Ellen M. Avery-Smith

Katie DeSantis McCranie is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Katie DeSantis, who practices law in Jacksonville, Florida, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Katie DeSantis is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

David is a transactional lawyer in the firm’s Business Department. His practice includes mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, contract preparation and negotiation, entity structuring, joint ventures and the provision of general business and governance advice. David represents public and private companies in a variety of business transactions. His clients include logistics companies, motor vehicle dealers, banks, agricultural businesses, private equity funds and other i...

Robert N. Miller is a shareholder with the law firm of Fisher, Tousey, Leas & Ball in Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, where he practices in the areas of estate planning, probate, guardianship, and elder law. Rob graduated from Washington & Lee University, magna cum laude, in 1985 and from Washington and Lee University School of Law, cum laude, in 1994. While in law school he was a member of the Law Review. Between college and law school Rob served as a Lieutenant in the U...

A shareholder with Taylor Day, John currently serves as our president and managing partner. In his business litigation practice, he protects the interests of companies, management teams, and business owners in a diverse array of commercial and torts disputes. He litigates in State and Federal Court, as well as before arbitrators in Florida. John’s general areas of experience include breach of contract claims, shareholder disputes, corporate governance disputes, joint ventures disputes, ...

David Otero’s national practice focuses on bankruptcy and tax litigation and counseling. A partner in both the Tax and Bankruptcy & Reorganization Practice Groups, his clients include Citigroup, Capital One, Nissan, Santander Bank, Sears, Synchrony Financial, U.S. Bank, Venus Fashion, and professional athletes. In his tax practice, David advises multistate businesses on state and local tax controversy matters throughout the United States. He represents institutions financing both cr...

Biography: Matt Baggett founded Baggett Law in 2012, driven by his desire to deliver better and faster results for his clients. From the very beginning, his vision was clear: to create a law firm that delivers outstanding results for clients in the least amount of time possible. As the founder and managing partner of Baggett Law, Matt works alongside his law partner and life partner, Amanda Baggett , leading the firm together with shared purpose and dedication. Matt was born in Jacksonville, ...

Jill F. Bechtold practices in the area of civil litigation, where she focuses on medical and professional liability defense, employment disputes, product liability defense, business litigation, trucking litigation, and insurance defense. Jill’s clients include drug and medical device companies, business owners, physicians, hospitals, trucking carriers, and insurers. She represents clients in state and federal court actions as well as arbitrates matters under the Florida Arbitration Code...

Peter P. Hargitai is a trial lawyer, focusing on real estate and complex commercial litigation. Mr. Hargitai has extensive trial experience in both traditional and alternative dispute resolution tribunals, and has handled complex matters involving real estate disputes, business torts, restrictive covenants, trade secrets and anti-competitive practices. Mr. Hargitai also has developed a banking operations practice and currently represents many national and regional banks. Prior to entering pri...

Timothy J. Conner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Timothy J., who practices law in Jacksonville, Florida, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Timothy J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.