David M. Garten

Laurie L. Gildan's wide-ranging experience in real estate includes representing home builders in land acquisition and project development; office building owners in leasing and building operations; developers and lenders in loans and loan restructuring; analysis of default situations and entitlement reviews of residential, golf course, commercial, office and warehouse properties. She is experienced in the representation of land bankers. Laurie also has the unique distinction of being a regist...

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

Christopher Duke serves as managing partner of Akerman’s Palm Beach County Offices. With a diverse practice in employment law and complex commercial litigation, Chris represents clients in federal and state courts, as well as in various arbitration forums and before federal, state, and local administrative bodies. His clients operate across multiple sectors, including hospitality, travel/recreation, healthcare, retail, financial services, and alternative energy. Chris routinely represen...

Nicholas C. Maniotis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Nicholas C., who practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicholas C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Justin C. Sorel is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Justin C., who practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Justin C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

JOHN (JACK) SCAROLA graduated with honors from Georgetown University in 1969 and from Georgetown Law Center in 1973. Before joining the firm in 1978, he was Chief Felony Prosecutor in the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s office, where he was lead counsel in the trials of more than 50 major criminal cases, including the nation’s first gavel-to-gavel televised murder trial. Mr. Scarola is Board Certified in both Civil Trial Practice and Commercial & Business Litigation. While ...

Jonathan Vine is a partner with the firm’s West Palm Beach Office and practices in the areas of Legal and Accounting Malpractice, Commercial Litigation, Labor and Employment Law, Insurance Agent/Broker Errors & Omissions, Directors and Officers Liability, Banking and Financial Litigation, FINRA Arbitration, Trademark and Copyright Litigation, Intellectual Property, Real Estate Malpractice and Litigation, Miscellaneous Professional Liability, Community Association Law, Commercial and...

Patrick Broderick is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Banking and Finance. Patrick, who practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Patrick is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Crawford is the General Products Team Leader overseeing products, admiralty, and general negligence matters defended by the firm. He has substantial experience in the defense and trial of product design and manufacture defect claims involving products such as heavy construction equipment and power tools, motor vehicles, recreational watercraft, gas, and diesel engines. Mr. Crawford has been involved in complex litigation regarding the defense of foreign substance food cases, carcinogenic ...

CHRISTIAN D. SEARCY is president and CEO of Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A. and writes and lectures extensively about civil trial practice, personal injury and wrongful death. For 46 years he has litigated cases primarily involving catastrophic injury and death in venues throughout Florida as well as in other states. At age 29, he had the distinction of being the youngest lawyer in the United States to achieve a verdict of $1 million for a single personal injury lawsuit. In...