Michele Rayner-Goolsby

Raleigh “Lee” Greene, though born in Gainesville (the Swamp), is a 3rd generation native of St. Petersburg. He attended UF receiving his degree in economics (1970), his J.D. (1973), was an active member of Florida Blue Key and, many years later, was selected as a “Gator Great” in 2016 by the UF alumni association. He has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1973 and a member of the D.C. Bar since 1986. He served as a JAG officer with the US Navy Reserve, having recei...

Gary E. Williams is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Gary E., who practices law in Palm Harbor, Florida, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gary E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jodi Leisure is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Jodi, who practices law in Clearwater, Florida, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jodi is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

PRACTICE AREAS Real property law Estate planning Probate General commercial law Corporate law Commercial loans Real estate DISTINCTIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS Admitted to The Florida Bar – Admitted 1973 St. Petersburg Bar Association 1973, Florida, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida and U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit The Best Lawyers in America® for Real Estate Law, Since 2009 EDUCATION Stetson University, J.D. Harvard University, A.B. BIOGRAPHY Member, Editorial Board, S...

Caitlin M. Powell joined the Trust & Estates team of Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP, as a probate, trust, and guardianship litigator in July 2019. Caitlin represents individuals and entities across Florida in a range of matters related to probate, trust and guardianship administration and disputes. Caitlin has focused her career on probate, trust and guardianship law since law school, when she volunteered at the North Florida Office of Public Guardian, Inc., and worked with...

Joseph W. "Jay" Fleece, III, is a native Floridian having been born and raised in St. Petersburg. Mr. Fleece started practicing law in 1980 with the firm of Belcher & Fleece, P.A., and subsequently joined Holland & Knight, where he was a partner heading up the litigation department of the St. Petersburg office. In 2004, Mr. Fleece joined with Hamden H. Baskin, III, and founded the law firm of BaskinFleece, located in Clearwater, Florida. In 2017 Mr. Fleece moved his practice back to S...

Timothy B. Perenich is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Bankruptcy and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Timothy B., who practices law in Clearwater, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Timothy B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mary Jo Carney is a real estate attorney with more than 40 years of experience representing developers, property owners, landlords, tenants, and investors in commercial real estate matters throughout Florida. Based in St. Petersburg, Florida, she serves clients through Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns LLP, where her practice focuses on complex commercial real estate transactions involving acquisitions, financing, leasing, development, redevelopment, and sales. Mary Jo regularly advise...

Nicholas joined Johnson Pope in 2014. Nicholas represents individuals and families with respect to estate planning, wealth preservation issues, business succession planning, state and local tax issues, the formation of businesses, and the purchases and sales of businesses. Nicholas also represents fiduciaries (personal representatives and trustees) and beneficiaries in the administration of probate estates and trusts.

Brandon D. Bellew is a partner at Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns LLP in Clearwater, Florida. His practice focuses on Litigation – Trusts and Estates, including trust, estate, and guardianship litigation . Brandon represents individuals, families, fiduciaries, and beneficiaries throughout Florida in contested trust, probate, and guardianship matters, including disputes involving incapacity, fiduciary duties, inheritance rights, and estate administration. Throughout his career, Bra...