Press Release

Akerman is pleased to announce that a record 342 firm lawyers across the United States have been named to Best Lawyers 2025 list in 76 areas of law – this includes 118 young lawyers named as “Ones to Watch.” Additionally, the publication named 14 Akerman partners to the 2025 "Lawyer of the Year" list, an honor awarded to only one attorney with the highest overall peer feedback for a specific practice area and geographic location.

The annual Best Lawyers list is based on peer review surveys in which more than 100,000 leading lawyers provide input on their practice area peers.

Lawyer of the Year Rankings

  • Jonathan Awner, Miami: International Mergers and Acquisitions, Securities Regulation
  • Jules Cohen, Orlando: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation - Bankruptcy
  • Michael Goldberg, Fort Lauderdale: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Arlene Kline, West Palm Beach: Employment Law – Management
  • Teddy Klinghoffer, Miami: Corporate Governance Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
  • Amy M. Leitch, Jacksonville: Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Brett Marks, Fort Lauderdale: Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Antonio Morin, Miami: Litigation – Insurance
  • Robyn Neely, Orlando: Environmental Law
  • Bruce Platt, Tallahassee: Health Care Law
  • Paul Quinn, Chicago and West Palm Beach: Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
  • Stephen Roddenberry, Miami: Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Philip Schwartz, Fort Lauderdale: Corporate Law
  • Gary Whitlock, Orlando: Banking and Finance Law

Individual Lawyer Rankings

Bankruptcy and Reorganization
Best Lawyers

  • Eyal Berger, Fort Lauderdale: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • John Campo, New York: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Luis Casas Meyer, Miami: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Jules Cohen, Orlando: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Eduardo Espinosa, Dallas: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Corporate Law
  • Michael Goldberg, Fort Lauderdale: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Andrea Hartley, Miami: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Amy Leitch, Jacksonville: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Brett Marks, Fort Lauderdale: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Esther McKean, Orlando: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Samual Miller, Orlando: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation
  • Michael Napoli, Dallas: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
  • David Parham, Dallas: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • John Thompson, Washington, D.C.: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Steven Wirth, Tampa: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy

Ones to Watch

  • Amanda Klopp, West Palm Beach: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Bankruptcy

CFS+
Best Lawyers

  • Marc Gottlieb, Fort Lauderdale: Commercial Litigation
  • William Heller, Fort Lauderdale: Financial Services Regulation Law
  • Ariel Stern, Las Vegas: Litigation – Banking and Finance, Financial Services Regulation Law
  • Natalie Winslow, Las Vegas: Financial Services Regulation Law

Ones to Watch

  • Nicholas Belay, Las Vegas: Banking and Finance Law
  • Martin Dungan, Dallas: Financial Services Regulation Law
  • Kurt Gosselin, New York: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance
  • Laura Guzmán, Orlando: Financial Services Regulation Law
  • Aliza Pescovitz Malouf, Dallas: Commercial Litigation
  • Alejandro Pacheco, Los Angeles: Commercial Litigation, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • Tara Turner, Miami: Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants

Corporate
Best Lawyers

  • William Arnhols, Miami: Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law
  • Jonathan Awner, Miami: 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
  • Nathan Balint, Orlando: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Venture Capital Law
  • David Birke, Miami: Securities / Capital Markets Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Gabriela Botifoll, Miami: Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Timothy Bramwell, Jacksonville: Public Finance Law
  • Martin Burkett, Fort Lauderdale: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Venture Capital Law
  • Geoffrey Cheney, Miami: Corporate Law
  • Patrick Christiansen, Orlando: Banking and Finance Law
  • Dale Cohen, New York: Franchise Law
  • David Doney, Tampa: Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation
  • Mario Fallone, New York: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Venture Capital Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Paul Foley, Winston-Salem: Venture Capital Law
  • Jed Freeland, Orlando: Corporate Law
  • Dean Freitag, Fort Lauderdale: Commercial Finance Law
  • Pedro Freyre, Miami: International Mergers and Acquisitions
  • James Goldsmith, Orlando: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Kevin Hein, Denver: Franchise Law
  • William Hoy, New York: Venture Capital Law, Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Corporate Law, Commercial Finance Law, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
  • Daniel Jacobson, Miami: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Venture Capital Law
  • Teddy Klinghoffer, Miami: Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, International Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law, Venture Capital Law
  • Amanda Leech, Atlanta: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Marc Lieberstein, New York: Franchise Law, Copyright Law
  • Warren Lewis, Washington, D.C.: Franchise Law
  • Andres Mendoza, Miami: Real Estate Law
  • Esther Moreno, Miami: Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Corporate Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law
  • Paul Quinn, West Palm Beach: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
  • Todd Reed, Austin: Corporate Law
  • Stephen Roddenberry, Miami: 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
  • Carl Roston, Miami: Corporate Law, International Mergers and Acquisitions, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Venture Capital Law
  • Christina Russo, Miami: Corporate Law
  • Philip Schwartz, Fort Lauderdale: Corporate Law
  • William Sentell, Houston: Franchise Law
  • Phillip Slinkard, Austin: Corporate Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law
  • Edward Stone, New York: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
  • Steven Walker, Winston-Salem: Banking and Finance Law
  • Scott Wasserman, Miami: Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Kenneth Wiggins, Miami: Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Ones to Watch

Government Affairs and Public Policy
Best Lawyers

Ones to Watch

Healthcare
Best Lawyers

Ones to Watch

Intellectual Property
Best Lawyers

Ones to Watch

Labor and Employment
Best Lawyers

  • Samantha Abeysekera, New York: Employment Law – Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
  • Maria Casablanca, Miami: Immigration Law
  • Melissa Cizmorris, Denver: Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Christopher Duke, West Palm Beach: Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Cary Farris, Houston: Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Erica Fleetwood, Atlanta: Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Amy Moor Gaylord, Chicago: Employment Law – Management
  • Eric Gordon, West Palm Beach: Litigation – Labor and Employment, Employment Law – Management
  • Phillip Harris, Tampa: Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Arlene Kline, West Palm Beach: Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • John Linker, Houston: Employment Law – Management
  • Thomas Mandler, Chicago: Labor Law – Management, Employment Law – Management
  • Lillian Chaves Moon, Orlando: Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Denise Gavica Perez, Miami: Employment Law – Management
  • Scott Silverman, Tampa: Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Matthew Steinberg, New York: Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Melissa Zinkil, West Palm Beach: Commercial Litigation

Ones to Watch

  • Mojan Anari, Los Angeles: Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Emily Ayvazian, Tampa: Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
  • Megan Coughlin, West Palm Beach: Labor and Employment Law - Management
  • Ashlea Edwards, Jacksonville: Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Anthony El-Hashem, Miami: Labor and Employment Law - Employee
  • Matthew Gurnick, Los Angeles: Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Andrew Karter, New York: Labor and Employment Law – Management
  • Paige S. Newman, West Palm Beach: Labor and Employment Law – Management
  • Rukayat Salaam, Los Angeles: Litigation – Labor and Employment

Litigation
Best Lawyers

  • David Ackerman, West Palm Beach: Arbitration, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Securities, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
  • Sergio Acosta, Chicago: Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Marcy Levine Aldrich, Miami: Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
  • Richard Alvarez, Tampa: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Jacqueline Arango, Miami: Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), Commercial Litigation
  • Mark Bernet, Tampa: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Joshua Bernstein, New York: Litigation – Real Estate, Leisure and Hospitality Law
  • Joel Bertocchi, Chicago: Appellate Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Andy Cao, Houston: Commercial Litigation
  • Christopher Carver, Fort Lauderdale: Commercial Litigation
  • Robert Chaskes, Miami: Commercial Litigation
  • Michael Chavies, Miami: Commercial Litigation
  • Ginny Childs, Orlando: Commercial Litigation
  • Dana Clayton, Miami: Litigation – Real Estate
  • Gerald Cope, Jr., Miami: Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Nancy Copperthwaite, Miami: Appellate Practice, Insurance Law
  • Megan Costa DeLeon, Orlando: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance
  • Diane DeWolf, Tallahassee: Administrative / Regulatory Law
  • John Dicks, Tampa: Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Banking and Finance, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Litigation – Trusts and Estates
  • Brenden Dougherty, Atlanta: Insurance Law
  • Andrew Dupre, Wilmington: Commercial Litigation
  • Allison Etkin, Los Angeles: Construction Law
  • Kristen Fiore, Tallahassee: Appellate Practice
  • Irene Bassel Frick, Tampa: Commercial Litigation
  • Christian George, Jacksonville: Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Andrew Gold, Fort Lauderdale: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Real Estate
  • Ilana Gorenstein, Miami: Commercial Litigation
  • Darryl Graham, Miami: Commercial Litigation
  • Valerie Greenberg, Miami: Commercial Litigation
  • Gary Guzzi, Miami: Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
  • Paula Howell, Orlando: Commercial Litigation
  • Robin Johnson, Atlanta: Litigation - Insurance
  • Scott Kessler, New York: Electronic Discovery and Information Management Law
  • Michael Larson, Tallahassee: Litigation Environmental
  • Cindy Laquidara, Jacksonville: Appellate Practice, Government Contracts, Government Relations Practice, Litigation – Environmental, Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), Environmental Law
  • Brian Lemon, Wilmington: Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Patent
  • Tamara Savin Malvin, Fort Lauderdale: Gaming Law, Insurance Law
  • Joshua Mandell, Los Angeles: Commercial Litigation
  • Jason Margolin, Tampa: Commercial Litigation
  • Scott Marrs, Houston: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Intellectual Property
  • Michael Marsh, Miami: Commercial Litigation, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Litigation – Securities
  • James McCann, West Palm Beach: Litigation – Intellectual Property, Commercial Litigation
  • Kristen McDanald, Houston: Insurance Law
  • Kristen McMullen, West Palm Beach: Commercial Litigation
  • Catherine Miller, Chicago: Commercial Litigation
  • Joel Mohrman, Houston: Patent Law
  • Antonio Morin, Miami: Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
  • Edward Murphy, Houston: Oil and Gas Law, Litigation – Insurance
  • Jason Oletsky, Fort Lauderdale: Commercial Litigation
  • Luis A. Perez, Miami: International Arbitration – Commercial, Arbitration
  • Donald Pocock, Winston-Salem: Commercial Litigation, Construction Law
  • Brenda Radmacher, Los Angeles: Litigation – Construction, Construction Law
  • Lawrence Rochefort, West Palm Beach: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Real Estate
  • Scott Rostock, Fort Lauderdale: Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate
  • Ryan Roman, Fort Lauderdale: Commercial Litigation
  • Bryan Scott, Winston-Salem: Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
  • Tracy Segal, West Palm Beach: Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation
  • Grasford Smith, West Palm Beach: Commercial Litigation
  • Elliot Strader, Dallas: Insurance Law
  • George ('Trey') Tate, Orlando: Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
  • Bryan West, Miami: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Securities, Arbitration, International Arbitration – Commercial

Ones to Watch

  • Alexander Adeseye, Orlando: Commercial Litigation
  • Ashley Akapo, New York: Commercial Litigation
  • Scott Allbright, Jr., Miami: Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
  • Kelly Almeter, Dallas: Insurance Law, Commercial Litigation
  • David Awoleke, Fort Lauderdale: Commercial Litigation
  • Rick Gene Boepple, Jr., Houston: Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law
  • Christopher Y. Bouquet, Los Angeles: Construction Law
  • Brittanie Browning, Atlanta: Education Law, Government Relations Practice, Insurance Law, Appellate Practice
  • Kamber Burke, Atlanta: Insurance Law
  • Paige Cham, Jacksonville: Commercial Litigation
  • Edgard Cespedes, Miami: Insurance Law
  • William Craven, Dallas: Insurance Law
  • Jessica Dagley, Chicago: Commercial Litigation
  • Nicholas Erickson, Denver: Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Selena Gibson, Fort Lauderdale: Commercial Litigation
  • Alexander Hall, Miami: Commercial Litigation
  • William Handle, Orlando: Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance
  • Christopher Hazelip, Jr., Jacksonville: Commercial Litigation
  • Michael Hess, Dallas: Commercial Litigation
  • Shelby Holt, Houston: Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law
  • Katherine Johnson, Fort Lauderdale: Commercial Litigation
  • Andrea Khoury, Los Angeles: Litigation - Construction
  • Elpitha Lambros, Chicago: Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Benjamin Lancaster, Dallas: Land Use Law, Real Estate Law
  • Genesis Martinez, Miami: Commercial Litigation
  • Jani Mikel, Chicago: Commercial Litigation
  • Scott Miller, Fort Lauderdale: Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Keenan Molaskey, Tampa: Commercial Litigation
  • Neema Monfared, Tampa: Commercial Litigation
  • Mariana Muñoz, Jacksonville: Commercial Litigation
  • Randall L. ('Randy') Ordones, San Antonio: Commercial Litigation
  • Alejandro Paz, Miami: Commercial Litigation
  • Daniel Pellegrin, Jr., Houston: Insurance Law
  • Jasmine Pitt, Winston-Salem: Commercial Litigation
  • Elizabeth Puccio-Williams, New York: Commercial Litigation
  • Adam Remillard, Jacksonville: Commercial Litigation
  • Riya Resheidat, Orlando: Commercial Litigation
  • Benjamin G. Robinson III, Tampa: Commercial Litigation
  • Jessica Bober Rosenthal, West Palm Beach: Commercial Litigation
  • Max Rudolf, Fort Lauderdale: Commercial Litigation
  • Sean Santarelli, Houston: Commercial Litigation
  • Samuel Scott, Jr., Dallas: Commercial Litigation
  • Taylor Simonds, Orlando: Commercial Litigation
  • Nancy Sotomayor, Los Angeles: Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Madison Torry, Dallas: Commercial Litigation
  • Carmen Tugender, Fort Lauderdale: Litigation – Construction, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, Commercial Litigation
  • Jonathan Turner, Los Angeles: Commercial Litigation
  • Ndifreke Uwem, Miami: Commercial Litigation
  • Nicole Villamar, Fort Lauderdale: Commercial Litigation
  • Nikolas Volosin, Miami: Commercial Litigation
  • Samuel Wesley, Atlanta: Insurance Law
  • Joyce Williams, Denver: Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Commercial Litigation
  • Jade White, Los Angeles: Commercial Litigation
  • Kenway Wong, Orlando: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate
  • Samuel Zatz, Houston: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants

Real Estate
Best Lawyers

 Ones to Watch

Tax
Best Lawyers

  • David Blum, Chicago: Tax Law
  • Diana Clarkson, New York: Corporate Compliance Law, Trusts and Estates
  • Paul Collins, New York: Trusts and Estates
  • Lorie Fale, Miami: Tax Law
  • Elizabeth Hughes, Miami: Litigation – Trusts and Estates
  • Farid Khosravi, Atlanta: Litigation and Controversy – Tax
  • Erika Labelle, Denver: Tax Law
  • Peter Larsen, Jacksonville: Corporate Law, Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Securitization and Structured Finance Law, Tax Law
  • Richard Milstein, Miami: Elder Law, Family Law, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
  • Dale Noll, Miami: Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
  • David Otero, Jacksonville: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Securitization and Structured Finance Law
  • Marci Poliakoff, Miami: Tax Law
  • Stacey Prince-Troutman, Orlando: Trusts and Estates
  • Peter Salomon, Miami: Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
  • Mary Samsa, Chicago: Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
  • Glen Stankee, Fort Lauderdale: Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law
  • Robert Wall, Winston-Salem: Tax Law

Ones to Watch

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