Lecanto Lawyers

Michael LaFay Trial Attorney graduated from the American University Law School in Washington, D.C. in 1983. He was admitted to the New York Bar in 1984 and the Florida Bar in 1985. Michael LaFay is board certified in Criminal Law by the Florida Bar and has achieved an "AV" rating overall, which is the highest ranking bestowed by Martindale-Hubbell, the national attorney ranking service. He has practiced in Central Florida as a trial attorney for the past 27 years and has litigated over 300 jury trials. During that time, he has served as a criminal defense attorney and also as...

Roddy B. Lanigan, a partner at Winter Park law firm Lanigan & Lanigan, P.L., counsels businesses and high net worth individuals on legal issues including appeals, white collar crime, real estate, civil and business, bankruptcy, securities and investment losses. Roddy Lanigan has a unique perspective on, and approach to, the delivery of legal services given the breadth of transactions in which he has participated for clients. Prior to starting Lanigan & Lanigan with his father, Roddy worked within the Financial Services Practice Group of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLC in Washington, D.C. At Skadden, he...

Winter Park, Florida attorney Eric A. Lanigan has provided clients aggressive and experienced legal representation in real estate, business and civil, foreclosure, bankruptcy, and securities and investment losses law in Central Florida since 1976. Eric Lanigan has a strong history in securities law and the financial industry. He provides clients with the complex legal advice and counsel that family, individual and businesses need to get through legal issues. There’s not much I haven’t litigated from basic employment contract disputes to suits for defending for non-performance, to collecting damages in class-action suits,” Lanigan said. He has...

This Florida native attended University of Florida Law School after graduating from Duke University. She is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell peer review rating system. This is their highest rating. Avvo national ratings gave her an excellent rating. The office practice includes bankruptcy, landlord tenant, foreclosure, family law, estate planning including wills and trusts, and probate and guardianship matters.

Juliane practices in the areas of complex commercial litigation; business disputes; and adversarial matters involving bankruptcy, trusts, and estates.

Originally from a small suburb, Steubenville, Ohio, only forty-five minutes outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Juliane attended the Cyril H. Wecht Institute of Forensic Science and Law at Duquesne University. She received a B.A. in biochemistry and a M.S. in Forensic Science.

To advance her interest in law and science, Juliane moved to Florida to attend Stetson University College of Law in 2011. While in law school, Juliane was an active member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution team, and in...

Mr. Persad has worked in the legal profession for over 20 years. He is licensed to practice law in Florida, the United States Virgin Islands, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and before the U.S. Supreme Court. He earned his Juris Doctor degree and his Masters in Public Administration degree from the University of Akron in 1993 and 1994, respectively. He also holds a Bachelors of Arts in Business Administration from the University of the Virgin Islands and a diploma in paralegal studies from New York University. Mr. Persad's experience in the legal field...

Paul's practice is focused on providing his clients with "good judgment" and Paul prides himself on working hard to see that his clients move towards fixing problems and preparing for a better future. Paul concentrates on matters involving business law, entertainment law, replevin law, real estate, landlord-tenant, probate, wills, estates, and trust law. Paul has been appointed several times by Florida Courts as personal representative and attorney ad litem in complex and sensitive litigation matters involving probate and wrongful death, as well as in representing unknown parties and historic landmarks in real estate foreclosure and eminent domain...

Mr. Brownlee handles civil and criminal appeals in Florida and in federal courts of appeal across the country. He is licensed to practice in each of Florida's appellate courts and most of the federal circuit courts of appeal. In addition to Florida's district courts of appeal, Mr. Brownlee has performed oral argument at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta. He...

The Messersmith Law Firm is a full-service law firm, concentrating on immigration law. We have special expertise in work visas, family based visas, visa waivers, green cards through family and employment and asylum. We are well known for our zealous and creative advocacy on behalf of our clients. The Messersmith Law Firm assists large and small companies and institutions nationwide in complying with the complex immigration requirements of the USCIS, DOL and DOS to retain highly skilled workers in such fields as information technology, medical research, computer software, engineering, hospitality, art, martial arts and medicine. Immigration law is federal law which means...

The Alvarez Law Firm a Professional Association is a private firm owned by Rachel M. Alvarez. Her practice focuses on financial matters. Rachel’s vision is to aggressively represent her clients in any financial stage for individuals of any walk of life. She is committed to building ongoing relationships with her clients to facilitate their success. Rachel attended the University Of Central Florida where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration. Upon graduating she pursued her dream to be an attorney at Regent University School of Law. At the tender age of five Rachel decided to be...

Attorney Petrochko was born in Pennsylvania. After earning a bachelors of science degree from Penn State University he decided to trade his snow shovel in for beach blankets and jurisprudence. Keith was awarded a Juris Doctor degree from Florida A&M University College of Law. While pursuing this degree, he was involved in several academic and civil organizations including leading the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund. It was during this time that Keith developed a passion for civil litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Keith primarily focuses his efforts on labor and employment law and personal injury cases. He enjoys being...

A native of Venezuela, Attorney Daniela Alvarado immigrated to the United States with her family at a young age. While she was not aware of it at the time, this move would shape her life and put her on the path to assisting future immigrants with their own journeys. As she grew, she displayed increasing interest in all things international, attending an international magnet program at a local high school and obtaining her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Rollins College, where she graduated summa cum laude and as a member of the school’s Honors Program.

Daniela then went on...

Jason Herman is an insurance claim lawyer who represents policyholders against their insurance companies. He handles claims and lawsuits involving property damage insurance claims. Jason also provides clients with insurance advice, represents insureds at examinations under oath, and litigates declaratory judgment actions involving whether coverage is owed under liability insurance policies.

Jason devotes his legal career to helping individuals and businesses navigate the complexities of U.S. and international tax laws and regulations. His commitment is to provide the most sophisticated and highest quality tax services which has enabled him to build meaningful and lasting relationships with clients.

Jason has over 8 years of tax experience advising individuals and global organizations on tax issues related to domestic reporting and compliance, and international tax issues involving tax treaties, transfer pricing, and cross-border investments and business operations. He also represents individuals and businesses faced with IRS notices and audits, and can assist with...

Michael Haworth's legal journey began at the State Attorney's Office in Pinellas County. Since 2017, he has managed a wide array of cases, from misdemeanors to capital offenses. His outstanding performance in court was recognized in 2018 when he received the Sixth Circuit State Attorney's Office Golden Tie Award for the highest number of trial victories. Michael is known in Pinellas County for his effective courtroom advocacy. His extensive experience in jury trials has honed his ability to defend cases effectively. Michael has dedicated years to identifying evidence issues, inconsistencies in police reports, and inaccuracies in witness accounts. With years of...

John Carter has more that 25 years in the financial services industry. He runs a law office in St. Petersburg. Until recently, John served as Chairman, President, and CEO of a $50 billion asset management company consisting of approximately 120 funds and 35 investment sub-advisers. He has a vast amount of experience, which includes working for a law firm (Skadden Arps), a federal regulator (SEC), and leading companies (Franklin Templeton, Citigroup, and Transamerica). He is licensed as an attorney in Florida, the District of Columbia, and Virginia. John currently is obtaining a Master of Theology from Saint Leo University, Dade...

Christopher S. Reed, is a native Floridian, born and raised in Tampa, Florida, where he graduated from Henry B. Plant High School in 1986. Following high school, Chris moved to New York City to attend Columbia University, an Ivy League School, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1990. Chris was recruited by Columbia University as a football player and was a member of the football team during his four years of study at Columbia. Chris was also a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity where he held various leadership positions. ...

Anna Garcia is the Founder and Managing Attorney of Garcia Immigration Law, LLC. Originally from Ukraine, she earned her Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws degrees from the Institute of International Relations of National T. Shevchenko University of Ukraine, the country’s most prestigious university. ​Anna pursued her U.S. legal education at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where she earned her LL.M. degree in Comparative Law. Anna Garcia is licensed to practice in the state of Missouri and is a member of the Central Florida Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), as well as...

Criminal Defense Lawyer Rajan Joshi received his Bachelors degree from the University of Central Florida in 1996, and earned his law degree with Honors from the University of Florida College of Law in 2000. While in law school, Rajan Joshi demonstrated academic excellence, earning the highly coveted Book Award in Criminal Procedure (highest grade). Mr. Joshi was also selected and employed by the Dean of Student Affairs to tutor first-year contract students and conducted his own class to prepare the students for their final exam. Mr. Joshi also worked as a legal intern at the Seminole County State Attorney's Office...

Patent attorney concentrating in patent, trademark, and copyright litigation, including Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings and domain name disputes. Nathan is board certified in intellectual property law by the Florida Bar. He has met the Florida Bar’s highest standards for special knowledge, skills, and proficiency in intellectual property law and professionalism and ethics in the practice of law.

David Hill obtained his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, and all state courts of Florida. Mr. Hill has practiced exclusively in criminal defense in the state of Florida, primarily in the Central Florida community, since graduating from law school and represents clients in a far-ranging array of matters, including felony, misdemeanor and traffic allegations, in both State and Federal courts. He has twenty years of experience as a criminal defense lawyer having been admitted to practice in 1991,...

Matthew Sean Tucker is a Registered Patent Attorney holding a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Central Florida. Furthermore, Matthew received his J.D. at the University Of Baltimore School Of Law with a dual concentration in intellectual property law and business law. He is also a member of the Florida Bar, and an inventor of several patent pending inventions.

I have been practicing Personal Injury and Immigration Law for over 25 years. Throughout my career, I have been honored with several awards including the Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Award for Legal Services, the Martindale-Hubbell Client Distinction Award, and three American Jurisprudence Awards for achieving the top grades in three of my Law School classes. I am a member of the State Bars of Florida and Texas, The Orange County Bar, The American Immigration Lawyers Association, The American Bar Association, and the U.S District Courts for the Southern and Middle Districts in Florida. In my personal injury practice, I operate...

I have worked for Finra, a financial regulator; LeClairRyan; and the Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia. I have been recognized as a Technology Litigation Fellow by the Center for Legal and Court Technology, in Williamsburg, Virginia and was selected to participate in the Center’s annual lab trial. I focus on corporate law and estate planning for the small business owner. During my time at Finra, I worked in Registration and Disclosure, developing policies relating to past criminal sanctions, as well as assisting in decisions regarding expungment of customer complaints against registered brokers. While at LeClairRyan, I...

Christopher D. Smith received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Harvard University (Cambridge, MA) and his Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University (Washington, D.C.). A long-time resident of Florida, Mr. Smith also graduated from Pine View School in Sarasota. He is a member of the bars of Florida, Virginia and Washington, D.C., and is admitted to practice in the Middle, Southern and Northern Districts of Florida. Christopher is also certified in consumer bankruptcy law by the American Board of Certification.


Christopher started his career with the international law firm of Dechert LLP in 2001, working as an associate in the securities law...

Born and raised in Cuba, Attorney Arrate attained his Juris Doctor ( JD) from the University of Oriente, College of Law in Cuba, and a Master of Law Letters (LL.M.), in American Law from Florida State University, College of Law.

He is licensed to practice law and a Good-Standing member of the Louisiana Bar Association. He holds an active account with the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and is a member of Cuban-American Bar Association.

Arrate Law Firm is committed to offering customized immigration legal services focusing on compassion, respect, and affordability. We are committed to delivering superior results to any person...

Licensed to Practice Law in Florida Court and Federal Court

Juris Doctor (J.D.)
University of North Dakota School of Law

Masters of Business Administration (MBA)
University of Idaho College of Business

Educational Leadership
Sierra Nevada College

Bachelors of Science in Accounting (B.S.)
Brigham Young University - Idaho

Experienced, wise, and compassionate.  From thirty plus years of being a circuit court judge and an attorney, Linda is not your ordinary attorney. She uses common sense and practical advice for you to resolve legal problems as quickly, saving relationships, money and time.

Her law practice caters to individuals with legal issues related to life transitions and caters to individuals who understand how important it is to resolve legal issues that threaten the security of their family, home, and business. Her knowledge and experience from serving as both judge and attorney gives her a unique perspective that enables her to project...

For over 30 years Edward B. Sobel has provided specialized advice and representation for individuals involved in complex family law matters. Since 1991 he has been board certified by the Florida Bar as an expert in marital and family law. His areas of practice include Florida and interstate divorce, jurisdictional issues, prenuptial agreements, post nuptial agreements, domestic violence, paternity, parent, nonparent and grandparent child custody and timesharing, and alimony and child support. Mr. Sobel appears in original and modification cases. He has represented clients in numerous appeals, with many published opinions. His office is in Bradenton,...

Bradford M. Gucciardo is an experienced attorney whose work is devoted almost exclusively to the representation of stock market investors who have been victims of stockbroker and brokerage firm misconduct. Specifically, Mr. Gucciardo helps brokerage firm customers recover stock market losses, most often of retirement savings, that they sustained as the result of mishandling of their brokerage accounts. After he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in the study of English literature, creative writing and criminology from the University of South Florida, Mr. Gucciardo, a native New Yorker, returned to New York to attend St. John’s University School of...

As the founder of the firm David F. Vedder, P.A., Volusia County lawyer David Vedder devotes his practice to the area of immigration law. Since 1978, he has been practicing in the legal field. Mr. Vedder is among the small group of Florida attorneys who a Board Certification for Immigration and Nationality Law. Attorney Vedder is a member of the Volusia County Bar Association and American Immigration Association. For nine years in a row, he has been selected for inclusion in the list of Florida Super Lawyers®. Additionally, he is the recipient of a Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® Peer Rating. For...

Ryan graduated with a B.S. in Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida. A Florida Bright Futures Scholarship recipient and Dean’s List honoree, he then began a career in business and sales management. Having a strong desire to advocate and continue with his legal career, he attended Barry College of Law in Orlando, Florida. While attending law school on an academic scholarship, Ryan worked as a law clerk in an established criminal defense firm. He additionally participated in an internship with the Osceola County Attorney’s Office and a judicial externship under Circuit Judge Jenifer M....

Growing up in Central Florida, Mr. Bailey decided to stay local when pursuing a higher education. Attending the University of Central Florida, Mr. Bailey obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice in 2012. While completing this degree and afterwards, Mr. Bailey worked for a large firm handling Bankruptcy cases for those who had fallen on hard times, especially those caused by the mortgage crisis. Mr. Bailey was inspired to go to law school by the work and dedication of the attorneys he worked with for years. Mr. Bailey obtained his Juris Doctorate in December 2016.
Mr. Bailey focuses his...

Heather M. Meglino serves as General Counsel for Quality One Wireless and is the chief legal officer for the organization. She has broad experience counseling clients in areas spanning every aspect of business and commercial law, including contracts, complex business litigation, fraud-misrepresentation, employment law, intellectual property, and licensing. Heather was previously Founder at Meglino Law, a law firm focused on business and commercial law. Additionally, Heather litigated cases including employment discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, overtime and unpaid wages, FMLA leave and disability issues, employment contracts, whistleblower and other employment law claims under various state and federal laws. She is licensed...

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

LITIGATED / ARBITRATED / MEDIATED 1,000+ Contract Law Cases.

CONDUCTED several dozen business MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

COUNSELED DEALERSHIP and FRANCHISE clients from Florida to Hawaii and over half the states in between.

ADMITTED to practice law in FLORIDA and represents clients outside of the state through association with local attorneys.

MEMBER of the American Bar Association, the ABA Forum on Franchising, and the Florida Bar Association.

Magdalena Cuprys received her Juris Doctor from the University of Washington School of Law in 2002. She was admitted to the practice of law in California in 2003 and in Florida in 2006. Before law school, she completed two bachelor’s degrees, one in Political Science and one in Latin American Studies, at the University of Chicago in 1999 (AB Degrees Political Science & Latin American Studies from the University of Chicago in 1999). Ms. Cuprys is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and was the Panhellenic President at the University of Chicago. – She is a Member of...