Best Lawyers in Florida, United States for Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
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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...
Steven R. Hicks-Safra is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Steven R., who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Steven R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
John W. Bocchino is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. John W., who practices law in Maitland, Florida, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Christopher E. Varner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants. Christopher E., who practices law in Pensacola, Florida, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christopher E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Michael Brand is a partner in the firm’s Miami and Key West offices. He practices across all fields of litigation, including medical malpractice, personal injury claims and professional liability claims, premises liability, negligent security, legal malpractice, automobile and trucking claims, bad faith/extra-contractual liability and others. He has tried approximately 300 jury trials to verdict in his career. Mr. Brand received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a minor in English at...
Antwon M. Emery is a partner in the Fort Lauderdale West office of Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A. Mr. Emery practices in the areas of hospitality defense, first party insurance litigation, property damage claims, wrongful death, negligent security, trucking accident defense and personal injury litigation. Mr. Emery is a native of Flint, Michigan and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in 2006 and his Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University in 2002...
Ian Koven is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Ian, who practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ian is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
Brandon G. Waas is a partner in the firm’s Miami office who primarily practices personal injury litigation and first party property/coverage litigation, while co-managing a group of approximately 30 attorneys. In addition, Mr. Waas also practices in the areas of general civil litigation, legal malpractice, real estate malpractice, bad faith/extra-contractual liability, hospitality industry defense, and commercial and residential property damage claims. Born and raised in Miami, Florida,...
Scott A. Shelton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Scott A., who practices law in Orlando, Florida, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Scott A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kristen Van der Linde devotes her practice exclusively to the defense of cases and appeals involving trucking liability, automobile liability, premises liability, wrongful death, bad faith, negligent security, and coverage issues. She is admitted to practice law in Georgia as well as Florida. Ms. Van der Linde is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar, which means that she is an expert in civil litigation before state and federal courts, administrative agencies and arbitrators....
Gregory Boulos is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Gregory, who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gregory is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Michael Costello was born and raised in Central Florida. In his youth, his competitive spirit became apparent through his participation in local sports. His drive manifested itself in high school as he received Varsity letters in baseball, football, and track, and was named captain of the baseball team. He has always played to win, and he continues to carry this determination for success on behalf of his clients. Michael attended Saint Leo University near the Tampa area of Southern Florida fo...
William R. Scherer, III is a Senior Partner in Conrad & Scherer’s Fort Lauderdale office. With more than 30 years of experience, he focuses his practice on commercial and real estate litigation, employment litigation, and personal injury cases. His extensive experience covers all phases of civil litigation, including jury trials. William has handled numerous complex commercial and real estate litigation cases. His work includes banking liability claims against financial institutions...
Kelly R. High is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law, Insurance Law, Litigation - Health Care, Litigation - Insurance and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Kelly R., who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kelly R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Michelle Bartels is a partner in Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A.’s Tampa office and a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney. Ms. Bartels' practice focuses in the areas of catastrophic and personal injury, general civil litigation, premises liability, trucking defense, professional malpractice, security negligence, vehicle negligence, significant wrongful death, defective products, foster care lead agency and community based care defense. Ms. Bartels earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, magn...
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.