Carolina Y. Blanco

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...

Jim Porter is board certified by the Florida Bar as an expert in City, County, and Local Government Law. He concentrates his practice on land use and zoning, as well as government relations, and also has experience with the wireless communications industry, including cellular tower zoning issues. Jim is also the current School Board Attorney for the Hillsborough County School Board, the 8th largest school district in the nation. Jim formerly served as the Chief Assistant County Attorney for t...

Jennifer Chapman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Jennifer, 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 Jennifer is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Matthew K. Fenton has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1994. Mr. Fenton received his bachelor's degree in English from the University of Florida in 1989, with honors, and his law degree from the University of Florida, with honors, in 1993, where he served on the Editorial Board of the University of Florida Law Review. Mr. Fenton served as the first law clerk to United States Magistrate Judge Mark A. Pizzo from 1995 to 1997, where he was exposed to a variety of employment law cases and d...

Robert E. Puterbaugh is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Robert E., who practices law in Lakeland, Florida, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Karen M. Morinelli is a Shareholder in the Tampa office. As former General Counsel and Vice President of Human Resources, she brings a strong business perspective to both client relations and in her approach to manage client issues. Ms. Morinelli has managed a corporate legal department and a variety of employment related issues in corporate mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, national class action litigation and managed a successful appeal to the United States Supreme Court. She is a fre...

Janet E. Wise is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Individuals and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Janet E., 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 Janet E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sarah Baggett is on speed dial for clients facing complex legal issues in bad faith, cybersecurity, liability, and regulatory and compliance. She has litigated and tried cases across Florida, beginning her career in liability defense, including her first trials. Sarah now focuses on developing and overseeing strategies for both litigation and compliance, with a specialty in platform-based businesses. Many of her clients—individuals and businesses—are long-term relationships built ...

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...

Joseph H. Varner III is a partner in Holland & Knight's Tampa office and serves on the firm's Directors Committee. Mr. Varner is experienced in complex commercial litigation, business torts, securities litigation, professional negligence, and personal injury and wrongful death litigation. Mr. Varner has litigated complex liability and medical issues ranging from corporate shareholder disputes to wrongful death arising from medical malpractice. He has obtained significant jury verdicts and...