Abigail C. "Abi" Watts-FitzGerald

Christopher N. Bellows is an appellate attorney who has handled complex civil appeals in the Supreme Court of Florida, all Florida District Courts of Appeal and the federal appellate courts. Mr. Bellows also has significant experience in complex commercial litigation, including areas of contract law, Uniform Commercial Code, business torts, foreclosures, receiverships, replevins, construction disputes, landlord-tenant litigation, product liability, personal injury, first amendment, employment...

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

Shani Rivaux is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Shani, who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Shani is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Deborah Chames is a seasoned family law attorney who represents clients in all aspects of family law, including divorce, post judgment proceedings, enforcement proceedings, paternity actions, preparation of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and mediation. Prior to joining Kluger Kaplan, she was a partner at Heller & Chames, P.A. since its founding in 1989. She has been appointed by a number of Dade County Circuit Judges as Guardian-Ad-Litem in matrimonial matters involving children&r...

Reynaldo Velazquez focuses his practice on working with claims management companies and employment practices liability insurance companies to defend employers against discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims. In this regard Rey directly handles or oversees litigation throughout the country that involves many different industries, including fire departments, hospice care facilities, and many other private and public sector entities. Rey also spends a considerable amount of time defen...

Joel D. Adler is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Joel D., who practices law in Coral Gables, Florida, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joel D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Having tried construction cases throughout Florida, David is a trial lawyer, who also provides consultation on transactional matters. Approaching 20 years of experience, David is a Board Certified Specialist in Construction Law, and a fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA), an invitation only organization with fewer than 100 members in the State. David devotes his practice to a broad array of construction-related matters, representing developers, contractors, and subcont...

David Birke serves as co-chair of Akerman’s M&A and Private Equity Practice Group. David’s practice focuses on representing private equity funds, family offices and their portfolio companies in complex acquisitions, divestitures, recapitalizations, restructurings, growth capital investments, and debt and equity financings. David’s wide ranging practice also encompasses representing other private and public companies with corporate governance, joint ventures, executive co...

Juan Carlos Varela is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Juan Carlos, who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Juan Carlos is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jose A. Casal practices in the areas of business and real estate litigation, international litigation and arbitration, and bankruptcy and creditors’ rights. He has handled civil trials in both Florida state and federal courts, and has conducted international arbitrations in both Miami and New York. His representative matters include corporate and partnership disputes, real estate and title insurance claims, receiverships, workout transactions, international litigation, banking litigatio...