Edward C. Akel

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

Alexandria V. Hill is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Alexandria V., 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 Alexandria V. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Colin Thakkar is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Colin, who practices law in Jacksonville, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Colin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Christian George serves as managing partner of Akerman’s Jacksonville office. Christian has a statewide practice focusing on commercial litigation and creditors’ rights in all courts, including bankruptcy court. Christian routinely represents financial institutions and other lenders, shareholders, members and partners in professional corporations, LLCs and partnerships, as well as all types of businesses, individuals and families in all areas of commercial litigation. Additionally...

Jeanne is a member of the firm’s Health Care Practice Team. She has experience representing health care industry professionals and entities before regulatory bodies and in structuring commercial relationships that meet complex regulatory requirements. Over the course of her career, she has represented a wide range of health care providers in a variety of matters. Jeanne focuses on transactional, compliance and regulatory health law matters, including private equity investment-owned enti...

Melissa A. Dearing is a partner with Rivkin Radler LLP, based in Jacksonville, Florida, and a member of the firm’s Immigration Practice Group. She advises employers on navigating nonimmigrant and immigrant visa processes in support of their workforce needs, with a focus on compliance and strategic planning. Her practice includes representing employers in Employment Law – Management matters related to workforce mobility, as well as Litigation – Labor and Employment issues tha...

Terrance E. Schmidt is a Florida-based mediator, arbitrator, and retired civil litigator with over 50 years of legal experience. A Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator and longtime member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, he has mediated more than 6,000 cases and served as an arbitrator in dozens more. Mr. Schmidt’s career as a commercial litigator spanned a wide range of complex disputes—including business torts, securities, employment discrimin...

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. ...

Jill F. Bechtold is an attorney with Rivkin Radler LLP in Jacksonville, Florida, where she focuses her practice on civil litigation. Her work includes Commercial Litigation, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants, employment disputes, trucking litigation, and insurance defense. Jill represents a wide range of clients, including drug and medical device manufacturers, business owners, physician...

Mr. Vermut, a partner at DMHD, practices exclusively in the area of information technology law and intellectual property law. His intellectual property law practice includes patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret and unfair competition matters. He represents clients on patent and trademark matters before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He also assists individual inventors, start-ups, small businesses, corporations and universities in all aspects of intellectual property law. Informa...