Ellen M. Avery-Smith

Patrick Snyder is a partner in the firm’s Jacksonville office. He is a civil trial attorney with a focus on general civil litigation, insurance coverage, construction defects, professional malpractice, insurance bad faith, errors and omissions, trucking claims defense, products liability, security negligence, personal injury/wrongful death and personal injury protection (PIP) litigation. Mr. Snyder attended law school at Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts and obtained his juris...

Kristen Van der Linde devotes her practice exclusively to the defense of cases and appeals involving trucking liability, automobile liability, premises liability, wrongful death, bad faith, negligent security, and coverage issues. She is admitted to practice law in Georgia as well as Florida. Ms. Van der Linde is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar, which means that she is an expert in civil litigation before state and federal courts, administrative agencies and arbitrators....

Gary Wheeler has represented employers exclusively in both the private and public sectors since graduating from law school in 1997. His experience includes successfully defending employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. Mr. Wheeler is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, as well as the Florida state bar. Mr. Wheeler is a frequent lecturer at seminars for employers. He provides in-house training on workplace issues to su...

Shaw Ashley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law. Shaw, 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 Shaw is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ross H. Chafin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Real Estate and Real Estate Law. Ross H., who practices law in Jacksonville, Florida, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ross H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

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...

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.

René Fix is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Employment Law - Individuals and Litigation - Labor and Employment. René, who practices law in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which René is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Dick is managing partner of the firm, a member of the firm’s Board of Directors and chairman of the firm’s Business Department. Dick’s practice focuses principally on healthcare, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, contract negotiation, general corporate matters, financings, regulatory matters, and antitrust advice. Dick represents a wide range of corporations, limited liability companies and other entities, including start-up companies and healthcare providers, ...