W. Marc Hardesty

Bryan E. DeMaggio is a Jacksonville, Florida attorney with Sheppard, White, Kachergus, & DeMaggio, P.A. , where he represents clients in Appellate Practice , Civil Rights Law , Criminal Defense : General Practice, and Criminal Defense: White-Collar matters. Born and raised in Jacksonville, Mr. DeMaggio joined the firm in 2008 following a clerkship with the practice. His work includes criminal defense litigation, appeals, and civil rights cases in both state and federal courts. Mr. DeMaggi...

Christian George serves as managing partner of Akerman’s Jacksonville office. Christian has a statewide practice focusing on commercial litigation and creditors’ rights in all courts, including bankruptcy court. Christian routinely represents financial institutions and other lenders, shareholders, members and partners in professional corporations, LLCs and partnerships, as well as all types of businesses, individuals and families in all areas of commercial litigation. Additionally...

Gary Wheeler has represented employers exclusively in both the private and public sectors since graduating from law school in 1997. His experience includes successfully defending employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. Mr. Wheeler is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, as well as the Florida state bar. Mr. Wheeler is a frequent lecturer at seminars for employers. He provides in-house training on workplace issues to su...

Mr. Vermut, a partner at DMHD, practices exclusively in the area of information technology law and intellectual property law. His intellectual property law practice includes patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret and unfair competition matters. He represents clients on patent and trademark matters before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He also assists individual inventors, start-ups, small businesses, corporations and universities in all aspects of intellectual property law. Informa...

Jill F. Bechtold is an attorney with Rivkin Radler LLP in Jacksonville, Florida, where she focuses her practice on civil litigation. Her work includes Commercial Litigation , Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants , Product Liability Litigation – Defendants , Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants , employment disputes, trucking litigation, and insurance defense. Jill represents a wide range of clients, including drug and medical device manufacturers, business owners, physi...

Shaw Ashley is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Insurance Law. Shaw practices law in Jacksonville, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Shaw Ashley since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Shaw Ashley is held by other lawyers.

J. Phillip Gibbs is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law and Venture Capital Law. J. Phillip practices law in Jacksonville, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized J. Phillip Gibbs since 2020. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition refl...

David is a transactional lawyer in the firm’s Business Department. His practice includes mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, contract preparation and negotiation, entity structuring, joint ventures and the provision of general business and governance advice. David represents public and private companies in a variety of business transactions. His clients include logistics companies, motor vehicle dealers, banks, agricultural businesses, private equity funds and other i...

Sami R. Achem, Jr. practices in the area of general defense litigation, with an emphasis upon complex litigation involving premises liability, automobile negligence, products liability, trucking/transportation, indemnification disputes, insurance disputes, Lemon Law litigation, landlord/tenant litigation, and negligent security. Mr. Achem has been recognized by Best Lawyers of America since 2023. He was also elected to Florida Super Lawyers as a Rising Star for 2017-2021. He is as an AV Preem...

Geoffrey D. Sessions is a Partner in our office in Jacksonville, Florida, and he has three decades of expertise in litigating and arbitrating all manner of claims, including aging services, medical malpractice, professional malpractice, and general liability claims. Geoff works with doctors, nurses and other health care professionals as well as hospitals and health care facilities to aggressively defend them in both claims that arise and other legal endeavors. He is a longtime member of the A...