Mark J. Criser

Brian Shrader is the founder of Shrader Mendez & O’Connell. His focus is on litigation and trials relating to all of the firm’s four practice areas. Brian has an AV Rating by Martindale Hubble, reflecting the highest rating by his peers and judges. In addition, Brian was selected as a multiple-year Superlawyers Rising Star, an honor reflecting a peer review rating in the top 2.5% of lawyers under the age of 40. As a respected trial attorney, Brian has been hired by other law f...

Elena Paras Ketchum focuses her practice on Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, representing clients throughout Tampa and the Middle District of Florida. Her practice centers on guiding businesses and individuals through complex insolvency matters, with extensive experience representing debtors in possession in Chapter 11 proceedings. She has worked with companies across a wide range of industries, including trucking, manufacturing, construction, retail,...

Kevin D. Johnson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Kevin D., who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 2009. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kevin D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael M. Mills Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Securities / Capital Markets Law. Michael M., who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Melissa Kuipers Blake is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Government Relations Practice. Melissa Kuipers, 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 Melissa Kuipers is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jeff Shear is a member of the firm's Real Estate Practice Group, where he represents a wide variety of stakeholders, ranging from developers and lenders to institutional investors regarding real estate acquisitions, dispositions, financing and lending. For developer representation, Jeff handles all aspects of commercial and residential real estate projects, including acquisitions, zoning and permitting, financing, and disposition. He also represents buyers and sellers in commercial real estat...

Harold Holder focuses his practice on civil litigation in state and federal courts, in matters involving business and contract disputes, construction and real estate disputes, professional liability, employment litigation, and other general commercial litigation. Mr. Holder also assists clients with business transactions, commercial finance, secured lending, and corporate matters.

Keith Fendrick is a Partner in the Holland & Knight Tampa office and a member of the Bankruptcy Practice Group. He focuses his practice on bankruptcy and creditors' rights, corporate reorganizations and restructurings, and commercial litigation. Mr. Fendrick has represented financial institutions, corporations, insurance companies, and creditor groups in numerous large Chapter 11 cases around the country. He has also worked with secured and unsecured creditors in workouts, non-bankruptcy ...

John Giordano is regularly involved in complex business-related transactions. Mr. Giordano’s practice encompasses a broad range of areas, including federal and state securities law, corporate finance, mergers, acquisitions and tax law. Mr. Giordano has substantial experience in counseling clients, including start-up enterprises, in obtaining capital and advising clients about obstacles to successfully growing a business.

Joseph F. Diaco, Jr. is committed to helping injury victims in personal injury claims. Mr. Diaco began building a reputation as an aggressive advocate while litigating complex insurance cases early in his legal career beginning in 1995. For nearly 2 decades, Mr. Diaco has managed thousands of injury claims, deposed hundreds of experts (including doctors), and successfully handled dozens of jury trials Mr. Diaco grew up in St. Petersburg, and he graduated from Northeast High School in 1988. He...