Coral Gables Lawyers

Julia Kefalinos criminal defense and bankruptcy firm was established in 2006 after 16 years of service to the community as a Miami-Dade County Assistant Public Defender. From 1991-2006 Julia defended thousands of indigent people accused of crimes and unable to hire private lawyers or defend themselves. She vigorously prepared all aspects of their cases from investigation to depositions to trials. She has handled huge caseloads including felonies, traffic cases, juvenile delinquencies and domestic violence matters. Julia particularly enjoyed training new attorneys and she eventually became a lead attorney in a specialized division for 5 years. Of her...

Gary M. Mars joined the firm in 1991, developing a specialty in community association representation. Since then, his practice has evolved into full-service community association representation, including transactional work, covenant enforcement, drafting of opinion letters regarding the management and operation of the association, drafting amendments to governing documents, performing contract review and preparing meeting packages for board meetings and annual meetings. His representation also includes assisting clients with matters pertaining to construction defect negotiations and litigation, and turnover issues Mr. Mars has over 25 years of experience in assisting community associations in the pursuit of Chapter 558 claims and has...

Cesar is an International Attorney specialized in business law, litigation, and cross-border investments. He assists start-ups and seasoned investors to structure their business efficiently, reducing risk and setting them up for success. His experience in dispute resolution and litigation allows him to provide comprehensive and top-notch advise zealously protecting the interest of his clients. He holds a J.D. and International Arbitration LL.M. from the University of Miami School of law, an LL.M. for Foreign-Trained Lawyers from Brooklyn Law School, and a Licenciatura en Derecho “Cum Laude” from the Universidad Tecnológica de Honduras. He is admitted to practice law in the states...

Michael Flanagan is a partner at Flanagan & Bodenheimer Injury & Wrongful Death Law Firm and personal injury lawyer in Miami who has handled cases against some of the largest companies in the world. At just 29, Michael had already earned a coveted spot as a Lifetime Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and by 30, he obtained a multi-million dollar settlement in an individual personal injury lawsuit. He’s been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers, an association that awards the distinction to just 2.5 lawyers in the United States, and he’s been named a “Top 40...

Ms. Kurtz practices community association law, with a concentration in representing homeowners’ associations and condominium associations. In such practice, Ms. Kurtz routinely interprets community associations’ governing documents; provides legal advice to boards of directors as to day-to-day concerns and disputes; prepares and negotiates construction and vendor contracts on behalf of community associations; prepares meeting package documents for annual meetings and other community association meetings; attends owner, board and committee meetings; and drafts, interprets and amends community association governing documents.

Roberto C. Blanch has been a member of Siegfried Rivera since 2001 and concentrates his practice in community association law. He represents condominium and homeowners associations throughout Florida, handling a broad range of legal issues pertaining to the operation and management of community associations. Mr. Blanch handles all aspects of community association law including, but not limited to, covenant enforcement, interpretation of governing documents, vendor contract negotiation and drafting, amending governing documents, preparing for and attending board and membership meetings, elections and recalls, collections, fair housing issues, and insurance claims. He also assists associations who are undertaking the turnover process,...

Gregory E. Gudin is the Principal and Managing Partner of The Buckeye Law Group. He is responsible for the firm’s personal injury practice throughout Ohio. Greg has extensive litigation experience and has been involved in personal injury litigation since 2005. He has obtained numerous jury verdicts in favor of his clients, performed hundreds of depositions, litigated thousands of injury lawsuits, and has collected millions of dollars on behalf of his clients. Greg has dedicated his practice to the representation of those injured by the neglect of others, including wrongful death, medical malpractice, product liability, workers compensation, motor vehicle accidents, slip...

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...

David Markel is a personal injury attorney whose practice consists of representing plaintiffs in serious, catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. Mr. Markel focuses on auto, truck, and motor vehicle accidents, cruise ship accidents, maritime and marine related injuries, negligent security, premises liability, victims of crime, and other complex litigation.

Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Mr. Markel graduated from Ransom Everglades School in Coconut Grove where he was an All Dade County football player and AP Scholar. Mr. Markel attended Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he continued his football career and graduated with a degree in History...

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...

Criminal Defense, Family Law, Business Litigation DUI/DWI Defense/ Divorce / Domestic Violence Injunctions / Contract Litigation

Louise R. Caro is a Partner in the firm and is the Managing Attorney for our Miami, Florida office. Her practice focuses on plaintiff’s mass tort litigation, concentrating on helping people harmed by exposure to hazardous soil, water and air contaminants. She has represented clients harmed by a multitude of environmental pollutants and toxins such as arsenic, lead, and dioxin, in soils and public water supply wells.

Jude M. Faccidomo is a founding partner and managing partner at Ratzan & Faccidomo, a Miami law firm providing misdemeanor and felony defense of Florida and federal criminal charges as well as representation of lawyers and other professionals in administrative license revocation and disciplinary hearings. As a former Assistant Public Defender in the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s office, Mr. Faccidomo gained extensive, invaluable experience handling jury trials involving a wide range of criminal matters. Mr. Faccidomo completed his undergraduate degree at Bard College in New York and earned his Juris Doctor law degree from Saint Thomas University School of Law in Miami....

*AV Rated Preeminent® from Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ *Highest Rating of 5.0/5.0 from Martindale-Hubbell® Client Review Ratings™ *Highest Rating of 10.0/10.0 "Superb" on Avvo.Com *Rated Excellent on LawyerRatingz.com *Rated 5 out of 5 stars on Lawlink - The Attorney Network *Rated 5 out of 5 stars on Merchantcircle.com *A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau

Alfonso “Alfie” Leon was born, raised, and educated in Miami. He is a two-time graduate from Florida International University where he received a B.A. in Sociology & Anthropology and attended FIU Law. During law school Mr. Leon served as member of the Board of Advocates, the Health Law & Policy Clinic, and received the Public Service Award upon graduating. After law school Mr. Leon served as a Chief Policy Advisor at the City of Miami overseeing legislation which impacted; land use, zoning, procurement, and quality of life decisions. Mr. Leon handles cases against insurance companies and focuses primarily on Personal...

Jaime’s practice focuses primarily on trademark, copyright, entertainment and internet law. Jaime counsels clients on the acquisition of new trademarks, conducts clearance investigations and renders availability and infringement opinions, and provides legal advice regarding trademarks and related unfair competition issues. Jaime is experienced in the filing and prosecution of trademark applications at the state, federal and international levels, as well as the defense of related proceedings such as oppositions and cancellations of registrations. Jaime also assists clients in developing global IP portfolios and policies to secure, maintain and enforce trademark rights. Since 2009, Jaime has been named a...

Mr. Mermell has been the senior partner for the past twenty years in a firm that specializes in the representation of injured workers; Mr. Mermell has handled the claims of over 2,000 injured workers during the past 27 years; Mr. Mermell has tried numerous cases before the Office of Administrative Law Judges and has successfully handled appeals to the Benefits Review Board and the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit; Mr. Mermell was trained by Donald D. Gillis, Esquire, who had over 35 years of experience in handling DBA/Longshoremen’s claims; Mr. Mermell has been Florida Bar Board...

Michelle has concentrated in the area of plaintiffs’ civil trial practice since the beginning of her legal career. Her experience includes land-based and admiralty/maritime personal injury, wrongful death, and class action litigation. Michelle works closely with her clients and will always take the time to address their concerns and provide an honest assessment of their cases.

Michelle was co-lead counsel in a jury trial in Broward County resulting in one of the top 100 personal injury verdicts in Florida in the year 2017. She is fluent in Spanish.

Founded by Manuel Vazquez, a seasoned attorney with over 50 years of experience, Manuel Vazquez, PA, has deep roots in the South Florida legal community. Born in Havana, Cuba, Manny moved to the United States as a child refugee, sent to America by his parents to protect him from the Cuban Communist Revolution. Through hard work, honesty, and dedication, Manny developed a passion for the law, earning his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida in 1970. Over the decades, he has built a reputation for providing exceptional legal representation across all branches of the law. With a commitment to...

Mr. Ketelhohn is a shareholder of the firm who concentrates his practice in construction litigation. His experience includes representation of condominium associations, homeowner associations, developers, general contractors, subcontractors and design professionals on matters involving construction defects, construction liens, delay claims and other litigation and dispute resolution. He has successfully resolved numerous complex construction cases, obtaining multi-million dollar settlements in many of these cases on behalf of his clients.

Leysi Jimenez practices in the areas of Immigration, Family Law, Foreclosure, and Criminal Justice. Ms. Jimenez obtained a Bachelor of Science Magna Cum Laude in Criminal Justice at the Florida International University, and also a Juris Doctor Cum Laude at the Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center. She has been representing clients at mediation, temporary hearings, and trials. Ms. Jimenez has also managed and prepared cases, attended court hearings, and drafted motions to reopen cases. She speaks fluent Spanish.

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.

I am an attorney licensed in the State of Florida. I have been an attorney for two decades and graduated with honors from St. Thomas University School of Law where I was a member of the International Moot Court Team and a Judge in the Honor Council. I was an Associate Editor of the St. Thomas Law Review and an active member of the Hispanic American Law Society (HALS). I received the Book Award for best student in a subject in Constitutional Law, International Law, Comparative Law and Torts.

Brandon Stein is a Florida based trial attorney born in Queens, New York, and was raised in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Being the son of an accountant that owns a large firm in New Jersey, owning and operating a business is something that was engrained within Brandon Stein from a very young age.

As owner and founder of SteinLaw, Brandon Stein focuses his practice on personal injury, wrongful death, car accident and slip and fall litigation, as well as a variety of other civil litigation areas. While SteinLaw is based out of Florida, Attorney Stein handles cases all around the country.

Being...

Melissa Paniagua was born in New York City and raised in Miami, Florida. In 2015, She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Studies with a Minor in Philisophy at Florida Gulf Coast University. After college, she moved back home to Miami and went on to obtain her Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University School of Law where she graduated Cum Laude.

While in law school, Ms. Paniagua was a Moot Court board member, part time law clerk at a family law firm and a judicial intern for the Honorable Daryl Trawick, former Circuit Court Judge in the Family...

Ernest L. Chang is an experienced Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer, having practiced exclusively in the field of Criminal Defense since his admission to the Florida Bar in 1990. Mr. Chang obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida and his Juris Doctor degree in law from Nova Southeastern University. Mr. Chang has also appeared pro hac vice, in other jurisdictions, most recently in the State of Arizona. Past experiences include prosecuting Felony trials as a Certified Legal Intern with the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office, Former Public Defender with the 18th Judicial Circuit and Criminal Defense with...