Balm Lawyers

Don DeCort entered private practice in 1994 after an illustrious career in the U.S. Army, which culminated with his retirement as a colonel. He practiced with the firm of Anderson & Artigliere, PA from 1994 to 1995 and spent eight years as a partner in Holcomb & DeCort, P.A., from 1995 to 2003. He opened the Law Office of Donald P. DeCort, P.A. in 2003 and, along with Kristin R. H. Kirkner, Esquire, opened DeCort & Kirkner, P.L. July 1, 2010, and continues to concentrate his practice in the areas of family law, including military aspects of divorce and small...

Françoise (Fran) M. Haasch has over two decades of experience representing victims of personal injury, as well as the surviving family members and loved ones of individuals who were wrongfully killed. With 100 percent of her practice focusing on plaintiffs’ personal injury and an emphasis on car and motorcycle accidents, Ms. Haasch provides devoted legal support for individuals and families throughout the Greater Tampa Bay Region and beyond. Her firm, The Fran Haasch Law Group, represents clients in Clearwater, Tampa, Palm Harbor, St. Petersburg, New Port Richey, and the surrounding areas.

Kevin L. Sullivan II was raised in Tampa, Florida. He attended First Baptist Christian High School and graduated Magna Cum Laude with Honors. He then attended Saint Leo University for his undergraduate education, where he graduated cum laude from the Honors Program with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. While at Saint Leo University, Kevin was a Resident Assistant, Vice President of Finance for the Student Government Union, and a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. Due to his superior involvement and dedication to the Fraternity, Kevin was the first undergraduate in the fraternity’s history, out of over 275,000 men,...

BIOGRAPHY Jim Purdy is a highly accomplished attorney with over 30 years of experience, a master negotiator, and an expert in the art of conflict resolution. His robust legal background equips him to work on any case from beginning to end while keeping his clients informed throughout the lifecycle of their case. Mr. Purdy received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and history from the University of Minnesota’s College of Liberal Arts in 1989. He remained at his alma mater to pursue his law degree at the University of Minnesota Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctorate with...

Will Cantrell is an attorney who has spent his entire career representing businesses and individuals in matters relating to unfair competition, deceptive business practices, employment law and related business disputes. From jury trials and arbitrations, to dispositive motions and bench trials, he has an extraordinary track record. For five years in a row, he has been listed by Florida Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star.” Will completed his undergraduate studies at Mercer University. He received a master’s degree, cum laude, in international economics from Florida State University. He received his law degree, magna cum laude, from Florida State University College of...

Matthew Mincone is a dedicated personal injury attorney and the managing partner of Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers in Tampa, Florida. Specializing in personal injury litigation, Mr. Mincone adopts a hands-on approach, personally handling each case to ensure his clients receive both the compensation and respect they deserve. Unlike larger firms that often rely on case managers or paralegals for client interactions, Mr. Mincone remains deeply involved in every aspect of the process—from the initial consultation through to settlement or trial. Mr. Mincone’s legal journey began in New York, where he developed a broad foundation in civil, business, corporate, and real estate...

John Stokes, as Partner in Watson Sloane's Public Finance practice group, draws upon his extensive experience in public finance to provide legal counsel in all aspects of municipal and local government finance, including private activity bonds. John represents clients in a variety of financings, with a particular focus on school district, healthcare, county, municipality, special district, higher education, senior living and related financings. He has been involved as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, underwriters counsel and special counsel in his representations of issuers, lenders, borrowers, trustees and underwriters for over 34 years.

John has significant experience in the healthcare field,...

Jeffrey Carl Hakanson graduated from Washington and Lee University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history. He attended the South Texas College of Law, from which he received his Juris Doctorate in 1995. Mr. Hakanson began his legal career at a Tampa real estate firm, where he developed expertise in representing secured lenders in mortgage foreclosure actions, lender liability actions, and bankruptcy cases. He then joined the law firm of Gibbons, Smith, Cohn & Arnett as an associate attorney, during which time he focused primarily on real estate litigation and the representation of creditors in bankruptcy court. In...

Attorney Andrew Buda is a Tampa native. He attended the University of South Florida and earned a bachelor’s degree in business. Afterward, Andrew worked as a middle school teacher during the day and in the evenings, he attended Stetson University College of Law where he earned his law degree. Andrew’s experience as a state prosecutor trained him on how the state looks at a case from the initial arrest all the way through trial. He honed his skills in actual trials, with over 30 trials at all levels of severity, including DUIs, domestic battery, and all degrees of felony. This experience...

GREGORY R. HANEY is a partner in the real estate practice group in the Tampa, Florida office of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP. Mr. Haney is AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, and was recognized by Super Lawyers as a 2009 Florida Rising Star. Mr. Haney has substantial experience in handling negotiation, financing, title, and all other aspects of commercial real estate transactions involving shopping centers, office buildings, retail centers, multi-family housing projects, and hotels, as well as related land use issues. Mr. Haney also has substantial experience in representing both landlords and tenants in commercial leasing transactions involving office, retail,...

Scott Davis is a respected and committed family law attorney practicing in Tampa, FL. No case is too big or too small for him to take on. Whether you are going through a divorce or a child custody dispute, give Scott Davis a call and see how he can help you.

While attending law school at the University of Florida, Ghada served as a research assistant for a professor of law, a Law Clerk at the Clerk of Circuit Court in Hillsborough County and as a Summer Associate at Gray Robinson. After graduating, cum laude, she returned to her native Tampa to serve as the general counsel of a family-owned manufacturing and export corporation. Since co-founding Lieser Skaff Alexander, Ghada has concentrated her practice in the area of business law. Ghada assists Tampa businesses on a wide range of complex transactions, such as: purchase and sale agreements, franchise agreements,...

Practicing law in Tampa, FL since 1997, in the areas of criminal law, personal injury, and family law.

Board Certified Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney serving Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk County, Florida for over 25 years! Michael Barnett is a bankruptcy lawyer representing consumers and small businesses in Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases in west central Florida. Mr. Barnett is board certified by the American Board of Certification in consumer bankruptcy law, and has been board certified since January 1993. While the main office is in Tampa, appointments are also available in Dade City. Mr. Barnett has achieved the AV Preeminent rating by the premier lawyer rating organization, Martindale-Hubbell. Only about 10% of attorneys achieve this rating. AV®...

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, moved to Tampa in 1956. Attended Plant High School. Graduated from the University of Florida in 1963 with a degree in Pharmacy. Practiced pharmacy for 2 years then went to Stetson University, College of Law. Graduated in 1969 from Stetson with a Juris Doctor degree. 1970 went to work with the State Attorney's Office as an assistant State Attorney in Hillsborough County. In 1973 was made Chief Assistant State Attorney pursuing drug importation into the State of Florida and presented same to the First State wide Grand Jury for prosecution. In 1975 entered the...

Marshall C. Deason, Jr., has more than 25 years of experience in handling real estate, development, and construction transactions and in organizing and representing Tampa businesses as corporations, LLCs, and LLPs. He is board certified in real estate law by The Florida Bar and has earned an “AV” rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Prior to joining the Gibbons Neuman in 2007, Mr. Deason has been a member of both Florida and multi-state law firms, has served as vice president and general counsel of a publicly held real estate development company, and worked as an attorney/advisor to the U.S. Department of...

Weller Legal Group PA has been on of the premier Bankruptcy Law Firms, in the greater Tampa Bay region, since 1993. Weller Legal Group PA has offices in Tampa, Lakeland, Clearwater, and Port Richey, Florida.

We primarily represent debtors in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. We also provide aid and representation in matters of Foreclosure and Lawsuit Defense, Settlements, Mortgage Modification, Credit Counseling and Credit Repair. Since 1993, Weller Legal Group PA and Jay Weller have represented many thousands of clients in such matters, relating to debt.

Mr. Fuller has been practicing law for more than 26 years. During the course of his expansive career, he has been involved in all aspects of personal injury litigation. He has tried over 80 cases to verdict before a jury, as well as dozens of others before a judge. Prior to joining The Fran Haasch Law Group, he served as an attorney for a major, multibillion-dollar insurance company for more than 12 years. He knows how insurance companies and adjusters analyze cases. All of this experience, including experience on both sides of the aisle, is tremendously beneficial to the firm’s...

Brian joined Forizs & Dogali in 2009. He has focused his litigation practice on commercial, construction , personal injury, ADA discrimination, civil rights, insurance coverage and criminal law. Prior to joining Forizs & Dogali, Brian worked as an associate attorney at a local law firm, concentrating on insurance defense. Brian has handled various facets of litigation including depositions, motion practice, mediations, trials and appeals. Brian has also previously been a prosecutor, handling over 300 cases at any given time for the State Attorneyâs Office, and sitting first chair in over 30 jury trials, as well as...

Dedicated to the representation of Family Law clients.

Jamila Little is an attorney licensed to practice law in Florida, Washington DC and in the Caribbean. Her practice areas include Immigration, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury and Business Law. Jamila continues to represent her clients in State court and Federal Immigration court. She hails from the beautiful twin isle of Trinidad and Tobago. Jamila graduated with honors from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, where she majored in Economics and minored in Business Administration. She obtained her Masters in Business Administration (MBA), with a concentration in Finance, from Clark Atlanta University School of Business. She worked in the Banking...

Kielan Saborit is a Cuban born and raised attorney. Ms. Saborit attended Law School in Cuba before she moved to the United States in the pursuit of a better future. Ms. Saborit graduated from St. Thomas University School of Law. After spending almost a decade representing insurance companies and business as counsel to a large personal injury firm, Ms. Saborit decided to use her expertise to represent people injured due to the negligence or unsafe practices of others. Ms. Saborit’s areas of practice include car accidents, slip/trip and falls, premises liability injuries, wrongful death, construction and workplace accidents. As well,...

I started practice in 1960 in Miami, Florida. I practiced for a while in Orlando, then moved to Tampa in 1967. I have always practiced since 1963 in the Personal Injury and Wrongful Death field, always for the claimant. I am now partially retired. In 1967 I started the firm of Wagner, Cunningham and Vaughan. Mr. Cunningham is deceased and Mr. Vaughan is fully retired. The farm name is now Wagner McLaughlin.

W. Chase Carpenter grew up in South Charleston, West Virginia. He is a graduate of West Virginia University where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with degrees in English and Business Management with a minor in Entrepreneurship. At WVU, Chase earned the honor of becoming a member of Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Kappa Phi; Sigma Tau Delta; and Beta Gamma Sigma.

He went on to attend the University of Florida, Levin College of Law, where he graduated Cum Laude. Chase received a number of book awards for his outstanding work in Constitutional Law and Mediation. During law school, Chase served as President...

Attorney Richard McCluskey began his legal career at the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office where he handled thousands of cases from simple misdemeanors to severe felonies that are considered punishable by life. While there he completed many jury trials and hundreds of non-jury trails while working his way up from county court to circuit court. After leaving the Public Defender he has worked for private firms and handled numerous criminal and civil cases. Mr. McCluskey believes everyone deserves to have strong representation and will fight for you if you choose our firm. The Law Office of Richard McCluskey was founded on...

William "Joe" Kopp is from Brecksville, Ohio. He graduated in 2005 from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration; and from Stetson University in 2008 with his Law Degree, a Concentration in Advocacy, and a Master's Degree in Business Administration.

Following law school he initially worked for a large, multi-state consumer bankruptcy firm in Tampa. Within one year of joining the firm, he was selected to train new attorneys and paralegals joining the firm. In 2011 he moved his practice to St. Petersburg, and in 2012 opened his own firm. In...

Full-time Federal and Florida Circuit Civil mediator with 30 years of experience representing clients in cases involving employment, personal injury, product liability, RV and automobile warranty, consumer, commercial, construction and insurance claims. Chair of the Mediation and Arbitration Section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association. Providing mediation services in and outside of Florida, either live or virtually.