Allison Selby McKown

Accomplishments Ms. Merlin has held several leadership positions in eminent domain during her career. These include: Chair of the ABA Condemnation, Zoning and Land Use Committee (1982 - 1985); Chair of the Florida Bar Eminent Domain Committee (1993 - 1994); Co-Chair of the Hillsborough County Bar Association Eminent Domain Committee (1997-1998) and member of the Florida Bar Eminent Domain Practice and Procedure Steering Committee (1999 - present). Her proudest career accomplishment is institu...

Bill serves on the firm’s board of directors. He is a board certified specialist in the area of business litigation. His practice focuses on business litigation and trial practice, including securities litigation and arbitration, professional malpractice litigation, director and officer litigation, employment litigation, restrictive covenant litigation and intellectual property litigation. Bill served as President of the Florida Bar for the 2016-2017 term. He is also a member of the boa...

Peter W. Zinober is a labor and employment lawyer specializing in the defense of employment discrimination cases in state and federal court, both jury and non-jury, as well as wage and hour, disability discrimination, age and all other types of employment litigation. Pete also specializes in "traditional" labor management relations law, including the representation of employers in connection with unfair labor practice and representation case proceedings before the National Labor Relations Boa...

Alejandro J. Fernandez is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent and Trade Secrets Law. Alejandro J., who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Alejandro J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Richard B. Stephens, Jr. is a partner in Holland & Knight's Lakeland office. Mr. Stephens divides his time between tax exempt financings and a diverse corporate practice. On the corporate side, Mr. Stephens has extensive experience in large corporate transactions focusing on the gas, power, cement and road based industries (including structured products, prepaid gas transactions, financings, derivatives, acquisitions, mergers, and general contract drafting). He also has significant experi...

With more than 20 years of experience as a trial attorney, Russell Buhite focuses his practice on life, health and disability insurance coverage litigation, as well as myriad ERISA matters. He is also experienced in defending employers in employment law matters before the EEOC and in state and federal courts. Russell also represents a wide range of professionals including agents, brokers, attorneys, appraisers, engineers and others in all manner of alleged malpractice and errors and omissions...

Charles A. Wachter is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law and Insurance Law. Charles A., who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Charles A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Louis T. M. Conti is a partner in the Tampa office of Holland & Knight. Mr. Conti's practice includes serving as outside counsel to businesses of all sizes, mergers and acquisitions, cash flow and asset-based financings, leveraged buy-outs, mezzanine and subordinated debt transactions, public and private equity placements, venture capital and private equity investments, company governance advice, and sophisticated and complex cross-border transactions and joint ventures and strategic alli...

Katherine Earle Yanes was born in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from Williams College, magna cum laude, with honors in economics, in 1993. In 1997, she graduated from Stetson University College of Law, magna cum laude, as valedictorian of her class. She was an associate member of the Stetson Law Review. Following law school, Ms. Yanes served as a law clerk to Chief Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich, United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Since 1999, she has rep...

Lori Heim is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law, Litigation - Real Estate and Real Estate Law. Lori, who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lori is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.