Shawna J. Surrelle

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

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

Larry Rochefort is the chair of Akerman’s Litigation Practice Group, a leading team of trial lawyers advising companies in complex litigation and arbitration across the United States and Latin America. Larry is recognized for Bet-the-Company Litigation by The Best Lawyers in America and as a “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation . He represents financial institutions, developers, owners, contractors, insurers, and retailers in real estate, lending, and other disputes. He...

Marcia H. Langley joined the firm's Real Estate Practice as a shareholder in April of 1998 after seven years at Atlantic Gulf Communities Corporation where she served as vice president/general counsel. Prior to Atlantic Gulf, Ms. Langley served as general counsel and secretary to the Board of Directors of Gulfstream Housing Corporation, a large real estate development company based in Jacaranda and Tampa, Florida.

Tama Beth Kudman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Tama Beth, who practices law in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Tama Beth is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Laurie L. Gildan's wide-ranging experience in real estate includes representing home builders in land acquisition and project development; office building owners in leasing and building operations; developers and lenders in loans and loan restructuring; analysis of default situations and entitlement reviews of residential, golf course, commercial, office and warehouse properties. She is experienced in the representation of land bankers. Laurie also has the unique distinction of being a regist...

JOHN (JACK) SCAROLA graduated with honors from Georgetown University in 1969 and from Georgetown Law Center in 1973. Before joining the firm in 1978, he was Chief Felony Prosecutor in the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s office, where he was lead counsel in the trials of more than 50 major criminal cases, including the nation’s first gavel-to-gavel televised murder trial. Mr. Scarola is Board Certified in both Civil Trial Practice and Commercial & Business Litigation. While ...

Jacqueline S. Miller is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law and Trusts and Estates. Jacqueline S., who practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jacqueline S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lance C. Ivey is recognized as a top civil litigation attorney in the area of products liability. His practice includes cases involving automotive design and manufacturing defects including insufficient roof strength, handling and stability defects, defective airbags and defective seat belts. Lance has handled defective product cases all over the country and has obtained numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for firm clients in cases against virtually every international auto...

With 39 years of experience as a trusts and estates lawyer, 37 of them in Naples, Florida, Andrew J. Krause focuses his practice on family wealth transfer planning, plus estate and trust settlement and administration. In particular, Andy applies leading-edge tools and techniques to help Florida residents protect their wealth. With an emphasis on tax-efficiency, Andrew assists individuals, families and multiple-generations of families with their unique estate planning issues, including domicil...