William S. Graessle

Pete Larsen is the chair of Akerman’s national Tax Practice Group, a team advising clients in global tax compliance and controversy matters, including complex transactions in the middle market. The practice was recognized by Law360 as a “Tax Practice Group of the Year” for its precedent-setting work in the United States. Pete works closely with financial institutions, finance companies, vehicle and equipment lessors, retailers, and telecommunication, software, and technology...

John Leonard is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Insurance and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. John, who practices law in Jacksonville, Florida, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Out of well over 1000 civil trial attorneys in North Florida, Michael Fox Orr was recognized by Attorney-at-Law Magazine as one of the “top 8 civil litigators.” Michael tries civil jury and bench trials primarily in the area of complex commercial and civil litigation with significant damages at issue. Most of his cases involving situations where the company could be bankrupted or an individual stands to lose their net worth. His experience and success as a civil trial lawyer has l...

Amy Turci focuses her practice on representing small, large, and market leader employers in the retail and construction industries. With the knowledge gained through the acquisition of her MBA, as well as in her 17+ years as a management-side employment attorney, Amy understands a company’s need to blend legal and business concerns into its risk minimization. She has extensive experience representing clients in matters involving federal and state anti-discrimination statutes, worker&rsq...

Patrick W. Krechowski has over 25 years of experience in real estate, land use, environmental, governmental, administrative litigation, appeals and title insurance law. Patrick is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in City, County and Local Government Law. His practice focuses on all aspects of zoning and land use law, real estate due diligence, environmental permitting (including sovereign submerged lands and riparian rights), environmental remediation, water use permitting and planning, bea...

Katherine earned her Bachelors of Science in 2009 from Florida State University, where she had the honor of interning with Florida’s Executive Office of the Governor. Katherine received her Juris Doctor in 2013 from the University of Miami School of Law. Upon graduation, she served as an Assistant State Attorney for the 17th Judicial Circuit, in Broward County, Florida, where she gained invaluable jury trial experience. Her current practice focuses on insurance coverage, construction, b...

E.K. Cottrell is a partner with Rivkin Radler LLP and practices in the area of complex commercial litigation. Based in Jacksonville, Florida, his work focuses on Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, and Litigation – Insurance. He represents insurers, reinsurers, financial institutions, and business entities in a wide range of disputes involving alleged improper market conduct, business practices, fiduciary duties, and regulatory compliance. E.K. regularly handl...

Michael is a member of the firm’s Board of Directors and focuses his practice on complex business litigation and insolvency matters. He has many years of trial experience in cases involving business torts, bankruptcy proceedings, corporate governance issues, employment disputes, and litigation concerning contracts, secured transactions, fraudulent transfers, financial workouts, lender liability, banking relationships, and commercial paper. For 12 years, Michael was a senior executive wi...

Katie DeSantis McCranie is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Katie DeSantis, who practices law in Jacksonville, Florida, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Katie DeSantis is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Terrance E. Schmidt is a Florida-based mediator, arbitrator, and retired civil litigator with over 50 years of legal experience. A Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator and longtime member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, he has mediated more than 6,000 cases and served as an arbitrator in dozens more. Mr. Schmidt’s career as a commercial litigator spanned a wide range of complex disputes—including business torts, securities, employment discrimin...