Constantine "Dean" Nickas

Steven K. Deutsch is a graduate of New York University and earned his law degree from the University of Miami. He has continually practiced in Florida since 1974. He is recognized as a civil trial attorney by virtue of being currently certified with the National Board of Trial Advocacy, Civil Trial Law; certified by the Florida Bar in Civil Trial; and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Active in the profession, he has served on the Florida Bar Rules of Civil Procedure Committe...

Jordan B. Taylor is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Jordan B. practices law in Miami, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Jordan B. Taylor since 2024. 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 Jordan B. Taylor is held by other lawyers.

Katharine Menéndez de la Cuesta is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Arbitration, Commercial Litigation, International Arbitration - Commercial and International Arbitration - Governmental. Katharine practices law in Miami, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Katharine Menéndez de la Cuesta since 2024. 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 professio...

Andrea Hartley is the chair of Akerman’s Bankruptcy & Reorganization Practice Group, a nationally recognized team serving as bankruptcy counsel or receivers in many of the largest bankruptcy filings in the United States. An experienced bankruptcy and creditors’ rights litigator, Andrea counsels clients in the financial services, real estate, hospitality, restaurant, and retail sectors on business reorganizations and liquidations, assumption and rejection of leases, workouts, d...

Christina Russo is a Partner, and serves as the co-chair of Akerman’s Capital Markets Practice. With extensive experience representing public and private companies, Christina routinely works with shell companies, special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), and foreign private issuers, in M&A and securities transactions. Public companies value Christina’s knowledge of public offerings, secondary offerings, PIPE financing, ’34 Act reporting requirements, and regulatory ...

Jason Vaupen focuses his practice on complex commercial real estate transactions, including the acquisition, disposition, development, financing, and leasing of properties nationwide. He represents some of the nation’s largest and most sophisticated private equity funds, developers, operators and family offices in their retail, multi-family, hotel, office, industrial, and self-storage deals. Additionally, he specializes in representing fund partners, investors and sponsors in real estat...

Jennifer V. Ruiz is a Partner in the firm’s Miami office and practices in the areas of General Civil Litigation, Employment and Labor, Condominium and Homeowners’ Association, Civil Rights, Directors and Officers Liability, and Professional Malpractice for the firm. She practices in state and federal courts, at both trial and appellate levels. Mrs. Ruiz Co-Chairs the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Chairs the Committee’s affinity group: CSK WIN – Wom...

Chris Hammon practices in the areas of labor and employment litigation, arbitration, counseling, and investigation. He represents management in all variety of employment disputes before federal and state courts and administrative agencies and before various arbitral tribunals. Mr. Hammon also provides human resources counseling advice to employers on compliance and employee management and relations issues.Mr. Hammon has experience representing employers in a wide range of industries, with par...

Benton (Ben) Curtis, a former federal prosecutor and experienced trial attorney, focuses his practice on leading matters, both domestically and abroad, that involve government enforcement defense, internal investigations, compliance counseling, and due diligence regarding third parties and business transactions. Ben regularly represents clients before, and in litigation against, government agencies, including clients accused of health care fraud, kickback violations, Foreign Corrupt Practices...

Lori A. Brown is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Lori A. practices law in Miami, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Lori A. Brown since 2027. 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 Lori A. Brown is held by other lawyers.