Caroline Calavan

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...

Dale Swope is managing partner of Swope, Rodante, Newsome & Steinberg which is the development of the solo firm practice he founded six months out of law school, in 1979. Mr. Swope is a Tampa native, and a graduate of Hillsborough High School, the University of South Florida, and the University of Florida Law School. The firm’s most senior lawyer, Mr. Swope has received virtually every professional recognition available to lawyers who practice in his field. He has an AV rating (the ...

Eric Newell Appleton is a founding partner and member of Appleton Reiss, PLLC. Mr. Appleton has practiced community association and real estate law in Florida, including litigation and transactional matters, since 1999. He has substantial experience representing real estate owners, developers, office parks, commercial associations and residential condominium and homeowners’ associations throughout Florida. Mr. Appleton’s law practice focuses on assisting association officers, dire...

Christine Howard is a partner in the Tampa and Atlanta offices. She also serves as a Co-Chair of the firm's Women's Initiative and Leadership Council. Christine focuses her practice on the defense of employment discrimination and harassment complaints and wage and hour and benefits litigation. She has successfully handled many dispositive motions, hearings and trials on behalf of employers. Over the last decade, she has defended numerous collective action cases filed on behalf of classes of e...

Luke Markham practices in the area of complex commercial real estate. With more than 20 years of experience, Luke began his career as a commercial appraiser and then was a management associate for a real estate finance group for a major lender where he analyzed, reviewed and underwrote commercial real estate transactions. He left banking to work with a prominent Central Florida home building company serving in several capacities including marketing, land acquisition, development, commercial f...

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...

Benjamin S. Jilek is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Benjamin S. practices law in Tampa, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Benjamin S. Jilek since 2018. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Benjamin S. Jilek is held by other lawyers.

William M. Sharp Sr. is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of International Trade and Finance Law, Litigation and Controversy - Tax and Tax Law. William M. practices law in Tampa, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized William M. Sharp Sr. since 2005. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which William M. Sharp Sr. is held by other l...

John Giordano is regularly involved in complex business-related transactions. Mr. Giordano’s practice encompasses a broad range of areas, including federal and state securities law, corporate finance, mergers, acquisitions and tax law. Mr. Giordano has substantial experience in counseling clients, including start-up enterprises, in obtaining capital and advising clients about obstacles to successfully growing a business.

Chris utilizes his extensive tax and accounting background to assist high-net-worth individuals and closely held businesses with establishing and implementing sophisticated wealth transfer strategies, charitable planning, and business formation and restructuring. He also has extensive experience in tax controversy, the purchase, sale and operation of private aircraft, and tax planning for real estate transactions. Given the personal nature of his work, Chris takes the time to understand each ...