Richard C. Vaughan

BRIAN R. DENNEY is a Shareholder at Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A. in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he currently serves on the firm’s Executive Committee. He has earned Florida Bar Board Certification in Civil Trial Law, the highest level of recognition for the competency and experience of a civil trial lawyer. Mr. Denney routinely works with individuals and families throughout Florida whose lives have been devastated due to the negligence of others. He takes pride...

Linda C. Sweeting is a civil trial attorney in the firm’s West Palm Beach office. She has had a diversified practice that includes litigation and management of civil cases including catastrophic and personal injury, wrongful death, automobile negligence, premises liability, medical malpractice, negligent security, product liability, toxic tort, trucking accident litigation, general civil litigation, and alternative dispute resolution. Over the years, Ms. Sweeting has represented both de...

Larry Rochefort is the chair of Akerman’s Litigation Practice Group, a leading team of trial lawyers advising companies in complex litigation and arbitration across the United States and Latin America. Larry is recognized for Bet-the-Company Litigation by The Best Lawyers in America and as a “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation . He represents financial institutions, developers, owners, contractors, insurers, and retailers in real estate, lending, and other disputes. He...

CHRISTIAN D. SEARCY is president and CEO of Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A. and writes and lectures extensively about civil trial practice, personal injury and wrongful death. For 46 years he has litigated cases primarily involving catastrophic injury and death in venues throughout Florida as well as in other states. At age 29, he had the distinction of being the youngest lawyer in the United States to achieve a verdict of $1 million for a single personal injury lawsuit. In...

Carl V. Romano is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Real Estate Law and Banking and Finance Law. Carl V. practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Carl V. Romano since 2013. 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 Carl V. Romano is held by other lawyers.

Tracy L. Gerber is a Shareholder in the firm's Palm Beach County offices where she is a member of the firm's National Securities Litigation practice group as well as the National Labor & Employment Practice. Tracy represents major broker-dealers in FINRA arbitrations, regulatory proceedings, and state and federal courts. As lead counsel in the defense of financial services firms, she has litigated numerous sales practice and employment cases involving millions of dollars in controversy. T...

Tracy T. Segal is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. Tracy T. practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Tracy T. Segal 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 Tracy T. Segal is held by other lawyers.

DONALD J. WARD III is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the University of Notre Dame Law School, where he earned his degree cum laude. At age 26, in his first jury trial, Mr. Ward obtained a verdict of $824,200, which was more than thirteen times what the defendant had offered to settle the case. Since joining Searcy Denney, he has recovered in excess of $100 million on behalf of his clients. He currently serves as President of the Palm Beach County Justice Association, a countywid...

Matthew Z. Zimmerman is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Trade Secrets Law. Matthew Z. practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Matthew Z. Zimmerman since 2021. 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 Matthew Z. Zimmerman is held by other lawyers.

Laurie J. Briggs is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs. Laurie J. practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Laurie J. Briggs 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 Laurie J. Briggs is held by other lawyers.