Highland Beach Lawyers

Eduardo J. Valdes has been practicing in the area of general litigation, including insurance defense and commercial litigation since 2003. His practice includes general association representation, as well as construction defect litigation and insurance defense. In his association representation, he has personally handled a wide range of litigation matters, including developer transition claims, contract disputes, enforcement of declaration/bylaws/rules by injunction actions, financial mismanagement claims, directors and officers liability defense, commercial lease disputes, employment grievances, constitutional issues, assessment collection, easement disputes, and mixed use development disputes. In addition, Mr. Valdes has prepared condominium documents for associations, negotiated and documented condominium loans...

Zachary T. Smith concentrates his practice in the areas of construction law and commercial litigation. He represents owners, design professionals, developers and other construction professionals on matters involving project development, construction defects, contract drafting and negotiation, as well as dispute avoidance and resolution.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Smith worked as a law clerk at a South Florida commercial litigation firm assisting partners with tasks such as drafting and composing motions, demand letters, notice letters and complaints. He also has extensive experience in conducting legal research and providing case law analysis.

During law school, Mr. Smith was a member of the...

Marc A. Smiley concentrates his practice in the areas of community association representation, community association litigation and construction defect litigation. He provides a full range of legal services to the firm’s community association clients including, but not limited to, providing advice and guidance on general matters relating to associations, assisting with the transition of developer to unit owner control, amendment drafting and administering association elections as well as counseling associations’ boards of directors on contracts, corporate governance, covenant enforcement, resolution of disputes and issues with unit owners, developers, contractors, service providers, and other vendors. Mr. Smiley enjoys advising clients on...

Jeffrey S. Respler has been practicing in the area of commercial litigation since 1998 and has been with the firm since 2004. He is a member of the firm’s Construction Litigation Practice Group and Construction Defect Trial Practice Group. Mr. Respler practices in the areas of complex construction defect litigation and commercial litigation, and primarily includes the representation of condominium and homeowners associations and developers in the negotiation, mediation, and litigation of construction and design defect claims and related matters. His practice also includes appellate work. As lead counsel for construction defect cases, Mr. Respler has prosecuted and defended numerous...

Austin D. Murray joined the firm in 2017 and concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, community association law and construction law. In the construction sector, Mr. Murray represents construction professionals such as owners, developers and design professionals on all facets of a construction project. He assists clients with the drafting and negotiation of construction contracts, and litigates construction defect disputes and other related issues. Mr. Murray also represents condominium and homeowners associations in the general representation of their communities, counseling boards of directors and property managers on the day-to-day operation of their association.

Prior to joining the firm...

Lindsey is a skilled and knowledgeable Real Estate, Construction and Business Law Attorney. Her practice areas include construction litigation, community association disputes and general commercial litigation matters. Lindsey represents clients such as general contractors, architects, community associations, subcontractors, real estate developers, investors, landlords and lenders in both business and real estate litigation. She is passionate about law and dedicated to diligent advocacy for her clients, both in and out of court. Lindsey earned her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law. She is admitted to practice in Florida, Illinois, the U.S....

Mr. Ketelhohn is a shareholder of the firm who concentrates his practice in construction litigation. His experience includes representation of condominium associations, homeowner associations, developers, general contractors, subcontractors and design professionals on matters involving construction defects, construction liens, delay claims and other litigation and dispute resolution. He has successfully resolved numerous complex construction cases, obtaining multi-million dollar settlements in many of these cases on behalf of his clients.

Mr. Epstein concentrates his practice in the areas of business litigation, condominium and community association law, construction law, and real estate litigation. Mr. Epstein received his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in 2015, graduating magna cum laude.

Leslie W. Langbein, Esq. is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in the area of Labor & Employment Law. She represents busineses and individuals in all areas of employment law. She is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts of the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida. Additional areas of practice include housing discrimination defense, contracts and business torts. Ms. Langbein is a Florida Circuit/Civil Mediator and listed on the American Arbitration Association's national panels of Labor, Employment and Commercial arbitrators.

ELISE SHERR ALLISON joined Searcy Denney in 2019 after clerking for The Honorable Jose E. Martinez, United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of Florida, and then working with a complex commercial litigation and personal injury firm in Miami. At Searcy Denney, she represents clients in personal injury and wrongful death cases resulting from medical malpractice, defective products, motor vehicle accidents and unsafe premises.

Trial attorney focused on wrongful death, automobile negligence, medical malpractice, products liability, and premises liability.

DAVID P. VITALE, JR. is an experienced trial attorney who has litigated cases throughout the state of Florida. Mr. Vitale was recently recognized for his achievements by The National Trial Lawyers, as a Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff attorney in Florida. In addition to pursing personal injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice claims on behalf of injured victims, Mr. Vitale also handles complex commercial and business litigation matters. As a result of his prior career as a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York, Mr. Vitale has a unique business perspective in developing strategies that are efficient, effective,...

Florida personal injury lawyer Christopher Speed joined Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley PA as a Shareholder in 1994 after representing plaintiffs in Virginia for 20 years. He has spent his entire career pursuing justice for victims of personal injury, medical and legal negligence, aviation accidents and defective products.

MATTHEW K. SCHWENCKE began his legal practice as a defense attorney, where he gained experience in all facets of civil litigation. Defending hospitals and healthcare providers against multi-million dollar claims has given him insight into defense strategies and tactics, especially in medical malpractice litigation. Mr. Schwencke earned his law degree from Stetson University College of Law, where he was a member of Stetsons award-winning Moot Court Board. While in law school, he served as intern to a federal magistrate judge, and prosecuted misdemeanor criminal offenses as a Certified Legal Intern for the Pinellas County State Attorney’s office. As an undergraduate,...

LINDSAY M. REINHART has concentrated her practice on tobacco litigation, first as a law clerk in Searcy Denney’s tobacco litigation department and then as an Associate attorney with the firm since 2018. She is admitted to practice in the State of Florida in all jurisdictions and is a member of the Florida Justice Association, the Florida Association for Women Lawyers and the American Association for Justice.

JORDAN A. DULCIE began his legal career in medical malpractice defense at a boutique firm in Palm Beach Gardens, followed by broader civil litigation practice at a larger civil defense firm in Florida. His practice areas include not only medical malpractice, but automotive accidents and nursing home and assisted living cases. In 2019, 2020 and 2021 he was selected by Palm Beach Illustrated magazine as a top lawyer in the area of medical malpractice, and Florida Super Lawyers Magazine lists him as a 2021 “Rising Star.” As an attorney with Searcy Denney, Mr. Dulcie shares the firm’s...

T. HARDEE BASS III earned his law degree from Stetson University College of Law and his undergraduate degree from The Florida State University. Prior to joining Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley PA, Mr. Bass served as a felony prosecutor in the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office. During his tenure, he handled nearly 50 jury trials to verdict, prosecuting crimes ranging from Driving Under the Influence to first degree felonies punishable by life in prison. Currently, Mr. Bass works with C. Calvin Warriner and David J. Sales. He is a member of The Florida Bar and the Palm...

Bar Admission: Florida Education: University of Florida, BA Florida Coastal School of Law JD Professional Organizations: Florida Bar – Diversity and Inclusion Committee 2020-2021 Palm Beach County Justice Association – Young Lawyer Board of Directors BNI Producers in Plantation, Florida James M. Rosenberg, Esq. is the managing attorney and owner of Lost Value Law, P.A. He is a zealous advocate for his clients and is passionate about law, cars, and kitesurfing. He truly enjoys helping Florida vehicle owners establish the diminished value of their vehicles. Please contact our office if you would like to discuss your Florida Diminished Value Claim or your Florida Loss of Use Claim...

Mr. Shafran has dedicated his legal career to zealously advocating for victims and seeking justice for others. Mr. Shafran grew up in Parkland, Florida until he attended Florida State University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology. In 2012, he received his Juris Doctor in law at Nova Southeastern University College of Law.

Upon graduating law school, Mr. Shafran worked as an Assistant State Attorney in Palm Beach County, prosecuting those accused of committing crimes and representing victims of crimes. As a prosecutor, Mr. Shafran handled thousands of cases ranging from minor offenses like misdemeanors, all the way...

I have been practicing business litigation and appellate practice in West Palm Beach since 1997. Prior to going in to private practice, I was a law clerk at the Third District Court of Appeal in Miami. From 1997 to 2014, I was a shareholder in a business litigation boutique handling all manner of complex civil and business related disputes, including matters in arbitration, state court, federal court, and on appeal. In 2014, I joined this firm as a shareholder, adding my business litigation cases and appellate work to the firm's thriving probate litigation practice. I routinely...

Attorney, James N. Brown is well versed in the law practice of both commercial and residential real estate transactions. He has a wide range of experience in real estate transactions, including construction, land development, and commercial matters. He graduated second in his class, Summa Cum Laude, with a full scholarship and is the founder of Title Leap. Jim has dedicated his entire life to real estate from General Contractor to veteran attorney, and has helped 1000’s of realtors, buyers and sellers over the past 30 years.

BORIS ZHADANOVSKIY brings to the Searcy Denney team not only a law degree, but an undergraduate degree in business administration and fluency in both English and Russian. He draws upon his experience in complex insurance litigation to make sure that insurance companies keep their promises to policyholders who have been harmed.

Mr. Halvorson is a Shareholder and Partner of the firm. He is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in the areas of Personal Injury and Wrongful Death and has successfully prosecuted numerous high profile cases. His practice is devoted 100% to litigation and he has specialized in the areas of motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, personal injury, products liability and wrongful death since 1977.

As a preeminent West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyer at Perlet & Shiner, P.A., Marc Shiner has a reputation as a top-notch, tough, respected attorney with 28 years of experience and hundreds of trials, many of them high-profile which received national media attention. Over the course of his career, Mr. Shiner has achieved notable success. As a former major crimes prosecutor for the State Attorney’s Office, he has had 250 jury and non-jury trials, including many high-profile sex crimes and murder cases. Mr. Shiner handles all criminal cases, including all white collar crimes, drug offenses, conspiracy, murder, DUI manslaughter, fraud, robbery,...

Brian D. Gottlieb, Esq., is the Managing Partner for the Commercial Litigation Division and Family Law Division of RTRLAW. Mr. Gottlieb has a diversified legal background in complex commercial litigation and contract disputes, representing clients in both state and federal court. He also has significant experience in family law, real estate litigation, foreclosure defense, landlord/tenant disputes and probate. Prior to joining RTRLAW, Mr. Gottlieb began his legal career as an associate at one of the top boutique commercial litigation law firms in Fort Lauderdale and was named partner in 2011. During that time, he gained valuable trial experience sitting first chair...

I graduated from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida in 1997. I was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1998 and immediately began working as an assistant state attorney for the Palm Beach State Attorney’s Office where I prosecuted hundreds of criminal defendants. Towards the end of 1998, I then entered civil practice when I joined the Legal Aid Office in Dade County, Florida where I assisted clients in family law matters ranging from divorce, to distribution of properties and debts. Thereafter, in 1999, I went into private practice, and based upon my experience and qualifications was also appointed...

Anthony Quackenbush is a South Florida personal injury attorney practicing in all areas of South Florida, including Broward County, Miami-Dade County, West Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. He handles car accident cases and others throughout Florida, including Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville.

Evan C. Leach, Esq. is originally from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. After graduating with a B.S. in Finance from Providence College, he relocated to Miami, Florida to work for several years in the pharmaceutical industry. Evan later realized his passion for the law and went on to graduate from the University of Miami School of Law in 2011 (Cum Laude). Evan has been practicing law for more than 13 years and is currently licensed in both Florida and Massachusetts. Today, he commutes between Cape Cod and South Florida spending time with his family and friends while serving his clients in both states. Evan...

Licensed to practice in Florida and Colorado, Heather A. Patchen is an attorney with an M.B.A. who devotes her efforts to ensure that her clients’ property investments are well protected. Her law practice, Patchen Law, P.A., focuses on issues involving property with a special emphasis in the areas of eminent domain, real estate, and title closings. Heather has experience working on both partial and complete takings against the Florida Department of Transportation and Miami-Dade County. She has also handled landlord/tenant disputes, drafted and negotiated real estate leases and various other contracts. Additionally, she has conducted...

Nolan Klein has represented hundreds of businesses and individuals in over a thousand lawsuits. We provide serious, experienced, energetic legal representation, and we have only one job – to fight for you. We are trusted providers of legal analysis to our clients, to other lawyers, and to the national news media. Your case may hinge on the lawyer that you choose. Before you make any choice about your lawyer, talk to us. Hear our perspective. The call is free, and it might make all the difference to your case.

Attorney at law licensed by the State of Florida and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida since 1981. Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating. Board Certified Intellectual Property Lawyer authorized to engage in a multi-jurisdictional federal copyright and trademark practice. Chair Emeritus of The Florida Bar Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law Section.