Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced that 246 lawyers across the United States have been named to The Best Lawyers in America 2021 list in 81 areas of law, including 59 lawyers named as "Ones to Watch." Additionally, Best Lawyers named 15 Akerman Partners to the 2021 Lawyer of the Year list, an honor given to only one lawyer per practice area in every major market in the United States.
Among the Best Lawyers of the Year honorees are David Ackerman for Bet-the-Company Litigation (West Palm Beach), Jonathan Awner for International Mergers and Acquisitions (Miami), Cecelia Bonifay for Land Use and Zoning Law (Orlando), Gerald Cope, Jr. for Appellate Practice (Miami), David Doney for Securities Regulation (Tampa), Christopher Duke for Litigation – Labor and Employment (West Palm Beach), Michael Goldberg for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (Fort Lauderdale), Teddy Klinghoffer for Corporate Governance (Miami), John Macdonald for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (Jacksonville), Brett Marks for Litigation – Bankruptcy (Fort Lauderdale), Michael McMahon for Litigation – Land Use and Zoning (Orlando), Robyn Neely for Environmental Law (Orlando), David Otero for Litigation – Bankruptcy (Jacksonville), Paul Quinn for Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Fort Lauderdale), and Robert Smith for Construction Law (Madison).
The annual Best Lawyers list is based on peer review surveys in which more than 36,000 leading lawyers cast nearly 4.4 million votes on the legal abilities of other legal professionals in their practice areas.
Individual Lawyer Listings
David P. Ackerman for Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Securities
Sergio E. Acosta for Commercial Litigation
Kenneth A. Agee for Corporate Law – "Ones to Watch"
Silvia M. Alderman for Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental
Marcy Levine Aldrich for Insurance Law, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants
Scott E. Allbright for Insurance Law, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions
Evan F. Anderson for Financial Services Regulation Law – "Ones to Watch"
Jacqueline M. Arango for Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
Yelena Archiyan for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law – "Ones to Watch"
William C. Arnhols for Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law
Santiago Assalini for Corporate Law – "Ones to Watch"
Jonathan L. Awner for Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, International Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation
Ian G. Bacheikov for Real Estate Law – "Ones to Watch"
Michael Bailkin for Land Use and Zoning Law
Nathan N. Balint for Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Venture Capital Law
Arturo H. Banegas Masiá for Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Aleksas A. Barauskas for Commercial Litigation
Rebecca A. Barrett for Labor and Employment – Management – "Ones to Watch"
Colin L. Barnacle for Employment Law – Management
Akivia Bassaragh for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants – "Ones to Watch"
Katalina Baumann for Financial Services Regulation Law – "Ones to Watch"
Taylor Beaver for Commercial Litigation – "Ones to Watch"
Martin D. Beirne for Commercial Litigation, Energy Law, Oil and Gas Law
Stacy Bercun Bohm for Construction Law
Eyal Berger for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
Mark J. Bernet for Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Litigation – Bankruptcy
William J. Bernfeld for Real Estate Law
Joshua D. Bernstein for Litigation – Real Estate
Mark S. Bernstein for Commercial Litigation
Raymond J. Berti for Labor and Employment – Management – "Ones to Watch"
Joel D. Bertocchi for Appellate Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Richard Bezold for Real Estate Law
Jarrett D. Bingemann for Real Estate Law
David F. Birke for Mergers and Acquisitions Law
David C. Blum for Tax Law
Cecelia Bonifay for Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law
Robert W. Bowser for Real Estate Law
James S. Bramnick for Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
Bryan T. Brown for Financial Services Regulation Law – "Ones to Watch"
Jacob A. Brown for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Litigation – Real Estate
Sara Brubaker for Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction – "Ones to Watch"
Karen M. Buesing for Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
Martin G. Burkett for Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Paula S. Buzzi for Real Estate Law – "Ones to Watch"
John P. Campo for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Daniel Cardenal for Financial Services Regulation Law – "Ones to Watch"
Hunter B. Carpenter for Mergers and Acquisitions Law – "Ones to Watch"
Rebekah A. Carpenter for Financial Services Regulation Law – "Ones to Watch"
Mary V. Carroll for International Mergers and Acquisitions, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Christopher S. Carver for Commercial Litigation
Maria I. Casablanca for Immigration Law
Ross J. Charap for Copyright Law, Entertainment Law – Music
Robert I. Chaskes for Commercial Litigation
Michael B. Chavies for Commercial Litigation
Janis K. Cheezem for Real Estate Law
Geoffrey C. Cheney for Corporate Law
Patrick T. Christiansen for Banking and Finance Law
Terron L. Clark for Commercial Litigation – "Ones to Watch"
Dana Clayton for Litigation – Real Estate
Jules S. Cohen for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
Jamie K. Combs for Financial Services Regulation Law – "Ones to Watch"
Gerald B. Cope, Jr. for Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation
Nancy A. Copperthwaite for Appellate Practice, Insurance Law
Joe B. Cox for Trusts and Estates
Peter L. Dame for Municipal Law, Public Finance Law
Aileen Davis for Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law
Riley Davis for Administrative/Regulatory Law
Kirk S. Davis for Health Care Law, Litigation – Health Care, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Megan Costa DeVault for Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance
Martin R. Dix for FDA Law, Health Care Law
Amy G. Doehring for Commercial Litigation
Andrew J. Dominguez for Commercial Litigation – "Ones to Watch"
David M. Doney for Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation
Ana C. Dowell for Labor and Employment – Management – "Ones to Watch"
Donald K. Duffy for Tax Law
Christopher S. Duke for Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
Christopher J. Eby for Labor and Employment – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment – "Ones to Watch"
Ashlea A. Edwards for Labor and Employment – Management – "Ones to Watch"
William D. Ellis for Real Estate Law
Anna E. Els for Tax Law, Trusts and Estates – "Ones to Watch"
Eduardo S. Espinosa for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Mary Katherine Fackler for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
Daniel P. Faust for Real Estate Law
Alejandro J. Fernandez for Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Trade Secrets Law
Melissa Fernandez-Stiers for Real Estate Law – "Ones to Watch"
Angelica C. Fortney for Tax Law – "Ones to Watch"
Joseph E. (‘Ed’) Foster for Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Litigation – Real Estate, Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
Jed Freeland for Corporate Law
Dean M. Freitag for Commercial Finance Law
Pedro A. Freyre for International Mergers and Acquisitions
Irene Bassel Frick for Commercial Litigation
Christine B. Gardner for Commercial Litigation – "Ones to Watch"
Rex D. Garner for Financial Services Regulation Law – "Ones to Watch"
Joanne Gelfand for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
Christian P. George for Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance
John J. (‘Jack’) George for Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate, Real Estate Law
Katherine E. Giddings for Appellate Practice
Jeffrey G. Gilmore for Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
Stephen C. Glazier for Litigation – Intellectual Property
Andrew P. Gold for Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Real Estate
Michael I. Goldberg for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Litigation – Bankruptcy
Jonathan E. Gopman for Trusts and Estates
Nate Goldfinger for Corporate Law – "Ones to Watch"
Eric A. Gordon for Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
Darryl R. Graham for Commercial Litigation
Haley C. Greenberg for Labor and Employment – Management – "Ones to Watch"
Jamel A.R. Greer for Education Law – "Ones to Watch"
Steven Grigas for Health Care Law, Litigation – Health Care
Gary J. Guzzi for Insurance Law
Marcy Hahn-Saperstein for Health Care Law
Russell B. Hale for Tax Law
Brian R. Harris for Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law
Andrea S. Hartley for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
Steven E.M. Hartz for Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Carolyn R. Haslam for Land Use and Zoning Law – "Ones to Watch"
Christy S. Hawkins for Commercial Litigation – "Ones to Watch"
Benjamin O. Hedrick for Construction Law – "Ones to Watch"
Ross A. Heft for Construction Law, Real Estate Law – "Ones to Watch"
Steven C. Hemric for Construction Law – "Ones to Watch"
William P. Heller for Financial Services Regulation Law
Xakema L. Henderson for Commercial Litigation – "Ones to Watch"
Tiffany D. Hendricks for Labor and Employment Law – Management – "Ones to Watch"
Elan Hersh for Commercial Litigation – "Ones to Watch"
Elizabeth F. Hodge for Health Care Law
Kathryn Bessmer Hoeck for Litigation – Real Estate
Elizabeth S. Horn for Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar – "Ones to Watch"
Stephen B. Hurlbut for Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
Daniel Jacobson for Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Venture Capital Law
Patrick Johnson, Jr. for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
Leslie Joughin III for Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Intellectual Property
Neisen O. Kasdin for Land Use and Zoning Law
William K. Kim for Corporate Law – "Ones to Watch"
Donnie M. King for Commercial Litigation – "Ones to Watch"
Arlene K. Kline for Employment Law – Management
Teddy Klinghoffer for Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Private Funds/Hedge Funds Law, Venture Capital Law
Laurence S. Kurth for Commercial Litigation
Cindy A. Laquidara for Appellate Practice, Government Contracts, Government Relations Practice, Litigation – Environmental, Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
Peter O. Larsen for Corporate Law, Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Securitization and Structured Finance Law, Tax Law
Robert A. Leapley Jr. for Real Estate Law
Richard G. Leland for Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental
Joan M. Levit for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
Warren L. Lewis for Franchise Law
Jason S. Lichtstein for Environmental Law
John B. Macdonald for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Litigation – Real Estate, Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Kristofer D. Machado for Real Estate Law – "Ones to Watch"
Caroline Mankey for Entertainment Law – Motion Pictures and Television
Brett Marks for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
Scott D. Marrs for Commercial Litigation
Michael C. Marsh for Commercial Litigation
Erica V. Mason for Litigation – Labor and Employment
James M. McCann for Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Intellectual Property
Theresa M. McLaughlin for Real Estate Law
Michael P. McMahon for Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate
James H. McNeil Jr. for Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law
Brad McPherson for Commercial Litigation
Carlos E. Méndez-Peñate for International Trade and Finance Law
Andres G. Mendoza for Real Estate Law
Scott A. Meyers for Mediation
Brian P. Miller for Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Securities
Catherine A. Miller for Commercial Litigation
Richard C. Milstein for Elder Law, Family Law, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
John E. Mitchell for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
Michael L. Molinaro for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Martin L. Monaco, Jr. for Health Care Law
Esther L. Moreno for Corporate Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law
Antonio Morin for Insurance Law
John P. (‘Pete’) Morrison for Labor Law – Management
Marilyn Mullen Healy for Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law
John M. Neary for Construction Law – "Ones to Watch"
Robyn D. Neely for Environmental Law
Allison Nelson for Real Estate Law
Dale Noll for Tax Law – "Ones to Watch"
Shane O'Connell for Commercial Litigation – "Ones to Watch"
Jason S. Oletsky for Commercial Litigation, Private Funds/Hedge Funds Law
David Evan Otero for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Securitization and Structured Finance Law
Beppy Landrum Owen for Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Rodrigo Palacios for Corporate Law – "Ones to Watch"
David W. Parham for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Mark D. Passler for Patent Law
Thomas G. Pasternak for Litigation – Intellectual Property, Patent Law
Luis A. Perez for International Arbitration – Commercial
Bruce D. Platt for Health Care Law
Kevin J. Platt for Tax Law – "Ones to Watch"
Marci K. Poliakoff for Tax Law
Steven P. Polivy for Real Estate Law
Robert M. Poppell for Real Estate Law
James J. Porter for Real Estate Law
Amy S. Price for Intellectual Property Law – "Ones to Watch"
Stacey Prince-Troutman for Trusts and Estates
Kathleen Prystowsky for Communications Law – "Ones to Watch"
Paul Quinn for Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Henry H. Raattama, Jr. for Non-Profit/Charities Law, Tax Law
Thomas L. Raleigh, III for International Mergers and Acquisitions
Thomas A. Range for Health Care Law
Eric D. Rapkin for Real Estate Law
Joseph L. Rebak for Commercial Litigation
Edward Ristaino for Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Andrew S. Robins for Leisure and Hospitality Law, Real Estate Law
Jackie M. Robinson for Intellectual Property Law – "Ones to Watch"
Lawrence P. Rochefort for Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Real Estate
Stephen K. Roddenberry for Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, International Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Private Funds/Hedge Funds Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law
Francisco A. Rodriguez for Arbitration, International Arbitration – Commercial
Christopher P. Roper for Land Use and Zoning Law
David J. Rosen for Tax Law – "Ones to Watch"
Jessica Bober Rosenthal for Commercial Litigation – "Ones to Watch"
Arturo Ross for Employment Law – Individuals, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management
Scott W. Rostock for Litigation – Real Estate
Carl D. Roston for Corporate Law, International Mergers and Acquisitions, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law, Venture Capital Law
Janice L. Russell for Real Estate Law
Christina C. Russo for Corporate Law
Paul Rutigliano for Litigation – Labor and Employment – "Ones to Watch"
Peter E. Salomon for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Jaclyn Scarinci for Land Use and Zoning Law – "Ones to Watch"
Philip Schwartz for Corporate Law
Bryan G. Scott for Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
Joseph Shaheen, Jr. for Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate
Owen J. Shean for Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
Lawrence D. Silverman for Antitrust Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Antitrust, Litigation – Banking and Finance
Scott T. Silverman for Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
Robert E. Slavkin for FDA Law
Grasford W. Smith for Commercial Litigation
Robert J. Smith for Construction Law
Andrew M. Smulian for Real Estate Law
William J. Spratt, Jr. for Health Care Law
Glen A. Stankee for Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law
Robert Stein for Banking and Finance Law – "Ones to Watch"
Matthew A. Steinberg for Employment Law – Management
Brian Tague for Real Estate Law
Jessica T. Travers for Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
George W. (‘Trey’) Tate III for Construction Law
Stephen K. Tilbrook for Real Estate Law
Corina Valderrama for Labor and Employment – Management – "Ones to Watch"
George Volsky for International Arbitration – Commercial
Scott Wasserman for Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity
Elissa Weiss for Real Estate Law – "Ones to Watch"
Sidney S. Welch for Health Care Law
Bryan T. West for Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Securities
Nina S. Whiston for Insurance Law
Gary A. Whitlock for Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Finance Law, Commercial Transactions/UCC Law, Real Estate Law
Jeffrey P. Wieland for Real Estate Law
Kenneth R. Wiggins for Corporate Law
Gerard Wimberly for Commercial Litigation
Carrie Ann Wozniak for Appellate Practice
Matthew F. Wymer for Litigation – Insurance
Lilith V. Xara for Financial Services Regulation Law – "Ones to Watch"
Sue Zabloudil for Real Estate Law
Adam M. Zwecker for Real Estate Law
About Akerman LLP
Akerman LLP is a top 100 U.S. law firm recognized among the most forward thinking firms in the industry by Financial Times. Its more than 700 lawyers and business professionals collaborate with the world’s most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities, and help drive innovation and growth. Akerman is known for its results in middle market M&A and complex disputes, and for helping clients achieve their most important business objectives in the financial services, real estate, and other dynamic sectors across the United States and Latin America.