Laura Francia

Senior Counsel Will Bland, III, one of the founding members of the firm, has more than 49 years of experience as a litigator. Will’s practice focuses on maritime personal injury defense, maritime collision and property damage insurance coverage, contractual indemnity, longshore matters, transportation defense, and general litigation. His clients have included both Fortune 500 and local one-boat companies, and he regularly represents vessel operators, shipyards, both brown water and offs...

Kara M. Houck is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Kara M., who practices law in Salt Lake City, Utah, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kara M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

M. Diane Owens specializes in products liability, employment discrimination, premises liability, environmental and toxic torts. Ms. Owens has also handled a significant number of matters involving catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation. She practices in all state and federal courts in Georgia and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. M. Diane Owens graduated from Mercer University with an A.B. degree, summa cum laude, in 1977, and her J.D. degree, magna cu...

John D. Seiver is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Communications Law. John D., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Dave Garner is a respected thought-leader, whose experience and influence in education law reaches from the classroom, to the boardroom, to the courtroom and beyond. For over 20 years, Dave has developed ongoing, long-term relationships with traditional public schools, charter schools, private schools, as well as private and public post-secondary educational institutions of all stripes. Dave’s expertise is frequently sought in an outside general counsel role for compliance training, pol...

John R. Aube is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. John R., who practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Charles E. Pear, Jr. is of counsel in the real estate practice group and represents numerous clients on dozens of condominium, timesharing and fractional projects, including some of the earliest and some of the largest plans in the nation. He represents developers and lenders, real estate brokerage firms, property managers, homeowners associations, exchange companies, and others. He has also served as a consultant to the State of Hawaii. Mr. Pear is listed in Best Lawyers in America and in Ch...

Adriana R. Midence is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Adriana R., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Adriana R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Miles Coleman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. Miles, who practices law in Greenville, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Miles is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Howard S. Krooks is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Elder Law and Trusts and Estates. Howard S., who practices law in Boca Raton, Florida, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Howard S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.