Otter Creek Family Lawyers

Clay Smith has a very diverse background, having grown up in Florida, California, and Iran. Clay attended high school in Stockton, California (Benjamin Franklin) and in Jacksonville, Florida (Ed White and Douglas Anderson School of the Arts). After high school he joined the United States Marine Corps, where he served honorably for 5+ years until his humanitarian discharge to provide living assistance for his younger brother, also a Marine, who broke his neck and was rendered quadriplegic. During the period shortly after his discharge, Clay performed a variety of jobs, including ditch digging. Along the way, he...

With deep roots in Pinellas County as a fourth-generation resident, Shelly Beach brings a profound commitment to her clients and community. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida before continuing her legal education at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Shelly has spent over 20 years honing her litigation and negotiation skills across various family law and civil legal matters. Her primary focus is on guiding individuals through the complexities of family law issues. Known for her desire to understand, promote open communication, and deliver thoughtful advice, Shelly ensures that her clients feel supported and confident...

After graduating and passing the bar exam, Justin was hired by Bernie McCabe, the State Attorney for the 6th Judicial Circuit. Soon after he had joined this office, he was selected to run the North County Traffic Court. In this capacity, Justin gained a wealth of experience with DUI/DWI prosecution and other traffic-related cases. His involvement in this area of case law made him the logical choice when other state attorneys needed training. Justin’s passionate pursuit of justice included ride alongs with Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office deputies in the DUI Wolf Pack made a serious impression with many stakeholders in the...

I earned my Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Central Florida, where I primarily focused on the works of women writers of color alongside those of many prominent American authors. Following this, I pursued a law degree at Thomas M. Cooley Law School, graduating cum laude with a Juris Doctorate. During my time in law school, I held the position of treasurer for the Straight and Gay Alliance. My academic pursuits continued as I delved into the writings of American authors who focused on the history of law. Additionally, I studied compliance law, which involved understanding...

Jose I. Rivas graduated with honors from Rollins College in 1993 with a Bachelor’s Degree majoring in Political Science and History. Throughout the late 1990’s Jose served as managing partner in several hospitality business ventures. He was responsible for launching numerous new successful business ventures. As a result of his extensive corporate experience, Jose decided to pursue a legal education at FAMU College of Law in 2003. During his legal education, Jose was elected to fundraiser committee of HALSA (Hispanic American Latino Student Association) at FAMU College of Law. Jose was a top achiever in the contracts negotiation class. Prior to...

At our firm, we have a wealth of experience in representing businesses across various sectors, including insurance claims, real estate, and commercial litigation. I focus on areas such as property, premise, and personal liability, alongside real estate litigation. My services extend to representing buyers, sellers, and lenders in both residential and commercial real estate transactions. I also represent employers, carriers, third-party administrators, and self-insurers throughout all litigation phases. Additionally, my firm manages a range of other legal matters, including commercial collections, and representing creditors in wage garnishments and bankruptcy proceedings. I understand the critical role I play in addressing our clients'...