Lance F. Avera

Joseph D. Pickles is a partner with Orr | Cook and is a civil litigator with significant experience handling jury and non-jury trials, as well as matters in arbitration. Joseph has practiced in both Federal and state courts throughout the state of Florida. In addition to general complex litigation matters, Joseph focuses his practice on business and commercial litigation and probate and trust litigation. Joseph has represented clients in partnership, corporate, real estate, and contract dispu...

Richard L. Stockton is a partner in Holland & Knight's Jacksonville and Lakeland offices. He is a member of the firm's Private Wealth Services Group and is very active in estate planning and taxation, as well as probate administration. Mr. Stockton has been heavily involved in the computerization of the firm's drafting manuals. He has significant experience and proficiency in post-mortem and generation-skipping planning, and has written and lectured on various estate planning topics. Mr. ...

Mr. Diebenow is a partner at the firm. His primary focus is real estate, land use, zoning, and government law. As a registered lobbyist across a wide range of issues, Mr. Diebenow represents individuals, corporations, landowners and developers to secure business and development incentives as well as entitlements including land use, zoning, concurrency and mobility fee approvals. He also provides legal counsel in real estate transactions including the acquisition, entitlement, financing, and d...

Daniel J. Kissane is a partner in the Jacksonville Office. His areas of expertise include: product liability defense litigation, personal injury defense, banking and financial, class actions, commercial litigation, construction defects, premises liability, consumer law, pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, wrongful death defense, insurance coverage issues and toxic tort (asbestos, Benzene and other exposures). Mr. Kissane is a 1984 graduate of the University of Miami (B.A.) and recei...

Lauren Weisman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) and Corporate Law. Lauren, who practices law in Jacksonville, Florida, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lauren is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jill F. Bechtold is an attorney with Rivkin Radler LLP in Jacksonville, Florida, where she focuses her practice on civil litigation. Her work includes Commercial Litigation, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants, employment disputes, trucking litigation, and insurance defense. Jill represents a wide range of clients, including drug and medical device manufacturers, business owners, physician...

Terrance E. Schmidt is a Florida-based mediator, arbitrator, and retired civil litigator with over 50 years of legal experience. A Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator and longtime member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, he has mediated more than 6,000 cases and served as an arbitrator in dozens more. Mr. Schmidt’s career as a commercial litigator spanned a wide range of complex disputes—including business torts, securities, employment discrimin...

Gary Wheeler has represented employers exclusively in both the private and public sectors since graduating from law school in 1997. His experience includes successfully defending employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. Mr. Wheeler is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, as well as the Florida state bar. Mr. Wheeler is a frequent lecturer at seminars for employers. He provides in-house training on workplace issues to su...

Christian George serves as managing partner of Akerman’s Jacksonville office. Christian has a statewide practice focusing on commercial litigation and creditors’ rights in all courts, including bankruptcy court. Christian routinely represents financial institutions and other lenders, shareholders, members and partners in professional corporations, LLCs and partnerships, as well as all types of businesses, individuals and families in all areas of commercial litigation. Additionally...

David J. Hull is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. David J., who practices law in Jacksonville, Florida, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.