Frances G. De La Guardia

Melinda S. (“Mindy”) Gentile is Of Counsel in the Miami, Florida office of Peckar & Abramson PC and serves as co-chair of the firm’s Culture, Career Development & Inclusion Committee. With more than 35 years of experience in Construction Law and Litigation – Construction, Mindy devotes her practice exclusively to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) . She serves as an Arbitrator, Mediator, Neutral Evaluator, Dispute Board Member, Special Master, Fee Professiona...

Rebecca G. DiStefano is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law. Rebecca G., who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Rebecca G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ricky K. Patel is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Leisure and Hospitality Law. Ricky K., who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ricky K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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

Nicholas Barshel practices in the area of land use and development, representing clients in all aspects of the development approval process including due diligence review, planning and zoning applications, submerged lands issues, dock and marina permits, historic preservation, code compliance, and other aspects of complex land use and zoning matters with federal, state, and local agencies. He has assisted clients in development of major projects across South Florida and beyond, including the ...

Ury Fischer is a founding partner at Lott & Fischer, PL. Mr. Fischer dedicates his practice to patent and trademark procurement and intellectual property litigation. Mr. Fischer's patent procurement practice concentrates in the areas of mechanical and electrical arts, software and business methods. Mr. Fischer has represented a diverse group of U.S. and foreign-based clients in patent, trademark, copyright and computer law litigation matters. Prior to commencing his legal career in 1996, ...

Federal antitrust trial attorney Anna Neill focuses on bringing claims for large retail pharmacy chains against brand and generic pharmaceutical companies that engage in anticompetitive practices designed to thwart generic competition and drive up prescription drug costs. She has represented retailer plaintiffs in well over a dozen pharmaceutical reverse-payment/“pay-for-delay” cases, pursuing brand drug manufacturers and their potential generic drug competitors who enter into &ld...

Carl A. Fornaris is Co-Chair of the firm's Financial Regulatory and Compliance Practice. With 20 years of legal experience, Carl concentrates his practice on the representation of financial services firms in all aspects of their business. In particular, he represents U.S. and non-U.S. firms on finance and corporate matters, and provides supervisory and compliance counseling for institutions regulated by the Federal Reserve, OCC, FDIC, FinCEN, CFPB, SEC, FINRA, Florida Office of Financial Regu...

Janis Cheezem leases, buys, sells, and finances office buildings and mixed use, retail, residential, and industrial real estate for her clients, also providing counsel for property management issues and in workouts and restructurings of commercial real estate assets. A noted commercial real estate attorney, Janis represents landlords, tenants, lenders, sellers, and purchasers in both complex and bread and butter transactions. She has been primarily responsible for the leasing, sale, and purch...

Norman J. Benford counsels high-net-worth individuals and families in connection with estate planning and other complex tax issues, as well as business succession and other non-tax family matters. Norm also counsels individuals and institutions serving as fiduciaries of estates, trusts and guardianships in connection with administrative matters and disputes with the Internal Revenue Service.