Lorida Criminal Lawyers

Steven Bell is a criminal defense attorney and partner at the law firm Meltzer & Bell, P.A. With extensive knowledge of the Florida court system, Bell represents clients with a range of criminal charges, including DUI, drug offenses, and violent crimes. After graduating magna cum laude from Nova Southeastern University Bell became licensed to practice law in the state of Florida in 2004. Immediately, he joined the Broward County Public Defender's Office in the Juvenile Division as an Assistant Public Defender. In just three short years Bell was placed in the Felony Division in 2007. ...

Former Assistant State Attorney in Palm Beach County and a US Air Force Retired Military Officer with 20 years in law enforcement. Graduated cum laude from the University of Maryland School of Law and have a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology from the University of Maryland. As a former Prosecutor, I handled thousands of cases such as, Retail Thefts, Suspended License, Driving Under the Influence, Narcotics Possession, Grand Theft, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Attempted First Degree Murder. I have done over 50 trials before 10 different judges. I served as Division...

Daniel J. Fernandez defends individuals charged with misdemeanor and felony criminal offenses throughout the Tampa Bay area and the State of Florida. With more than 30 years experience as a criminal defense attorney and hundreds of jury trials, Daniel earned tremendous accolades from judges, other lawyers, defendants and even jurors. Daniel started his legal career as a state prosecutor and became the chief of the Narcotics division before opening his own law practice in 1985. Daniel and members of his staff are fluent in Spanish and are available to answer questions you may have regarding a recent injury or...

Jeff Thomas is a Tampa criminal defense lawyer at Thomas & Paulk, P.A. He is a Florida native and graduate of Stetson College of Law. Throughout his career, he has handled more than 3,500 criminal cases. He is experienced with non-jury cases, jury trials, and traffic cases.

I have been practicing law since 1992 when I began as a Assistant State Attorney in the Tampabay area, In 1996 I entered private practice in an effort to share my experience with clients seeking legal help. My background includes 10 years of law enforcement experience as a patrolmen, K-9 officer and organized crime detective. I was trained by the DEA in narcotics investigations and worked on local and Federal task force. My experience includes investigating fatal traffic crashes, K-9 handler, covert investigations, state prosecution and extensive criminal defense including traffic and serious felony trials. I have represented injured families...

Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney, Ben Stechschulte, is a board-certified expert in criminal trial law. He has been practicing in the Tampa Bay area for nearly 15 years and has tried over 60 cases to verdict.  His experience is both varied and comprehensive, which makes him uniquely qualified to aggressively and effectively defend his clients who are facing criminal charges or have been injured in an accident. Ben attended Stetson University College of Law, which is recognized as one of the top law schools in the country for trial advocacy.  After graduating in 2005, Ben served as a prosecutor in Hillsborough County.  Ben...

As a former prosecutor, I understand the complexities of working a case inside and outside a courtroom. Having experience working in cases involving investigators, law enforcement, civilian witnesses, evidence departments, parenting coordinators, guardian ad litem coordinators and attorneys, Department of Children and Families’ case managers and attorneys, as well as counsel for other parties, I have been able to understand and have the ability to work towards the resolution of any situation, in my covered areas of law. As a current Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator, as well as, an attorney for children (Attorney ad...

Experienced Florida trial attorneys fighting for the injured and the accused.

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...

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...

Now Open – January 2025! With more than 25 years of experience in criminal law, Rocky Brancato has established himself as a leading attorney in the Tampa Bay legal community. As a seasoned criminal trial attorney, he worked his way up to the role of second-in-command at the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office before launching The Brancato Law Firm, P.A., in January 2025. Rocky has a wealth of experience handling high-stakes criminal cases, including homicides and sex offenses, from his tenure in a specialized major crimes division. Throughout his career, Rocky has consistently taken on complex and serious cases, demonstrating an unwavering...

Christopher Largey began his legal career with the Lake and Citrus County Public Defender’s Office, where he successfully tried cases ranging from DUI issues to attempted murder. Mr. Largey then joined a local personal injury law firm in 2002 and quickly became the top producer and litigator in that firm.

In 2005, Mr. Largey began Largey Law a personal injury and auto accident law firm with offices in Lake County and Citrus County. He has handled cases throughout Central Florida and has secured millions of dollars in compensation on behalf of his clients. In 2014, Mr. Largey received the prestigious AV®...

Born and raised in Tampa, Drew attended Tampa Preparatory High School and then graduated from New College of Florida, The State’s Honors College, in Sarasota. During Law School at the University of Florida, Drew interned as a student law clerk for both State and Federal Judges in Tampa and worked as a certified legal intern at the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office.

At the State, Drew was able to conduct voir dire (jury selection) and prosecute criminal jury trials before he graduated from law school. It was during this later experience that he came to understand the invaluable...

Attorney Jackson Hilliard has lived in St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay area for the past ten years. Mr. Hilliard received his Bachelor’s degree in 1988 from the University of Central Florida. He earned his law degree in 2006 from Stetson College of Law. He is a member of multiple associations, including the Florida Bar, Clearwater Bar, St. Petersburg Bar, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyer. Mr. Hilliard is the leading attorney at his Clearwater law firm, Hilliard Law, P.L. At the firm, he provides Florida residents with criminal and DUI...

Originally from the great State of Texas, Mr. Archer has sought the practice of law as his second career. After graduating high school in 1992, Mr. Archer enlisted in the US Air Force and served as a Munitions Systems Specialist and a Training Manager/Instructor until he discharged in 2000. Upon completion of his bachelors degrees at McMurry University (Science) and University of Central Oklahoma (Business Admin.), he attended Barry University School of Law and received his Juris Doctorate in 2005. Mr. Archer began his practice in 2006 and has continued in the areas of Family Law and...

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.

Drew McLaughlin is a dedicated attorney who represents those facing criminal charges and others seeking help through personal injury claims in South Florida. McLaughlin serves clients throughout Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties as an attorney with McLaughlin Morris, P.A., the firm he co-founded in 2014. McLaughlin attended Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, where he received a bachelors of arts in both history and Spanish, graduating magna cum laude. He then turned his focus to law school at the University of Florida's Levin College of Law, where he earned his start in the legal field as a Certified Legal...

Jeffrey Morris is an experienced defense attorney and co-founder of McLaughlin Morris, P.A. who serves those facing criminal charges and personal injury matters in Delray Beach, Florida and the surrounding areas. He has a passion for providing each customer with personal care to meets his or her individual needs. With more than a decade of experience as a prosecutor and an attorney, he is able to apply his knowledge of Florida's courtrooms to the challenging situations that his clients face. This dedication to every matter can be seen in his work ethic and educational background. After studying...

At the Strategic Legal Group, I am part of a team that excels in providing comprehensive and strategic counsel to businesses, ensuring the protection of legal interests for both domestic and international enterprises. My role primarily involves guiding corporate entities toward legal compliance and resolution in various areas. I handle the drafting, evaluation, and advisory services related to contracts covering essential aspects such as commercial transactions, commercial property, and business acquisitions. My responsibilities also include scrutinizing and negotiating commercial leases, marketing agreements, vendor agreements, technology and software licensing (including SaaS agreements), employment contracts, termination agreements, confidentiality and non-compete agreements, adherence...

Jack A. Kaleita graduated from Stetson University College of Law, was admitted to the Bar in 1986 and began his legal career as a state prosecutor on Florida's west coast. He then returned to Central Florida after 5 years, serving as an Assistant State Attorney in Seminole County for an additional 12 years. As a prosecutor, Mr. Kaleita tried numerous cases involving virtually every type of criminal charge. In addition to taking dozens of criminal cases to trial himself, he taught and supervised other attorneys, first as a Lead Trial Attorney, and later as the Misdemeanor/Traffic Division Chief and as the...

Omar Abdelghany is a criminal defense attorney practicing in Tampa Bay, Florida and the surrounding area. He graduated cum laude from California Western School of Law in San Diego, California. He is licensed with the Florida Bar and is also licensed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida. Omar's experience includes having completed a judicial externship with Justice Terry O'Rourke at the California Fourth District Court of Appeals and his having worked as a trial attorney at the Palm Beach Public Defender's Office....

With over 29 years of trial experience, attorney Michael Herring has zealously represented those that have been accused of all crimes, the injured and small business interests in all state courts of Central Florida. Herring and Herring P.A., a third generation Sanford Fl Law Firm, is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, conveniently located in the County Seat of Sanford, Seminole County, Florida. As a criminal defense lawyer, Michael Herring has been representing the accused for more than two decades in Central Florida. He handles a wide variety of cases ranging from high profile felonies to simple misdemeanors. Mr. Herring...

Paul A. Meissner was born in New York and moved to Florida with his family as a child. He is a graduate of Clearwater High School. He co-founded the Carlson & Meissner law firm with Edward Carlson in 1971. Paul and his wife Jayne have five children & thirteen grandchildren. They enjoy boating and traveling. In the past, Paul and Jayne have traveled extensively by motorcycle.

I am a native of central Georgia until I moved to Florida in 2011. While in Georgia, I attended Georgia Institute of Technology for Aerospace Engineering and obtained my degree in Business Administration and Business Economics from Georgia State University. After graduating from Georgia State in 2010, I moved to central Florida to attend Barry University School of Law, starting August 2011. In summer of 2012, I began an internship for a criminal defense attorney in Orlando, focusing on white collar defense. By late 2012, I was gaining experience family law matters and made the decision to shift...

St. Petersburg/ Clearwater DUI, CRIMINAL AND PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY I have more than 24 years of courtroom experience and I have tried more than 80 cases. I am a former 6 year Pinellas County Prosecutor. If you have been arrested or charged with a crime, contact me today for a free initial consultation at 727-538-4155 or visit my website www.montronelaw.com.

Edward Kone has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Lafayette College, 1984, and a J.D. Degree from University of Miami Law School, 1987. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in November of 1987. He has conducted numerous Jury Trials and is in Court in Palm Beach, Broward and Dade counties on almost a daily basis. In over twenty-five years of practice, he has handled over a thousand criminal cases, over 500 personal injury cases, and close to 10,000 traffic tickets.

Understanding my clients' experiences allows me to represent them on a personal level, which can significantly impact their cases. Seeking challenges in my career, I joined the Brevard County Public Defender's Office after law school, eventually moving to the Pinellas County Public Defender's Office. Working in the public defender's system has been an incredible learning experience, collaborating with brilliant trial attorneys who provide hope for our clients. Having handled thousands of criminal cases, I understand that behind every name and case number is a unique story, enabling me to empathize with my clients and earn their trust for an unwavering...

Ms. Stover is an attorney with extensive knowledge and experience in a wide variety of legal matters including family law (divorce, custody, child support), criminal and traffic (DUI/DWI, theft, Post-Conviction Petitions), personal injury (auto accidents, pedestrian accidents, slip and falls), and immigration (naturalization, adjustment of status, and asylum).

After graduating law school, Ms. Stover clerked for the Honorable Marielsa A. Bernard of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD. Throughout her clerkship, Ms. Stover not only gained knowledge of the law and the inner workings of the courthouse, but she also gained extensive insight into a wide variety of family law...

We are a law firm based in the heart of Tampa with expertise in Family Law, Discrimination and Business Litigation. Our lawyers have collective experience of over 35 years handling cases just like yours. We are a boutique law firm focused on your rights and making sure that those rights are taken care of.

Our attorneys are able to provide the skills and expertise that may be found at larger firms without the overhead expenses many of these larger law firms typically pass on to its clients. We are passionate about helping to build our community and its businesses and work...

Former State Prosecutor Serving Tampa Bay and Pasco County areas

Tracee L. Ivins graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology. After graduation she worked for the State of Florida as a certified investigator, before deciding to pursue a law degree. As an attorney Ms. Ivins has handled files from inception all the way to a jury verdict. Her experience has included claims involving serious bodily injury, product liability injury and wrongful death arising from auto accidents, slip and falls, dog bites, negligent security, motorcycle and tractor trailer accidents.

Lawsuits including Negligence, Breach of Contract, Negligent Entrustment, Uninsured Motorist Insurance Claims, Under-Insured Motorists Insurance disputes, Wrongful Death, Bad...

Michael C. Minardi is the Senior Partner at Minardi Law. For over 16 years, Michael has dedicated his practice to fighting for clients charged with cannabis crimes and advocating for cannabis law reform. His passion has driven him to learning and understanding medical cannabis laws in the State of Florida and throughout the country.

Michael’s practice represents clients in corporate cannabis consulting, application preparation, lobbying, forfeiture matters, and criminal matters. He has won many medical cannabis cases, including several landmark high-profile cases in Florida. He won the first and second jury trials in Florida presenting the medical necessity...

Amy Ruiz received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Marketing and International Economics from the University of Florida in 2000. She received her Juris Doctorate from the Florida State College of Law in 2004. While at Florida State, Ms. Ruiz was a member of the Journal of Transnational Law & Policy. She also participated in the Institute on World Legal Problems where she studied Comparative Constitutional Law at the University of Innsbruck, in Austria, with Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court Antonin Scalia.

Upon graduating law school, Ms. Ruiz, a Tampa native, returned to Tampa and commenced...

Lee Pearlman was born and raised in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, a small town just outside of Harrisburg.

He attended college at the University of Maryland, College Park where he received two bachelor of arts degrees and two minors. While in college he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and served two years in the Military Police.

After college Lee moved to St. Petersburg where he attended Stetson University College of Law. While there Lee was a member of Stetson's top nationally-ranked Trial Team and Alternative Dispute Resolution Board. He was the recipient of the Ralph Harris Ferrel...

Whitney C. Coyne received his Juris Doctorate from The Florida State University College of Law in 2001. He has been a member of the Florida Bar since 2002 and during that time has had the opportunity to litigate thousands of cases.Coyne Law, P.A. is dedicated to zealously advocating on behalf of our clients. Attorney Whitney Coyne has been practicing in the Sarasota/Bradenton area for over 15 years. During that time, he has accumulated a wealth of knowledge to assist his clients with any situation or need that has arisen due to their legal issues. Mr. Coyne began his career as...

Attorney Jay M. Arnesen is a fierce fighter for those who find themselves in desperate situations. If you have been arrested for DUI or a crime in Fort Lauderdale, you need an experienced lawyer who is educated, prepared, experienced and willing to go the extra mile for you. After being arrested, the stakes couldn’t be higher as your freedom, reputation, job and permanent criminal record are on the line. If you have been arrested for a DUI, you need a criminal defense lawyer who will stand up to the Assistant State’s Attorney and level the playing field. You need a...

Fighting Tickets in Lake, Sumter, Hernando,& Marion County, Florida.

Ernest L. Chang is an experienced Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer, having practiced exclusively in the field of Criminal Defense since his admission to the Florida Bar in 1990. Mr. Chang obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida and his Juris Doctor degree in law from Nova Southeastern University. Mr. Chang has also appeared pro hac vice, in other jurisdictions, most recently in the State of Arizona. Past experiences include prosecuting Felony trials as a Certified Legal Intern with the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office, Former Public Defender with the 18th Judicial Circuit and Criminal Defense with...

I have been practicing as a criminal defense attorney since 2006 and currently manage my own firm, Jordan H. Kramer, P.A. Prior to opening my firm, I worked as a partner with Howze, Monaghan, Theriac & Kramer, PLC and before that I worked as an Assistant Public Defender in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit (Brevard County) where I quickly earned the reputation as a zealous advocate of my clients constitutional rights. I have successfully defended hundreds of misdemeanor and felony cases in both the Circuit and County Court. During law school, I worked as an extern with the Wayne County...