Jesse Halpern

Warren Lee Lewis serves as chair of Akerman’s Franchise & Licensing Practice, a highly experienced team that handles U.S. and international franchising, licensing, dealership and trademark counseling, registration and litigation matters for franchisors, licensors, subfranchisors, dealers and other business clients. In the field of franchising, Warren has authored books, studies, articles and regulatory comments, frequently speaks at U.S. and international franchise conferences, and ...

Deanne E. Maynard, chair of the Appellate and Supreme Court Practice Group, is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office, and a former Assistant to the Solicitor General at the United States Department of Justice. Ms. Maynard has argued 13 cases before the Supreme Court of the United States, and she has filed over 100 briefs in that Court. Her Supreme Court arguments include prevailing for the respondent in RadLAX Gateway Hotel, LLC v. Amalgamated Bank , an important bankruptcy case involving ...

Laura Handman is the co-chair of the firm’s appellate practice and divides her time between the New York and D.C. offices. For thirty years, Laura has been providing pre-publication counseling and litigation services from complaint through trial and appeal to U.S. and foreign broadcasters, film studios, and book, magazine, newspaper and Internet publishers and non-profits. Laura has extensive experience in libel, newsgathering, privacy, right of publicity, reporter’s privilege and...

Described by Chambers USA as “incredibly knowledgeable and pragmatic,” Steve Hurlbut focuses on construction and government contract litigation, with an emphasis on resolution of delay and other schedule-related claims. He assists clients on projects throughout the United States, including government, commercial, medical and industrial projects, as well as projects for design and construction of power production, petrochemical and energy-related facilities. Steve represents virtua...

Steve Roberts is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Government Relations Practice. Steve, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Steve is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael Huston counsels clients in high-stakes litigation matters, with a particular focus on crafting winning appellate strategies. He is also sought after for his deep knowledge of administrative law. Michael’s representations are informed by his experience in the Office of the Solicitor General at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), where he represented the federal government before the Supreme Court of the United States. As an Assistant to the Solicitor General, Michael argued nin...

Charlie Speth helps companies and individuals navigate and solve their most difficult problems. A litigator with nearly 20 years of experience, he represents companies and individuals in complex civil litigation and government enforcement matters.

Laura Foote Reiff focuses her practice on business immigration laws and regulations affecting U.S. and foreign companies, as well as related employment compliance and legislative issues. Laura advises corporations on a variety of compliance-related issues, particularly related to Form I-9 alien employment verification matters. Laura has been involved in audits and internal investigations and has successfully minimized monetary exposure as well as civil and criminal liabilities on behalf of he...

Zachary Kitts is a founding partner at K&G Law Group, PLLC, where he concentrates his practice in the areas of qui tam litigation, business torts, employment law, and other complex commercial litigation matters. In his qui tam practice, Zach represents relators (or, as they are sometimes called, "whistleblowers") in litigation under the federal False Claims Act and under state false claims statutes. Zach has prosecuted a wide variety of claims for fraud against federal, state and local go...

Todd is recognized by clients, the judiciary, elected officials, regulatory staff, and his peers for his high ethical standards, his detailed knowledge of land use regulations, and for delivery of successful results in a timely, predictable manner. His clients include commercial, residential and mixed-use real estate developers and builders, private schools and other not-for-profit organizations, and individual and business clients seeking to preserve and enhance the value of real estate asse...