Scott D. Smiley

D. Brett Marks represents troubled companies, secured and unsecured creditors, asset purchasers, private equity groups, trustees, and creditors’ committees in Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 cases, out-of-court workouts, and litigation matters. Brett also has significance experience representing and counseling officers and directors of insolvent companies, including defense of alleged breach of fiduciary duty claims and other claims of malfeasance. Brett’s experience extends across a num...

Martin Burkett serves as co-chair of Akerman’s M&A and Private Equity Practice. Martin represents public and private companies and private equity funds in a variety of corporate transactions, with a particular focus on mergers and acquisitions. Martin’s practice includes structuring and negotiating complex business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, going private transactions, venture and growth capital investments, debt and equity fi...

Harsh Arora is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Harsh, who practices law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Harsh is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lindsay B. Haber is a highly accomplished family law attorney and founding partner of Haber Legal in Boca Raton, Florida. She represents clients across South Florida in complex and emotionally sensitive matters involving matrimonial and family law , equitable distribution , alimony , timesharing and parental responsibility , paternity , prenuptial and postnuptial agreements , and complex financial issues , while also providing clients with comprehensive estate planning and probate counsel. Ms...

Jim Polkinghorn is a partner in the Fort Lauderdale office and heads the litigation practice there. He is an experienced trial attorney, having tried more than thirty cases to juries in state and federal courts throughout the state of Florida and elsewhere in the United States. Jim has extensive experience litigating cases of all levels of complexity, from single-plaintiff discrimination claims to multi-party class and collective actions arising under state and federal labor and employment la...

Leah A. Foertsch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Leah A., who practices law in Boca Raton, Florida, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Leah A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Zascha Blanco Abbott is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Zascha Blanco, who practices law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Zascha Blanco is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jonathan S. Marcus is chair of the firm's Residential and Master Planned Communities Team. His practice includes residential community and commercial acquisitions, sales and development. Mr. Marcus currently represents many residential real estate developers, including several of the largest in the United States and South Florida, together with large local and national retail companies in the negotiation and drafting of complex purchase and sale agreements, financing documents, assorted easem...

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

William B. Sherman is a partner in Holland & Knight's Fort Lauderdale office. Mr. Sherman serves as chair of the firm's Tax Team and concentrates his practice in the area of domestic and international taxation. He has provided sophisticated tax planning for mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, joint ventures and investments for clients in diverse industries, such as hospitality, petrochemicals, aluminum, tobacco, real estate, transportation, telecommunications, retailing, investment ...