Brandon M. Nichols

Theodore L. Tripp Jr. has more than four decades of experience handling a wide range of complex civil lawsuits in both state and federal courts. This includes acting as lead trial counsel in significant business disputes, probate, trust and other litigation matters. He has represented businesses, business owners, personal representatives, trustees, municipal and county governments, and landowners in multimillion-dollar litigation at both the trial and appellate level in state and federal cour...

Joel W. Hyatt focuses his practice on commercial, construction, real estate, labor and employment, and community association litigation. Joel works with local and national companies, community associations, and individuals to navigate through complex business and legal issues, including all manner of contract disputes, collections, construction liens, foreclosure, replevin, enforcement of non-competition agreements, interpretation and enforcement of governing documents, and title disputes.

Juan D. Bendeck is certified by the Florida Bar as a Board Certified Specialist in Wills, Trusts and Estates. Board certification recognizes attorneys’ special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice. Juan focuses his practice in estate planning, estate administration and asset protection planning. He formulates and drafts tax-efficient estate plans for his clients, including more advanced and novel estate planning techniques ...

Mary Beth Crawford is a Principal in Cummings & Lockwood's Private Clients Group and is based in the Bonita Springs office. She focuses her practice on estate planning, tax planning and probate and trust administration. Mary Beth brings a caring and comprehensive approach to estate planning and provides her clients and their families with both the technical and personal guidance they need in developing the proper plan.

James L. Holloway, a Partner in the firm’s Fort Myers office, practices in the areas of litigation and local government law. He represents municipalities, local governments, and private clients in matters relating to land use, permitting, code enforcement, and eminent domain. James also handles litigation matters throughout all phases, including drafting pleadings, directing discovery, and researching and drafting dispositive motions. James frequently appears before Florida courts, the ...

Robert L. Lancaster is a Principal in Cummings & Lockwood's Private Clients Group and is based in the Naples office. Rob focuses his practice on the areas of wealth preservation planning, estate planning and business succession planning. Today’s litigious environment compels individuals to proactively engage in strategies to preserve their wealth. Just as physicians are all too familiar with the inherent risks of practicing medicine, so too should entrepreneurs, executives and other...

Marshall P. Bender is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Marshall P., who practices law in Naples, Florida, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Marshall P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Danielle M. Balczon is a partner in the firm’s Ft. Myers office. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana State University in Sociology with a concentration in Criminology. She subsequently obtained her Juris Doctor Degree from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama. While in law school, Balczon studied abroad at Cambridge University and served as an intern in Alabama State University’s Athletic Department. Prior to joining Cole, ...

Philip V. Howard is a partner in the Fort Myers office. He focuses his practice in the areas of Trust and Estate Litigation, Guardianship Litigation, Fiduciary Litigation, and Estate Planning. Philip has significant trial experience in the areas of inheritance disputes, fiduciary disputes, contested wills and trusts, guardianship disputes, elder exploitation injunctions and elder exploitation lawsuits and other contested probate matters. Although Philip focuses his practices on the 20th Judic...

Kenneth A. Jones has more than 40 years of experience practicing eminent domain, condemnation and property rights law. Ken has handled hundreds of eminent domain cases on behalf of individual and business property owners throughout Florida. He has defended his clients’ rights against government entities including the State of Florida Department of Transportation, South Florida Water Management district, Florida Gas, and various counties, municipalities and utility companies. His represe...