Scott J. Kennelly

Meg is an experienced advisor and litigator working in the firm’s healthcare, labor and employment, and litigation practice areas. For more than a decade, she has supported clients in managing a broad range of complex legal issues in employment and healthcare matters. A key focus of Meg’s practice includes counseling firm clients and businesses of all sizes in navigating personnel management issues like employee contracting, discipline and termination; employer best practices, pol...

J. Phillip Gibbs is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law and Venture Capital Law. J. Phillip practices law in Jacksonville, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized J. Phillip Gibbs since 2020. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition refl...

Since 1980, Elizabeth “Betsy” White has established an excellent and widespread reputation as a top lawyer in the fields of criminal defense, civil rights, and appeals. Her experience includes extensive litigation on behalf of criminal defendants as well as litigation to protect the constitutional and civil rights of individuals and groups, including women, minorities and prisoners. She has litigated at all levels of the judicial system, including the United States Supreme Court. ...

Jennifer Hart is a partner in the Jacksonville Office. She practices in Bad Faith and Extra-contractual Liability, Vehicle Negligence, Premises Liability/Security Negligence, Insurance Coverage and Carrier Representation, General Civil Litigation, Catastrophic and Personal Injury, Legal Malpractice and Federal Practice . Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Hart clerked for the Honorable Judge Durwood Conque of the Fifteenth Judicial District Court of Louisiana. She also practiced at a defense firm...

Kristen Van der Linde devotes her practice exclusively to the defense of cases and appeals involving trucking liability, automobile liability, premises liability, wrongful death, bad faith, negligent security, and coverage issues. She is admitted to practice law in Georgia as well as Florida. Ms. Van der Linde is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar, which means that she is an expert in civil litigation before state and federal courts, administrative agencies and arbitrators....

Eric C. Ragatz is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Eric C. practices law in Jacksonville, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Eric C. Ragatz since 2017. 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 Eric C. Ragatz is held by other lawyers.

There’s a reason for the row of hard hats hanging on the wall in Chip Bachara’s office. The founding partner of Bachara Construction Law group has spent his entire life in and around the construction industry. Following in the footsteps of his father, a WWII veteran who returned from the Pacific and became a homebuilder in Jacksonville, Chip literally learned the business from the ground up. He worked as a laborer for his father’s company while in high school, then earned a ...

Angie is a seasoned transactional lawyer whose practice focuses on complex healthcare matters and navigating mergers and acquisitions . She has advised and represented a wide variety of clients in financing transactions, healthcare regulatory matters, joint ventures, commercial contracts, clinical trials, corporate governance and more with the knowledge and insight only 25 years of experience can provide. Prior to joining Smith Hulsey & Busey, Angie was a partner at a global AmLaw 100 fir...

For more than 25 years, Patrick has represented clients in complex litigation and appellate matters in both federal and state courts. He has extensive litigation and trial experience with cases involving fiduciary litigation, estates and trust litigation, non-compete agreements, contract disputes, business valuations, business dissolution, employment disputes, business torts, intellectual property, products liability, real estate litigation, professional malpractice and other business dispute...

Michael R. Leas is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Law, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Tax Law. Michael R. practices law in Jacksonville, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Michael R. Leas 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 Michael R. Leas is held by other lawyers.