bar and the 

Massachusetts Bar, and in 1978 he was admitted to the 

Florida Bar. He is Board Certified as a Civil Trial Lawyer and as a Civil Trial Advocate by the 

National Board of Trial Advocacy. He has been selected for inclusion since 2006 as a 

Florida Super Lawyer. 

Jodi Leisure is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar and the National Board 

of Trial Advocacy. Ms. Leisure received her Juris Doctorate degree, magna cum laude, from 

Stetson University College of Law in 1999, and her Bachelor of Science degree in business 

administration, magna cum laude, from Palm Beach Atlantic College in 1989. She was 

selected for inclusion as a Florida Super Lawyer in 2010. 

C a r e y & Le i s u r e 

622 Bypass Drive, Clearwater, FL 33764 

Toll Free: 800.927.0400 Ph: 727.799.3900 

www.careyandleisure.com 

been listed for more than twenty years in this 

category and Richard Prosser and Russ Blain 

have been listed for over ten years. 

Harley Riedel was also named the 

Best Lawyers® 2010 Tampa Bankruptcy 

and Creditor-Debtor Rights Lawyer of 

the Year. 

Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Prosser, P.A., 

is a 16-lawyer firm specializing in the 

representation of parties in bankruptcy cases, 

insolvency matters, out-of-court workout 

arrangements, and related civil litigation. 

www.srbp.com 


WILLIAM KALISH, FRANK J. RIEF, 

AUGUST M. VAN EEPOEL 


LESLIE J. BARNETT, PETER T. KIRKWOOD 

Baskin Fleece | Clearwater, FL 

JOSEPH W. FLEECE III 


JOEL D. BRONSTEIN 


SAMUEL B. DOLCIMASCOLO 

813.224.9255 | Page 11 

Fergeson, Skipper, Shaw, Keyser, Baron & Tirabassi | 

Sarasota, FL 

RICHARD R. GANS, J. RONALD SKIPPER 

Fisher & Wilsey | St. Petersburg, FL 

GEORGE F. WILSEY 


E. JACKSON BOGGS, AMELIA M. CAMPBELL, DONNA 

LONGHOUSE 

Gardner Law Firm | Tampa, FL 

MERRITT A. GARDNER 

813.288.9600 | Page 15 


JOHN K. VREELAND 


MICHAEL J. NOLAN II 


LINDA D. HARTLEY, 

BRIAN C. SPARKS 

813.221.3900 | Page 3 


JOHN ARTHUR JONES, ROBERT JAMES KLINE, 

EDWARD F. KOREN, JR., WILLIAM R. LANE, JR. 


BRUCE H. BOKOR 

Linda C. Hanna | Tampa, FL 

LINDA C. HANNA 

Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell | Tampa, FL 

DEBRA L. BOJE 


BRUCE H. GORDON 


ROBERT H. WALTUCH 

The Payne Law Group | Sarasota, FL 

L. HOWARD PAYNE 


BRUCE MARGER 


THOMAS D. AITKEN, J. ERIC TAYLOR 

William Fletcher Belcher | St. Petersburg, FL 

WILLIAM FLETCHER BELCHER 

William R. Platt | Tampa, FL 

WILLIAM R. PLATT 


JOHN BERTEAU, RIC GREGORIA 

VENTURE CAPITAL LAW 



813.221.3900 | Page 3 

WATER LAW 


ROGER D. SCHWENKE 


EDWARD P. DE LA PARTE, JR. 

Manson Law Group | Tampa, FL 

DOUGLAS P. MANSON 

WORkERS’ COMPENSATION LAW 


GREGORY A. BROOKS 


DONALD S. BENNETT, DAVID C. LOCKWOOD, 

TIMOTHY D. WOLF 

Law Office of James H. Smith | Tampa, FL 

JAMES H. SMITH 

Stiles, Taylor & Grace | Tampa, FL 

MARY ANN STILES 


Land Use and Zoning 

Eminent Domain 

Governmental Law 

Mark Bentley, Esq., AICP 

Mark has been selected as a Florida Super 

Lawyer, a Florida Legal Elite, one of the 

“Best Lawyers of Tampa Bay” by Tampa Bay 

Magazine, and “Planner of the Year” by the 

Sun Coast Section of the American Planning 

Association. Mark also serves as an adjunct 

professor for the University of South Florida’s 

Masters of Urban and Regional Planning 

Program, where he teaches land use law. 

Board Certified by The Florida Bar 

as an Expert in City, County and 

Local Government Law 

www.bentleylawfirm.net 

P: (813) 223-5050 F: (813) 223-3555 

merrItt a. gardner 

Gardner Law Firm 

Watermark 5, Suite 200 

5415 Mariner Street 

Tampa, Florida 33609 

Tel: 813.288.9600 

• Business, estate 

and tax PLanning 

• estate and 

tru s t administration 

• tax and Pro B at e 

Litigation 

Selected For Inclusion in 

Tampa’s Best Lawyers ® 

Certified Tax Lawyer 

The Florida Bar 

Dilip patel, esq 

ImmIgratIon Law 

Dilip Patel has practiced immigration 

law from the Tampa Bay area for the 

past 20 years. Dilip is one of only 

54 attorneys Board Certified by the 

Florida Bar in Immigration and 

Nationality Law. He has achieved 

Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating 

for legal ability and ethical standards. He is also listed in 

The Best Lawyers in America ® for immigration law. The 

lawyer rating agency AVVO has ranked him “Superb” 

with a score of 10/10. Dilip received his LLB law degree 

from The London School of Economics at the University 

of London in 1980. He received his JD Degree with high 

honors from the Florida State University College of Law 

in 1990. He is a past Chair of the Central Florida Chapter 

of AILA and currently serves on the Florida Bar 

Immigration and Nationality Law Certification 

Committee. Dilip’s family originated from Gujarat, India. 

He was born in Uganda, East Africa and lived in London, 

England for 20 years before moving to Florida in 1988. 

Dilip patel law Firm 

Business and Immigration Attorneys 

Offices in Tampa and Oldsmar 

ph: 813.855.0066 • www.dplawfirm.com 

pracTice area highLighTed denoTes BesT Lawyers ® seLecTion 


Caroline Kapusta blaCK 

FamILy Law 

Caroline has held numerous 

positions related to her practice 

area, including Fellow in the 

American Academy of Matrimonial 

Lawyers, President of the 

Hillsborough County Bar Association, 

Chair of the Florida Bar Family Law 

Section and past-Chair of the Hillsborough County Bar 

Association Family Law Section. She is AV-rated by 

Martindale Hubbell and mentioned in The Best Lawyers 

in America ®. She has been published in The Florida Bar 

Continuing Legal Education Publications on Family 

Law. She is a Board Certified marital and family lawyer 

by The Florida Bar’s Board of Certification. 

mason Black & caBallero pa 

307 S. Magnolia Avenue 

Tampa, FL 33606 

ph: 813.251.9200 fax: 813.254.6841 

www.mbc-lawoffice.com 

caroline@mbc-lawoffice.com 

MiriaM e. Mason 

FamILy Law 

Miriam has held numerous positions 

related to her practice area, including 

President of the American 

Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 

President of the Florida Chapter of 

the American Academy of 

Matrimonial Lawyers, Chair of the 

Family Law Section of the Florida Bar, Chair of The 

Florida Bar’s Family Law Rules Committee, and Editor 

of the Family Law Commentator Miriam is a past-President 

of The Athena Society, Inc. and past-President of 

the J. Clifford Cheatwood American Inn of Court. She is 

also a Diplomat of the American College of Family Trial 

Lawyers, a Fellow of the International Academy of 

Matrimonial Lawyers and is AV-rated by Martindale- 

Hubbell, and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in 

America ®. She is a board-certified marital and family 

lawyer by The Florida Bar’s Board of Certification. 


307 South Magnolia Avenue 


ph: 813.251.9200 fax: 813.254.6841 


eD suarez 

crImInaL DeFense: 

whIte-coLLar 

Ed Suarez has tried a wide range of 

cases in front of juries in the state and 

federal courts of Florida. He graduated 

from Florida State University, College of 

Law in 1987, where he was a member 

of the moot court team, mock trial 

team, and a recipient of the James Harold Thompson 

Scholarship. In 1988, he was admitted to the Florida state 

bar and the United States District Court for the Middle 

District of Florida. He is also a member of the Eleventh 

Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme 

Court. Ed Suarez began his career as a prosecutor in 

Florida’s 13th Judicial Circuit, prosecuting cases including 

fraud and other financial crimes, capital sexual battery, child 

abuse, and other serious felony offenses. Since 1991, Ed 

has concentrated his efforts on helping clients with criminal 

and personal injury matters in the Tampa Bay area. 

law oFFices oF eD suarez, pa 

1011 West Cleveland Street 


ph: 813.229.0040 fax: 813.229.0041 

www.suarezlawfirm.com 

esuarez@suarezlawfirm.com 

tampa’s 

B est L a w y e r s® 

alexanDer Caballero 

FamILy Law 

Alex is board certified in Marital and 

Family Law and exclusively practices 

family law. He is a partner at Mason 

Black & Caballero, PA. He is a former 

prosecutor with the Hillsborough 

County State Attorney’s Office. 

He is a former Executive Council 

member of The Florida Bar and current Executive 

Council member and Secretary/Treasurer of the 

Hillsborough County Family Law Section. Alex was 

appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to The Florida 

Board of Bar Examiners and is currently an Emeritus 

Member of the Board of Bar Examiners. He is past 

chair of two separate Bar Grievance Committees. 

Alex received his Juris Doctorate with high honors 

from Florida State University College of Law in 1993. 

He graduated cum laude from the University of 

South Florida. 


307 S. Magnolia Avenue 


ph: 813.251.9200 fax: 813.254.5841 


alex@mbc-lawoffice.com 

WilliaM F. “Chip” Merlin, Jr. 

Insurance Law 

William F. “Chip” Merlin, Jr. is 

founder and president of Merlin Law 

Group, P. A. A graduate of the 

University of Florida School of Law, 

Mr. Merlin was admitted to the 

Florida Bar in 1983. He has dedicated 

his career to seeking justice for 

insurance policyholders. Mr. Merlin’s practice focuses 

on insurance disputes and insurance bad faith claims. 

He is routinely asked to speak at some of the nation’s 

most prestigious conferences and seminars on 

insurance issues and insurance bad faith. Mr. Merlin 

is widely regarded as one of the foremost practitioners 

of insurance claim litigation in the country and 

actively promotes consumer protection legislation 

for policyholders. 

merlin law Group, pa 

777 S. Harbour Island Blvd. Suite 950 


ph: 813.229.1000 fax: 813.229.3692 

www.merlinlawgroup.com 

www.propertyinsurancecoveragelaw.com 

to order reprints of tampa’s Best Lawyers, 

please contact 877.257.3382 

or reprintscustomerservice@alm.com 

Woodward/White Inc. has used its best efforts in assembling material for 

this list but does not warrant that the information contained herein is 

complete or accurate. Neither Woodward/ White Inc. nor ALM Media, 

LLC (or either party’s affiliates, employees, officers, directors or agents) 

assumes, and both parties hereby disclaim, any liability to any person for 

any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein, whether such 

errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause. 

This magazine includes paid attorney advertising. Consumers should 

contact the state bar for verification and additional information prior to 

securing the legal services of any attorney. For more information, see 

www.bestlawyers.com. 

The 2011 edition of The Best Lawyers in America is available from the 

publisher. For information call 803-648-0300; write 129 First Avenue, 

Aiken, SC 29801; email info@bestlawyers.com; or visit www.bestlawyers. 

com. “The Best Lawyers in America” and “Best Lawyers” are registered 

trademarks of Woodward/White, Inc. “ALM” is a trademark of ALM 

Media Properties, LLC. 

Tampa’s BesT Lawyers 15

Looking at a high risk 

business transaction? 

Client-Driven. Results-Focused. 

Confidence is everything. 

One Tampa City Center Suite 3200 Tampa, Florida 33602 (813) 221-2626 www.wsmslaw.com 

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