S. Elizabeth King

Accomplishments Ms. Merlin has held several leadership positions in eminent domain during her career. These include: Chair of the ABA Condemnation, Zoning and Land Use Committee (1982 - 1985); Chair of the Florida Bar Eminent Domain Committee (1993 - 1994); Co-Chair of the Hillsborough County Bar Association Eminent Domain Committee (1997-1998) and member of the Florida Bar Eminent Domain Practice and Procedure Steering Committee (1999 - present). Her proudest career accomplishment is institu...

David Hayes is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Commercial Litigation. David practices law in Tampa, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized David Hayes since 2027. 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 David Hayes is held by other lawyers.

Larry is a trial lawyer who has handled many types of cases in state and federal courts, including partner disputes, securities litigation, receiverships, breach-of-contract, non-competes, construction law, white-collar fraud, product liability, and intellectual property matters. Larry joined Johnson Pope in 2023. He is rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell and has been named to Best Lawyers in America for commercial litigation. Before going to law school, Larry worked as a daily newspape...

Diana Evans joined the firm as a member of the Litigation Practice Group after clerking for the Hon. James S. Moody Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Her practice focuses on commercial litigation in both state and federal court in areas including product liability and employment law. Diana represents manufacturers in a variety of product liability actions, including cases involving medical devices and consumer products. She also routinely defends employers in ...

Jeffrey Gad focuses his practice on representing individuals, with an emphasis on estate planning, probate and trust administration, probate litigation and business planning. His practice integrates the personal and estate tax planning concerns of individuals with tax and business planning for their closely held businesses. As part of his corporate practice, Jeffrey assists businesses with choice-of-entity planning, the formation of business entities, business contracts, such as the preparati...

Dee Anna D. Hays is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Dee Anna D. practices law in Tampa, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Dee Anna D. Hays since 2023. 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 Dee Anna D. Hays is held by other lawyers.

Throughout his career, Harley E. Riedel has represented debtors in possession and other significant constituencies in numerous large Chapter 11 cases filed in Florida. He has also been appointed by the United States District Court to serve as Special Master in complex litigation involving extensive farming operations in Florida and Michigan. In addition, Mr. Riedel maintains an active mediation practice in bankruptcy, state, and federal court matters, assisting parties in resolving disputes e...

Peter W. Zinober is a labor and employment lawyer specializing in the defense of employment discrimination cases in state and federal court, both jury and non-jury, as well as wage and hour, disability discrimination, age and all other types of employment litigation. Pete also specializes in "traditional" labor management relations law, including the representation of employers in connection with unfair labor practice and representation case proceedings before the National Labor Relations Boa...

Jim Porter is board certified by the Florida Bar as an expert in City, County, and Local Government Law. He concentrates his practice on land use and zoning, as well as government relations, and also has experience with the wireless communications industry, including cellular tower zoning issues. Jim is also the current School Board Attorney for the Hillsborough County School Board, the 8th largest school district in the nation. Jim formerly served as the Chief Assistant County Attorney for t...

Guy has over 40 years of trial experience with over 100 trials in State and Federal Courts, as well as dozens of trials conducted before arbitration panels. He primarily represents plaintiffs in complex commercial, securities, financial malpractice and consumer fraud litigation and in class actions, generally on a contingency fee basis. He also represents defendants in selected large, complex commercial disputes. He has successfully represented plaintiffs in numerous disputes against brokerag...