Best Lawyers Near You in Jacksonville, Florida for Commercial Litigation
Giovanni Stewart is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation - Construction and Litigation - Insurance. Giovanni, who practices law in Jacksonville, Florida, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Giovanni is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
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...
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...
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...
Kathleen Crowley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Kathleen, 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 Kathleen is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Lindsey R. Trowell is an attorney with Rivkin Radler LLP in Jacksonville, Florida. His practice focuses on Commercial Litigation and the representation of insurance and financial services companies in complex disputes in courts across the United States. He has handled numerous jury and bench trials and has been involved in the litigation of complex class actions. Lindsey represents companies facing statutory claims, challenges to business practices, and disputes involving contractual language...
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...
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, physician...
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...
Jeremy M. Paul is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Jeremy M., who practices law in Jacksonville, Florida, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeremy M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal ...
Casey W. Arnold is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Insurance, Litigation - Real Estate, Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Litigation and Controversy - Tax. Casey W., who practices law in Jacksonville, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Casey W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice a...
Kristen L. Wenger is an attorney with Rivkin Radler LLP in Jacksonville, Florida. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, insurance-related disputes, and class action defense. She represents insurers, businesses, and management in matters involving alleged deceptive business practices, consumer fraud claims, and other high-stakes litigation in state and federal courts. Kristen has worked on class actions and complex commercial litigation across the United States, including matt...
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...
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...
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.