Myakka City Lawyers

Bishop L. Toups is an estate planning, elder law, and tax attorney in Southwest Florida. He helps clients with their various estate planning needs and helps clients navigate the Medicaid system here in Florida. He also represents clients nationwide and worldwide in front of the IRS. Bishop is also a V.A. accredited attorney and helps Veterans obtain benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

He graduated from The Florida State University, Stetson University of College of Law, and he received a tax law degree (LL.M.) from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, which is consistently ranked a top 3...

As a partner at Band, Gates & Dramis, P.L., Chad Gates is proud to represent clients throughout the Sarasota area. He brings more than 20 years of impressive legal experience to the table, taking on a wide range of cases in that time. Attorney Gates handles matters involving estate planning, probate, personal injury, real estate law, corporate law, and various other issues. He boasts unwavering dedication to his clients, always striving to secure the best possible outcome on their behalves. From tenacious advocacy to skillful negotiations, he knows how to deliver it all. Attorney Gates is currently a member of...

DAVID P. JOHNSON received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan School of Business Administration and his law degree from Wayne State University. He has been Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Tax Law since 1995 and Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Wills, Trusts and Estates since 1996. He is one of thirty eight (38) of Florida's 100,000 attorneys to be Board Certified in both Tax Law and Wills, Trusts and Estates. Certification is the highest level of evaluation of an attorney's competency and experience in the areas approved by the Florida Supreme...

* Admitted to: Florida Bar, 1993; Tennessee Bar, 2007; U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 2000; U.S. Supreme Court, 2006. * Primary practice areas: Estate Planning (wills, trusts, Probate), Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, Real Estate (commercial and residential title closings), transactions, and Business Entities. * A featured speaker for the 2007 Financial Professionals Expo, Tampa, Florida, and the 2000 Money Sense Live personal-finance seminar sponsored by the Tampa Tribune and the Financial Planning Association of Tampa Bay. Frequent seminar speaker on the topic of estate planning. Several appearances on local television shows, including FLA Law (cable), Eight on...

I practice civil litigation and criminal defense. I began my legal career in the Washington, D.C. office of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, a New York-based international law firm, where I was a member of the business fraud litigation group. In 2010, I returned to Sarasota, where I was born a raised, to practice law with my father, a board certified civil trial lawyer with over 40 years of experience, and his law partner, Elliott Metcalfe, an AV rated former public defender with over 30 years and thousands of trials worth of experience. I have experience representing commercial...

John Nelson is the President of Nelson Cyber Law and focuses in litigating intellectual property disputes in federal court. With a background in computer science, John brings a technical perspective to cyber law, where the internet meets the law, so he can speak the language of tech-savvy clients and guide every client through legal mazes in the modern world.

In short, John is a law geek who loves the battle—harnessing his passion for the abstract concepts and details of intellectual property to analytically apply them to court procedures—so each client may protect and enforce their rights to achieve their goals. This...

David Emas prides himself on advocating for individuals that have been injured by the negligence of others. David has many years of litigation experience and has obtained countless favorable jury verdicts and settlements. David began his legal career fighting for victims as a prosecutor in the nation’s fourth largest prosecuting office, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. During his tenure, David served in various Felony Divisions, Economic Crimes Unit, and Career Criminal and Robbery Unit, where he prosecuted the most violent repeat offenders. After serving as a prosecutor, David garnered extensive legal expertise at several distinguished law firms in Florida. His roles at...

I have lived in Tampa since 1968 and practiced law in the Tampa Bay area since 1996. I have conducted over 100 trials and handled thousands of cases. I have the experience to help you with your situation. Call me for your free initial consultation.

Michael Goetz was born in St. Petersburg, Florida on December 28, 1966. In 1989, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with high honors in political science from Emory University. And In 1992, he earned his law degree with honors from the University of Florida. After graduating law school, Mr. Goetz joined the international law firm of Holland & Knight LLP where his practice focused on the defense of claims involving product liability, medical negligence, and general liability, as well as complex commercial litigation matters. He became a Partner in the firm on January 1, 2000. In 2002, Mr. Goetz joined Morgan...

Mr. Marshall J. Kobrin is an associate at the Aegis Law. Mr. Kobrin focuses his practice on business and corporate transactions, and intellectual property.

Prior to becoming an associate at the Walk Law Firm, Mr. Kobrin graduated from the University of Central Florida. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science in 2014 with minors in general business, sports business management, and legal studies. He was awarded Dean’s List honors multiple semesters throughout his time at UCF. Mr. Kobrin then attended law school at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. During his tenure at the University of...

Thomas A. Burns is a board-certified appellate specialist with extensive experience defending and prosecuting lawsuits at the trial and appellate levels, in both federal and state courts. Before returning to Florida, Mr. Burns practiced for five years in Washington, D.C., with the appellate departments of Sidley Austin LLP and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. In Tampa, Mr. Burns practiced for three years in the appellate departments of Hill Ward Henderson and Greenberg Traurig, P.A. In those capacities, Mr. Burns represented leading companies from diverse industries in a wide variety of disputes. Mr. Burns has substantial experience with appellate...

Sherri K. DeWitt was born and grew up in Middletown, New York. She was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1982 and has been authorized to practice before the U.S District Court of the Middle District of Florida since 1983 and before the U.S. Court of Appeal since 1985. She received her B.A. Cum Laude in 1973 and Ph.D. in 1977 from State University of New York at Binghamton. Dr. DeWitt received her J.D. Degree from Cornell University in 1982. She was an editor of the Cornell Law Review and is the author of a book and numerous articles. Dr....

I am a civil litigation attorney with a focus on personal injury, premises liability, auto liability, and insurance defense. I hold undergraduate degrees in Accounting and Finance from Pensacola Christian College, where I graduated summa cum laude. I completed my law degree at Florida State University College of Law in 2020, graduating with honors and earning a Business Law Certificate. My professional background extends beyond the legal field, as I have also gained experience in financial operations. I have a keen interest in data transformation and presentation, cybersecurity, and AI. Before joining St. Denis & Davey, I worked for several insurance...

Attorney Nora Leto is a civil trial attorney with approximately 31 years of legal experience, including approximately 17 years of experience with Social Security disability and workers’ compensation claims. Ms. Leto has prior professional legal experience working for Florida State Hospital Office of Patient Legal Services as a Staff Attorney and with Florida Rural Legal Services as a Farm Worker Advocate. She is also fluent in Spanish. Ms. Leto received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Florida State University in 1978. She also received her Juris Doctor, or law degree, from Florida State University in 1981 and was admitted...

Stacy Mateu Emas is a Cuban American attorney with close ties to South Florida. Born and raised in Miami, she prides herself on being able to represent her community in their time of need. Stacy graduated with honors from Florida International University before graduating Cum Laude from the University of Miami School of Law. After law school, Stacy spent several years working as a litigator for the largest and premier defense law firm in Florida. She used that time to sharpen her litigation skills and to gain a comprehensive understanding as to how large corporations analyze and value cases. Stacy...

Dennis A. Palso was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1983 and has handled thousands of cases representing workers injured on the job and applicants in Social Security disability matters. He is a member of various legal bar groups, including the American Bar Association; the Florida Justice Association; the Florida Bar; the national Workers' Injury Law and Advocacy Group; and is a founding member and director of Florida Workers' Advocates, a Florida statewide organization of lawyers who represent injured workers. Mr. Palso is board certified by the Florida Bar as an expert in workers' compensation law, a distinction earned...

I was born and raised in northeast Indiana just outside of the small town of Churubusco. I inherited a strong work ethic from my father who had his own construction business. After high school, I attended college at Butler University in Indianapolis. While there I had the honor of serving as a member of the University Judicial Board, as the President of the Latino Student Organization, and as a student liaison on the University Neighborhood Operational Team. During my studies I was also fortunate to study at the Universidad de Alcala de Henares outside of Madrid, Spain. I am fluent...

A native Floridian who was raised in the Tampa Bay area, Mrs. Joyner is an alumnus of Plant City High School. She continued her education at Florida Gulf Coast University, graduating summa cum laude. Thereafter, she earned her Juris Doctorate degree from Florida A&M University College of Law graduating cum laude while maintaining full-time employment, actively participating in the Cherry Chapter of the International Legal Fraternity of Phi Alpha Delta, and volunteering at her son’s elementary school and cub scout den.

Mrs. Joyner is admitted to practice in all Florida courts as well as the United States...

I am an entrepreneur at heart and went to college to study business. While in college I began working at a law firm, where I discovered my passion for the law. While in law school, I focused my studies on business law, and wills, trusts and estates. I graduated from law school in May of 1996 and was admitted to the Florida Bar in September 1996.

My first job out of law school was working for a sole practitioner representing businesses in workers compensation cases. Soon thereafter I took a job with an international law firm managing a satellite office in...

Pete was raised in Hardee County and graduated from Hardee Senior High School in 2003. He then went on to get his bachelor's degree in International Affairs from Florida State University with a focus on Middle Eastern Studies. He received his law degree with honors from Tulane University Law School in New Orleans in 2010 and was a Notes and Comments Editor for the Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law. After law school, Pete worked as a prosecutor mostly in Hardee and Highlands Counties, and briefly in Polk County in the Economic Crimes Division. Pete then worked for William Fletcher...

Pablo B. Morla is dedicated to serving the interests of his clients in a wide array of cases involving personal injury, wrongful death; divorce and family law; Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcy; and civil litigation matters. Prior to establishing Morla Law Group, P.A., Pablo worked for a large defense litigation firm, representing insurance companies and large businesses. That experience gave Pablo the practical knowledge and drive to establish Morla Law Group, P.A. in order to prosecute and defend cases on behalf of his clients in a wide array of practice areas. Read more at www.MORLALAW.com.

Alison is an associate at Johnson, Newlon & DeCort, P.A. She joined the Firm in August 2021 as a law clerk during her final year of law school. Alison focuses her practice in the areas of business and commercial litigation, concentrating primarily on contract and other general business disputes. Alison attended the Florida State University College of Law. While in law school, she was an Executive Editor for the Florida State University Law Review, Chair of the Law School Council, a Student Ambassador to the Admissions Office, and an extern for the Honorable Judge Mark W. Klingensmith of the Fourth District...

Joe focuses on business and commercial litigation, real property disputes, landlord representation, title insurance claims, trust and probate litigation, and corporate and business disputes, including shareholder derivative and dissolution actions. In addition, Joe represents community associations, such as homeowners’ associations and condominium associations. Joe’s diverse experience also includes general probate administration, drafting of wills and trusts and transactional matters. Licensed in 2003, Joe has been awarded the prestigious AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest such recognition possible for a lawyer, and one which reflects the opinions of members of the bar and judiciary. Joe has also been...

Backed with years of experience, Attorney Christopher E. Boss has what it takes to help you get out of a difficult financial maze. Over the years, Attorney Boss has dedicated his practice on cases involving bankruptcy, real property litigation, residential and commercial real estate transactions, residential and commercial lending, collections, consumer protection, and debt restructuring. With this being said, no case is too big or too small for him. When you become a client of Attorney Boss, you can rest easily knowing that an aggressive and knowledgeable lawyer is there to represent you. With the utmost respect, he stands...

Christopher Borzell was born in Miami and moved with his family to the Tampa Bay area where he has lived for most of his life. In 2002, Chris received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida. From there, he followed his passion for law, to the University of Florida – Fredric G. Levin College of Law, where he received his Juris Doctorate in 2009.

Chris began his career as an attorney in civil litigation focusing on both first and third party insurance disputes. He devoted his first several years of practice to defending insurance companies and their interests including...

Daniel Greene is a partner at Swope, Rodante P.A. who works tirelessly to obtain justice on behalf of clients who have been catastrophically injured. Daniel Greene became an attorney at Swope, Rodante P. A. soon after graduating law school in 2017. Originally from Cooper City, FL, he attended Bowdoin College in Brunswick where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Government and Legal Studies in 2014. He later moved back down to Florida where he earned his Juris Doctor graduating magna cum laude from the University of Florida Levin College Of Law. Mr. Greene was able to develop exceptional research and writing...

Ashley Rector earned her Juris Doctor with a Certificate of Concentration in Advocacy from Stetson University College of Law in May 2013, after obtaining her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Florida in May 2010. Ashley is an Associate at Todd Foster Law Group, where she focuses mainly on federal criminal defense. Ashley is an active member of the Herbert G. Goldburg-Ronald K. Cacciatore Criminal Law American Inn of Court, Hillsborough County Bar Leadership Institute class of 2015-2016, Florida Association of Women Lawyers, and Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers.

Dan Larson is an aggressive, highly skilled trial attorney who has limited his practice to representing Plaintiffs in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases. During the last 29 years, Mr. Larson has had numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in cases throughout Florida, South Carolina, as well as other states. Mr. Larson is AV “Preeminent” Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, evidencing the highest rating for legal skills and professional ethics. Mr. Larson has been featured on the front cover of Florida Lawyer Magazine, and was recognized as one of Florida’s Legal...

Jeffrey Carl Hakanson graduated from Washington and Lee University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history. He attended the South Texas College of Law, from which he received his Juris Doctorate in 1995. Mr. Hakanson began his legal career at a Tampa real estate firm, where he developed expertise in representing secured lenders in mortgage foreclosure actions, lender liability actions, and bankruptcy cases. He then joined the law firm of Gibbons, Smith, Cohn & Arnett as an associate attorney, during which time he focused primarily on real estate litigation and the representation of creditors in bankruptcy court. In...

I have been helping clients receive compensation for personal injuries and representing clients in family law matters for over thirty years.

Judge Michael J. Scionti is a Circuit Court Judge with the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in the State of Florida, who has served our community and country for over two decades, upholding the rule of law in and out of the courtroom, on and off the battlefield, and throughout all branches of government.

Judge Scionti is a Tampa native and lifelong resident of Hillsborough County. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Florida State University and his Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law. Judge Scionti has held various positions of public trust as a...

Hi - I'm Shawn Mesa. I am the principal of Shawn Mesa Immigration Law.

I've focused on Immigration and Naturalization Law since I began my career as an attorney and take great pride in assisting newcomers to this Country - and because of how the U.S. Immigration Laws impacted my Grandfather when he came to this country from Cuba.

Within Immigration Law, I practice in the areas of:

* Family Immigration & Citizenship
* Business Immigration
* Employer Compliance
* And Deportation Defense & Asylum

I've had a considerable amount of experience in this area of law.

Although based in Tampa, FL., I also serve visitors to...

BIOGRAPHY Jim Purdy is a highly accomplished attorney with over 30 years of experience, a master negotiator, and an expert in the art of conflict resolution. His robust legal background equips him to work on any case from beginning to end while keeping his clients informed throughout the lifecycle of their case. Mr. Purdy received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and history from the University of Minnesota’s College of Liberal Arts in 1989. He remained at his alma mater to pursue his law degree at the University of Minnesota Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctorate with...

Christopher K. Leifer is the founding shareholder of the firm. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin and his Juris Doctor from Tulane University Law School. Mr. Leifer is admitted to practice before all Florida state courts, as well as the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. He is a member of the Florida Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association and the Hillsborough County Bar Association. Mr. Leifer focuses his practice in the areas of labor and employment law; including unpaid wage issues, unpaid overtime, improper paycheck deductions, retaliatory discharge and non-compete...