Wendy L. Aikin

Mariane's practice is primarily focused on insolvency and bankruptcy related cases. The insolvency practice includes the representation of debtors-in-possession in Chapter 11 proceedings, representation of Chapter 11 trustees, liquidating agents, and receivers, and the representation of secured and unsecured creditors in cases pending before the bankruptcy court. Mariane has also represented assignors and assignees in the statutorily created liquidation process known as an “Assignment f...

Hugo de Beaubien is a Founding Partner of our firm. He was raised in Birmingham, Michigan, and Ormond Beach, Florida. After receiving an undergraduate degree in business from Florida State University in 1970, he was awarded his Juris Doctorate from Stetson University in 1973. At Stetson, Hugo served as Exchequer of Phi Delta Phi and as President of the senior class. Hugo has been active in the Orange County Bar Association through his service as Chairman of the Criminal Law Section and Legal ...

Judith M. Mercier is a partner in the firm's Orlando office and concentrates in complex business and commercial litigation in trial and appellate courts. She represents companies in a wide range of industries, including technology, sports, financial services, hospitality and news and entertainment. Her practice focuses on contract disputes, business torts, intellectual property, media law and defending consumer claims. Ms. Mercier has defended consumer claims such as breach of fiduciary duty,...

Gary Whitlock represents major financial institutions in a broad range of transactions. He routinely represents lenders making commercial and real estate loans, and has assisted his clients with loan restructurings and workouts. Gary also has significant experience working on loans to companies in the automotive sector, as well as representing clients with the acquisition of quarries. The typical transaction size is between $5 million and $25 million.

Shareholder Ava Doppelt is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Intellectual Property Law. She manages trademark and copyright portfolios, and has substantial litigation experience in federal and state courts and administrative agencies, advising clients on trademark, publishing, entertainment, and licensing, franchising, and copyright matters. Ms. Doppelt speaks frequently on intellectual property, publishing and entertainment law. She has served as an expert witness. Ms. Doppelt was former...

Monica Kovecses represents businesses, individuals, and municipalities in various contract and tort disputes in both state and federal court. She also has experience representing attorneys and other professionals in malpractice and related disputes, including successfully defending a prominent law firm at trial in federal court against claims of gross negligence and lost profits arising out of a failed loan transaction. Additionally, Monica has experience representing healthcare providers suc...

Steven D. Kramer is a native Floridian and has lived in Central Florida since 1987. He is a graduate of Lake Mary High School in Lake Mary, Florida. Mr. Kramer is a leader in the Central Florida Community. He has served as President of the prestigious William's Inn of Court, previously served as President of the Seminole County Bar Association, President of the Seminole County Legal Aid Society, Co-Founder and Director of the Seminole County Young Lawyers Division, and is a Member of the Flor...

Suzanne Gilbert practices in the areas of financial and real estate litigation, business litigation and creditors' rights. Ms. Gilbert has experience representing clients in complex commercial disputes in federal, state and bankruptcy courts. Ms. Gilbert has substantial experience representing financial institutions and other lenders in a variety of matters, including complex commercial foreclosures, loan workouts, defense of lender liability claims, and in fraudulent transfer and preferentia...

Chris Hayes represents developers, homebuilders, and investors in the acquisition, development, and sale of real property in Florida and California. He has overseen numerous complex acquisitions and dispositions. As part of his transactional practice, Chris also represents clients in retail and office space leasing. Additionally, Chris works with investors and owners in acquiring and selling small and mid-market sized businesses, having worked on over 65 auto and motorcycle dealership transac...

Michael J. Sullivan is Co-Chair of the firm’s Hospitality Group. Mike has wide-ranging experience in the acquisition, development, finance and disposition of hotels, resorts, branded residences and condo-hotels, and health care-related properties; management, franchise and operating agreements for hotels; publicly financed hotel management agreements; seniors housing management and third-party lease agreements; construction and permanent financings (balance sheet and CMBS); and the purc...