John D. Eaton

Mr. Katz’s diverse practice covers federal and state income tax, estate and gift tax planning, and state corporate, limited liability company and partnership law. This experience provides him with the ability to structure transactions to meet the tax and business needs of the Firm’s clients. This representation includes the typical structuring necessary for partnership, joint venture and corporate transactions, as well as, structuring litigation settlements and pleadings (with particular emph...

Bill Heller founded and chairs Akerman’s Consumer Financial Services Practice Group, among the largest national legal teams supporting consumer financial service providers. Bill leads a team of more than 100 lawyers—some former in-house and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau attorneys—with a platform for big stakes and high volume national litigation, federal and state examination, investigation and enforcement support, as well as regulatory compliance in all 50 states. A ...

Jose R. Riguera is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Jose R., who practices law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jose R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Cathy Stutin is a partner in the firm's Fort Lauderdale office. She represents employers throughout the United States in state and federal courts, as well as before the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and other state and federal agencies. In her 25 years of practice in management-side labor and employment law, Cathy has tried cases involving claims for sexual harassment, race, religious and disability discrimination, retaliation, and Emplo...

Gregory J. Willis practices in the firm’s Fort Lauderdale West office where he concentrates on civil litigation but has a diverse practice that includes all areas of insurance defense litigation including construction litigation, bad faith/extra-contractual liability, liquor liability defense, environmental/toxic spills and trucking accident defense. Mr. Willis is also experienced in transactional law and health law matters. He has lectured extensively on many areas of law. Previously, ...

Peter R. Goldman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Peter R., who practices law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Peter R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Todd S. Payne is the Managing Partner of Zebersky Payne Shaw Lewenz, LLP. He is Chair of the firm’s Corporate and Healthcare Practice Groups and is Co-Chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Practice Group. Todd represents corporate and individual clients in complex commercial litigation, healthcare litigation, and class action/mass tort litigation. Mr. Payne also handles a variety of corporate and transactional matters, including business and real estate acquisitions, corporate...

Albert W. Gortz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Albert W., who practices law in Boca Raton, Florida, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Albert W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Eric Rapkin serves as chair of Akerman’s Real Estate Practice Group, one of the nation’s top-ranked real estate legal teams representing developers, investors, and other real estate end users in complex transactions, development and redevelopment projects, public-private initiatives, loan origination and recoveries, and litigation matters across the United States and Latin America. A consummate dealmaker, Eric’s practice focuses on sophisticated commercial real estate transa...

Attorney Robert W. Kelley is a founding Partner at Kelley/Uustal. Mr. Kelley is a highly accomplished attorney. He has earned numerous awards and recognitions, including his continued inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America publication, Florida Super Lawyers ® Magazine, and South Florida’s Best Lawyers. Mr. Kelley has tried over 100 jury trials. His record of success includes the 7th largest jury verdict in the country according to the National Law Journal, and more than 25 multi-m...