Michael Ryan

With over 20 years of litigation and trial experience, Phillip Howell provides clients with early, accurate case assessments, always focused on trial outcomes and mediation strategy. He practices in commercial and insurance litigation with an emphasis on first-party insurance, maritime, construction defect, and professional negligence defense. A licensed Florida CPA, Phillip uses his accounting background to quickly analyze expert findings and financial issues. He also handles complex transac...

Mr. Pote’s practice is focused on strategic intellectual property counseling, including invention harvesting, global patent preparation and prosecution, copyright and trademark counseling, and cybersecurity issues, including information security and data privacy. He has been involved in infringement, validity, enforceability studies, IP due diligence and ex parte, and inter-partes patent reexaminations. Representative technologies include software and electronic systems, deep learning s...

Named “Lawyer of the Year 2022” by Best Lawyers in America ® and chair of Gawthrop Greenwood’s management committee, Stacey L. Fuller practices in the areas of Municipal Law, Land Use Law, Education Law, and Special Education Law. Stacey represents municipalities, townships, boroughs, planning commissions, zoning hearing boards and other governmental entities, as well as individual developers and residents, on issues such as zoning and other land development matters. She...

Alan Nochumson is the founding and managing attorney of the boutique law firm Nochumson P.C. He prides himself on providing his clients with practical and creative solutions to even the most complex of issues. As an attorney, author, and lecturer, he practices, makes, and teaches the law. In conjunction with his substantial land use and zoning practice, Alan assists his clients on every stage of the real estate acquisition and sales process–from purchasing to potentially developing a pr...

Vanessa’s practice is focused on tax, estate planning, closely-held business matters, and non-profit law. Vanessa represents taxpayers in federal and state audits and appeals, presenting the client’s position to achieve a favorable outcome. Her expertise covers the full range of tax issues businesses face, including reporting requirements, tax treatment of fringe benefits, worker classification, and compliance with Section 409A. Vanessa also prepares voluntary disclosures for indi...

Brian Leedy’s practice is devoted to defending individuals in both state and federal courts at all stages of the trial process, including pre-indictment grand jury targets, where he represents clients in a full range of criminal cases including mail and wire fraud, drug trafficking, firearm offenses, terrorism, environmental crimes, government procurement fraud, immigration, alien smuggling, bank robbery, sex offenses, tax offenses, offenses on Indian land. Brian’s practice is cli...

Steve Szymanski is a Shareholder in the Business Practice Group where he Co-Chairs the Business and Corporate Law and the Mergers and Acquisitions Sections. Steve is a trusted advisor to his clients. Steve draws upon his background in tax, finance and the law to help his clients identify legal and business issues, and work with his clients and their advisors to provide practical and effective solutions. Steve represents privately and publicly held clients in all aspects of their corporate and...

James Looper serves as Co-Managing Partner for our Nashville office. He is currently licensed in Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. In addition to being licensed in a number of states, James handles complex litigation as a part of the National Trial Counsel team across the country. James’ practice is centered on medical-related issues, complex litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and health care, and he has had numerous jury trials in multiple states. Prior to attending law school...

With 39 years of experience as a trusts and estates lawyer, 37 of them in Naples, Florida, Andrew J. Krause focuses his practice on family wealth transfer planning, plus estate and trust settlement and administration. In particular, Andy applies leading-edge tools and techniques to help Florida residents protect their wealth. With an emphasis on tax-efficiency, Andrew assists individuals, families and multiple-generations of families with their unique estate planning issues, including domicil...

A founding member of Christian & Small, Eddie was a long time partner with its predecessor firm, Rives & Peterson, and has been trying cases in federal and state court for more than 30 years. Eddie’s experience includes retail and premises liability, transportation, product liability, pharmaceutical litigation, medical malpractice, and a variety of insurance cases. He combines his courtroom expertise and knowledge with the best technology available, efficient management of rigor...