Thomas J. Baird

Tracy T. Segal is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. Tracy T., who practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Tracy T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Eric Gordon is the chair of Akerman’s Labor and Employment Practice Group, a national team representing employers in legal compliance, dispute prevention, and employment litigation throughout the United States. An experienced litigator, he represents Fortune 500 companies operating in the hospitality, healthcare, retail, and telecommunications sectors, with substantial experience in federal and state jury trials, class actions, arbitrations, and defending claims before administrative ag...

With more than two decades of experience, Paul Quinn represents private equity funds and their portfolio companies in leveraged acquisitions and dispositions, corporate governance, and restructurings. Paul also represents management teams in employment and compensation arrangements, distressed-focused private equity funds in acquisitions in bankruptcy court and out-of-court processes; and private equity and venture capital funds in minority growth equity investments. Ranked by Chambers USA , ...

KAREN E. TERRY is a Shareholder at Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A. in West Palm Beach and has been with the firm for 25 years. Recently, Ms. Terry became Florida Bar Board Certified in civil trial law as well as in health care and medical malpractice, which are the highest honors one can achieve. For the last 10 years in a row, she has been named as one of The Best Lawyers in America. Recently honored as one of the top-rated lawyers in health care in the United States, Ms. ...

Jim McCann has devoted his career to helping clients resolve individual and business disputes. Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Business Litigation, he is recognized for his experience in bench and jury trials, appeals, and dispute resolution across a wide variety of cases for clients in the financial services, healthcare, automotive, insurance, agriculture, real estate, and professional services sectors. Jim litigates in state and federal courts, and utilizes alternative dispute resolut...

A veteran practitioner with experience in high profile matters, Joanne Gelfand’s practice is typically focused on bankruptcy and creditors’ rights. She represents creditors, debtors, trustees and receivers in all aspects of bankruptcy and restructuring. In addition, she often oversees the purchase and sale of ongoing businesses in restructuring scenarios representing both buyers and sellers. Joanne is also a recognized expert in condominium association insolvencies from both the d...

JUAN C. DIAZ AVIL A has devoted his legal career to the litigation of personal injury, premises liability, wrongful death, negligent security and products liability claims, representing his clients in both state and federal courts from inception of the case through trial. As a native Spanish speaker, he is especially well equipped to understand and serve the needs of the Latino community. Before joining Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart, & Shipley, P.A. Mr. Diaz Avila worked with the larg...

Phillip C. Gildan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law. Phillip C., who practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Phillip C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Marci Ball Elordi concentrates her practice in the areas of Personal Injury and Wrongful Death claims stemming from automobile, motorcycle, bicycle and trucking accidents, as well as medical malpractice and premises liability matters. Ms. Ball Elordi’s legal experience is vast. Before representing victims of negligence, Ms. Ball Elordi gained valuable litigation experience working with a medical malpractice defense law firm representing physicians and hospitals in medical malpractice la...

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...