John C. Connery, Jr.

Kirk Davis is the chair of the Healthcare Practice Group, a multidisciplinary team recognized nationally for representing sector participants in regulatory compliance, insurance, and transactional issues. An accomplished litigator, Kirk represents hospitals and health systems in complex regulatory compliance issues and disputes with a focus on medical malpractice and peer review hearings. Kirk has decades of experience in the peer review process and has been involved in all aspects of hearing...

Bob McCormack has been practicing labor and employment Law in the Tampa Bay area since 1990. He has represented both Plaintiffs and Defendants in a wide variety of cases and has tried over 35 employment-related cases in state and federal courts. Mr. McCormack has also successfully represented clients before various government agencies including OSHA, the EEOC, the US Department of Labor, the Florida Commission on Human Rights, the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and the State of ...

Melissa Kuipers Blake is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Government Relations Practice. Melissa Kuipers practices law in Tampa, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Melissa Kuipers Blake since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Melissa Kuipers Blake is held by other lawyers.

Sara Accardi is a commercial litigator who regularly handles a wide range of commercial, real property, and business litigation matters. An experienced litigator, she represents business and commercial clients in complex litigation—spanning a variety of industries—in state and federal courts across the country. She has experience with jury and non-jury trials, arbitrations, and other pre-suit dispute resolution practices. She also assists clients with government investigations, ci...

Carter Andersen has extensive experience handling complex civil litigation matters in both state and federal courts and in alternative dispute resolution settings, including arbitration and mediation. Mr. Andersen handles contract and commercial litigation disputes, construction and real estate disputes, professional malpractice matters, employment law disputes and other litigation matters. Before joining Bush Ross, Mr. Andersen practiced general commercial litigation with Jones Day in Washin...

Alicia Schumacher is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Alicia practices law in Tampa, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Alicia Schumacher since 2022. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Alicia Schumacher is held by other lawyers.

Kevin Knowlton is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Health Care Law. Kevin practices law in Lakeland, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Kevin Knowlton since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Kevin Knowlton is held by other lawyers.

Bret Feldman is a board-certified construction lawyer practicing in the areas of construction and commercial litigation. He specializes in resolving construction disputes for clients through negotiation, litigation, arbitration, or mediation. His clients typically include project developers, engineers, architects, contractors, sub-contractors, material suppliers, property owners, and condominium and homeowners’ associations. In addition to drafting and negotiating construction contracts...

Eric Newell Appleton is a founding partner and member of Appleton Reiss, PLLC. Mr. Appleton has practiced community association and real estate law in Florida, including litigation and transactional matters, since 1999. He has substantial experience representing real estate owners, developers, office parks, commercial associations and residential condominium and homeowners’ associations throughout Florida. Mr. Appleton’s law practice focuses on assisting association officers, dire...

Adept at navigating complex labor and employment matters, Scott Silverman is noted by Chambers USA for being “expeditious” and “excellent at providing all points of view.” His range of experience includes representation of employers in administrative proceedings, federal and state court litigation, and arbitrations. Although he has worked on a variety of labor and employment issues throughout his career, Scott’s practice has emphasized labor management relations,...