Balm Lawyers

STEPHEN J. LEAHU, is a registered patent attorney whose practice focuses on litigation, prosecution and transactional matters in all areas of intellectual property law, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, domain names, unfair competition, and trade secrets. He has represented clients in intellectual property litigation in various state and federal courts and before the ITC. Mr. Leahu has handled hundreds of applications for clients seeking patents and registration for trademarks and copyrights.

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...

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...

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...

We are a full-service law firm servicing clients in Tampa and throughout the State of Florida.

Alina Morros is a litigation lawyer at Fiol Law in Tampa, FL. In addition, she is a member of the Florida Bar and is also admitted to practice law in the Middle District of Florida.

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.

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.

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...

Ms. George began her career as a defense attorney, defending claims made against the largest automobile insurance carrier in Florida and its insureds. Although she gained invaluable experience and knowledge in that position, she quickly realized that she would be better suited fighting for the rights of those who are injured instead of defending a billion dollar insurance carrier. Armed with the knowledge of how insurance carriers evaluate and defend claims, Ms. George joined a prominent Clearwater personal injury firm as a litigation attorney handling various types of cases including: car accidents (including those involving DUI/punitive damages), slip/trip...

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...

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...

Kim started off her career as an Assistant Public Defender in Tampa. Since 1999 Kim has been focused on bringing justice to those harmed by others. She represents clients victimized by other individuals, unscrupulous insurance companies, institutions, and Nursing Homes.

Kim litigates cases involving:

Nursing home abuse/neglect
Assisted Living abuse/neglect
Medical malpractice
Automobile accidents
Wrongful death
Slip and Falls
Kim is Licensed to Practice in:

Florida
California
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
U.S. District Court, Middle District-Florida
U.S. District Court, Northern District-Florida
U.S. District Court, Southern District-Florida

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...

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...

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...

Elaine Thompson has been practicing law since 1989. She began her legal career working as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Appeals Division of the Florida Attorney General's Office in Tampa. Ms. Thompson work in private practice includes work on workers compensation matters, criminal appeals, civil appeals, civil litigation, family appeals, medical malpractice, and personal injury cases. As an Assistant Public Defender, she served as a supervisor of the Appellate Division, represented clients in Baker Act proceedings, and handled post-conviction matters.

Ms. Thompson decided to focus her practice on the most rewarding work she performs...

At the law office of D. Michael Elkins, P.A. in Brandon, Florida, representing the injured is all I do. When you have been hurt because of someone else's negligence or carelessness, you deserve to be compensated for medical bills, lost wages and other expenses resulting from your accident. Put my twenty-plus years of legal experience to work for you!

John Stokes, as Partner in Watson Sloane's Public Finance practice group, draws upon his extensive experience in public finance to provide legal counsel in all aspects of municipal and local government finance, including private activity bonds. John represents clients in a variety of financings, with a particular focus on school district, healthcare, county, municipality, special district, higher education, senior living and related financings. He has been involved as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, underwriters counsel and special counsel in his representations of issuers, lenders, borrowers, trustees and underwriters for over 34 years.

John has significant experience in the healthcare field,...

My practice has evolved over the years, based on changes in the Legislature, and other changes in the marketplace. I have always handled personal injury, and divorce matters, since 1994. I have been involved in automobile accidents as a victim, a litigant, and an attorney. Likewise, I have been a child of divorce, as well as a father of a child in a divorce. Due to these unique qualifications, I am able to navigate the waters with my clients, and understand most of what they are going through. I provide my clients an insight into...

Ms. Hooglander attended Cleveland Marshall College of Law and Cleveland State University after graduating from the University of Florida. She not only graduated with her juris doctor but also a master of public administration degree. Shortly after graduation, she began her legal career as an Assistant State Attorney with the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office. During her tenure there, she progressed from a county prosecutor to a top felony prosecutor. She gained the experience of over 25 jury trials and a wide array of bench trials during this time. In 2001 Ms. Hooglander began as...

Windy L. Wilkerson obtained her juris doctor with honors from Florida State University College of Law in 2001. Her professional legal services include the areas of personal injury, probate, family law, civil litigation, criminal defense, and workers' compensation. Her office, serving the Greater Tampa Bay area and surrounding counties, is located in Brandon, Florida 33511. There is easy parking and consultations are free!

Originally hailing from Maryland, Attorney William B. Wynne moved to Florida in 2001, and attended Valencia Community College and The University of Central Florida, earning an associate’s degree in general studies and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business, respectively. Mr. Wynne then went on to earn a law degree from The Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, in Orlando, Florida. Additionally, Mr. Wynne holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from The University of Central Florida.

Mr. Wynne currently resides in Tampa, where he runs his own law practice. He has represented clients in nearly a thousand different cases, including...

Françoise (Fran) M. Haasch has over two decades of experience representing victims of personal injury, as well as the surviving family members and loved ones of individuals who were wrongfully killed. With 100 percent of her practice focusing on plaintiffs’ personal injury and an emphasis on car and motorcycle accidents, Ms. Haasch provides devoted legal support for individuals and families throughout the Greater Tampa Bay Region and beyond. Her firm, The Fran Haasch Law Group, represents clients in Clearwater, Tampa, Palm Harbor, St. Petersburg, New Port Richey, and the surrounding areas.

Kevin L. Sullivan II was raised in Tampa, Florida. He attended First Baptist Christian High School and graduated Magna Cum Laude with Honors. He then attended Saint Leo University for his undergraduate education, where he graduated cum laude from the Honors Program with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. While at Saint Leo University, Kevin was a Resident Assistant, Vice President of Finance for the Student Government Union, and a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. Due to his superior involvement and dedication to the Fraternity, Kevin was the first undergraduate in the fraternity’s history, out of over 275,000 men,...

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...

Will Cantrell is an attorney who has spent his entire career representing businesses and individuals in matters relating to unfair competition, deceptive business practices, employment law and related business disputes. From jury trials and arbitrations, to dispositive motions and bench trials, he has an extraordinary track record. For five years in a row, he has been listed by Florida Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star.” Will completed his undergraduate studies at Mercer University. He received a master’s degree, cum laude, in international economics from Florida State University. He received his law degree, magna cum laude, from Florida State University College of...

Matthew Mincone is a dedicated personal injury attorney and the managing partner of Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers in Tampa, Florida. Specializing in personal injury litigation, Mr. Mincone adopts a hands-on approach, personally handling each case to ensure his clients receive both the compensation and respect they deserve. Unlike larger firms that often rely on case managers or paralegals for client interactions, Mr. Mincone remains deeply involved in every aspect of the process—from the initial consultation through to settlement or trial. Mr. Mincone’s legal journey began in New York, where he developed a broad foundation in civil, business, corporate, and real estate...

Don DeCort entered private practice in 1994 after an illustrious career in the U.S. Army, which culminated with his retirement as a colonel. He practiced with the firm of Anderson & Artigliere, PA from 1994 to 1995 and spent eight years as a partner in Holcomb & DeCort, P.A., from 1995 to 2003. He opened the Law Office of Donald P. DeCort, P.A. in 2003 and, along with Kristin R. H. Kirkner, Esquire, opened DeCort & Kirkner, P.L. July 1, 2010, and continues to concentrate his practice in the areas of family law, including military aspects of divorce and small...

GREGORY R. HANEY is a partner in the real estate practice group in the Tampa, Florida office of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP. Mr. Haney is AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, and was recognized by Super Lawyers as a 2009 Florida Rising Star. Mr. Haney has substantial experience in handling negotiation, financing, title, and all other aspects of commercial real estate transactions involving shopping centers, office buildings, retail centers, multi-family housing projects, and hotels, as well as related land use issues. Mr. Haney also has substantial experience in representing both landlords and tenants in commercial leasing transactions involving office, retail,...