Punta Gorda Lawyers

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...

The Law Office of Adam B. Portnow, P.L. is an Intellectual Property & General Law practice providing competent, cost-effective representation for clients throughout the State of Florida. Adam Portnow is a graduate of St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami, Florida. Prior to completing law school, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Digital Arts and Sciences from the University of Florida College of Computer Information Sciences and Engineering.

I’m a licensed attorney for the states of Florida and Illinois. I have over 13 years of real estate law experience. I am a member of The Fund and provide title insurance, closing and escrow services. Contact me today for all of your real estate needs.

Attorney Brandon R. Bytnar has practiced law in Naples, Florida since 2009 when he and his wife moved from Ohio. He focuses primarily on estate planning (wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, living wills, etc.), probate and trust administration, elder law, real estate law, and guardianship. Before earning his law degree from the University of Toledo College of Law, Brandon graduated magna cum laude from Ohio Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s degree in both political science and journalism. As a member of the Ohio Wesleyan University men’s golf team, Brandon was recognized as a scholar athlete. During law school,...

Mike Dal Lago, the founder of Dal Lago Law, has more than 20 years of experience providing customized and comprehensive legal business solutions for businesses in Southwest Florida worth $1.5 million and more. He has consistently been recognized in Florida Trend’s prestigious Legal Elite list, and is an AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest rating an attorney can receive for their professional ethics and legal ability by their peers and judiciary. Mike is admitted to practice law in Florida, New York and New Jersey.

With broad experience in an array of industries including...

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...

Shayna K. Cavanaugh is dedicated to the practice of issues involving families, including divorce, guardianship, children’s issues, child support and alimony, and domestic violence. Recognizing that every case is unique, we focus on the individual client and provide the personalized attention that each client deserves. We strive to listen to each client’s needs, to educate them regarding their options, and to advocate for their goals and desired outcomes.

Marc Falco has 27 years of experience practicing personal injury trial law on the west coast of Florida. He practices in all State Courts, Middle District of Florida Federal Court and the State Supreme Court. He has collected multiple million dollar awards for his clients. He is also a motorcycle enthusiast who is regarded as one of the premier motorcycle accident lawyers on the west coast of Florida.

Born in Miami, James L. O'Leary ("Jim") is a native Floridian. Jim attended the University of Florida and studied Political Science. While at the University, Jim served in numerous leadership positions and was ultimately awarded the coveted membership in the Florida Blue Key. He then went on to attend Stetson University College of Law and graduated Cum Laude earning his Juris Doctorate degree. While at Stetson he was also awarded first place in Stetson's nationally ranked #1 Trial Team by winning the statewide mock trial competition sponsored by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers. After working at a large personal...

Mr. Fineman was born and raised in Southwest Florida and is a graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University (B.S. Legal Studies and Criminal Justice). In 2007, Mr. Fineman obtained his Juris Doctorate from Barry University School of Law. While in law school, Mr. Fineman served as a Certified Legal Intern for the State Attorney’s Office of the Ninth Judicial Circuit which allowed him to prosecute several criminal cases for the State of Florida. Mr. Fineman was a Senior Note and Comment Editor on Barry University’s Law Review and graduated second in his class. Mr. Fineman was invited to be...

I graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with bachelors degrees in Finance and Economics. Following undergrad, I attended law school at Barry University's Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law in Orlando, Florida where I graduated cum laude.

I began my legal career primary representing consumers in bankruptcy and debt collection matters. However, my business background took hold and I have extended my practice to include business transactions.

I live in the Fort Myers area with my wife and two children.

Matthew Trail has represented hundreds of children and parents across the state of Florida in IEP meetings, discipline referrals and due process complaints. As a former legal aid attorney, judicial clerk and Peace Corps volunteer, Matthew had dedicated his career to ensuring justice for those most in need. Matthew grew up in Tennessee and received his undergraduate degree in 1999 in communications-journalism from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He worked for two years as a journalist in Texas and North Carolina before returning to Tennessee for law school. After graduating law school from the University of Tennessee College of Law in...

I have been practicing law in the Fort Myers area for over 30 years (licensed since 1982). My practice focuses in the areas of real estate, association law, construction, business, probate and civil litigation. I have been Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Real Estate since 1996 and in August 2013 I became Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Business Litigation. In addition, in January 2014 I received the AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating by Martindale Hubbell. I am highly experienced in both bench and jury trials, however, my preference is to settle the case whenever possible....

Jeremiah graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2001 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology, minoring in Biological Anthropology. While studying at UNM, Jeremiah enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, and also coached his former high school’s Speech and Debate Team.

Jeremiah enrolled at California Western School of Law in San Diego, California in June of 2013. As a student at CWSL, he became a member of the school’s Appellate Moot Court Competition Team, participating in three national-level competitions and receiving recognition as an outstanding speaker while continuing to develop his oral and written advocacy skills. Jeremiah was...

"Our client's lives have been irreparably changed due to the negligence of another person. As an attorney with Associates & Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, it is my honor and privilege to ensure all of our clients receive the utmost respect and admiration for the hardships they endure. When I think I have done enough for my clients, I will do more." – Diana Dawn Maselli Diana Dawn graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Studies Magna Cum Laude in 2009. In 2012, Diana Dawn graduated Ave Maria School...

Bruce L. Scheiner moved to Fort Myers, Florida after graduating from the University of Miami School of Law in 1970. After almost 40 years representing the injured, Bruce L. Scheiner is one of the most experienced and longest-serving personal injury lawyers in South Florida. Today, with his wife Cheryl, who runs the office, and son Preston, who is an associate attorney, Bruce L. Scheiner hand selects each case the firm represents and partners with one or more of his associate attorneys to provide each client with tough, experienced and aggressive representation, both in the negotiating room ... and in the courtroom.

David Pittman is a personal injury lawyer in Southwest Florida. Having personal experience with the after-affects of an injury, Mr. Pittman knows the financial and emotional toll an accident can have on an individual and their family. He has pursued excellence his whole life, graduating on the Honor Committee at The Citadel, Military College, and now, as a member of the Multi-million Dollar Advocates Forum. Attorney Pittman has successfully represented clients for car accident injuries, class action cases, B.P. Oil Spill Claims, defective products, and many other injury claims. If you or a loved one has been injured because of...

Mr. Eisenberg is one of only a handful of criminal defense attorneys (seven, to be exact) in all of Sarasota County who has been recognized by the Florida Bar as a Board Certified Criminal Trial Expert. There's a reason why there are so few board certified criminal defense attorneys. That's because the Florida Bar's requirements for board certification are so difficult to achieve! Only lawyers who have been recognized by the Florida Bar as "Board Certified" are legally entitled to call themselves an "Expert" or "Specialist" in their area of the law. It is the highest...

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...

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...

Blake Lange is the managing partner of Morgan & Morgan’s South Florida offices, which includes Naples, Ft. Myers, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. He received his undergraduate degree from University of Tampa and his Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Lange was an investigator for Morgan & Morgan in Tampa, Florida. Mr. Lange began his legal career at Morgan & Morgan, leading the workers’ compensation department and advocating for those injured in the workplace for nearly a decade. During that time, he served on the Board of Directors for Florida...

I am a 1991 graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, and have an undergraduate degree in public administration from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. I worked as a prosecutor after graduating from law school, and have been in private practice since 1996. I handle all types of criminal cases, primarily in the Sarasota and Manatee county areas.

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...

Mr. Friedland is currently licensed to practice law in the State of Florida and is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family, Appellate, and Circuit Civil Mediator. Mr. Friedland graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in 1972 and from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1975. Mr. Friedland practiced in Connecticut from 1975 through 1988 when he relocated his practice to Sarasota, Florida. He is a member of the Family Law, Alternate Dispute Resolution Section, and the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Sections of the Florida Bar, Sarasota County Bar Association, and American...

My practice is concentrated in representing employers and entrepreneurs in all aspects of employment and business law including severance, termination issues, non-compete disputes and in issues involving the protection of proprietary information.

I also represents employers in Fair Labor Standards Act disputes, including those with the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. I represent clients in complex commercial litigation regarding these issues at both the trial and appellate levels. A significant portion of my litigation experience has been in business breakups, corporate and partnership dissolutions, securities and shareholder disputes, and related valuation issues. My business litigation experience allows me to...

Dually-licensed Attorney-CPA serving the tax planning & compliance, business law & planning, and accounting needs of domestic and foreign businesses, including their entrepreneurial owners. Currently owns and operates a multidisciplinary practice since 2012. Prior to 2012, spent over 10 years' professional experience within the "Big 4" global firms, including the Washington National Tax Office of one "Big 4" firm and the New York M&A-Transactions practice of another "Big 4" firm, having significant Director/Senior Manager-level experience. Licensed as both an Attorney (DC) and CPA (DC, FL, LA).

My mission is to work with my clients and limit their legal costs and liability while I zealously represent them on employment law and health law matters. As a solo practitioner, my clients have direct, unfettered access to me as your attorney. This is a different concept than what you will find in larger law firms or even some solo practitioners. I believe that this type of access is something my clients should expect from their lawyer.

Florida Trial Attorney Piercy Stakelum

Practice Areas: Airplane Accidents, Car Accidents, Catastrophic Injury, Construction Accidents, Cruise Ship Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Wrongful Death, Natural Disasters

Piercy Stakelum has always had a strong passion for justice-a zealous desire to stand up for those who have been mistreated, hurt, or injured due to the actions of others. That passion led him to a career as a prominent personal injury in Florida.
Background:

While born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Piercy pursued his BA from Florida State University. After, he went on to pursue his JD from the University of Florida College of Law. During his time in law...

Megan M. Kelly, Attorney at Law concentrates on estate planning, business law, and real estate law in Naples, FL and all of Southwest Florida. As a mobile attorney in Naples, Megan provides personalized legal solutions to individuals and families, assisting with wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney, advance medical or health care directives, and any other documents related to legal life planning. Megan M. Kelly also offers subscription-based strategic business consulting to corporate clients of all sizes and stages of growth from startup to ongoing business needs including contract preparation and review, pre-litigation consulting, and risk mitigation. Contact Your Naples Attorney, Megan M....

With over 25 years of legal experience, AnnaDanielle Carter, Esq., is a trusted advisor and thought leader in community association law. AnnaDanielle has built a career defined by her deep expertise in operational, management, and corporate decision-making issues, as well as her exceptional track record as a civil litigator in state, appellate, and federal courts. As a valued attorney at Hamilton Mikes, P.A., AnnaDanielle has been instrumental in supporting the firm's growth, representing over 300 common-interest associations, and delivering strategic solutions across a broad range of legal challenges. Her legal proficiency extends to matters involving The Florida Condominium Act, The...

Steven W. Ledbetter works from his Venice, Florida, office on matters involving estate planning and administration, business transactions and corporate law, real estate, construction law, contract, and title insurance matters. Steven W. Ledbetter has been practicing law since 2002. His practice has included work in a wide range of subject areas while representing a wide range of clients including the federal government, corporations, financial institutions, and individuals. His practice has taken him from the mountains and rain of Portland, OR, to the shops and great restaurants of Dallas, TX, and finally back to his home state of Florida...

I have guided and advised clients through their personal and commercial transactions in business and real estate, through their simple and complex estate planning situations and also through all forms of estate administration and probate.

Managing Attorney of Bates-Buchanan & Savtisky Law Group since 2011 when the private law firm Bates-Buchanan Law Group, which is now Bates-Buchanan & Savitsky Law Group added Susannah Savitsky as a partner in October 2012. Specializes in Probate, Estate Planning, Trust Managment, Collaborative non- litigation family law cases, as well as animal trust planning, real estate and collections law, foreclosure defense, landlord/tenant law and bankruptcy. Dawn Marie is a graduate of Venice High School, Venice, FL and University of South Florida in Tampa. She graduated from Stetson University College of Law in 1998 and worked for Community Legal Services of...

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...

Attorney Heather Harwell has been practicing law for 27 years, gaining extensive experience in litigation and consumer debt issues. Her practice is focused in Bankruptcy, Consumer Credit Card Defense, Debt Defense, Fair Debt Collection Practice Violation Actions and Consumer Credit Reporting Issues.