Lee County Business Lawyers

I am a personal injury attorney that practices law with tenacity and an uncommon compassion that comes from surviving a catastrophic plane crash in 2011 that the FAA and NTSB determined was caused by pilot error. Because of my experiences coping with, and recovering from, serious, life threatening injuries, I practice with an understanding and compassion that few injury lawyers possess.

EDUCATION Oakwood University BA, Theology Howard University School of Law Doctor in Jurisprudence AREAS OF EXPERIENCE Business M&A Contract Drafting & Review Breach of Contract Partnership Disputes Home Contractor Suits Small Claims Civil Theft Florida Deceptive & Unfair Trade Practices ADMISSIONS Florida State Bar Southern District of Florida RELATED CONTENT I am the Owner and Chief Liber-Attorney™ (Attorney, Pastor, Multi-Preneur and bestselling Author) of Talented Tenth Law whose personal calling is to liberate society’s underdogs, socially, spiritually and financially. Here's how: SOCIALLY- I HELP PEOPLE MAXIMIZE THEIR PROTECTION AND PROSPERITY IN THE COURTROOM AND THE BOARDROOM: ?As a commercial and civil litigation attorney, I zealously represent the interests of individuals who have been wronged by a business or person and can only...

A partner at the Law Offices of Bilu Law, Ron S. Bilu represents clients in the state of Florida in matters of real estate law, foreclosure defense, insurance, bankruptcy, state and local taxation, investment and securities litigation, family law, personal injury, intellectual property, corporate law and commercial litigation. He is also authorized as an agent to write for the Old Republic National Title Insurance Company and is a member of the Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund.

Mr. Bilu earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida, graduating summa cum laude with an advertising major and a criminal justice minor. At...

Ms. Wasylik's practice focuses on Intellectual property and appellate litigation. She has been certified as an expert in both intellectual property law and appellate practice by the Florida Bar. Within intellectual property law, Ms. Wasylik maintains a particular focus on internet, technology and photography copyright issues, and trademark and trade dress negotiation, counseling, and litigation. She also represents clients in civil appeals in both Federal and Florida state courts.

Samantha Dammer is an attorney licensed in Florida and Illinois, concentrating her practice in general business law, bankruptcy law, real estate litigation, foreclosure solutions, family law, as well as comprehensive asset protection and debt restructuring. A tenacious, compassionate and experienced attorney in Tampa Bay, Ms. Dammer provides a holistic approach to clients who are seeking relief from real estate related financial distress, foreclosure or pre-foreclosure issues.

I represent clients in the purchase and sale of commercial and residential real estate throughout Florida, including the negotiation, contract documentation and closing of the transaction. I also have extensive experience in commercial leasing, title insurance, lender representation involving secured financing, property development and condominium formation. Feel free to contact me to represent you or your clients in real estate matters.

Mr. Halvorson is a Shareholder and Partner of the firm. He is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in the areas of Personal Injury and Wrongful Death and has successfully prosecuted numerous high profile cases. His practice is devoted 100% to litigation and he has specialized in the areas of motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, personal injury, products liability and wrongful death since 1977.

Sarah hails from Upstate New York and is a Yankee at heart, though she relocated to Florida over a decade ago. After high school, she moved to New York City to attend Fordham University. While living in the Big Apple, she gained experience through several jobs, including interning for The Fresh Air Fund, tutoring disadvantaged children in the Bronx through the America Reads Challenge program, and working on a congressional campaign, to name a few. During her junior year, she traveled to Ireland for a six month study abroad program and studied Celtic History and International Economics at University...

Tiffani K. Thornton is a solo practitioner in Tampa, Florida. Her primary areas of practice and expertise are estate planning, business transactions, real estate and real property. Ms. Thornton is a former Assistant Attorney General for the State of Florida, where she managed cases from intake through trial preparation, including making regular court appearances and arguments on behalf of a state agency. While a student at USF St. Petersburg she launched her mother’s senior care business, worked as a Legal Assistant for an attorney representing Homeowners and Condominium Associations, and interned for local and state-level political campaigns. During law school,...

Asset Protection, estate planning, and business lawyer proudly serving Port Saint Lucie, the Treasure Coast, and Palm Beach, Florida. Adalbert "Al" Martinez, is the owner and attorney of the CYA LAW FIRM in Port Lucie, Florida, focusing on Asset Protection, estate planning, and business law. Licensed to practice law in Florida, Al is committed to help you solve your estate planning, and business issues, coupled with tailored solutions to help protect your hard earned assets.

John Carter has more that 25 years in the financial services industry. He runs a law office in St. Petersburg. Until recently, John served as Chairman, President, and CEO of a $50 billion asset management company consisting of approximately 120 funds and 35 investment sub-advisers. He has a vast amount of experience, which includes working for a law firm (Skadden Arps), a federal regulator (SEC), and leading companies (Franklin Templeton, Citigroup, and Transamerica). He is licensed as an attorney in Florida, the District of Columbia, and Virginia. John currently is obtaining a Master of Theology from Saint Leo University, Dade...

Neal Kalis is a highly experienced, dedicated and a solution oriented attorney who is recognized for his multi-disciplined transactional practice, which encompasses corporate, probate, real estate, land use and zoning law.

Mr. Kalis is often called upon to handle the most complex of real estate transactions. He represented a seller in Fort Lauderdale throughout a consummated $80,000,000 beachfront hotel transaction which closed in 2002. He also served as the lead land use attorney in obtaining the approval for a 28 story condominium on the previous and historic Lauderdale Beachfront Hotel Property.

Mr Kalis' clients also call on him to work with government...

Thomas R. Spencer is an experienced lawyer and arbitrator. Spencer practices business law, international private business law, formation of businesses, contracts, litigation, representation of entities and persons before governments, internal investigations, ethics issues, and election law. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London.

Licensed to practice in Florida and Colorado, Heather A. Patchen is an attorney with an M.B.A. who devotes her efforts to ensure that her clients’ property investments are well protected. Her law practice, Patchen Law, P.A., focuses on issues involving property with a special emphasis in the areas of eminent domain, real estate, and title closings. Heather has experience working on both partial and complete takings against the Florida Department of Transportation and Miami-Dade County. She has also handled landlord/tenant disputes, drafted and negotiated real estate leases and various other contracts. Additionally, she has conducted...

Jason devotes his legal career to helping individuals and businesses navigate the complexities of U.S. and international tax laws and regulations. His commitment is to provide the most sophisticated and highest quality tax services which has enabled him to build meaningful and lasting relationships with clients.

Jason has over 8 years of tax experience advising individuals and global organizations on tax issues related to domestic reporting and compliance, and international tax issues involving tax treaties, transfer pricing, and cross-border investments and business operations. He also represents individuals and businesses faced with IRS notices and audits, and can assist with...

David S. Tupler, P.A. specializes in construction and commercial litigation, including mechanic's liens, lease disputes and landlord/tenant issues. With rates 30% lower than competitors, our Firm will help you get paid without bankrupting you.

Our Firm concentrates its practice in Bankruptcy [7, 13 & 11,]Debtor and Creditor Representation, Bankruptcy Related Litigation, Corporate Reorganizations & Workouts & Creditor Rights, foreclosure defense, credit restoration, and we sue debt collectors under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Our firm also does a fair share of family law, wills, probate, commercial and civil litigation, personal injury, real estate transactions, refinancing and foreclosure defense, landlord-tenant issues.

Ben Murphey is an attorney with the Fort Lauderdale law firm of Lawlor Winston. Mr. Murphey was born in Montgomery, Alabama in 1971. Before entering college, he served in the U. S. Army Infantry where he earned his airborne wings, and had the honor of serving as a sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He has been admitted to practice before all Florida Courts, the United States District Court for the Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Mr. Murphey's practice areas include general and...

Raised in Miami by working class immigrant parents from Cuba, Arianna’s parents instilled in her a profound respect for the rule of law. Her parents may not have had much in material possessions, but they taught Arianna to strive for more, to treat others with honesty and respect, and to confront challenges head-on without fear of failure. Over the years, these lessons guided Arianna through college, graduate school, law school, and now the practice of law. These lessons eventually morphed into the founding principles of her firm: Excellence, Integrity, and Perseverance. Before starting her firm, Arianna worked at a civil litigation...

"Christian A. Petersen joined Olive|Judd, P.A. in 2013. His extensive experience in complex commercial and construction litigation, contract and business disputes, real estate litigation, and representation of creditors in bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings makes him a valuable asset to the firm’s practice. Mr. Petersen’s practice includes representing international clients throughout the state of Florida, and he has been recognized as a Top Lawyer for 2013 and an Up & Comer from 2007-12 by the South Florida Legal Guide. Mr. Petersen has an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, a peer reviewed ranking which indicates the highest level of professional excellence....

Alton C. Hale, Jr. has focused his practice on helping victims and organizations with legal disputes of the upmost consequences involving insurance claims, business litigation, construction defects, catastrophic injuries and wrongful death.

Mr. Hale served as an assistant state attorney in Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties in Florida’s Treasure Coast. He honed his trial skills as the lead attorney in more than 60 jury trials while serving as a prosecutor in the state’s Nineteenth Judicial Circuit.

Mr. Hale served as an Assistant State Attorney in Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties in Florida’s Treasure Coast. He honed...

I grew up in South Florida and enjoy helping businesses develop and prosper throughout the South Florida community. I have helped businesses and their owners develop and start their operations, and advised them in many areas throughout their business life, including contracts issues, negotiations, and any potential lawsuits that may arise.

I graduated from Florida State University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Business, Risk Management/Insurance, and earned my Juris Doctorate from the Shepard Broad College of Law, Nova Southeastern University in 2008. I currently live in Broward County with my wife Rachel and two children, Emily and...

Austin D. Murray joined the firm in 2017 and concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, community association law and construction law. In the construction sector, Mr. Murray represents construction professionals such as owners, developers and design professionals on all facets of a construction project. He assists clients with the drafting and negotiation of construction contracts, and litigates construction defect disputes and other related issues. Mr. Murray also represents condominium and homeowners associations in the general representation of their communities, counseling boards of directors and property managers on the day-to-day operation of their association.

Prior to joining the firm...

Jeffrey S. Respler has been practicing in the area of commercial litigation since 1998 and has been with the firm since 2004. He is a member of the firm’s Construction Litigation Practice Group and Construction Defect Trial Practice Group. Mr. Respler practices in the areas of complex construction defect litigation and commercial litigation, and primarily includes the representation of condominium and homeowners associations and developers in the negotiation, mediation, and litigation of construction and design defect claims and related matters. His practice also includes appellate work. As lead counsel for construction defect cases, Mr. Respler has prosecuted and defended numerous...

Zachary T. Smith concentrates his practice in the areas of construction law and commercial litigation. He represents owners, design professionals, developers and other construction professionals on matters involving project development, construction defects, contract drafting and negotiation, as well as dispute avoidance and resolution.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Smith worked as a law clerk at a South Florida commercial litigation firm assisting partners with tasks such as drafting and composing motions, demand letters, notice letters and complaints. He also has extensive experience in conducting legal research and providing case law analysis.

During law school, Mr. Smith was a member of the...

Eduardo J. Valdes has been practicing in the area of general litigation, including insurance defense and commercial litigation since 2003. His practice includes general association representation, as well as construction defect litigation and insurance defense. In his association representation, he has personally handled a wide range of litigation matters, including developer transition claims, contract disputes, enforcement of declaration/bylaws/rules by injunction actions, financial mismanagement claims, directors and officers liability defense, commercial lease disputes, employment grievances, constitutional issues, assessment collection, easement disputes, and mixed use development disputes. In addition, Mr. Valdes has prepared condominium documents for associations, negotiated and documented condominium loans...

Andy Dogali was born in San Diego, California in 1962. He received his B.A. Degree, magna cum laude, from Florida State University in 1983. He received his Juris Doctor, with honors, from the Florida State University College of Law in 1986. He was admitted to the Bar in 1986 and co-founded the firm of Forizs & Dogali, P.A. In 2013 he aquired sole ownership of Forizs & Dogali and re-named the firm Dogali Law Group. Mr. Dogali is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Florida, and has appeared in litigated matters in more...

Joshua R. Alhalel concentrates his practice in the area of commercial litigation. He represents businesses and individuals in the prosecution and defense of general and complex civil litigation, including contract disputes, business torts, such as breach of fiduciary duty and fraud, corporate and shareholder disputes, officer and direct liability, and bank liability litigation. He also represents bankruptcy trustees and court appointed receivers in litigation matters arising from insolvency and receivership proceedings. Mr. Alhalel has experience in all aspects of civil litigation, including discovery, dispositive motions, trials, appeals. Before establishing his own law firm, Mr. Alhalel was an attorney at Genovese Joblove...

Mr. Raether focuses his practice on business and investment-related immigration work with entrepreneurs and high net-worth individuals from around the work. A substantial amount of his time is devoted to EB-5 visa matters, both in representing individual investors as well as developers and organizers of regional centers in their EB-5 capital-raising activities. Mr. Raether also handles L-1 and EB-1 petitions as well as related corporate and business advisory work for his clients. He is fluent in Russian and studied at Moscow State University, allowing him to develop a strong interest on the Russian and CIS markets.

Simona currently focuses her practice areas in real estate law, bankruptcy and general civil and commercial litigation.

Nicole Hewitt specializes in Estate Planning and Administration, Elder Law, Special Needs Planning, Business Planning, and Real Estate Transactions, with a particular focus on tax implications. She provides expert legal guidance to individuals, business owners, young families, retirees, and the elderly, helping them achieve their estate, tax, and medical assistance planning goals. Additionally, Nicole has extensive experience working with individuals and families with special needs, including the establishment of trusts and adult guardianships. Before co-founding HWK Law Group, Nicole built a robust career that included roles as a senior tax associate with two Big 5 accounting firms, an associate at a...

Marc A. Smiley concentrates his practice in the areas of community association representation, community association litigation and construction defect litigation. He provides a full range of legal services to the firm’s community association clients including, but not limited to, providing advice and guidance on general matters relating to associations, assisting with the transition of developer to unit owner control, amendment drafting and administering association elections as well as counseling associations’ boards of directors on contracts, corporate governance, covenant enforcement, resolution of disputes and issues with unit owners, developers, contractors, service providers, and other vendors. Mr. Smiley enjoys advising clients on...