Top 100 U.S. law firm Akerman LLP is pleased to announce that 267 lawyers across the United States have been named to The Best Lawyers in America 2022 list in 78 areas of law, including 82 lawyers named as “Ones to Watch,” a significant increase from last year. Additionally, Best Lawyers named 18 Akerman Partners to the 2022 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 Aileen S. Davis for Banking and Finance Law (Tampa), Alejandro J. Fernandez for Trade Secrets Law (Tampa), Brian P. Miller for Litigation – Securities (Miami), Cindy A. Laquidara for Government Contracts (Jacksonville), David E. Otero for Litigation and Controversy – Tax (Jacksonville), Eric D. Rapkin for Real Estate Law (Fort Lauderdale), Eyal Berger for Litigation – Bankruptcy (Fort Lauderdale), Gerald B. Cope, Jr. for Bet-the-Company Litigation (Miami), John B. Macdonald for Litigation - Real Estate (Jacksonville), Jonathan L. Awner for Corporate Governance Law (Miami), Lawrence D. Silverman for Antitrust Law (Miami), Leslie E. Joughin III for Litigation - Banking and Finance (Tampa), Mark J. Bernet for Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) (Tampa), Martin G. Burkett for Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Fort Lauderdale), Peter E. Salomon for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (Miami), Richard C. Milstein for Litigation - Trusts and Estates (Miami), Stephen K. Roddenberry for Securities / Capital Markets Law (Miami), and Teddy D. Klinghoffer for Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law (Miami).

The annual Best Lawyers list is based on peer review surveys in which more than 100,000 leading lawyers cast nearly 13 million votes on the legal abilities of other legal professionals in their practice areas.

Individual Lawyer Rankings

• David P. Ackerman for Arbitration, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Securities, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
• 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
• Scott E. Allbright, Jr. for Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants – Ones to Watch
• Kelly E. Almeter for Commercial Litigation – Ones to Watch
• Marissa R. Amuial for Land Use and Zoning Law – Ones to Watch
• Jacqueline M. Arango for Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
• William C. Arnhols for Banking and Finance Law,  Corporate Law
• Santiago Assalini for Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions 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 D. Bailkin for Land Use and Zoning Law
• Nathan N. Balint for Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Venture Capital Law
• Aleksas A. Barauskas for Commercial Litigation
• Rebecca A. Barrett for Labor and Employment Law - Management – Ones to Watch
• Nicholas J. Barshel for Land Use and Zoning Law,Real Estate Law – 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
• Dana N. Berber for Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment – Ones to Watch
• Eyal Berger for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation - Bankruptcy
• Mark J. Bernet for Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
• 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 Law - 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
• Ashley N. Bobo for Labor and Employment Law - Management – Ones to Watch
• Rick Gene Boepple, Jr. for Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law – Ones to Watch
• Stacy Bercun Bohm for Construction Law
• Cecelia Bonifay for Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law
• Mallorie R. Bonti for Workers' Compensation Law - Employers – Ones to Watch
• 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
• Julia Seider Browne for Mergers and Acquisitions Law – Ones to Watch
• Sara A. Brubaker for Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction, Real Estate Law – Ones to Watch
• Karen M. Buesing for Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Martin G. Burkett for Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Jeremy Burnette for Health Care Law
• 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 Corporate Law, 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
• 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
• Peter A. Chiabotti for Trademark Law
• Patrick T. Christiansen for Banking and Finance Law
• Melissa L. Cizmorris for Litigation – Labor and Employment – Ones to Watch
• Dana Clayton for Litigation – Real Estate
• Dale A. Cohen for Franchise Law
• Jules S. Cohen for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation- Bankruptcy
• Eric D. Coleman for Commercial Litigation – Ones to Watch
• Paul  Collins for Trusts and Estates
• C. Harrison Cooper for Real Estate Law – Ones to Watch
• Gerald B. Cope, Jr. for Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation
• Nancy A. Copperthwaite for Appellate Practice, Insurance Law
• Peter L. Dame for Municipal Law, Public Finance Law
• Daphna Davidovits for Real Estate Law
• Aileen S. Davis for Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law
• J. Riley Davis for Administrative / Regulatory Law
• Kirk S. Davis for Health Care Law, Litigation – Health Care, Medical Malpractice Law – 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
• 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
• Brenden  Dougherty for Insurance Law, Transportation Law – Ones to Watch
• Ana C. Dowell for Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment – Ones to Watch
• Christopher S. Duke for Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Ashlea A. Edwards for Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment – Ones to Watch
• William D. Ellis for Real Estate Law
• Nicholas J. Erickson for Litigation – Labor and Employment – 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 – Ones to Watch
• Deborah B. Farahmand for Real Estate Law – Ones to Watch
• Daniel P. Faust for Real Estate Law
• Alejandro J. Fernandez for Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Trade Secrets Law
• Angelica C. Fortney for Tax Law – Ones to Watch
• Joseph E. Foster for Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Banking and Finance, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Litigation – Real Estate, Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
• Jed Freeland for Corporate Law – Ones to Watch
• Dean 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
• Amy Moor Gaylord for Employment Law - Management
• Joanne Gelfand for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
• Evelina Gentry for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law – Ones to Watch
• Christian P. George for Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance
• John J. George for Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate, Real Estate Law
• Ari H. Gerstin for Cannabis Law
• Neda Ghomeshi for Commercial Litigation – Ones to Watch
• Katherine Eastmoore Giddings for Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation
• Jeffrey G. Gilmore for Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction, Mediation
• Stephen C. Glazier for Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Brenda Goerks for Real Estate Law
• 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
• Nate Goldfinger for Corporate Law – Ones to Watch
• Michelle N. Gonzalez for Real Estate Law
• Eric A. Gordon for Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Darryl R. Graham for Commercial Litigation
• Octavia M. Green for Commercial Litigation – Ones to Watch
• Haley C. Greenberg for Labor and Employment Law – 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
• Russell B. Hale for Tax Law
• Andrea S. Hartley for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation- Bankruptcy
• Carolyn R. Haslam for Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law – Ones to Watch
• Christy S. Hawkins for Commercial Litigation – Ones to Watch
• Marilyn Mullen Healy for Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law
• Benjamin O. Hedrick for Construction Law, Real Estate Law – Ones to Watch
• Ross A. Heft for Construction Law,Real Estate Law – Ones to Watch
• William P. Heller for Financial Services Regulation Law
• Steven C. Hemric for Construction Law, Litigation – Construction – Ones to Watch
• Xakema L. Henderson for Commercial Litigation – Ones to Watch
• Tiffany D. Hendricks for Labor and Employment Law – Management – Ones to Watch
• Wesley J. Hevia for Land Use and Zoning Law – Ones to Watch
• Elizabeth F. Hodge for Health Care Law
• Kathryn Bessmer Hoeck for Litigation - Real Estate – Ones to Watch
• Elizabeth S. Horn for Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar – Ones to Watch
• Paula J. Howell for Commercial Litigation, Construction Law – 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 – Ones to Watch
• Leslie E. Joughin III for Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Banking and Finance, Litigation – Construction, Litigation - Intellectual Property
• Melanie C. Kalmanson for Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation – Ones to Watch
• Neisen O. Kasdin for Land Use and Zoning Law
• Donnie M. King for Commercial Litigation – Ones to Watch
• Arlene K. Kline for Employment Law – Management
• Teddy D. 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
• Monica McNulty Kovecses for Commercial Litigation – Ones to Watch
• Catherine Douglas Kretzschmar for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation-Bankruptcy – Ones to Watch
• 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
• Amy M. Leitch for Litigation – Bankruptcy
• Richard G. Leland for Environmental Law,Litigation – Environmental
• 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 
• Caroline  Mankey for Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television
• D. 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
• Rachel E. Mather for Corporate Law
• James M. McCann for Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Stephen P. McKitt for Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• 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
• Rachel McRoskey for Real Estate Law – Ones to Watch
• Andres G. Mendoza for Real Estate Law
• Daniel Miktus for Construction Law – Ones to Watch
• 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
• Michael L. Molinaro for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Esther L. Moreno for Corporate Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law
• Antonio Morin for Insurance Law
• John P. Morrison for Labor Law - Management
• Michael D. Napoli for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• John M. Neary for Construction Law – Ones to Watch
• Robyn D. Neely for Environmental Law
• Allison R. Nelson for Real Estate Law
• Jason S. Oletsky for Commercial Litigation, Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law
• David E. Otero for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Securitization and Structured Finance Law
• Rodrigo Palacios for Corporate Law – Ones to Watch
• David W. Parham for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation - Bankruptcy
• Mark D. Passler for Patent Law
• Thomas G. Pasternak for Litigation – Intellectual Property, Patent Law
• Denise Gavica Perez for Employment Law – Management
• 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
• Stacey Prince-Troutman for Trusts and Estates
• Kathleen  Prystowsky for Commercial Litigation – Ones to Watch
• E. Paul Quinn for Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Henry H. Raattama, Jr. for Nonprofit / Charities Law, Tax Law
• Brenda Radmacher for Construction Law
• Thomas A. Range for Health Care Law
• Eric D. Rapkin for Real Estate Law
• Joseph L. Rebak for Commercial Litigation
• Todd Reed for Corporate Law
• Edward L. Ristaino for Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Andrew S. Robins for Leisure and Hospitality Law, Real Estate Law
• Lawrence P. Rochefort for Bet-the-Company Litigation, 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
• Scott W. Rostock for Litigation – Construction, 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 J. Russo for Real Estate Law – Ones to Watch
• 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, Real Estate Law – Ones to Watch
• Philip B. Schwartz for Corporate Law
• Bryan G. Scott for Construction Law, Litigation - Construction
• L. Joseph Shaheen, Jr. for Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Banking and Finance, Litigation – Construction, Litigation - Real Estate
• Owen J. Shean for Construction Law, Litigation - Construction
• Chelsea L. Silverman for Real Estate Law – Ones to Watch
• 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 A. Smith for Franchise Law
• Robert J. Smith for Construction Law
• Alexander  Sokoloff for Real Estate Law – Ones to Watch
• William J. Spratt, Jr. for Health Care Law
• Glen A. Stankee for Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law
• Matthew A. Steinberg for Employment Law - Management
• Ta'Ronce M. Stowes for Commercial Litigation – Ones to Watch
• Brian  Tague for Real Estate Law
• George W. Tate III for Commercial Litigation, Construction Law
• Stephen K. Tilbrook for Real Estate Law
• Corina  Valderrama for Labor and Employment Law - Management – Ones to Watch
• Jason A. Vaupen for Real Estate Law – Ones to Watch
• George Volsky for Arbitration, International Arbitration - Commercial
• Scott Wasserman for Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
• Elissa Weiss for Real Estate Law – Ones to Watch
• Sidney S. Welch for Health Care Law
• Bryan T. West for Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Securities
• Gary A. Whitlock for Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Finance Law, Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, Real Estate Law
• Gerard Wimberly, Jr. for Commercial Litigation
• Jeffrey P. Wieland for Real Estate Law
• Kenneth R. Wiggins for Corporate Law
• Lilith V. Xara for Financial Services Regulation Law – Ones to Watch
• Adam M. Zwecker for Real Estate Law – Ones to Watch

About Akerman

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.