Stephen C. Emmanuel

Brian Barr is President and a shareholder at Levin Papantonio. He litigates pharmaceutical, environmental, mass tort and personal injury cases throughout the country. Mr. Barr has been appointed to leadership in many of the largest mass tort cases in the country. Mr. Barr is presently serving as co-liaison counsel and a member of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee in the 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Litigation (MDL 2885) presently pending in the Northern District of Florida before the Honor...

David Childs, a partner with Holtzman Vogel, helps clients solve problems with government. Often the solutions involve successful modifications to Florida statutes and regulations. Other times it involves supporting budgetary items critical to a client’s interests or helping clients identify and pursue procurement opportunities. David has earned a reputation for forthrightness and an in-depth understanding of water policy, the legislative process, and state administrative procedures. Da...

David C. Ashburn represents a diverse array of clients in their dealings with numerous state and federal regulatory agencies. David’s understanding of governmental regulatory processes has also enabled him to provide counsel to buyers and sellers of health care related businesses, and to lenders and private equity groups that finance those transactions. The many types of health care, managed care and insurance related clients David has represented include the following: Ambulatory surge...

M. Hope Keating handles appeals for clients in both state and federal courts. Her areas of representation include all aspects of civil and administrative law. She also provides litigation support during all stages of litigation in all facets of law. Hope regularly advises a myriad of health care facilities and providers on a wide array of complex and practical regulatory matters such as licensure, medical records, end-of-life issues, patient discharge, contracts, and Medicare and Medicaid cer...

Jason E. Merritt is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Public Finance Law. Jason E., who practices law in Tallahassee, Florida, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jason E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bruce Platt serves as managing partner of Akerman’s Tallahassee office and as deputy chair of the Healthcare Practice Group. With a background in healthcare and medical technology, he helps insurers, providers, and related companies navigate federal and state regulations and administrative law. Clients rely on Bruce for guidance on complex regulations, such as the Florida Insurance Code, HIPAA, and the Affordable Care Act. His clients include Aetna, AvMed, Florida Blue, Health First, an...

Lawrence N. Curtin has practiced environmental and administrative law since 1978. He has represented and counseled clients on a variety of matters in the environmental area. Since beginning his environmental practice, he has been involved in the implementation of a number of important regulatory statutes, including the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as well as the dev...

Kent Safriet is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Environmental Law. Kent, who practices law in Tallahassee, Florida, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kent is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Thomas A. Range is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law and Health Care Law. Thomas A., who practices law in Tallahassee, Florida, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Rachael Gilmer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Rachael, who practices law in Pensacola, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Rachael is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.