W. Jan "Jan" Pietruszka

Ben Dachepalli has extensive experience negotiating and drafting construction-related agreements, and litigating complex construction claims regarding contract disputes, construction defects, design errors, surety bonds and construction liens. He is dedicated to understanding each client’s business to provide comprehensive strategies that go beyond legal issues, disputes or contracts. Ben is board certified by the Florida Bar in Construction Law. He was selected as national coordinating...

As a former banker and trained credit analyst, George Guerra has a well developed sense of how business works and how business professionals think. As a practicing lawyer for nearly 20 years, those skills have been critical in helping resolve countless disputes on an individual and industry-wide basis. He has represented clients in all forms of litigation in court and in arbitration with more than 40 arbitration awards and numerous court decisions to his credit. Some of the matters he has han...

Matthew L. Schwartz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Matthew L., who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Alexis Buese’s practice involves all aspects of commercial litigation, with an emphasis on class action, financial services litigation, contract disputes, and real estate and consumer class action litigation. She has broadly defended the consumer products and financial services industries against the expanding array of class actions that challenge their products, procedures, and servicing. Her clients include financial institutions and numerous consumer goods manufacturers and retailers...

Mark Bernet litigates complex commercial and business disputes, class action defense, bankruptcy, creditors’ rights/foreclosures, and appellate matters in state and federal court. Experienced across a range of sectors, including finance, banking, real estate, aviation finance, and hospitality, his clients include local, regional, and national banks and financial institutions, manufacturers, and venture capitalists. Frequently recommended by the federal agencies and Attorneys General fro...

Steve Bernstein is managing partner of the firm's Tampa office. He also serves as a Chair of the firm’s Associate Development and Retention Committee. Steve maintains a traditional labor practice in which he represents employers throughout the United States in both state and federal courts, as well as before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and other state and federal agencies. In the proce...

Jeff Shear is a member of the firm's Real Estate Practice Group, where he represents a wide variety of stakeholders, ranging from developers and lenders to institutional investors regarding real estate acquisitions, dispositions, financing and lending. For developer representation, Jeff handles all aspects of commercial and residential real estate projects, including acquisitions, zoning and permitting, financing, and disposition. He also represents buyers and sellers in commercial real estat...

Ryan A. Lopez is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs. Ryan A., who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ryan A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Laura Labbee is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Bankruptcy. Laura, who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Laura is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Larry is a trial lawyer who has handled many types of cases in state and federal courts, including partner disputes, securities litigation, receiverships, breach-of-contract, non-competes, construction law, white-collar fraud, product liability, and intellectual property matters. Larry joined Johnson Pope in 2023. He is rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell and has been named to Best Lawyers in America for commercial litigation. Before going to law school, Larry worked as a daily newspape...