Flavio José Chiong Aráuz

A former Chief Judge of Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal and member of the court for 22 years, Gerald Cope is the chair of Akerman’s Appellate Practice. He represents clients in appellate litigation at the state and federal levels. Ranked by Chambers USA , peers say “He’s superb and doing great work.” He is a founding member of Akerman Bench, an innovative practice including former appellate and trial court judges providing the perspective of both sides o...

As the child of divorced parents, Jennifer has seen firsthand the stress the legal system can have on a family. She was fortunate in that her parents had a strong support system to include other family members and their respective attorneys, making the divorce process smoother and more manageable. More than twenty years later, Jennifer’s own children enjoy the benefits of having a large, blended, loving extended family comprised of grandparents, great grandparents, multiple aunts and un...

Melissa was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1968. She attended Colorado State University (graduating in 1990 with a B.A. in Political Science) and obtained her law degree from the University of Denver in 1994, where she served as an Editor on the Denver Journal of International Law and was a recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award in Estate and Gift Taxation. Melissa studied overseas and attended the University of London while serving as an intern in the House of Commons in London, England i...

Jonathan Davis is a transactional attorney concentrating in commercial real estate. His practice includes all aspects of commercial leasing including office, retail, warehouse, industrial, and ground leases. He also works closely with our Healthcare department on Medical office and surgery center leases. Jonathan’s practice also includes the representation of institutional and private lenders in mortgage loans and other secured transactions. His practice also includes managing environme...

Katherine D. Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Katherine D., who practices law in Reston, Virginia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Katherine D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Slates Veazey represents clients in all types of litigation, with a particular emphasis on construction and insurance coverage disputes. Slates’ construction practice involves representing owners and general contractors in a variety of issues and projects, both public and private. Slates, who is licensed in both Texas and Mississippi, has experience managing construction disputes across the United States, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas. This experience inclu...

John Reagan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. John, who practices law in Akron, Ohio, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

R. Bryant McCulley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. R. Bryant, who practices law in North Charleston, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which R. Bryant is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mark Stewart is a highly regarded personal injury attorney practicing in Salt Lake City, Utah. Recognized by Best Lawyers since 2025, he specializes in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, reflecting the high esteem in which he is held by his peers. Since joining The Advocates in 2013, Mark has successfully resolved thousands of personal injury cases, consistently achieving favorable outcomes for his clients. Known for his exceptional negotiation skills and clear, accessible communi...

In her over 30 years of practice, Alisse Camazine has become one of the leading family law practitioners in the St. Louis area, focusing on child custody and complex divorce and property litigation. She has been listed in Naifeh and Smith’s, The Best Lawyers in America, for Family Law, since 1993. She became a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers in 1988 and has been certified as an arbitrator by the Academy. She received the Women’s Justice Award for Trial Practi...