Joseph Shaughnessy

Gary Whitlock represents major financial institutions in a broad range of transactions. He routinely represents lenders making commercial and real estate loans, and has assisted his clients with loan restructurings and workouts. Gary also has significant experience working on loans to companies in the automotive sector, as well as representing clients with the acquisition of quarries. The typical transaction size is between $5 million and $25 million.

Nate Balint represents private equity funds, strategic acquirers, and entrepreneurs on the purchase and sale sides of merger, acquisition, and leveraged buyout transactions, including associated equity and debt arrangements. His experience spans sectors such as business services, retail, restaurants, technology, consumer products, education, and energy. Nate also works with venture capital and growth equity funds, advising on the completion of early and growth stage investments. Related to hi...

Jéan E. Wilson is Chair of the firm's Orlando and Atlanta Public Finance Practices. Jéan has broad experience as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, underwriters' counsel, bank counsel, trustee's counsel, borrower's counsel and purchasers' counsel in various types of tax-exempt and taxable financings, including housing, transportation, public utilities, general obligation, sales tax, revenue and tourist development tax issues, as well as tax increment, industrial development and d...

Roman Petra is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law. Roman, 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 Roman is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Vanessa Bolton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law. Vanessa, who practices law in DeLand, Florida, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Vanessa is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

MELVIN BOWEN WRIGHT was born in Albany, Georgia on August 1, 1959 and was raised on a family farm still in operation in Warwick located in Worth County, Georgia. He moved to Central Florida in 1985, is married and has two children. He received his Juris Doctor degree in 1985 and was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 1985 and the Florida Bar in 1986. Mr. Wright is also licensed to practice law in Tennessee. Mr. Wright is also a member of the Supreme Court Bar, the District Courts for the...

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...

Anthony Guettler is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Anthony, who practices law in Vero Beach, Florida, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Anthony is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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. ...