Douglas B. Melamed

Attorney John Uustal is a founding partner at the Fort Lauderdale law firm, Kelley/Uustal. John specializes in protecting the rights of catastrophically injured victims. Mr. Uustal holds an impressive record of success, including many multi-million dollar verdicts and a $51 million car accident verdict—one of the largest verdicts ever awarded for an individual. As a result of his continued success, Mr. Uustal has been named one of the Best lawyers in America and has been included in mul...

Martin Burkett serves as co-chair of Akerman’s M&A and Private Equity Practice. Martin represents public and private companies and private equity funds in a variety of corporate transactions, with a particular focus on mergers and acquisitions. Martin’s practice includes structuring and negotiating complex business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, going private transactions, venture and growth capital investments, debt and equity fi...

JOSHUA L. PLAGER is a Senior Associate of the law firm of Gladstone, Weissman, Hirschberg & Schneider, P.A. Josh graduated from the University of Florida with honors in 2006, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Warrington College of Business. Following undergrad and before law school, Mr. Plager was a Series 7 and Series 66 registered financial advisor at AIG, assisting clients with financial planning and investing, including 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, and I...

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

Richard A. Josepher is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation and Controversy - Tax and Trusts and Estates. Richard A., who practices law in Boca Raton, Florida, has been recognized since 2001. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Richard A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Leah A. Foertsch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Leah A., who practices law in Boca Raton, Florida, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Leah A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

D. Brett Marks represents troubled companies, secured and unsecured creditors, asset purchasers, private equity groups, trustees, and creditors’ committees in Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 cases, out-of-court workouts, and litigation matters. Brett also has significance experience representing and counseling officers and directors of insolvent companies, including defense of alleged breach of fiduciary duty claims and other claims of malfeasance. Brett’s experience extends across a num...

James R. George practices in the areas of fiduciary litigation, including litigation arising from estates, trusts and guardianships. Mr. George often serves as an expert witness and as mediator in trust and estate matters. Mr. George earned his undergraduate degree from the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto and his J.D., with Honors, from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School. Mr. George is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Est...

Richard J. Roselli has represented clients injured or killed by the negligence of individuals and corporations throughout Florida for over thirty-five years. He is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, and recognized as one of the most skilled, experienced, creative, and successful plaintiffs lawyers in Florida. As a husband and father of five children, Richard has great compassion and understanding of the impact upon a family when a loved one is injured or killed. Richard is a founding partn...

Peter L. Gladstone is a Principal of the law firm of Gladstone, Weissman, Hirschberg & Schneider, P.A. He is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law (1999) and a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (2003), having practiced exclusively in this field since 1988. Mr. Gladstone is AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been repeatedly selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America (2005-2025 editions), Florida Trend Legal Elite magazine, Florida Super Lawyers (“To...