Edward C. Akel

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.

Graham Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property. Graham, 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 Graham is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Giovanni Stewart is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation - Construction and Litigation - Insurance. Giovanni, who practices law in Jacksonville, Florida, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Giovanni is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Out of well over 1000 civil trial attorneys in North Florida, Michael Fox Orr was recognized by Attorney-at-Law Magazine as one of the “top 8 civil litigators.” Michael tries civil jury and bench trials primarily in the area of complex commercial and civil litigation with significant damages at issue. Most of his cases involving situations where the company could be bankrupted or an individual stands to lose their net worth. His experience and success as a civil trial lawyer has l...

Michael is a member of the firm’s Board of Directors and focuses his practice on complex business litigation and insolvency matters. He has many years of trial experience in cases involving business torts, bankruptcy proceedings, corporate governance issues, employment disputes, and litigation concerning contracts, secured transactions, fraudulent transfers, financial workouts, lender liability, banking relationships, and commercial paper. For 12 years, Michael was a senior executive wi...

Richard L. Stockton is a partner in Holland & Knight's Jacksonville and Lakeland offices. He is a member of the firm's Private Wealth Services Group and is very active in estate planning and taxation, as well as probate administration. Mr. Stockton has been heavily involved in the computerization of the firm's drafting manuals. He has significant experience and proficiency in post-mortem and generation-skipping planning, and has written and lectured on various estate planning topics. Mr. ...

A commercial real estate and transactional attorney with experience spanning a variety of areas, Robert Leapley represents investors, borrowers, developers, financial institutions, and landowners in loan workouts and restructurings, joint venture agreements, historic tax credit transactions, EB-5 related development and redevelopment projects, land use and entitlements, corporate law, and federal, state, and local taxation. Additionally, Robert represents clients in the acquisition, construct...

Chris is Board Certified by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education in construction law, a distinction that is unique to less than 400 attorneys in the state. During his career, he has worked with general contractors, sureties, subcontractors and specialty trade contractors, product manufacturers, architects, and engineers in matters ranging from defective construction or design, delays, contract disputes, lien and payment disputes, and construction-site personal injury. C...

Lori K. Mans is a principal in the Jacksonville, Florida, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She has devoted her entire career to working with employers on labor and employment law issues. Lori represents management in state and federal court employment litigation, and also represents employers in traditional labor law matters, including collective bargaining negotiations and grievance arbitrations. Lori works closely with employers of all shapes and sizes, and in various industries, providing gene...

John Marino is a litigation attorney with Rivkin Radler LLP in Jacksonville, Florida, focusing his practice on Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Insurance. He represents clients in class actions and complex commercial disputes involving insurance matters, deceptive business practices, and consumer fraud. His work includes matters pending in both federal and state courts. John has served as lead counsel in class actions and other complex litigation across numerous jurisdictions, including...