Indian River Shores Domestic Violence Lawyers

Lisa Figueroa is the founding attorney of the Florida Defense Team, PA. She has been practicing law since 2003 and almost exclusively in the area of "criminal defense", a misnomer given that really she sees her work as "people defense" or the defense of those accused of committing crime.

Lisa Figueroa has dedicated her life to fighting for the rights of others. She is originally from Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, but lived a great deal of her life in Central Texas and moved to Central Florida to finish college. The rich diversity that Florida provided allowed her to pursue...

EXPERIENCE: President, University of Miami School of Law Family Law Society 1999-2000, Criminal Law Society, Author: Drugs a Process of Death Florida Police Chiefs Association, Computer Animation Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Will it Become Tomorrow's New Form of Substantive Evidence? If so, Should it Be? University of Miami School of Law. CALI Award for RICO University of Miami School of Law, Member Golden Key National Honors Society University of Central Florida; Chief of Police City Of Oak Hill Florida 1988-1991Youngest Police Chief In Florida; Lake County Sheriff's Office, Investigator in Charge of Intelligence and Organized Crime 1985-1988; Lead Investigator 5th...

I received my undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from Florida International University in 1995. I then received my Masters in Business Administration degree from Florida Institute of Technology. I later received my Juris Doctorate degree from Florida A&M University. This educational background helps me understand many of the concerns that my clients share with me regarding their interest in small and/or family owned businesses.

I am a member of the following professional organizations:

The Florida Bar
The Orange County Bar Association
The Osceola County Bar Association

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...

As a previous Broward County Special Unit Felony Prosecutor in the Sexual Battery Unit in the State Attorney's Office, Lawrence Michael Meltzer, Esquire, is a talented protection legal counselor who got his beginning on the opposite side of criminal law in the Fort Lauderdale territory, arraigning those blamed for violations. He now utilizes that information to battle for the privileges of those same Broward County people. In 1994, Mr. Meltzer moved on from American University in Washington, D.C., with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice. In the wake of working in the private division for a long time,...

Cheri Hobbs is a co-owner and managing partner of Compass Law. Cheri grew up in a family where service was not just something that was talked about, but something that was practiced daily in their lives. As a daughter of missionaries, she grew up helping people from all walks of life. From living with Indian tribes in the Amazon forest, to serving the needy in orphanages, to taking in domestic violence victims into their home, Cheri has always seen first-hand the real need that exists in all of humanity. It is this perspective and sincere compassion that propelled her into...

Michelle Merson, Esq. graduated from Nova Southeastern University School of Law in 1992.
After working side by side with a prominent criminal defense attorney for 12 years on every type of criminal felony and misdemeanor cases, Michelle decided Misdemeanor crimes needed to be the focus of her practice. Misdemeanors and only misdemeanors. Why? “My experience has shown me that misdemeanor cases are routinely not given the priority they deserve,” Michelle explains. “I feel a need to provide these often forgotten clients with a high level of personal service and attention.”

Because she realizes that a person charged with a misdemeanor is...

Experience: • More than 30 years experience • Former Prosceutor for Orange and Osceola County • Handled Capitol Cases involving the Death Penalty • Handled Thousands of Criminal Cases • Handled Thousands of DUI and Traffic Cases Licensed To Practice: • United States Supreme Court • United States District Court Middle District Florida • All Florida State Courts

Attorney Feulner graduated from Rollins College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Behavior and received his Juris Doctorate degree from the Florida State University College of Law. Attorney Feulner is the sole shareholder of the Men’s Divorce Law Firm, with an office in Orlando, Florida. Feulner has been practicing law for 20 years and holds an AV Preeminent rating with Martindale Hubbell. Prior to his law school graduation, Attorney Feulner served as a judicial intern at the First District Court of Appeal for the Honorable Judge Stephan Mickle, now a federal court judge, and clerked for the Tallahassee...

Eric Barker earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Florida in 1989 and went on to earn his J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law in 1992. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1992 and is currently admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Eric has been rated as a preeminent lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell and has earned an AV rating, the highest rating given by the organization, which is a nationally recognized attorney rating service. As a former Assistant Public Defender, Mr. Barker took several dozen...

Once you become involved in the criminal justice system every decision matters. You should not be forced to make serious decisions without the advice of an attorney. Every word you say or even what you don't say can be used against you. The decisions you make will have lifelong consequences on you, your family and your friends. The decisions can affect your employment, housing, driving privileges, immigration, voting rights, and rights to own or possess a gun. You need an attorney that will aggressively fight for you and protect your rights.

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...

South Florida has been my home for nearly all my life. I grew up in North Broward / South Palm Beach County, with two single parents who divorced when I was four. People often asked me whether having divorced parents was difficult, and my answer was always “no” because they made the transition relatively seamless. As a child, I got to go on two vacations, have two bedrooms, and spend lots of quality time with both of my parents, albeit separately. It was the best decision my parents made for themselves, and for me.

I got my...

Rafael was born and raised in Polk County, Florida, and graduated from Auburndale High School in 1984. Rafael received his B.A. degree from the University of Florida and his Juris Doctor degree from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1997. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in April of 1998, and initially served as an Assistant Public Defender, handling a variety of cases. After just a few months as a misdemeanor attorney, Rafael was quickly promoted to Felony, where he was responsible for cases ranging from drug possession to murder. Rafael soon established...

Anton J. Nace, Esq. has served the Central Florida community as a criminal defense attorney for 22 years. Mr. Nace was born and raised in Florida and is well known throughout the legal community, possessing a strong reputation amongst attorneys and judges in the Orlando area and throughout the State of Florida. Mr. Nace began his career as an Assistant State Attorney in Orlando, Florida. He handled misdemeanor and felony cases before accepting a position in a specialized unit that dealt with Sex Crimes and Child Abuse. He furthered his career as a partner in several law firms, distributing his...

Attorney Neal T. McShane has been a resident of the Central Florida area since 1978. Neal earned his bachelor's degree from Kent State University, and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Akron School of Law. As a U.S. Army Lieutenant, he served in Vietnam and later as a Captain in the U.S. Army, Ohio National Guard. Neal was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge and numerous other awards and decorations. In 1980, he graduated from the Investigation and Prosecution of Organized Crime and Fraud Program at Cornell Institute on Organized Crime, Cornell University Law School. Neal...

Thomas B. Luka, Esq. is a native Central Floridian who has provided clients with exceptional courtroom representation and guidance for over 16 years. As a partner at the law firm of Adams & Luka, P.A., Mr. Luka has an extensive background in litigation, and has been lead counsel on more than 150 criminal and civil trials. Mr. Luka has appeared as a legal analyst on local and national talk shows such as CNN, CNBC, Fox News, Nancy Grace, Geraldo Rivera, Jane Velez Mitchell and Court TV.

Thomas Luka began his law career as an Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade,...

David Haenel protects the rights of the accused. His firm,The Law Place, has offices in Sarasota, Tampa, Orlando, and Clearwater but they represent people throughout the State of Florida. David is the former 2004 State of Florida DUI Prosecutor of the Year and has spent his entire legal career representing individuals charged with traffic and criminal traffic violations. David and his team of lawyers are relentless in their legal representation and are not satisfied until they have exhausted all possible defenses.

Grozinger Law is a law firm focused on criminal defense in the heart of downtown Orlando, Florida. Patrick Grozinger is the founder of Grozinger Law, and is an experienced criminal trial attorney dedicated to protecting his client's Constitutional rights while providing them with the courtesy, respect and professionalism they deserve. Mr. Grozinger is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida, the State of Texas, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and the Northern, Middle and Southern District Courts of Florida. He is proficient in French, and he is also a member...

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.

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,...

Attorney Hillary Johnson is a former prosecutor who brings experience and exceptional legal knowledge to each case she tries. She holds a degree in communication from Florida State University and Juris Doctor from the Jones School of Law at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama. While she was in law school, Ms. Johnson completed an internship with the State Attorney’s Office in Panama City. After graduation, she worked as an attorney with Florida’s Department of Children and Families before accepting a position at the State Attorney’s Office in Manatee County and Sarasota. It was while she was at the...

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...

Matthew Kaylor was born and raised in Polk County, Florida and graduated from Winter Haven High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Florida State University and his law degree from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. Matthew worked for 3 years at the State Attorney's Office in Bartow as a prosecutor. He has been in private practice with his brother David for the past 7 years. He has tried over 70 jury trials and helped falsely accused people be acguitted of crimes ranging from DUI to petit theft to first degree murder. Matthew is a trial...

I am an AV-Rated Florida Bar Board Certified Criminal Trial Expert, and a former prosecutor and journalist. I take a “crisis management” approach to criminal law, utilizing my extensive criminal law and public relations background to help ordinary people accused by the government of wrongdoing. I approach each case on two fronts: ensuring my clients’ constitutional rights and freedoms are protected, and portraying clients in the best possible light to judges, prosecutors and juries. I hold the government to its obligation to prove a client’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, but also recognize the possibility that clients may someday...

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...

Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, I attended the University of Florida for undergrad and the University of Miami School of Law. I moved back to Orlando after law school to be close to my family and started my career at the Public Defender's Office. After that, I opened a boutique law firm to focus on getting my clients the attention they deserve to solve the particular problems they have. Whether it's a DUI, a divorce, or a car accident injury, the focus is on the client, preserving their rights, and getting the best possible outcome for...

Susan has been practicing criminal defense for over 13 years, having tried more than 100 jury trials and handled thousands of cases, ranging from driving and drug offenses to sexual battery and homicide cases. Also, she was a member of the International Moot Court and Intercultural Human Rights Law Review. Susan has always loved to litigate and help others, using her voice, knowledge, skills, and passion to zealously advocate and make a difference in the lives of others.

Jill E. Cabai, a former prosecutor now practicing criminal defense and family law, graduated Cum Laude from the University of Central Florida in Orlando Florida where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Environmental Studies. She earned her Juris Doctorate from the Florida State College of Law. She graduated from law school with a Certificate in Land Use and a Certificate in Environmental Law. She was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2007. Ms. Cabai has been practicing criminal law for the past twelve years. Ms. Cabai is a seasoned and talented trial attorney...

Jose A. Diaz, Esq. New York University School of Law, Juris Doctor; Columbia University, Columbia College, Bachelor of Arts, Admitted: New York, Florida and Federal Courts. Former Assistant District Attorney New York County, Former Counsel to the Office of the Inspector General, NYC Department of Investigations, Former Administrative Law Judge NYSDMV.

Are you suffering through problems regarding filing for bankruptcy, or worries about a foreclosure defense? Has your life seemed to take a downward spiral now that problems regarding your finances appear to take up a majority of it? There are thousands of people that find themselves suffering through the same situation, so turn to the careful attention that a professional from Griffiths & Smitherman, PL will be able to provide. It’s with this solid team that you will finally have the chance to leave your heartbreak behind and bring it the honest study that’s desired. It’s time to invest in...

Justin G. Hausler has worked in the criminal area of practice since being admitted to the Florida Bar. He began his legal career as a Prosecutor for the 18th Judicial Circuit in Seminole County, FL as an Assistant State Attorney. While serving as a Prosecutor, Mr. Hausler conducted many jury trials regarding Driving under the influence (DUI), driving while license suspended/cancelled/revoked (DWLS), drug, domestic violence, theft, violation of probation and various other types of cases. After serving as an Assistant State Attorney, Mr. Hausler dedicated himself to representing individuals that had been accused in the criminal justice system. In...

Ronald M. Zakarin is licensed to practice law in Florida, New York and the District of Columbia. He specializes in domestic relations, personal injury, and medical malpractice. Ron has nearly 30 years of litigation experience and has successfully tried family law matters and medical malpractice/wrongful death cases throughout the State of Florida. Ron’s dedication to his clients is second to none. He works diligently to resolve cases where he can, and tries them in the court of law when he must. Ron has tried complex divorce cases involving business valuations, vocational assessments, social...