Douglas C. Hartman

A former Assistant U.S. Attorney with a focus on public corruption and national security, Jacqueline Arango is co-chair of Akerman’s White Collar Crime & Government Investigations Practice. She leads a team including former federal prosecutors, senior enforcement lawyers at the SEC, and government lawyers representing corporations, financial institutions, boards of directors, and individuals in government investigations, regulatory enforcement matters, grand jury probes, internal in...

Carl A. Fornaris is Co-Chair of the firm's Financial Regulatory and Compliance Practice. With 20 years of legal experience, Carl concentrates his practice on the representation of financial services firms in all aspects of their business. In particular, he represents U.S. and non-U.S. firms on finance and corporate matters, and provides supervisory and compliance counseling for institutions regulated by the Federal Reserve, OCC, FDIC, FinCEN, CFPB, SEC, FINRA, Florida Office of Financial Regu...

Dennis A. Kerbel is chair of Akerman’s Florida Land Use and Entitlements Practice. Dennis has extensive experience in the full range of local government law issues, with a particular legal concentration in land use law. He focuses his practice on helping clients achieve optimal results from governmental approval processes and, where appropriate, litigation. Dennis has experience in federal and state courts at both the trial and appellate levels. He handles a broad variety of cases, incl...

Geiza Vargas-Vargas is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Securities / Capital Markets Law. Geiza, who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Geiza is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

"Helping people regain their lives after catastrophic injury or wrongful death of a family member is not work. It is a noble and rewarding challenge to right a wrong and brings with it great personal satisfaction." Having graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering from Massachusetts Maritime Academy, acquired three U.S. Coast Guard licenses and worked on offshore drilling platforms for more than seven years, Keith Brais brings an uncommon degree of real world experience...

Jorge Navarro is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Jorge, who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jorge is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jeffrey P. Swatzell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law. Jeffrey P., who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeffrey P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mendy Halberstam is a principal and office litigation manager of the Miami, Florida, office of Jackson Lewis P.C and a Florida Bar Board certified specialist in Labor and Employment Law. Working closely with his clients across a wide range of industries, Mendy has experience representing parties before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and related state and local agencies, and has handled cases involving claims of race, age, disability and sex discrimination, as well as sexua...

Pedro A. Freyre is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of International Mergers and Acquisitions. Pedro A., who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Pedro A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Charles M. Auslander is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Charles M., who practices law in Key Biscayne, Florida, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Charles M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.