Edward A. "Ed" Marod

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 ...

Born and raised in a small town in Northeast Ohio, Pete learned from an early age that hard work pays off. Never the most intelligent student or the most gifted athlete, he excelled at both because he worked harder than everyone else. His beautiful and talented Wife is a fellow trial lawyer. Together, they have 3 children and 2 Beagles. Pete attended the University of Dayton where he received his Bachelors degree in Marketing. He later moved to Florida shortly after graduation and worked a co...

T. HARDEE BASS III practices exclusively in the firm’s tobacco litigation unit, litigating cases against cigarette-making giants Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds, Lorillard Tobacco Company, and Liggett. He has tried numerous complex, multi-week tobacco cases in venues across the state of Florida, and has obtained multiple seven and eight figure verdicts, including: $21 million, Escambia County (2010) $21 million, Sarasota County (2018) $20 million, Palm Beach County (2014) $13.1 million, Pi...

Rosalyn “Sia" Baker-Barnes is a Shareholder at Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A., and the Chairperson of the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. In her over 20-year career, she has successfully pursued justice for victims in personal injury, medical negligence and product liability cases and frequently lectures throughout the United States on catastrophic injury cases. She has achieved numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements, includi...

Patrick G. Broderick is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Banking and Finance. Patrick G. practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Patrick G. Broderick since 2023. 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 Patrick G. Broderick is held by other lawyers.

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...

DAVID P. VITALE JR. is an experienced trial attorney who has litigated cases throughout the state of Florida. Mr. Vitale has been nationally recognized for his achievements by Best Lawyers in America (Ones to Watch) and The National Trial Lawyers (Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Attorney – Florida). He has also been recognized by his local peers as a Palm Beach Illustrated Top Lawyer and a Jupiter Magazine Top Lawyer. In addition to pursing personal injury, wrongful death, and medical m...

Ian Koven is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Ian practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Ian Koven 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 Ian Koven is held by other lawyers.

With more than two decades of experience, Paul Quinn represents private equity funds and their portfolio companies in leveraged acquisitions and dispositions, corporate governance, and restructurings. Paul also represents management teams in employment and compensation arrangements, distressed-focused private equity funds in acquisitions in bankruptcy court and out-of-court processes; and private equity and venture capital funds in minority growth equity investments. Ranked by Chambers USA , ...

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...