Steven R. "Steve" Bechtel

Patrick T. Christiansen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Patrick T., who practices law in Orlando, Florida, has been recognized since 1997. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Patrick T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Managing Shareholder Brian Gilchrist is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in the area of Intellectual Property Law. Certification is the highest level of evaluation by The Florida Bar for competency, experience professionalism and ethics in an area of law. He has substantial experience in all phases of intellectual property litigation, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, deceptive trade practices and restrictive covenants. Mr. Gilchrist has been attorney of record in ov...

Christine A. Wasula is a partner in the firm’s Orlando office. She is an accomplished civil litigation attorney with over twenty-five years of experience. Her background includes tenures at several national law firms, and she also worked as an Assistant Attorney General in the Economic Crimes Division of the Florida Attorney General’s Office. Prior to attending law school, she worked as a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Bob Graham in Washington, D.C., where she advised the S...

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

Michelle Tatum-Bush provides advice and handles disputes for employers in Florida and with operations throughout the US. Her clients represent a wide variety of industries, including construction, brokerages, medical practices, management, insurance, and not-for-profit organizations. Michelle has particular expertise in FMLA and ADA accommodations matters. She is also passionate about helping clients throughout their litigation matters, whether the cases involve discrimination and harassment ...

Patrick Brackins received his undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Florida and, in 2006, his Juris Doctor degree from St. Thomas University School of Law. Patrick moved to Orlando in 2006, where he began his career as a staff attorney for Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit Court. Prior to joining Shepard, Smith, Hand & Brackins, P.A., from 2008 to 2016, Patrick served as the career law clerk for a United States Magistrate Judge in the Orlando Division of th...

Kimberly A. Mello is a member of the firm's National Appellate Practice. She has briefed and argued dozens of appeals in state and federal court, including the Florida Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and Florida's District Courts of Appeal. In addition to focusing on appellate matters, Ms. Mello has extensive experience briefing complex legal issues at the trial court level during both the pre-trial and post-trial phases. She regularly consults with trial la...

A Wealth of Experience While at the Florida State College of Law, Jed clerked for the General Counsel at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), where he specialized in appellate issues. Jed later clerked at an insurance-defense law firm, Henry, Buchanan, Hudson, Suber, Carter, P.A., where he assisted on appellate and litigation-related matters. He also served as the Attorney General for the FSU Student Government Association and as a Fellow for the Speaker of the...

Eric C. Reed is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Commercial Litigation. Eric C., who practices law in Orlando, Florida, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Eric C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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