Rodney A. Max

A former Chief Judge of Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal and member of the court for 22 years, Gerald Cope is the chair of Akerman’s Appellate Practice. He represents clients in appellate litigation at the state and federal levels. Ranked by Chambers USA , peers say “He’s superb and doing great work.” He is a founding member of Akerman Bench, an innovative practice including former appellate and trial court judges providing the perspective of both sides o...

Robert J. Rodriguez is a renowned workers' compensation litigator in the state of Florida as well as the managing equity partner of Miller, Kagan, Rodriguez & Silver , PL. As the managing partner, he provides vision and direction to all firm operations ensuring the firm's highest level of quality client service. In addition, he manages the Fraud Division at MKRS, maintains an active caseload, and is licensed to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Southern, Middle and Northern Dist...

Dennis A. Kerbel is chair of Akerman’s Florida Land Use and Entitlements Practice. Dennis has extensive experience in the full range of local government law issues, with a particular legal concentration in land use law. He focuses his practice on helping clients achieve optimal results from governmental approval processes and, where appropriate, litigation. Dennis has experience in federal and state courts at both the trial and appellate levels. He handles a broad variety of cases, incl...

Carl Roston serves as Co-Chair of Akerman’s Corporate Practice Group. Ranked by Chambers USA, which notes Carl does “very sophisticated, high-level deals,” he represents private equity funds, public and private companies and large family offices in domestic and cross border acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, joint ventures, co-investments, growth capital investments, debt and equity financings, and securities offerings. He represents portfolio companies of p...

Stephen Sandiford is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law. Stephen, who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stephen is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Janis Cheezem leases, buys, sells, and finances office buildings and mixed use, retail, residential, and industrial real estate for her clients, also providing counsel for property management issues and in workouts and restructurings of commercial real estate assets. A noted commercial real estate attorney, Janis represents landlords, tenants, lenders, sellers, and purchasers in both complex and bread and butter transactions. She has been primarily responsible for the leasing, sale, and purch...

David A. Barkus focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions and private equity. David's industry experience includes aviation and aerospace, computer software and information technology, construction, consumer products, education, energy, food and beverage, franchising, gaming, health care, and restaurants.

Ira N. Rosner has nearly three decades of experience helping entrepreneurs and corporate management teams create, fund, manage, grow and capitalize on their businesses. He has worked with a wide array of companies, ranging from start-up ventures to Fortune 100 enterprises, in industries including energy, manufacturing, high tech, life sciences, healthcare, retail, real estate, business outsourcing, telecommunications and insurance.

Vivian C. de las Cuevas-Diaz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Vivian C., who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Vivian C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John Patrick Pratt is a Partner with Kurzban, Kurzban, Weinger & Tetzeli, P.A. Mr. Pratt received his Bachelors of Arts from Florida State University with honors in 1994. He graduated from Tulane University School of Law, receiving his juris doctor degree in 1997. Mr. Pratt also studied abroad at the University of Paris, and is fluent in Spanish. Mr. Pratt is admitted to the bar of the State of Florida, District of Columbia, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florid...