Bell Maritime Lawyers

Attorney Jason M. Melton, is a founding partner of Whittel & Melton. As a former state prosecutor, he continues fighting for victims bringing in some of the largest single event results in Central Florida. Jason is a lifetime member of the Multi-Million and Million Dollar Advocates Forum, AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and continues to be listed among SuperLawyers in Florida by Thomson Reuters. He is a Founding Member of the National Academy of Motorcycle Injury Lawyers, and in 2023 was named President. Attorney Melton is dedicated to providing clients with personalized, high-quality representation. We handle Auto Accidents, Slip and Fall, Injury, Nursing...

Patrick W. Harland, Jr. is a seasoned litigator and personal injury attorney having tried cases in both Florida State and Federal Court.

Upon graduating from Stetson University College of Law in 1999, Mr. Harland focused his law practice on defending insurance companies as well as some of the nation’s largest nursing home chains in liability suits relating to patient care. Mr. Harland also defended physicians in correctional healthcare cases brought by inmates alleging civil rights violations due to inadequate healthcare.

Today, Mr. Harland uses that defense background to the advantage of St. Petersburg clients who have been injured by the negligence of...

"Committed to changing the way the public thinks about lawyers."

Alisa Wilkes is an AV-rated preeminent attorney based in Jacksonville, Florida. She specializes in personal injury, railroad injury (FELA), and real estate cases and is licensed in Florida and Georgia. She has an extensive history of success in trials, appeals, mediations, and settlement negotiations in multiple areas of the law, including personal injuries, railroad (FELA) injuries, maritime injuries, construction accidents/fatalities, wrongful death, real estate, and contract disputes.

Native to Miami, in Jacksonville for 20 + years, avid sailor and dedicated to taking proper care of my clients. I practice maritime law in large part because I love boats. I handle appeals because I enjoy research, writing, and working with other attorneys.

I am a Shareholder at St. Denis & Davey Professional Association. Having practiced law since 1998, I provide experienced, skilled and knowledgeable representation for an array of legal needs. My practice areas include Legal Malpractice, Accounting Malpractice, Commercial Litigation, Insurance Defense, Products Liability, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Construction Litigation, Automotive Franchise and Dealerships, Class Actions, and Nursing Home Litigation. I defend insurance companies, construction developers, contractors, retailers, dealerships, and others throughout Florida. I am committed to providing zealous advocacy and delivering successful outcomes for my clients.

I received my B.S. in Finance from Florida State University. In 1998, I obtained my...

Aggressive, Effective and Efficient! Ms. Brennan is a leading lady trial lawyer with over 30 years experience. You want Ms. Brennan on your side. Call now (904) 903-8233.

Jason Turchin, Esq. is an Attorney, Author, Media Correspondent, Producer and Entrepreneur who has handled more than 6,500 Personal Injury, Accident, Product Liability, Life Insurance, and Wrongful Death Claims. Jason has appeared throughout the national and international news on various legal topics, including car accidents, wrongful death, product liability, Takata airbag shrapnel claims, exploding pressure cooker claims, life insurance, personal injury and more. Several major media outlets have turned to Jason for legal opinions or stories on his cases, including CBS Evening News, Wall Street Journal, Miami Herald, Bloomberg News, CBS Miami, Orlando Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, Telemundo, The New...

Mr. Margulies is board certified by the Florida Bar as an expert in Admiralty and Maritime Law. To achieve this status, Mr. Margulies had to demonstrate a substantial background in handling maritime cases and maritime law continuing legal education. In addition, Mr. Margulies was rigorously evaluated by the board as to character, ethics, and reputation for professionalism and was required to pass a written examination on all areas of admiralty and maritime law.

Leland Eric Garvin, a Florida native and second generation trial attorney, began his legal career working as a Prosecutor. While at the State Attorney’s office, he gained invaluable trial experience representing the State of Florida in countless jury trials at both the misdemeanor and felony levels. Prior to taking the job with the State, and throughout law school; Mr. Garvin worked for one of the larger personal injury law firms in South Florida. When he wasn’t handling injury and auto accident cases; he made time for the Moot Court Honor Society. It was during his time with Moot Court that he...

Spencer Aronfeld, is a board-certified civil trial lawyer who has earned international recognition as being a “lawyer for the people.” Born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Wichita, Kansas, Aronfeld graduated cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law in 1991. Upon graduation, he founded his own firm, Aronfeld Trial Lawyers, based in Coral Gables, Florida.

He has dedicated his life to representing individuals against corporate giants, such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruise Lines, Disney Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Holland America Cruise Lines, Bayer, Johnson & Johnson, Stryker, Target, Publix, Walmart, Mt....

Mitchell J. Panter is Board Certified as a Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar and National Board of Trial Advocacy, primarily practicing in the areas of Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Product Liability, Sexual Assault, Food Contamination and Premises Liability Cases. Mitchell Panter is also Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial Advocacy since 1996. At the age of 31, Mitchell Panter argued the case of American Aerial Lift v. Jose Perez in the Florida Supreme Court addressing the issue of Strict Liability and Product Liability. This precedent setting case involved the award of a...

Florida Board Certified Admiralty & Maritime Attorney; "AV" Preeminent Rated with Martindale-Hubbell; Member of Multi-Million & Million Dollar Advocates Forum; Super Lawyer Member & Lecturer ... Southeastern Admiralty Law Committee; Member & Lecturer ... Ft. Lauderdale Mariner's Club; Three U.S. Coast Guard Marine Engineering Licenses (Inactive); Sailed seven (7) years aboard Offshore Drilling Platforms; Specialties: Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Resort-Vacation, Negligent Security, Sexual Assault, Premises Liability, Pool & Hot Tub Entrapment Drowning Claims. Admiralty & Maritime Lawyer licensed in Florida & Massachusetts.

Florida Injury Attorney who has recovered millions of dollars for his clients. Call for a free consultation: 833-444-2326. Adam Rieth is a litigation attorney with the Barnes Trial Group. In his career as an injury attorney, he has recovered millions of dollars for his deserving clients. Prior to joining the Barnes Trial Group, Mr. Rieth worked at one of Florida’s largest and oldest insurance-defense firms. Over the course of a half decade at the defense firm, Mr. Rieth tried cases ranging from medical-malpractice wrongful death to trip-and-fall negligence. He also litigated numerous catastrophic claims involving many complex facts and legal issues....

Jack Hickey is the lead trial attorney at Hickey Law Firm, P.A. For the first 17 years of his practice he represented Cruise lines and insurance companies. For the last 17 years, he has been trying personal injury and wrongful death cases in the areas of cruise ship accidents, sexual assault and rapes on cruise ships, admiralty and maritime, medical malpractice, premises liability including inadequate security, car, truck and bus crashes, product liability, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other catastrophic, life changing injuries. Hickey is Board Certified in 2 areas, Civil...

Charles R. Lipcon has represented victims of cruise ship personal injury and cruise line sexual assault and claims for more than 50 years. His firm, Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., has successfully handled more than 3,000 cases and recovered well over $450 million on behalf of their clients. Mr. Lipcon was named "Lawyer of the Year" in Admiralty & Maritime by US News & World Report (Miami) in 2020 and his firm is named to "Best Law Firms" by US News & World Report. Mr. Lipcon and his firm can assist with the following types of accidents and injuries: - Cruise...

Brett Steinberg began his career as an Assistant Public Defender at the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office, where he provided legal representation to those accused of committing criminal offenses ranging from juvenile offenses and misdemeanors to serious felony crimes. While working at the Public Defender’s Office, Mr. Steinberg handled hundreds of criminal matters and tried over 25 cases to verdict. Most notably, at the end of his tenure as an Assistant Public Defender, Mr. Steinberg successfully argued a motion to suppress physical evidence, several pounds of marijuana, and years later that decision was upheld by the United States Supreme Court. ...

John M. Frazier, Jr. is a partner at Widerman Malek, PL that focuses on delivering a full range of litigation in both state and federal courts; including the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States as well as acting in advisory capacities for businesses and corporations reviewing contracts, documents, and providing legal feedback to aid and assist decision-makers. His area of practice includes corporate litigation and transactions, complex commercial litigation, real estate litigation and transactions, business representation, and maritime law. John has been a keynote speaker educating the public on the...

Wilnar Julmiste is a highly experienced Personal Injury and Maritime Law Attorney representing clients throughout the state of Florida. She is an experienced litigator and tough negotiator. She has been passionately representing personal injury clients since 2008. Prior to opening Julmiste Legal, Wilnar spent many years representing large companies that were defending themselves from claims. During that time, Wilnar gained valuable insight into the world of defense litigation strategy and understands what motivates insurance companies and large corporations to properly resolve claims. In addition to personal injury, Wilnar also concentrates her practice on maritime law, the body of law governing the...

Michael A. Winkleman is one of the nation’s top maritime lawyers. An active trial and appellate attorney, Mr. Winkleman is also a frequent contributing expert on maritime and cruise ship law. He has made more than 100 national television appearances regarding cruise ship law, including The Today Show, Dr. Oz, Good Morning America, 20/20, Inside Edition, OutFront with Erin Burnett, Fox News Channel’s ‘American’s Newsroom,’ ‘Fox & Friends,’ ‘America Live,’ ‘Happening Now,’ ‘Justice with Judge Jeanine’; and ‘Imus in the Morning.’ Mr. Winkleman has received numerous honors and accolades in recognition of his contributions to the field of maritime law

Philip M. Gerson is a board certified civil trial lawyer who has practiced law in Miami, Florida for more than 40 years. He is a cum laude graduate of the University of Miami Law School, where he was a member of the editorial board of the Law Review, a Moot Court winner and student instructor in legal research and writing. Mr. Gerson is admitted to practice in all Florida Courts, the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Claims, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits, and the United States District Court for...

Nicholas I. Gerson is a personal injury attorney whose practice consists of representing plaintiffs in serious, catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. Mr. Gerson 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.

Mr. Gerson is known within the legal community for his hard work, dedication and providing zealous legal representation. He has secured over 25 million dollars in jury verdicts and personal injury settlements in his first 13 years of practice. Some of Mr. Gerson's highlights include a $1.7 million dollar jury...

Holzberg Legal is a Maritime and Personal Injury Law Firm in Miami, Florida. We are uniquely positioned to represent passengers and crewmembers against all major cruise lines as the majority are headquartered in Miami, Florida, including Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line. Most Cruise Lines require that if you are injured, you must file suit in Federal Court in the Southern District of Florida. For over 30 years, we have been representing passengers and crew injured on cruises, on pleasure boats, yachts, jet skis. we specialize in medical malpractice by ships doctors and...

ROBERT L. GARDANA is a graduate of the University of Florida (B.A. 1975) . He obtained his Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University of San Antonio Law School in 1979. He is admitted to the Florida Bar, the Supreme Court of the United States, the Fifth and Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, United States District Court, Southern, Middle and Northern District of Florida. He is a member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, Southeast Admiralty Law Institute, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, American Bar Association, Florida Bar Admiralty Law Committee. His practice...

Brett Rivkind is a world renowned Maritime Personal Injury Lawyer. He has decades of experience handling maritime and admiralty cases. Mr. Rivkind represents individuals and families who have been the victims of accidents and crimes onboard all types of boats and ships, including incidents occurring aboard cruise ships. Well recognized for his dedication and excellence, Attorney Rivkind has testified before the United States Congress as a maritime expert, and has appeared on numerous television show including Larry King Live, MSNBC, Good Morning America, The Today Show, 20/20, Court T.V., Nancy Grace, Scarborough, Rita Cosby Show, The Early Show, Geraldo at...

David Pollack is an AV rated attorney who specializes in complex business litigation and appeals. His practice focuses on maritime, labor and employment, defamation, and construction litigation. In 2006, Mr. Pollack obtained the largest verdict in an internet defamation case in the United States, which was later affirmed on appeal. Mr. Pollack regularly represents businesses in cases involving defamation, employment discrimination, wage and overtime claims, and other commercial matters. He also represents passengers and crew members in cases involving maritime personal injuries. Mr. Pollack has written and argued more than 50 appeals before the Third District Court of Appeal, the...

Delray Beach car accident lawyer and Delray Beach personal injury lawyer. I am able to handle personal injury and car accident cases throughout the entire state. I keep my practice small so that I can be meticulous with each case and so that I can provide excellent representation to my clients. On personal injury cases, I strive to make the legal process as easy as possible for my clients. I do this by making sure that either myself or a member of my staff returns your phone call within twenty four hours. We also...

Attorney Jason Chalik is a renowned personal injury lawyer covering the Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton areas. He dedicated his practice to helping people who have suffered due to the negligence of another. If you or a loved one were the victims of a personal injury or vehicle accident, Jason Chalik will relentlessly fight for justice on your behalf. Mr. Chalik attended the American University, where he studied justice and political science. After graduating from the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law, he became the managing partner of a personal injury firm, which later became Rosen & Chalik. It was...

I worked for the insurance companies for 10 years before becoming a trial lawyer for the past 37 years. While working for the insurance companies I learned how insurance companies operate and gained valuable inside information. I have concentrated my practice in the area of personal injury including automobile accidents, premises liability, in adequate security, brain damage, and a variety of other types of cases. I am bilingual in English and Spanish.

I pride myself on the personal service we give to every client. I provide my cell phone number for 24/7 access to me personally. I...

Matthew Dolman is the President and Managing Partner of Dolman Law Group, a Clearwater personal injury and civil trial law firm. Mr. Dolman focuses much of his practice on the litigation of catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. In fact he only represents plaintiffs who have been physically injured as a result of the negligence exhibited by an individual or corporation. The Dolman Law Group has not and will not represent the interests of a Florida insurance carrier. Mr. Dolman is a proven fighter for injury victims and has been honored for his many...

Edward S. Schwartz has practiced law in Miami, Florida since 1982. He graduated magna cum laude from Williams College and cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law, where he served as Articles and Comments Editor of the Law Review. He is admitted to practice in all Florida courts. He is a member of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers and of its Appellate Practice Section. He has also served on the Amicus Committee of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, in which capacity he has prepared and submitted amicus briefs on behalf of that organization. His practice...

Justin B. Shapiro is a partner at Leesfield & Partners, a renowned personal injury law firm located in Miami, Florida. Upon graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Miami School of Law, Mr. Shapiro joined the firm and immediately focused his practice on catastrophic injury cases and wrongful death cases. Upon being named Partner, Justin Shapiro obtained a record verdict of $36,960,000.00 in a wrongful death.

Curtis J. Mase is the Managing Shareholder and founder of Mase Mebane & Seitz. He is board certified in civil trial law by the Florida Bar and National Board of Trial Advocates (NBTA). Mr. Mase is also board certified in pretrial practice by the NBTA. His main area of practice is civil litigation with an emphasis on maritime and admiralty, personal injury and class actions. Mr. Mase has tried hundreds of jury and non-jury matters. Born in Coral Gables, Florida, Mr. Mase earned his B.A. with a dual major in English and Business from Florida State University in 1982. He graduated...