Julian Velez

Frederick J. Grady is a commercial litigator who has significant experience in several areas of complex commercial litigation and construction law. He handles construction litigation, including delay claims, mechanic's lien work, architect/engineer liability, and differing site conditions claims. Mr. Grady also has experience in contract drafting, review and administration. His experience includes various types of projects, including commercial and residential construction, including office b...

Stephanie focuses her practice on real estate acquisitions, dispositions, financing and leasing. Stephanie represents financial institutions, including banks and insurance companies, and corporate clients in a broad range of commercial real estate and commercial lending transactions. She also represents investors in joint venture transactions for a variety of asset types, including retail, multi-family residential, office and industrial space, and has extensive experience advising clients reg...

Nicole Fluet believes litigation strategy should be driven by a deep understanding of her clients’ businesses and goals. She focuses her practice on insurance coverage and defense, first-party property, construction defects, intellectual property, workers’ compensation, cyber, and real estate law. Nicole regularly represents insurance companies and the construction companies they insure, and she frequently speaks on emerging issues in insurance. She also serves on the board of the...

Catriana Messina practices in the area of insurance. She has exclusively represented insurers and their agents since she joined Phelps Dunbar in 2014. Her practice is focused on complex first-party insurance coverage matters arising under homeowners, commercial property, builders risk, catastrophe and other property insurance policies, including but not limited to hurricane claims, sinkhole claims, and claims involving suspected arson, fire, fraud, vandalism, theft, collapse, business interru...

Mallory Thomas practices in the area of insurance and reinsurance. Her practice focuses on complex insurance coverage litigation and counseling. She represents surplus and admitted insurers in state and federal court in Florida in third-party coverage matters arising under commercial general liability, commercial auto, professional liability, premises liability and personal liability policies, including issues such as the duty to defend, duty to indemnify, work-related injuries, assault and b...

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

Ashwin R. Trehan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Ashwin R., who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ashwin R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

James O. Lang is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law. James O., who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James O. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David P. Steffen has represented clients in both state and federal courts, before the Florida Commission on Human Relations, the EEOC, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, and the NLRB. He has also advised clients on ways to manage their Workers’ Compensation claims and how to properly enforce employment policies. David regularly assists clients on preemptive strategies to limit their future exposure. Before joining C...

Louis T. M. Conti is a partner in the Tampa office of Holland & Knight. Mr. Conti's practice includes serving as outside counsel to businesses of all sizes, mergers and acquisitions, cash flow and asset-based financings, leveraged buy-outs, mezzanine and subordinated debt transactions, public and private equity placements, venture capital and private equity investments, company governance advice, and sophisticated and complex cross-border transactions and joint ventures and strategic alli...