David C. Thompson

For more than 30 years, clients have relied on Earl’s pragmatic approach and strategic counsel to help them navigate their most complex legal matters. As a trial lawyer in the firm’s healthcare and litigation groups, he focuses his practice on medical malpractice defense and has handled numerous actions involving wrongful death, institutional medical negligence, and profound brain, spinal cord and other central nervous system injuries. In addition, Earl defends clients in business...

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

Melissa A. Dearing is a Partner in the firm’s Immigration Practice Group, where she assists employers in seeking non-immigrant and immigrant status. Melissa has extensive experience with H-1Bs and the PERM-based green card process, particularly with respect to information technology professionals, engineers and pharmacists, among other professionals. She also represents foreign nationals regarding family immigration matters and assists employers with I-9 and other immigration compliance...

Steve is a member of the firm’s Board of Directors and a corporate transactional lawyer in the firm’s Business and Healthcare practice areas. Steve’s practice for more than 20 years has focused on the representation of clients in their most important and complicated transactions, including the negotiation and documentation of mergers, acquisitions and stock and asset sales, joint ventures, private equity investments and financings. Steve also represents clients and executive...

Meg is an experienced advisor and litigator working in the firm’s healthcare, labor and employment, and litigation practice areas. For more than a decade, she has supported clients in managing a broad range of complex legal issues in employment and healthcare matters. A key focus of Meg’s practice includes counseling firm clients and businesses of all sizes in navigating personnel management issues like employee contracting, discipline and termination; employer best practices, pol...

Sanjo S. Shatley is a partner in the Jacksonville office. He practices in all phases of medical malpractice, civil defense litigation, including premises liability, nursing home, professional malpractice, and products liability. His practice also includes construction litigation and risk management counseling, including the representation of design professionals in professional liability claims, developers, contractors, and subcontractors in construction defect, contract, and lien enforcement...

William E. Gibbs is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Real Estate Law. William E., who practices law in Jacksonville, Florida, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joshua H. Roberts is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Joshua H., who practices law in Jacksonville, Florida, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joshua H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John assists clients in the areas of environmental law, real estate and land use and zoning law, with an emphasis on litigation. He helps individuals, developers and public entities in all aspects of environmental due diligence, permitting and entitlement. John also assists clients in navigating the complex web of state and federal environmental statutes and regulations, including counseling clients on compliance with the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA...

Kathryn M. Oughton is a shareholder and Practice Group Leader of the firm’s Property Damage Claims practice area. Kathryn’s practice focuses on civil litigation with an emphasis on the defense of cases involving first party property claims. Other practice areas include automobile liability, premises liability, wrongful death, and bad faith and coverage issues. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Oughton worked for a state-wide defense firm where she served as head of the civil litigati...