Tampa's
Best Lawyers 2026

Gaylord Merlin represents property and business owners in eminent domain and property rights litigation throughout the State of Florida. Our firm guides an owner through the condemnation process, protects an owner's property rights, and fights for an owner to receive full compensation. Andrew G. Diaz represents a variety of business and property owners in eminent domain and property rights litigation. He has handled cases involving the taking of large vacant parcels, national big box retailer...

Blake Gaylord is a partner practicing in the field of eminent domain and property rights. He has successfully represented property owners statewide in jury trials, bench trials, and administrative and Value Adjustment Board proceedings. Prior to joining the firm, Blake served as an officer in the U.S. Army where he was deployed in both Operation Iraqi Freedom (Kuwait) and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). Professionally, he has served as the Chairman of the Eminent Domain Committee of...

Accomplishments Ms. Merlin has held several leadership positions in eminent domain during her career. These include: Chair of the ABA Condemnation, Zoning and Land Use Committee (1982 - 1985); Chair of the Florida Bar Eminent Domain Committee (1993 - 1994); Co-Chair of the Hillsborough County Bar Association Eminent Domain Committee (1997-1998) and member of the Florida Bar Eminent Domain Practice and Procedure Steering Committee (1999 - present). Her proudest career accomplishment is institu...

Background Lorena Hart Ludovici represents clients throughout the state of Florida. She has handled cases in Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. Her diverse clientele includes shopping center owners, retailers, supermarket chains, gas stations, restaurants, professional offices, cell tower owners, golf course owners as well as farmers, grove operators, home-owners and many others. Accomplishments .Ms. Ludovici's leadership in the field of eminent domain includes chairing The Florida Bar's eminent d...

Background Cary Gaylord has represented clients in over 30 counties in Florida as well as in the federal courts and courts of Illinois and Georgia. He has handled cases involving large vacant parcels, churches, national big box retailers, shopping centers, gas station/convenience stores, fast food restaurants, supermarket chains, professional offices, farmers, retailers, grove operators, golf course owners, homeowners, as well as other properties both in eminent domain and inverse condemnatio...

Eric Newell Appleton is a founding partner and member of Appleton Reiss, PLLC. Mr. Appleton has practiced community association and real estate law in Florida, including litigation and transactional matters, since 1999. He has substantial experience representing real estate owners, developers, office parks, commercial associations and residential condominium and homeowners’ associations throughout Florida. Mr. Appleton’s law practice focuses on assisting association officers, dire...

ABOUT Andy Steingold is a Senior Trial Attorney with MANEY | GORDON Trial Lawyers, who practices in the areas of Medical Negligence, Nursing Home Abuse, Wrongful Death, Products Liability and Personal Injury. Mr. Steingold is an active member of this community and is currently serving as a Safety Harbor City Commissioner and an Administrative Hearing Officer for the Hillsborough County Dangerous Dog Court. Mr. Steingold was the Mayor of the City of Safety Harbor from 2006-2017 during which he...

TRIAL ATTORNEY David Mitchell is an experienced litigator who has prosecuted civil litigation cases in 12 states, 17 federal district court jurisdictions, and 4 federal appellate jurisdictions. David currently concentrates his practice in the areas of personal injury litigation and medical malpractice litigation. David has previously demonstrated proficiency in a wide range of civil practice areas, having been recognized by his peers as the #1 Consumer Protection attorney for eight consecutiv...

ABOUT Fritz Gray, of counsel, has been a practicing attorney in Tampa for more than 30 years. He is AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell with extensive experience in complex civil trials focusing on medical malpractice, general negligence, wrongful death, automobile accidents and premises liability. Mr. Gray has been a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer since 1989 by the Florida Bar and is also certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy since 1986. In addition, Mr. ...

MORE THAN A LAWYER Spend a few minutes talking with Jeffrey ''Jack" Gordon about his practice and you're bound to hear terms like hematoma, or hydrocephalus, or oxygen saturation rate or standard of care. You may learn something about anatomy or physiology or hear a detailed description of spinal surgery. You might even be tempted to ask him for a medical opinion. But Gordon is not a physician. The managing partner of MANEY | GORDON Trial Lawyers is a highly respected medical malpractice tria...

SENIOR TRIAL ATTORNEY Prior to joining MANEY | GORDON Trial Lawyers, José A. Barreiro, founded the José A. Barreiro Law Firm, P.A., and has been a trusted advocate for clients in the Tampa area since 1997. With almost three decades of experience handling a wide range of legal matters from personal injury claims like traffic collisions and workplace injuries to representing individuals facing criminal charges, José has earned a reputation as a fierce trial lawyer. His prov...

For over 40 years, Richard Maney has dedicated his legal career to championing justice for immigrants and families, establishing himself as a preeminent authority in U.S. Immigration & Nationality Law. As the visionary force behind Maney | Gordon | Zeller, P.A. , he has led the firm to resolve immigration matters for 72,000+ clients —a testament to his relentless advocacy and strategic expertise. Distinguished Credentials Board Certified in Immigration & Nationality Law (Florida...

ABOUT Steve Zaloudek is a Senior Trial Attorney at MANEY | GORDON Trial Lawyers. Steve focuses his practice in Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury and Wrongful Death.He has been admitted to practice law in Florida, New York and Georgia and has logged more than 30 years of trial experience in these states, obtaining several noteworthy judgments and settlements for his clients. In 2011, Steve garnered one of the top published verdicts in the state of New York. In 2012 he repeated that feat wit...

Brent Steinberg is a Florida Bar board-certified appellate specialist – a distinction achieved by only 216 of the more than 100,000 members of the Florida Bar. He handles catastrophic injury, insurance bad faith, legal malpractice and insurance coverage cases throughout Florida and Georgia, at both the trial and appellate levels. Mr. Steinberg began his employment with Swope, Rodante, Newsome & Steinberg as a law clerk in 2009, joined the firm full time after graduating law school i...