Fort Walton Beach Lawyers

Stephen G. Cobb, author of Florida Criminal Law and a board certified expert in criminal trial law since 2002. He was most recently published in “Defending People with Disabilities”, an August 2024 publication of the American Bar Association. Mr. Cobb’s contribution was titled “Neuroimaging”, and teaches other lawyers how to use brain imaging in criminal cases. Whether you or someone you love is charged with a misdemeanor, criminal traffic, felony or juvenile crime, we are ready, willing and able to help you and your loved ones in your time of need.

C. Paul Brannon joined Brannon & Brannon in 2005 as a Destin and Fort Walton Beach personal injury lawyer. Mr. Brannon focuses on helping accident victims injured in car accidents, bicycle accidents, boating accidents, Uber & Lyft accidents, and workplace accidents. He also represents family members of accident victims in wrongful death cases, helping them to get compensation from the parties who caused their loved one’s death. Over his career, Mr. Brannon has recovered millions of dollars in compensation for his clients. Brannon & Brannon Personal Injury Attorneys is among the highest-rated law firms in the panhandle, with AV-rating from Martindale-Hubbell...

As the founder of The Virga Law Firm, P.A., Florida attorney Gerard Virga provides legal representation in the area of divorce and family law. Since the year 2004, he has been working in the legal field in Florida. Prior to the decision to found his own firm, Attorney Virga spent time as an Assistant Attorney General and associate at another firm. Mr. Virga received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and his Juris Doctor degree from the Samford University Cumberland School of Law. Learn more by contacting his firm today.

Jennifer H. Copus originally hails from Arab, Alabama, but has called the Emerald Coast home since moving to Fort Walton Beach, Florida in 2000 upon graduating from law school. Jennifer began her legal career as a criminal defense attorney with the Office of the Public Defender in Shalimar, Florida and later worked as a prosecutor with the Office of the State Attorney in Okaloosa and Walton Counties.

Jennifer now focuses on serving clients in the areas of corporate and business litigation, commercial litigation, condominium law and litigation, real property litigation, landlord/tenant law, foreclosure litigation, employment law and personal injury....

Dennis Brannon is a Destin and Fort Walton Beach personal injury lawyer. He founded the law firm Brannon & Brannon over 30 years ago. During that time, he has focused his practice on helping accident victims recover compensation for their injuries. Mr. Brannon ensures that no client feels like they are lost in the shuffle. Mr. Brannon has represented clients injured in all types of accidents, including car accidents, bicycle accidents, boating accidents, Uber & Lyft accidents, and workplace accidents. He has also helped family members of accident victims recover compensation from the people or businesses who are responsible for their...

The Bruner Law Firm works solely as Plaintiff’s personal injury lawyers, dedicated to assisting accident victims in Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, Niceville and throughout the entire Florida Panhandle.

Coy H. Browning graduated cum laude from Charleston Southern University in South Carolina, where he majored in criminal justice. A Pre-season All-American linebacker for the CSU Buccaneers, Coy was inducted into the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.After college, Coy graduated second in his class from the Florida Highway Patrol Training Academy, where he also earned the school’s prestigious Director’s Award for leadership. During his years serving as a Florida State Trooper, he investigated over 1,000 motor vehicle crashes. Building on his successful law enforcement career, Coy earned a law degree from Samford University’s Cumberland Law School in 2002. After...

My name is Tim Flaherty. I am a Fort Walton Beach criminal defense attorney. Since I passed the Bar in 2001, I have dedicated 100% of my practice to criminal defense. No matter what you are accused of, Flaherty & Merrifield will not judge you. We will defend you. We will fight for the best possible result in your case, and we will also do everything we can to minimize your stress. If you entrust Flaherty & Merrifield with your case, you will be treated with compassion and respect as you go through this crisis. We are available 24 hours...

I have been practicing for over 10 years and over 5000 court cases, ranging from DUIs and Domestic Violence charges–to the most serious and complex felony cases. I have had many jury trials and have represented those charged with capital offenses. I attended law school at the University of North Dakota. While there I focused on trial advocacy and litigation and worked some excellent attorneys at Zimney, Foster, P.C. I worked in the areas of Insurance Defense, Commercial Law, and Federal Criminal Law. After moving to Florida with my family, I started working as a prosecutor for child...

Shawn holds a Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from Florida State University, College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in History Education from the University of West Florida. Shawn has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1996, a member of the United States District Court, Northern District of Florida since 1997, and Board Certified as an expert in Juvenile Law since 2017.

Jay Patel is a Former Prosecutor and a Former Law Enforcement Officer with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. After Jay was admitted to the Florida Bar, he served as a prosecutor in Okaloosa and Walton Counties from 2013 to 2017. As an Assistant State Attorney, he spent years prosecuting thousands of crimes ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, some punishable by life in prison. Jay achieved success in prosecuting criminal cases that were before a jury, a judge, and the appellate court. Despite his success as a Florida Prosecutor, Jay decided it was time for a change. Thus, in 2017, Jay went...

Clark H. Henderson, originally from Waynesboro, Mississippi, is a 2007 graduate of the University of South Alabama and a 2011 graduate of the Cumberland School of Law, Sam ford University, in Birmingham, Alabama. During law school Clark interned at the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and with the Honorable Laura Petro, 10th Judicial Circuit, Criminal Division. He practiced in Birmingham, Alabama before being admitted to the Florida Bar. Clark is licensed to practice in both Florida and Alabama.

Stephen “Steve” Joseph Ryan was born in the Bronx, where his mother worked as a nurse and his father was an officer with the New York Police Department. In the early ’90s, Steve moved to Tallahassee, Florida to continue his studies at Florida State University’s College of Law, where he met fellow law student and his future law partner, Shawn Risen. In 1995, Steve graduated with honors and received a Juris Doctorate, and one year later, Steve and Shawn Risen established Risen & Ryan, Attorneys at Law.

My name is Brandy Merrifield. I am a criminal defense attorney and partner at Flaherty & Merrifield Criminal Defense. We serve Fort Walton Beach, Crestview, Destin, and all of Northwest Florida. I devote 100% of my practice to criminal defense. With my background in psychology, I bring a unique perspective to the resolution of criminal cases. My objective in all of my cases is aggressive defense coupled with compassion and understanding. No matter what you are accused of, Flaherty & Merrifield will not judge you. We will defend you. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help...

Attorney David Stevens is a third-generation resident of Okaloosa County. A proud Seminole, David graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University before earning his Juris Doctorate from the Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach, VA. He currently resides in Niceville, FL with his wife and three-year-old daughter.

David was sworn in to practice law in Florida in 2010, and soon joined a civil litigation law firm in Santa Rosa Beach as an associate attorney. He went on to become a prosecutor with the State Attorney's Office in Shalimar, FL, and served in that capacity for...

Jeff founded Burns Firm in 2021 to serve hard-working individuals and small businesses needing legal services to start, grow, and protect their livelihoods and nest eggs. Jeff has experienced thousands of lawsuits as a former commercial litigator and former Circuit Court judge, and he can draw on this wealth of experience to assist his clients with their needs. Jeff concentrates his law practice on business law, real estate law, property law, water law, asset-protection law, and simple estate planning. Before he took the bench as a Circuit Court judge, Jeff concentrated on complex commercial litigation, local government representation, and appellate law....

I have been practicing law for over 17 years and for the majority of that time have practiced in some area of family law. In the last three years, however, I have devoted my practice on a full time basis to areas of family law and probate document preparation. The technicalities and long term implications of handling family law matters are often less than obvious. The legal forms available for pro se individuals are sometimes insufficient to address all the long term effects of decisions made today. Though engaging an attorney in what seems to be...

Attorney and Founder of Compass Immigration P.A., Caroline Larochelle Nadeau is originally from Quebec, Canada. In 2015 she immigrated to the United States on a K-1 Fiance Visa to be with her husband, a member of the U.S. Military. As an immigrant herself, she has first-hand knowledge of the stress that can be caused by navigating the immigration process. As a military spouse, she has had the privilege of assisting many military members and their families with their immigration needs. Her experiences, both professional and personal, allow her to better prepare and assist her clients through...

The Rubin Law Firm dedicates its practice exclusively to areas of marital and family law. Mark S. Rubin is an experienced trial attorney who has been practicing and litigating cases in Okaloosa County, Walton County, Santa Rosa County, Escambia County, and surrounding counties for over 18 years. The Rubin Law Firm offers skilled representation and advice in all family law and divorce matters.

Practice includes, among other things: Civil Litigation, Civil Trial, Commercial Litigation, Construction, Consumer Law, Contracts, Debtor and Creditor issues, Dispute Resolution, Insurance, Litigation/Trial Advocacy/Advocacy, Mediation, Product Liability.

The Bruner Law Firm works solely as Plaintiff’s Personal Injury lawyers, dedicated to assisting accident victims in Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, Niceville and throughout the entire Florida Panhandle.

Robert A. “Trey” Goodwin III earned his bachelor’s degree in Building Construction from the University of Florida in 2001, and his Juris Doctor degree from the Florida State University School of Law in 2005.

Trey founded the law firm of Robert A. Goodwin III, P.A., and represents clients in the areas of real estate, construction, estate planning, and probate law. Trey also gained significant experience in public service leadership as a member of the Fort Walton Beach City Council (2011 – 2014); and as Okaloosa County Commissioner for District 4 since November 2014.

Trey lives in Fort Walton Beach with his wife,...

Shiraz practices primarily in the areas of bankruptcy (debtor and creditor), estates, trusts, wills, probate litigation, landlord/tenant, business law, and general civil law. For over 35 years, Shiraz has made Lower Alabama his home. After graduating from Niceville Senior High School, Shiraz graduated with distinction from Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Roll Tide) and earned his law degree with honors from Miami (The U). Shiraz has been with ASG since 2001 and is an active member of the All Sports Association, is a participant in the voluntary legal clinic for the Veterans' Stand Down and is a proud uncle of many...

Specializing in patent applications and patent searches in the mechanical, electro-mechanical, electrical and electronic, software, Internet and business method arts as well as providing related services including licensing agreements and prototype referrals. Helping clients obtain federal trademark protection.

Attorney Information Meet Michael Leininger Attorney Michael R. Leininger began his legal career in real estate law and commercial law serving small businesses in a variety of ways. Since founding Leininger Law Firm, P.A., in Destin, Florida, he has become increasing involved with family law, criminal defense and estate planning/probate for individuals. Litigation has always been an important portion of his legal practice and he has extended that into the area of personal injury, contract law, contract disputes and commercial litigation. Known for his rigorous attention to detail and his commitment to being overly-accessible at all times, he is a lawyer with unwavering honesty,...

| Board Certified Specialist in Real Estate Law (Florida) | "Rising Star" Rating by Super Lawyers | AV Preeminent & Client Champion Ratings by Martindale-Hubbell | 10.0/10.0 "Superb" & "Top Attorney" Ratings by Avvo | Florida Real Estate Litigation Attorney | Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator (Circuit & Appellate) & Qualified Arbitrator | Cranford Law, PL | Phone: (850) 502-3353 | Email: info@cranford.law I have focused my practice on issues involving Real Estate Litigation, Transactions, and Government Relations since my career began and, as a result, each new year of practice pays dividends in the knowledge I gain to help future clients in those areas. In addition to that...

At the Wheeler Firm, you’ll find an experienced legal team that is aggressive, knowledgeable and honest; a team who is proud of our reputation for treating every client with the dignity, respect, and attentiveness they deserve. Fighting for the rights of our clients through every step of the process, we strive for a speedy, thorough, and ironclad results that suit the long-term needs of each individual.

The Firm was founded by attorney Andrew D. Wheeler. Andrew has built a reputation as being a strong representative for his clients. Relentlessly pursuing the best possible outcome for each of his clients, he works...

Scott Critzer began working in the construction and real estate business more than 30 years ago, after graduating from Virginia Tech’s top ranked Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Scott worked first as an engineer for a commercial developer and later as a development project manager. Continuing his education, Scott graduated from Georgia State University College of Law in 1993, and has been a member of the State Bar of Georgia since that time. The Critzer Law Firm opened in Atlanta where Scott worked litigating real estate cases and performed real...