Jay M. Howanitz

Sarah Baggett is on speed dial for clients facing complex legal issues in bad faith, cybersecurity, liability, and regulatory and compliance. She has litigated and tried cases across Florida, beginning her career in liability defense, including her first trials. Sarah now focuses on developing and overseeing strategies for both litigation and compliance, with a specialty in platform-based businesses. Many of her clients—individuals and businesses—are long-term relationships built ...

Sami R. Achem, Jr. practices in the area of general defense litigation, with an emphasis upon complex litigation involving premises liability, automobile negligence, products liability, trucking/transportation, indemnification disputes, insurance disputes, Lemon Law litigation, landlord/tenant litigation, and negligent security. Mr. Achem has been recognized by Best Lawyers of America since 2023. He was also elected to Florida Super Lawyers as a Rising Star for 2017-2021. He is as an AV Preem...

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....

Jeanne is a member of the firm’s Health Care Practice Team. She has experience representing health care industry professionals and entities before regulatory bodies and in structuring commercial relationships that meet complex regulatory requirements. Over the course of her career, she has represented a wide range of health care providers in a variety of matters. Jeanne focuses on transactional, compliance and regulatory health law matters, including private equity investment-owned enti...

Bryan E. DeMaggio is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Civil Rights Law, Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Bryan E., who practices law in Jacksonville, Florida, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Bryan E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael J. Childers is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law and Litigation - Construction. Michael J., 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 Michael J. 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...

Beverly Pascoe is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, Health Care Law, Litigation - Health Care and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Beverly, who practices law in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Beverly is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal pr...

J. Phillip Gibbs is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law and Venture Capital Law. J. Phillip, who practices law in Jacksonville, Florida, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which J. Phillip is held by other top lawyers in the same geograph...

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, ...