Lance F. Avera

Matt McAfee is a founding partner at DMHD. He focuses his practice in the area of real estate and banking law. He represents buyers and sellers in commercial real estate law, acquisitions and dispositions, commercial development, and commercial leasing. He has extensive experience in real estate project finance, including securitized debt and mezzanine financing. Mr. McAfee also represents clients in real estate-backed lending and the workout of distressed credits.

William E. Kuntz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. William E., who practices law in Jacksonville, Florida, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

René Fix is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Employment Law - Individuals and Litigation - Labor and Employment. René, who practices law in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which René is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Patrick Snyder is a partner in the firm’s Jacksonville office. He is a civil trial attorney with a focus on general civil litigation, insurance coverage, construction defects, professional malpractice, insurance bad faith, errors and omissions, trucking claims defense, products liability, security negligence, personal injury/wrongful death and personal injury protection (PIP) litigation. Mr. Snyder attended law school at Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts and obtained his juris...

Steve is a member of the firm’s Board of Directors and a corporate transactional lawyer in the firm’s Business and Healthcare practice areas. Steve’s practice for more than 20 years has focused on the representation of clients in their most important and complicated transactions, including the negotiation and documentation of mergers, acquisitions and stock and asset sales, joint ventures, private equity investments and financings. Steve also represents clients and executive...

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

Colin Thakkar is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Colin, who practices law in Jacksonville, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Colin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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

David Otero’s national practice focuses on bankruptcy and tax litigation and counseling. A partner in both the Tax and Bankruptcy & Reorganization Practice Groups, his clients include Citigroup, Capital One, Nissan, Santander Bank, Sears, Synchrony Financial, U.S. Bank, Venus Fashion, and professional athletes. In his tax practice, David advises multistate businesses on state and local tax controversy matters throughout the United States. He represents institutions financing both cr...

E.K. Cottrell practices in the area of complex commercial litigation. Some of his representative areas of practice include defense of class actions on behalf of insurers, business entities, and management for alleged improper market conduct or business practices, and fiduciary obligations; representation of insurers and reinsurers in coverage and regulatory compliance matters; and other general business litigation. E.K. has litigated class actions and other complex commercial litigation matte...