Matthew Lemakos

Born and raised in a small town in Northeast Ohio, Pete learned from an early age that hard work pays off. Never the most intelligent student or the most gifted athlete, he excelled at both because he worked harder than everyone else. His beautiful and talented Wife is a fellow trial lawyer. Together, they have 3 children and 2 Beagles. Pete attended the University of Dayton where he received his Bachelors degree in Marketing. He later moved to Florida shortly after graduation and worked a co...

Nicholas C. Maniotis is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Nicholas C. practices law in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Nicholas C. Maniotis since 2025. 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 Nicholas C. Maniotis ...

Claire Hurley is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Claire practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Claire Hurley since 2025. 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 Claire Hurley is held by other lawyers.

T. HARDEE BASS III practices exclusively in the firm’s tobacco litigation unit, litigating cases against cigarette-making giants Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds, Lorillard Tobacco Company, and Liggett. He has tried numerous complex, multi-week tobacco cases in venues across the state of Florida, and has obtained multiple seven and eight figure verdicts, including: $21 million, Escambia County (2010) $21 million, Sarasota County (2018) $20 million, Palm Beach County (2014) $13.1 million, Pi...

Tama Beth Kudman is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Tama Beth practices law in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Tama Beth Kudman since 2018. 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 Tama Beth Kudman is held by other lawyers.

JOHN (JACK) SCAROLA graduated with honors from Georgetown University in 1969 and from Georgetown Law Center in 1973. Before joining the firm in 1978, he was Chief Felony Prosecutor in the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s office, where he was lead counsel in the trials of more than 50 major criminal cases, including the nation’s first gavel-to-gavel televised murder trial. Mr. Scarola is Board Certified in both Civil Trial Practice and Commercial & Business Litigation. While ...

Christopher Duke serves as managing partner of Akerman’s Palm Beach County Offices. With a diverse practice in employment law and complex commercial litigation, Chris represents clients in federal and state courts, as well as in various arbitration forums and before federal, state, and local administrative bodies. His clients operate across multiple sectors, including hospitality, travel/recreation, healthcare, retail, financial services, and alternative energy. Chris routinely represen...

Rosalyn “Sia" Baker-Barnes is a Shareholder at Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A., and the Chairperson of the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. In her over 20-year career, she has successfully pursued justice for victims in personal injury, medical negligence and product liability cases and frequently lectures throughout the United States on catastrophic injury cases. She has achieved numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements, includi...

Ryan Fogg is a distinguished medical malpractice lawyer renowned for his expertise in advocating for patients’ rights and seeking justice for individuals harmed by medical negligence. A seasoned attorney with years of experience in medical malpractice litigation and personal injury lawsuits, Ryan’s practice focuses on providing comprehensive legal counsel to people who have suffered catastrophic injuries ranging from birth-related neurological trauma to sexual assaults. Throughout...

Richard D. Schuler is the founding partner of Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller & Overbeck, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Since the firm began in 1978, he has actively been involved in representing plaintiffs in Civil Trial Litigation throughout the State of Florida and nationally. He is a graduate of Cornell University and Syracuse University. Since 1984, he has been Board Certified by The Florida Bar as a Civil Trial Lawyer.