A. Alston "Alston" Merritt

Irene Bassel Frick serves as the managing partner of Akerman’s Tampa office. A trial lawyer with experience in state and federal court, arbitrations, and administrative proceedings, Irene has a multifaceted litigation practice encompassing contractual disputes, class action defense, fiduciary duty claims, business torts, non-compete litigation, construction disputes, and commercial foreclosure litigation. Her clients include employers, insurers, employee benefit plans, and third party p...

Mike is an experienced transaction and bond counsel. He has represented numerous public and private companies, including HCA Healthcare Corporation, Eckerd Corp., Jim Walters Corp. and Tenet Healthcare Corp. (formerly National Medical Enterprises, Inc.), in acquisition and joint ventures. From 1997 to 1999 Mike served as assistant general counsel for Tenet Healthcare Corp. During that time he provided general legal services to 17 acute-care hospitals in the state of Florida, which included bo...

Jeffrey Koster is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Jeffrey, who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeffrey is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Steven Richardson is a partner in the Tallahassee office of Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A. He has been with the firm since 2013 and has worked in both the Tampa and Tallahassee offices. Mr. Richardson has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America® since 2024 for Insurance Law. Mr. Richardson's practice focuses in the areas of catastrophic and personal injury, general civil litigation, premises liability, trucking defense, security negligence, vehicle negligence, wrongful death, defectiv...

Larry is a trial lawyer who has handled many types of cases in state and federal courts, including partner disputes, securities litigation, receiverships, breach-of-contract, non-competes, construction law, white-collar fraud, product liability, and intellectual property matters. Larry joined Johnson Pope in 2023. He is rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell and has been named to Best Lawyers in America for commercial litigation. Before going to law school, Larry worked as a daily newspape...

Steven Lehner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Steven, who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Steven is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Cynthia N. Sass has been practicing law in Florida over 35 years. She formed the Sass Law Firm in 1993 to exclusively focus on representing public and private sector employees in employment disputes. The mission of her firm is to provide the client with an honest assessment of each case, ensure each client is educated on the options and remedies available to them through the law, and strategize with the client to accomplish his or her goals. In doing so, her firm takes an individual approach ...

Lara J. Peppard is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Lara J., who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lara J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mark Bernet litigates complex commercial and business disputes, class action defense, bankruptcy, creditors’ rights/foreclosures, and appellate matters in state and federal court. Experienced across a range of sectors, including finance, banking, real estate, aviation finance, and hospitality, his clients include local, regional, and national banks and financial institutions, manufacturers, and venture capitalists. Frequently recommended by the federal agencies and Attorneys General fro...

Roberta Casper Watson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Roberta Casper, who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 1995. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Roberta Casper is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.