Thomas W. Arnst

Christopher Carver supervises and conducts all aspects of federal and state civil litigation at trial and appellate levels, including case management, motions and pleadings, oral argument, depositions and written discovery, mediation, and trial. Areas of practice include arbitration, admiralty and maritime, antitrust, civil rights and electoral law, class actions, contracts, covenants not to compete, general commercial litigation, insurance law, injunctive proceedings, internet issues, intell...

Eric Rapkin serves as chair of Akerman’s Real Estate Practice Group, one of the nation’s top-ranked real estate legal teams representing developers, investors, and other real estate end users in complex transactions, development and redevelopment projects, public-private initiatives, loan origination and recoveries, and litigation matters across the United States and Latin America. A consummate dealmaker, Eric’s practice focuses on sophisticated commercial real estate transa...

James Duffy is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. James, who practices law in Boca Raton, 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.

Paul B. McCawley focuses his practice on sophisticated estate planning for individuals and families. Such planning involves an overall plan for the client and the client’s family relating to the preservation and transfer of wealth while minimizing income taxes and transfer taxes (estate taxes, gift taxes, and generation-skipping transfer taxes) to the extent consistent with the client’s goals. Paul is a Board Certified Wills, Trusts and Estates Lawyer by The Florida Bar.

Harry J. Friedman has a wide-ranging experience in the area of general business tax planning, including the formation of joint ventures, limited partnerships and limited liability companies, consolidated tax returns, and mergers and acquisitions of both private and public corporations. In addition, Harry provides advice and counseling to tax exempt organizations including hospitals, private schools, and scientific research organizations on maintaining tax-exempt status, unrelated trade or bus...

Stephen Tilbrook has more than 25 years of experience practicing land use and environmental law, and he focuses his practice on complex land use, development, and environmental matters throughout the state of Florida. He represents property owners, expanding businesses, developers, financial institutions, and institutional clients, including hospitals, universities, regional shopping centers, and real estate investment trusts. He specializes in addressing the land use and environmental challe...

Herman R. Lipkis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Herman R., who practices law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Herman R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bill Heller founded and chairs Akerman’s Consumer Financial Services Practice Group, among the largest national legal teams supporting consumer financial service providers. Bill leads a team of more than 100 lawyers—some former in-house and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau attorneys—with a platform for big stakes and high volume national litigation, federal and state examination, investigation and enforcement support, as well as regulatory compliance in all 50 states. A ...

Janna Peters Lhota is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Janna Peters, who practices law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Janna Peters is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Philip J. Morgan is a Florida Bar board certified specialist in real estate law, concentrating his practice on commercial and residential transactions and the title insurance of those matters. He focuses primarily on working with lenders to successfully close commercial loans secured by real estate or other assets, in addition to loan workouts and foreclosures. As a member of the firm since its inception in 1975 and the managing partner since 1998, Mr. Morgan has received national recognition...