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Find Lawyers in Jacksonville, Florida for Commercial Litigation
Practice Area Overview
Litigation increasingly occurs in various venues, from state and federal courts to private arbitrations and administrative hearings. Proceedings can involve business-to-business disputes or any number of government agencies. Understanding the motivations and outlook of each of the litigation participants is important for determining weak points to exploit and strong points that will persuade the audience in question. During the past decade, commercial litigators have seen a dramatic uptick in multidistrict and inter-disciplinary litigation, making the stakes higher, the cases more complex, the parties more numerous and the discovery more complicated and unwieldy. Firms that are able to develop and implement a creative legal approach to each individual problem, efficiently focus on the key legal and factual issues, and master and manage the various aspects of these complex matters will be the busiest in the years to come.
In the current challenging economic climate, commercial litigators are under increasing client pressure to keep costs in check, which has both sides testing the efficacy of alternative fee arrangements and the scope of reasonable discovery. Whether the “death of the billable hour” is ultimately realized, the keys to a commercial litigator’s success will continue to be strong client relationships, thought leadership, practical management skills, deep experience, and personal commitment.
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...
Geddes D. Anderson, Jr. is an experienced “AV” rated trial, appellate and arbitration attorney whose practice emphasizes litigation of civil cases. Prior to founding Murphy & Anderson, Mr. Anderson was a Jacksonville litigation attorney and partner with the litigation law firm Liles, Gavin, Costantino & Murphy. He has handled hundreds of civil cases including business litigation, professional liability, product liability, trucking accident cases, contract disputes, securit...
Jill F. Bechtold practices in the area of civil litigation, where she focuses on medical and professional liability defense, employment disputes, product liability defense, business litigation, trucking litigation, and insurance defense. Jill’s clients include drug and medical device companies, business owners, physicians, hospitals, trucking carriers, and insurers. She represents clients in state and federal court actions as well as arbitrates matters under the Florida Arbitration Code...
Steve is chairman of the firm and head of its Litigation Department. Steve is a trial lawyer, with his practice centered on complex commercial litigation and insolvency matters. Steve has a successful record in extended jury trials in major business disputes. Steve represents plaintiffs and defendants in contract, business torts and corporate governance disputes. His insolvency experience includes lead representation of debtors and creditors in chapter 11 reorganizations of publicly held comp...
Rachel Chewning is a partner in the Jacksonville office. She practices in the areas of Product Liability, Catastrophic and Personal Injury, Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Litigation, Consumer Law, Commercial Litigation, Liquor Liability Defense, Trucking Accident Defense, Class Action, Vehicle Negligence, Premises Liability and General Civil Litigation. Her practice focuses on providing aggressive representation to clients on both a local and national level and participating as local couns...
For more than 25 years, Patrick has represented clients in complex litigation and appellate matters in both federal and state courts. He has extensive litigation and trial experience with cases involving fiduciary litigation, estates and trust litigation, non-compete agreements, contract disputes, business valuations, business dissolution, employment disputes, business torts, intellectual property, products liability, real estate litigation, professional malpractice and other business dispute...
E.K. Cottrell practices in the area of complex commercial litigation. Some of his representative areas of practice include defense of class actions on behalf of insurers, business entities, and management for alleged improper market conduct or business practices, and fiduciary obligations; representation of insurers and reinsurers in coverage and regulatory compliance matters; and other general business litigation. E.K. has litigated class actions and other complex commercial litigation matte...
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...
Chris is a shareholder in the firm’s Business Department. He counsels individuals and families regarding estates, trusts and tax issues involving the accumulation and preservation of wealth. As both an attorney and Certified Public Accountant, he has developed in-depth experience in the administration of complicated estates and trusts, including litigating disputes involving trustees, personal representatives and other individuals acting as fiduciaries. Chris also has extensive experien...
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...
Peter P. Hargitai is a trial lawyer, focusing on real estate and complex commercial litigation. Mr. Hargitai has extensive trial experience in both traditional and alternative dispute resolution tribunals, and has handled complex matters involving real estate disputes, business torts, restrictive covenants, trade secrets and anti-competitive practices. Mr. Hargitai also has developed a banking operations practice and currently represents many national and regional banks. Prior to entering pri...
Meg is an experienced advisor and litigator working in the firm’s healthcare, labor and employment, and litigation practice areas. For more than a decade, she has supported clients in managing a broad range of complex legal issues in employment and healthcare matters. A key focus of Meg’s practice includes counseling firm clients and businesses of all sizes in navigating personnel management issues like employee contracting, discipline and termination; employer best practices, pol...
Daniel J. Kissane is a partner in the Jacksonville Office. His areas of expertise include: product liability defense litigation, personal injury defense, banking and financial, class actions, commercial litigation, construction defects, premises liability, consumer law, pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, wrongful death defense, insurance coverage issues and toxic tort (asbestos, Benzene and other exposures). Mr. Kissane is a 1984 graduate of the University of Miami (B.A.) and recei...
Dick is managing partner of the firm, a member of the firm’s Board of Directors and chairman of the firm’s Business Department. Dick’s practice focuses principally on healthcare, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, contract negotiation, general corporate matters, financings, regulatory matters, and antitrust advice. Dick represents a wide range of corporations, limited liability companies and other entities, including start-up companies and healthcare providers, ...
John Marino has extensive experience in class actions and complex commercial litigation involving insurance matters, deceptive business practices and consumer fraud. He has been lead counsel in class actions and other complex litigation in federal and state courts throughout the country, including Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Texas, Was...
Niels P. Murphy is a top rated trial, appellate, and arbitration attorney. For over twenty five years, he has represented Fortune 500 Companies, small businesses, professionals, and individuals in hundreds of lawsuits, regulatory, and arbitration matters around the United States. He has over 40 verdicts and arbitration awards in favor of his clients. Mr. Murphy currently handles complex matters involving securities, compliance, regulatory, business disputes, commercial litigation, product lia...
Michael has been practicing law for over 35 years, of which the last 20 have been devoted to insurance defense litigation. He tries significant product liability cases where there is catastrophic damage and/or serious injury or death. Michael also defends doctors, dentists, hospitals, and their employees, as well as other professionals such as lawyers, in malpractice suits and claims brought against them. To date, Michael has tried over 300 cases to verdict. Michael has also handled matters i...
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...
A shareholder with Taylor Day, John currently serves as our president and managing partner. In his business litigation practice, he protects the interests of companies, management teams, and business owners in a diverse array of commercial and torts disputes. He litigates in State and Federal Court, as well as before arbitrators in Florida. John’s general areas of experience include breach of contract claims, shareholder disputes, corporate governance disputes, joint ventures disputes, ...
Kathryn M. Oughton is a shareholder and Practice Group Leader of the firm’s Property Damage Claims practice area. Kathryn’s practice focuses on civil litigation with an emphasis on the defense of cases involving first party property claims. Other practice areas include automobile liability, premises liability, wrongful death, and bad faith and coverage issues. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Oughton worked for a state-wide defense firm where she served as head of the civil litigati...
Joseph D. Pickles is a partner with Orr | Cook and is a civil litigator with significant experience handling jury and non-jury trials, as well as matters in arbitration. Joseph has practiced in both Federal and state courts throughout the state of Florida. In addition to general complex litigation matters, Joseph focuses his practice on business and commercial litigation and probate and trust litigation. Joseph has represented clients in partnership, corporate, real estate, and contract dispu...
Jim is a trial lawyer whose practice is concentrated in commercial litigation and insolvency matters. Jim is experienced in jury trials regarding business torts, contracts, secured transactions, mortgage foreclosures, fraudulent transfers, mechanics liens, trade secrets, workouts and lender liability, government contracts, non-compete issues, insurance coverage, banking and commercial paper, state court assignment proceedings and the defense of class actions. Jim’s insolvency experience...
Lanny is a business litigation attorney with more than 35 years of experience in trials, mediations and arbitrations. Lanny’s practice is centered on the resolution of complex commercial disputes, including administrative law claims, appeals, and class actions. Lanny works with clients in high value disputes involving the hospitality industry, retail petroleum sales, insurance coverage, real estate development and brokerage, construction, accounting, banking and fiduciary relationships....
Robert Schrader is a shareholder in the firm and has over 25 years of state and federal litigation experience. He concentrates his practice in the areas of general litigation and trial advocacy. He serves a diverse client base and maintains an active caseload throughout Florida in matters involving premises liability, general liability, automobile personal injury defense, trucking liability, negligent security, wrongful death, and products liability. Mr. Schrader has tried numerous jury and n...
John is a trial lawyer in the firm’s litigation department. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, insolvency matters, sports litigation, and environmental litigation. For more than a decade, John has represented plaintiffs and defendants in contract, business tort, and corporate governance disputes in a variety of industries, including banking, construction, manufacturing, and real estate. He also represents creditors in federal and state courts throughout Florida. His ...
Kenneth A. Tomchin has over 30 years of litigation experience. Upon graduating law school, Ken joined the law firm of Mahoney, Adams & Criser, where he represented a wide variety of businesses of various sizes with their commercial litigation needs. After making shareholder, Ken continued his practice before founding Tomchin & Odom, P.A. in the spring of 1997. Ken joined Taylor, Day, Grimm & Boyd in the fall of 2019. He now focuses his practice on complex litigation matters. Ken i...
Lindsey R. Trowell represents insurance and financial services companies in complex litigation. He has tried numerous cases, both jury and bench trials and has litigated complex class actions across the country. Lindsey helps his clients litigate statutory issues, attacks on their business practices and contractual language with their respective customers. His clients often utilize his skills to litigate and manage volume litigation related to claims handling practices, with a focus on detect...
Kevin is an associate in the firm’s Litigation Department. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, creditor’s rights, and environmental law. Kevin has experience representing businesses and individuals in civil and commercial litigation throughout the southeastern United States. He has also helped businesses in adversarial proceedings before the Florida Department of Administrative Hearings, including challenges to administrative rules and bid protests. Prior to joining Smi...
Brandon is an associate in the firm’s Litigation Department. His practice focuses on business and complex commercial litigation, including helping companies navigate their rights and obligations in corporate transactions and contractual deals. In addition, Brandon represents banks in debt workout arrangements, and select clients in high-value asset family law matters. As a strong writer and diligent advocate, Brandon is often entrusted with being the “fact expert” on a case,...
Sal Coppolino practices in the area of complex commercial litigation, with a focus on class actions and insurance related matters. He has worked to defend claims on behalf of insurers and business entities stemming from data breach-related claims, alleged FCRA violations, and alleged antitrust violations. His prior experience also includes assisting insurers in the prosecution and defense of federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) claims, as well as the defense of mo...
Andrew Dugué currently practices in the areas of commercial litigation involving contractual disputes, class actions and insurance matters. Prior to joining Rivkin Radler, Andrew practiced as a trial attorney advising and defending clients statewide and has successfully litigated complex cases in court involving dozens of witnesses and interested parties. He has extensive mediation experience and has effectively negotiated multimillion-dollar settlements ensuring a desirable outcome on...
Job Fickett is an experienced litigator and problem-solver. Job’s practice is centered on offering creative and effective legal and business solutions in his primary practice areas of construction litigation, employment law, and high-stakes business and commercial disputes. Job also routinely serves as outside general counsel to entrepreneurs and small/midsized businesses. Prior to joining Taylor Day, Job was an attorney at a regional business litigation boutique, and he started his car...
C.H. “Hal” Houston III is a shareholder in Carr Allison’s Jacksonville (FL) office where he practices in the areas of transportation, government torts and public liability, commercial litigation, general litigation, maritime and labor and employment. Hal is admitted to practice in Florida and before the US District Court for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida and before the US Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. His experience includes all phases of litiga...
Drew practices in the areas of insurance defense and commercial litigation involving complex insurance matters, appeals, class actions, defense of personal injury protection (PIP) claims and other matters involving complex insurance litigation with a focus on serving national insurers in connection with auto insurance and other insurance issues. Drew’s practice and unique litigation experience allows him to provide essential and pragmatic counsel to his clients, especially regarding per...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.