J. Jeffrey Deery

Judith M. Mercier is a partner in the firm's Orlando office and concentrates in complex business and commercial litigation in trial and appellate courts. She represents companies in a wide range of industries, including technology, sports, financial services, hospitality and news and entertainment. Her practice focuses on contract disputes, business torts, intellectual property, media law and defending consumer claims. Ms. Mercier has defended consumer claims such as breach of fiduciary duty,...

Steven D. Kramer is a native Floridian and has lived in Central Florida since 1987. He is a graduate of Lake Mary High School in Lake Mary, Florida. Mr. Kramer is a leader in the Central Florida Community. He has served as President of the prestigious William's Inn of Court, previously served as President of the Seminole County Bar Association, President of the Seminole County Legal Aid Society, Co-Founder and Director of the Seminole County Young Lawyers Division, and is a Member of the Flor...

Jim Prichard is Ball Janik LLP's Managing Partner and maintains a broad practice in all aspects of construction law. He is a leader in the firm’s growing regional and national practice, prosecuting and defending design and construction defect claims. As plaintiff’s counsel, he has been instrumental in achieving some of the largest settlements in Oregon. He represents a wide range of clients in the Western states and Florida, including owners of single family residences, townhomes,...

Lauren partners with companies, business owners, and financial institutions in complex bankruptcy, financial recovery and commercial litigation matters. She represents debtors-in-possession in Chapter 11 proceeding, trustees and examiners, secured and unsecured creditors, adversary defendants, creditors’ committees, adversary defendants, equity holders and other significant stakeholders in bankruptcy, federal, and state court proceedings. She uses her experience to achieve the best resu...

Edward M. Fitzgerald is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Edward M., who practices law in Orlando, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Edward M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Managing Shareholder Brian Gilchrist is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in the area of Intellectual Property Law. Certification is the highest level of evaluation by The Florida Bar for competency, experience professionalism and ethics in an area of law. He has substantial experience in all phases of intellectual property litigation, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, deceptive trade practices and restrictive covenants. Mr. Gilchrist has been attorney of record in ov...

Michael Costello was born and raised in Central Florida. In his youth, his competitive spirit became apparent through his participation in local sports. His drive manifested itself in high school as he received Varsity letters in baseball, football, and track, and was named captain of the baseball team. He has always played to win, and he continues to carry this determination for success on behalf of his clients. Michael attended Saint Leo University near the Tampa area of Southern Florida fo...

Jim McNeil serves as chair of Akerman’s Residential Development Practice, a highly experienced team representing national builders and developers of master planned and mixed-use residential communities throughout the real estate development process. Known for his ability to provide pragmatic, strategic, and forward-thinking planning advice, Jim represents developers, homebuilders, and private equity funds in all phases of the acquisition, entitlement, development, and sale of property. ...

Tom DeLattre was born in Yorktown, New York, and was raised in Syracuse, New York. He joined the firm in 1994 and is currently a partner in Wieland & DeLattre, P.A. Mr. DeLattre devotes the majority of his practice to pursuing justice for clients injured from trucking collisions, motor vehicle collisions and motorcycle collisions. Mr. DeLattre also has significant experience litigating cases involving injuries as a result of negligent road construction design, premise liability, defective...

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