Lake County Lawyers

Blair T. Jackson was born in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada in 1965. He attended McGill University in Montreal where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1988. He then attended the Western Michigan Cooley School of Law where he received his juris doctorate in 1991. Mr. Jackson also graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law with a LL.M. (Masters of Law) degree in Business Transactions in 2014. Mr. Jackson has more than twenty-three (23) years of civil litigation experience, practicing in both state courts in the State of Florida, as well as the United States District Court of the Middle...

A native of Florida, Raymond O. Bodiford has been representing the people of Florida for more than 25 years. He was born and raised in Miami, FL and attended Killian High School . For undergraduate school, he attended the University of Miami, knowing at an early age he wanted to be involved in advocating for the injured. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science at the age of 20. He attended law school at the University of Florida in Gainesville where he graduated in 1981. During law school, he worked as a certified legal intern at the Public Defender's Office...

Laura Douglas received a B.A from the University of Central Florida and began her professional career as an award winning news producer at WFTV in Orlando, where she developed the passion for investigation and advocacy that led her to law school. While attending St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami, she served as a Certified Legal Intern for the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida and clerked for the Florida Department of Transportation trial division. Following early graduation, Laura obtained priceless courtroom experience as an Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade County, prosecuting domestic violence, child abuse and...

Kim De Arcangelis (formerly Kim Woods) was born in Washington, D.C., raised in Orlando, Florida and then later resided in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida for a number of years. Ms. De Arcangelis practices in the labor and employment litigation division of the Orlando, Florida office of Morgan & Morgan. She has both bench trial and Federal jury trial experience. She represents numerous employees with matters including wage and hour disputes and ranging from single plaintiff actions to class/collective actions. Ms. De Arcangelis attended Nova Southeastern University for both her undergraduate degree and law degree.

Doug handles a variety of real property issues, primarily construction related negotiations and disputes representing public and private owners, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, sureties, architects, engineers, and insurers. He has negotiated and litigated the full spectrum of any project, from land use, zoning, and permitting to initial contract negotiations, bid protests, contemporaneous contract administration, change order disputes, mediation, arbitration and litigation.

Bruce has concentrated his entire legal career in the area of construction law and in 1997 he was a founding member of the firm. He routinely provides advice in the areas of contract drafting and negotiations, bidding, project administration and on-site performance, lien and bond issues, labor disputes, insurance matters, and preparation/evaluation of claims. Having worked in the construction industry, Bruce has a strong appreciation for the need to proactively avoid disputes as well as expedite the resolution of claims in order to minimalize business disruptions and legal expenses. His passion for creative and aggressive use of alternative...

Paul Byron graduated from the University of Michigan with honors in 1983 and from the Louisiana State University Law Center in 1986. Mr. Byron served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps from 1986 to 1990 as a prosecutor. He then returned to Central Florida and served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Middle District of Florida for 10 years where he prosecuted complex white-collar crime, including international money laundering. Mr. Byron also practiced in the civil division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, concentrating on medical malpractice defense and affirmative civil litigation. In 2001, Mr. Byron was selected to...

Shea Fugate is the founder and principal attorney at the Law Offices of Shea A. Fugate, P.A., located in Maitland and Orlando. Ms. Fugate concentrates her practice in the areas of disability law and elder law, helping the elderly and disabled in Florida plan for and receive appropriate care and benefits without depleting their vital financial resources.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Fugate worked for a disability law firm for seven years, serving as a social security disability (SSD) case manager and even writing appeals for the firm. This same firm later hired Ms. Fugate as an attorney, where she...

I am Zarina Hernandez, founder of Z. Hernandez Law where we focus on helping clients with criminal defense and bankruptcy cases. My approach to helping clients undergoing tough situations is centered around having open communication, understanding each client's unique circumstances, and tirelessly pursuing the most favorable outcome for their cases. I believe that every client deserves personal attention, a strong advocate, and a guiding hand during the legal process. I graduated Cum Laude with a high-honors certificate in Trial Advocacy from Barry University, Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law. Over the years, I have represented clients facing various criminal charges some...

Attorney Debi V. Rumph is an Orlando native of 38 years, with strong ties to the community where she lives and serves. Debi graduated from UCF in the Legal Studies program in 1995. After graduating from the University of Florida, College of Law, Debi focused in construction law, commercial landlord tenant law, and general commercial litigation at a major and national law firm. Following that experience, Debi taught at the FAMU College of Law as a professor of law for 3 years. While a law professor, she became a published scholar. After becoming a published scholar, Debi established...

Mary Trotter is a Florida Bar board certified specialist in elder law. Her practice focuses on wills, trusts, special needs planning, and other areas of concern to today’s senior population. Ms. Trotter addresses delicate legal matters with a unique combination of compassion and expertise, qualities that have earned her great respect among her clients and the local community. A past president of the Seminole County Bar Association and a Department of Veteran’s Affairs Accredited Attorney, Ms. Trotter is a popular public speaker and community educator on elder law matters.

Ms. Trotter Graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

Mr. Babiarz represents victims injured in The Villages, FL to help them secure compensation. With a focus in golf cart accidents, Babiarz Law Firm has experience in multiple injuries ranging from racing and horseplay to fatal golf cart ejections. Mr. Babiarz offers free consultations and phone appointments if needed to provide convenient service for all clients.

Before moving to Orlando last summer, I worked as an assistant county attorney in southwest Florida for 4 years. I was the primary drafter of Lee County’s comprehensive plan, land development code, and administrative codes while representing a number of county departments including planning and zoning, transportation, utilities, natural resources, and parks and recreation. Prior to working for Lee County, I worked at a private law firm practicing Real Estate, Local Government, Environmental Law, Land Use, HOA Law, and Condominium Law for nearly 10 years.

April represents clients from all facets of the construction industry in disputes, including arbitrations, lawsuits, and appeals. She has drafted and negotiated many multi-million dollar construction contracts on behalf of contractors and public owners, including complicated cost-plus contracts for work outside of the United States, as well as contracts for architectural and consulting services and subcontracts. April also provides real-time counseling and representation for issues with ongoing construction projects.

Mrs. Díaz-Sampedro currently works as an Immigration attorney for the Vasquez Law Firm in Orlando, Florida. She received her B.A., Magna Cum Laude, from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico. As a testament to her overachieving character, in 2011 and at the age of 23 she completed her Juris Doctor at the Inter American University, School of Law. While in law school, she worked as a clerk at the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Mrs. Díaz has also taken advanced international law courses in cities such as London, Venice, Madrid and Beijing, which experience has granted her...

After spending fifteen years in the information technology industry, attorney Wes Dunaway has focused his skills on his passion: working for consumers and small business owners. Born and raised in East Tennessee, Wes Dunaway was inspired by his father and his uncle, both trial attorneys who work to ensure that injured people obtain justice in the courtroom. Wes Dunaway earned an MBA from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College in 2003. He earned his law degree from Florida A&M University College of Law, serving as Staff Editor of the Law Review and graduating magna cum laude in the top...

Carole Bess has been practicing law in Brevard County, Florida, in the area of Bankruptcy since 1990. She is the founding member of Bess & Freyberg, P.A. While Carole practiced in many areas of law until 1999, and appeared many times in the Fifth District Court of Appeals, she has concentrated her practice in Consumer Bankruptcy for the last thirteen years, and has been a Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney for twenty-two years. Carole was interviewed by Scott Pelley of 60 Minutes, in January 2012, and was featured in an episode of 60 Minutes,...

Linda earned her undergraduate degree in 1988 and her law degree in 1991 at the University of Florida (Go Gators!). Prior to opening her own practice in 1997, Linda worked for three law firms. Linda has successfully defended trial verdicts through appeals, and has changed the law through appellate opinions. With the help of her team, her firm has obtained successful jury verdicts and settlements for men, women, and children who were injured or killed as a result of negligence.

These successful claims include injuries from car crashes, motorcycle and bicycle accidents, dog bites, criminal assaults, nursing home negligence, medical malpractice,...

Former Prosecutor and Dedicated Defense Lawyer

A full-time member of Michael T. Gibson, PA, Mr. Perez concentrates in the areas of personal injury involving automobile accidents, insurance litigation, and consumer bankruptcy. Mr. Perez always recognizes the significance of these cases on his clients' everyday lives, and handles each matter with dedication and care.

For over 20 years, I have devoted my law practice solely to mediation. In 2017 I joined Orlando Legal to establish the Orlando Mediation division. Previously, I was a member of the Fraxedas Mediation Firm and Upchurch, Watson, White and Max.

About 1/2 of my practice is devoted to working with families in divorce, custody and paternity cases.

I've also worked with the U.S. Postal Service REDRESS program and as a panel mediator for EEOC.

As a graduate of the Key Bridge Foundation's Mediation Training Program (sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice) I mediate issues involving the Americans...

I graduated from the University of Miami School of Law in 2013 and have been practicing law for more than 9 years. I started out as a State Prosecutor where I gained significant courtroom experience. A few years later I opened my own law firm at the beginning of 2018. Sing 2013, I have been the lead attorney in more than 25 jury trials and some non-jury trials as well. Now I focus on criminal defense, personal injury, and landlord-tenant law, in which I often represent tenants with consumer protection claims against landlords.

Attorney Samuel A. Walker heads CPLS, P.A.’s federal and Virgin Islands appeals team, and is its chief federal and Virgin Islands appellate attorney. Mr. Walker earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loma Linda University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Howard University School of Law. After law school Mr. Walker served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Ishmael A. Meyers at the Superior Court of the United States Virgin Islands. Mr. Walker advised Judge Meyers on a variety of civil and criminal matters, including appeals. Since completing his judicial clerkship, Mr. Walker...

Orlando, Florida, and Winter Haven, Florida, attorney Michael J. LaPorte is Partner at Bloodworth Law, PLLC. Michael handles Personal Injury Protection litigation for the firm.

Michael, an Orlando native, has practiced Florida law since 1997. Michael graduated from The University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law. He studied political science and graduated with a B.A. from The University of Central Florida in 1994.

After more than two decades of litigating insurance cases, Michael understands that businesses and individuals want insurance companies to pay up. Now.

“I represent medical providers and policyholders in lawsuits against insurance companies for the recovery of first-party...

Caryn Green has limited her practice exclusively to Marital and Family Law since her admission to the Florida Bar in 1996. Caryn promotes problem solving by utilizing appropriate dispute resolution methods designed to avoid expensive litigation, whenever possible. This problem solving approach preserves relationships and minimizes costs and fees. However, when necessary she is an aggressive, dynamic and effective trial lawyer. Caryn, a partner in West, Green & Associates, P.L., brings over 19 years of Family Law experience to the firm and is board certified by the Florida Bar, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial...