M. Tess Bedell

Tomas L. Gacio is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Tomas L. practices law in Tampa, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Tomas L. Gacio since 2023. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Tomas L. Gacio is held by other lawyers.

John C. Austin is a personal injury attorney with Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers in Clearwater, Florida. He was admitted to The Florida Bar in 2008 after earning his J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. For the first twelve years of his career, Mr. Austin represented the other side. From 2009 to 2016 he defended insurance companies and their insureds against personal injury claims at a Tampa Bay insurance defense firm. From 2016 to 2021 he served as...

Ryan A. Lopez is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs. Ryan A. practices law in Tampa, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Ryan A. Lopez since 2022. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Ryan A. Lopez is held by other lawyers.

Accomplishments Ms. Merlin has held several leadership positions in eminent domain during her career. These include: Chair of the ABA Condemnation, Zoning and Land Use Committee (1982 - 1985); Chair of the Florida Bar Eminent Domain Committee (1993 - 1994); Co-Chair of the Hillsborough County Bar Association Eminent Domain Committee (1997-1998) and member of the Florida Bar Eminent Domain Practice and Procedure Steering Committee (1999 - present). Her proudest career accomplishment is institu...

Tammie is an experienced labor and employment lawyer with a broad scope of practice that includes both litigation and traditional labor law. Tammie has represented clients in both union and union-free environments, providing legal counseling and support to meet the client's objectives. Her experience includes providing legal representation throughout collective bargaining, arbitrations, NLRB trials, and union campaigns. Tammie also frequently represents clients in employment litigation, havin...

Krysta Torok is a partner with the firm’s Tampa office. Her practice areas include premises liability, defense of claims against condominium, homeowner and community associations and their officers and directors, SIU insurance fraud, fraud litigation, actions for breach of vendor contracts, as well as personal injury and general civil litigation. Ms. Torok attended Gannon University, in Erie, Pennsylvania, where she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science....

Dale Swope is managing partner of Swope, Rodante, Newsome & Steinberg which is the development of the solo firm practice he founded six months out of law school, in 1979. Mr. Swope is a Tampa native, and a graduate of Hillsborough High School, the University of South Florida, and the University of Florida Law School. The firm’s most senior lawyer, Mr. Swope has received virtually every professional recognition available to lawyers who practice in his field. He has an AV rating (the ...

Mark Bernet litigates complex commercial and business disputes, class action defense, bankruptcy, creditors’ rights/foreclosures, and appellate matters in state and federal court. Experienced across a range of sectors, including finance, banking, real estate, aviation finance, and hospitality, his clients include local, regional, and national banks and financial institutions, manufacturers, and venture capitalists. Frequently recommended by the federal agencies and Attorneys General fro...

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...

Ken Turkel is a third generation Tampa native, and a 1982 graduate of Jesuit High School. His practice is focused on the prosecution and defense of complex business and civil litigation matters, including intellectual property cases, as well as the representation of clients in the sports and entertainment industries. During the course of his career Ken has tried numerous cases in state and federal court, representing clients in numerous industries on both the plaintiff and defense sides in bu...