Brett J. Preston

M. John Burgess is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. M. John, 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 M. John is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael McGriskin practices in the area of insurance and reinsurance. He has exclusively represented insurers and their agents since he joined Phelps Dunbar in 2013. His practice is focused on complex insurance coverage, counseling, and litigation and includes advising and defending insurers regarding allegations of insurer “bad faith.” Michael’s litigation experience encompasses a range of insurance coverage matters. He represents admitted and surplus lines insurers regardi...

Diana Evans joined the firm as a member of the Litigation Practice Group after clerking for the Hon. James S. Moody Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Her practice focuses on commercial litigation in both state and federal court in areas including product liability and employment law. Diana represents manufacturers in a variety of product liability actions, including cases involving medical devices and consumer products. She also routinely defends employers in ...

Kirk Davis is the chair of the Healthcare Practice Group, a multidisciplinary team recognized nationally for representing sector participants in regulatory compliance, insurance, and transactional issues. An accomplished litigator, Kirk represents hospitals and health systems in complex regulatory compliance issues and disputes with a focus on medical malpractice and peer review hearings. Kirk has decades of experience in the peer review process and has been involved in all aspects of hearing...

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...

Mark Bentley is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, certified planner, and board-certified attorney with more than 30 years of experience representing clients in land use, zoning, eminent domain, and property rights matters throughout Florida. Based in Tampa, Florida, he serves clients at Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns LLP . His practice areas include Land Use and Zoning Law and Litigation - Land Use and Zoning. Mark represents private property owners, developers, businesses, and commercia...

Nicholas B. Vargo is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law and Litigation - Construction. Nicholas B., who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicholas B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brian T. McElfatrick is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Franchise Law and Litigation - Construction. Brian T., who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brian T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Edwin P. Gale is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Edwin P., 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 Edwin P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Al Gomez is a partner in the Tampa office of Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP. The majority of his practice is in the area of bankruptcy law, insolvency, assignments for the benefit of creditors and all other aspects of debtor/creditor law. He has represented clients in all aspects of bankruptcy representation and insolvency matters (debtors, creditors, trustees, assignees, receivers, purchasers, etc.) since 1990. His practice has primarily focused on the commercial and corporate...