Robert J. Merlin

Spencer Crowley’s practice focuses on large scale land use and environmental permitting matters, including zoning, growth management, urban development, transportation, sovereignty submerged lands, coastal regulation, marina permitting, wetlands, and water resources. He has worked with the Governor’s Commission for a Sustainable South Florida, the South Florida Water Management District, and Duke University’s Wetlands Center in the Florida Everglades. He has assisted clients...

David Birke serves as co-chair of Akerman’s M&A and Private Equity Practice Group. David’s practice focuses on representing private equity funds, family offices and their portfolio companies in complex acquisitions, divestitures, recapitalizations, restructurings, growth capital investments, and debt and equity financings. David’s wide ranging practice also encompasses representing other private and public companies with corporate governance, joint ventures, executive co...

Accomplished commercial litigator Elizabeth Honkonen represents clients in federal and state trials and appeals, and in arbitrations. She concentrates in two main areas: representing clients in business litigation and defending lawyers and other professional services providers accused of wrongdoing. Elizabeth handles a wide range of commercial matters, such as federal antitrust cases, business torts, contract disputes, price-gouging cases, securities fraud cases (defense), shareholder derivat...

Barry A. Nelson, a Florida Bar Board Certified Tax and Wills, Trusts and Estates Attorney and author of Estate Planning and Asset Protection in Florida: A Plan to Survive Unexpected Financial Threats is a shareholder in the law firm of Nelson & Nelson, P.A. in North Miami Beach, Florida. He practices in the areas of tax, estate planning, asset protection planning, probate, partnerships and business law. He provides counsel to high net worth individuals and families focusing on income, est...

Mark I. Aronson has practiced in the area of commercial real estate law for 30 years and has handled a wide range of transactions as counsel for developers, institutional lenders and public and private entities. Mr. Aronson has significant experience working with a variety of large scale multi-use real estate developments. He has represented developers of resort and golf course projects, regional malls and shopping centers as well as urban and suburban office building projects and condominium...

Aaron S. Podhurst is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Aaron S., who practices law in Coral Gables, Florida, has been recognized since 1983. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Aaron S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Dinah S. Stein is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Dinah S., who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Dinah S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

James L. Ferraro, Jr. is a Shareholder at The Ferraro Law Firm , where he represents individuals and government entities in high-stakes litigation involving product liability, toxic torts, environmental contamination, and mesothelioma. Since joining the firm in 2013, Mr. Ferraro has played a pivotal role in expanding its commercial litigation and mass tort practices, including its growing public entity representation in major litigations such as PFAS/AFFF, insulin price-fixing, and opioids. M...

Robert J. Becerra is a Florida Bar Board Certified Specialist in International Law, one of approximately 50 lawyers in Florida with such a certification. He concentrates his practice in the areas of litigation and arbitration, white collar criminal defense, grand jury investigations, corporate compliance and internal investigations, and administrative and judicial proceedings related to international trade matters. Prior to opening his own firm, Becerra practiced at the Miami law firms of Dev...

Sheila Oretsky is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions. Sheila, who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sheila is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.