Cheryl L. Hastings

Before joining the firm in 2013, Joel H. Brown was elected by his colleagues to serve as Chief Judge for the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida in 2009. Joel was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1971 and had been practicing personal injury law as a civil trial lawyer prior to his appointment by former Governor Bob Martinez to the County Court in 1990. Following his appointment, Joel served as Associate Administrative Judge of the County Court, Criminal Traffic Division, and then served as Adminis...

Jonathan Freidin is the Managing Partner at Freidin Brown, P.A. Since joining the firm in 2014, he has handled some of the firm’s most serious personal injury cases and represented clients in several jury trials involving catastrophic injuries. Jonathan’s practice focuses on medical malpractice, complex personal injury, and whistleblower/qui tam claims. He takes great pride in representing his clients and is recognized throughout the firm for his attention to detail in every case ...

Matt Hochstetler is a founding member of the boutique trusts and estates law firm Kirkland Hochstetler PLLC, with offices in Naples, Florida and Canton, Ohio. Based primarily in Naples, Florida, Matt advises wealthy families, family offices, and private family trust companies throughout the United States. His practice focuses on Tax Law, Trusts and Estates, including estate planning, generational wealth transfer strategies, and trust and estate administration. He also counsels clients on the ...

Kevin R. Lottes is a Florida Bar board certified real estate attorney and practices in the areas of real property and business law, including substantial experience in complex real estate transactions, real estate development, mortgage lending, construction law and commercial transactions. In this regard, he assists developers, entrepreneurs, contractors, lenders, businesses, institutions and individuals concerning all aspects of complex real property, commercial and business transactions.

John D. Gast has decades of experience working with families as they plan their estates. John has lived in Southwest Florida for over 30 years and concentrates his practice on estate planning, charitable gift planning, life insurance, domicile planning, probate litigation, trust and estate settlement and taxation. John knows each family is different and works with them to craft a custom plan that fits their individual needs.

Alison K. Douglas is a Principal in Cummings & Lockwood's Private Clients Group and is based in the Naples office. She focuses her practice on estate planning, family business succession planning, charitable planning and estate and trust administration.

Julie C. Ireland is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Construction. Julie C., who practices law in Bonita Springs, Florida, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Julie C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Daniel K. Capes is a shareholder of Dunwody White & Landon, P.A.. Mr. Capes focuses his practice in the areas of estate planning and estate and trust administration, with an emphasis on estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax planning. He received his LL.M. in Taxation and J.D., with honors, from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Science degree from Toccoa Falls College. Mr. Capes has been recognized for his trusts and estates expertise in “The Best Lawyers...

Jack C. Morgan III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Construction and Litigation - Real Estate. Jack C., who practices law in Fort Myers, Florida, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jack C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lenore Brakefield is a partner at Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P.A., where she focuses her practice on civil and commercial litigation, including construction litigation matters. She also represents clients in local government law, code enforcement proceedings, community association law, real estate matters, and contract and transactional work, providing practical and results-oriented legal guidance across a broad range of issues. A Naples native, Lenore earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude ...