Groveland Lawyers

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.

After graduating from Harvard, I chose to attend Stetson University, the number one law school for trial advocacy in the country. I was on Stetson’s Law Review, and I also earned a Master’s of Business Administration from Stetson’s School of Business. I worked as a teaching assistant for pretrial practice while in law school, and I began clerking at a prominent law firm in the Tampa area. After law school, I jumped right into trial practice and began handling employment law and personal injury cases. I tried my first jury trial within my first year of graduating law school...

Mr. Brownlee handles civil and criminal appeals in Florida and in federal courts of appeal across the country. He is licensed to practice in each of Florida's appellate courts and most of the federal circuit courts of appeal. In addition to Florida's district courts of appeal, Mr. Brownlee has performed oral argument at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta. He...

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...

The Messersmith Law Firm is a full-service law firm, concentrating on immigration law. We have special expertise in work visas, family based visas, visa waivers, green cards through family and employment and asylum. We are well known for our zealous and creative advocacy on behalf of our clients. The Messersmith Law Firm assists large and small companies and institutions nationwide in complying with the complex immigration requirements of the USCIS, DOL and DOS to retain highly skilled workers in such fields as information technology, medical research, computer software, engineering, hospitality, art, martial arts and medicine. Immigration law is federal law which means...

Scott R. McMillen has been successfully handling medical malpractice cases for many years. He started his legal career as a hospital attorney, but for over 30 years, he has been exclusively representing patients and their families. He received his Doctor of Law degree from Emory University and his B.S. in Government from Florida State University. He is licensed to practice law in Florida and Georgia. He has been recognized in "Best Lawyers in America" in the area of medical malpractice, rated a "Super Lawyer" by Thomson Reuters, received a "Preeminent Rating" by Martindale-Hubbell, and rated "Superb- 10...

Juliane practices in the areas of complex commercial litigation; business disputes; and adversarial matters involving bankruptcy, trusts, and estates.

Originally from a small suburb, Steubenville, Ohio, only forty-five minutes outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Juliane attended the Cyril H. Wecht Institute of Forensic Science and Law at Duquesne University. She received a B.A. in biochemistry and a M.S. in Forensic Science.

To advance her interest in law and science, Juliane moved to Florida to attend Stetson University College of Law in 2011. While in law school, Juliane was an active member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution team, and in...

A Florida and New Jersey licensed attorney with over ten years of experience using an exemplary understanding of law to solve clients' problems, improve their operations, and further develop their business plans with effective outside-the-box strategies. Facilitates and implements innovative ideas through objective analysis, as demonstrated by the establishment of new standards in the sports and entertainment industry. Counsels commercial clients on legal business strategy – from idea to inception – during all stages of the business lifecycle, from start-up to maturity.

A native of Venezuela, Attorney Daniela Alvarado immigrated to the United States with her family at a young age. While she was not aware of it at the time, this move would shape her life and put her on the path to assisting future immigrants with their own journeys. As she grew, she displayed increasing interest in all things international, attending an international magnet program at a local high school and obtaining her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Rollins College, where she graduated summa cum laude and as a member of the school’s Honors Program.

Daniela then went on...

Anna Garcia is the Founder and Managing Attorney of Garcia Immigration Law, LLC. Originally from Ukraine, she earned her Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws degrees from the Institute of International Relations of National T. Shevchenko University of Ukraine, the country’s most prestigious university. ​Anna pursued her U.S. legal education at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where she earned her LL.M. degree in Comparative Law. Anna Garcia is licensed to practice in the state of Missouri and is a member of the Central Florida Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), as well as...

Sanga Turnbull is the founder and principal attorney at The Turnbull Law Firm, a Florida law firm helping personal injury victims in Lakeland, Winter Haven and Orlando recover compensation for harm done to them by the negligence of others. The comprehensive personal injury practice at The Turnbull Firm includes all manner of motor vehicle accidents, nursing home neglect and abuse, slip and fall, workplace and industrial accidents, medical malpractice, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and more. Injury victims or their families are invited to call The Turnbull Firm for a no-cost, confidential consultation about any potential claims they may have.

Born and...

Derek Brett is a trial attorney who has been actively practicing since 1996. He maintains two offices, one in Orlando and another in Pensacola.

Shannon McLin founded a boutique appellate law firm after serving as a staff attorney at Florida's Fifth District Court of Appeal. In 2019, she opened Florida Appeals, a statewide appellate firm with seven appellat lawyers practicing complex civil appellate litigation throughout Florida. A significant portion of her work is the family law arena. Ms. McLin is board-certified in appellate practice and is a certified circuit court and appellate mediator. She is AV Preiminant rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has consistently been selected as one of Florida Trend's Legal Elite and as a Florida Superlawyer in appellate practice. Ms....

First and foremost, I’m a regular Joe, just like anybody else.
I know what it’s like to deal with insurance companies when a loved one is suffering through expensive medical treatments. When I was growing up, my sister battled a serious illness, and my family had to fight constantly to get her the treatment and benefits she deserved.

No stranger to hard work, standing up for those in need, and giving back to the community, I spent over a decade working in and operating group homes for developmentally disabled adults and children before law school.

While attending Florida A & M University College...

Thomas P. Schmitt is an Expert Personal Injury Trial Specialist Attorney who obtained, among many other tremendous jury verdicts, the second largest motorcycle verdict ever in the state of Florida.

Below, are just a few honorable mentions of Mr. Schmitt’s superior achievements:

National Law Journal’s Top 50 Verdicts of 2014.

National Law Journal’s Top 100 Verdicts of 2014.

Lifetime Membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Lifetime Membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, “The Top Trial Lawyers in America”.

Lifetime Induction into the National Order of Barristers, “for Excellence and High Honors in the Art of Courtroom

Advocacy,” evidences recognition of Mr. Schmitt’s superiority as...

Former State Prosecutor Serving Tampa Bay and Pasco County areas

Jed was born in Newton, Iowa, but he grew up in Central Florida.

He went to Lake Mary High School, graduating Summa Cum Laude (over 4.0 GPA), while playing varsity baseball and volleyball. He attended Florida State University and obtained degrees, with honors, in both Finance and Insurance/Risk Management. Jed stayed at Florida State for law school where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree with honors.

While at Florida State College of Law, Jed clerked at the Department of Highway Safety where he specialized in appellate issues for DUI cases. He later clerked at a civil insurance-defense law firm, Henry, Buchanan,...

A consumer protection practice, the Law Office of Cynthia O'Donnell helps student loan borrowers and identity theft victims as well as other consumers manage their debt and credit issues.

Cynthia Fussell O'Donnell was born and raised in the panhandle of Florida and graduated from Florida State University with a B.A. in Music. Coming from a long line of military veterans, she joined the U.S. Navy and attended Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida in February 2001. While in the Navy, she served onboard USS Mahan (DDG-72) as the Strike Warfare Office and USS Hue City (CG-66) as the Damage Control Assistant...

As Founder and President of Barrett Law, a boutique law firm located in Windermere, Lynn Barrett focuses on educating and helping healthcare providers navigate the complex and ever-changing world of laws and regulations that govern today's health care delivery system. Lynn has helped hundreds of providers understand and comply with a wide range of corporate and health care laws. Prior to opening her practice, Lynn spent half of her 34-year career in private practice and the other half in-house at for-profit, non-profit and public systems, where she served in such roles as General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer. These experiences have...

Jennifer Benton joined Adams, Luka, & Benton, P.A. as an associate attorney in 2014. She has developed a reputation as someone who is willing to work hard to obtain quality results for her clients. She is handling numerous family law cases including divorce, spousal support, child custody, child support, adoption, pre-nuptial agreements and child relocation and work on each case with a senior attorney. She was a Guardian Ad Litem in Orange County, Florida and involved in several organizations which included membership in the Toastmaster's Club and Treasurer of the American Association for Justice.

Attorney Lakeena “Keena” Gillion is a skilled family law attorney specializing in divorce, child custody, timesharing, modifications, injunctions, and other family law matters. With a deep commitment to helping families navigate challenging legal situations, she offers a compassionate yet assertive approach to securing her clients’ best interests. Attorney Gillion brings a comprehensive understanding of family dynamics and legal complexities, combining her legal expertise with a genuine passion for helping individuals and families in need of resolution and closure during emotional and difficult times. Having practiced in various areas of law, Attorney Gillion has developed a strong reputation for her work in...

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...

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...

I was born and raised in Tampa, where I attended Thomas Jefferson High School and earned a certificate from the International Academy of Law and Criminal Justice. My academic journey led me to Florida State University, where I pursued an undergraduate degree in Communications. During my time at FSU, I was actively involved in the Black Student Union Political Action Committee, Golden Key Honor Society, National Society for Collegiate Scholars, and Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society. After completing my degree, I attended Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida. There, I studied various areas of law, including bankruptcy, family law,...

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, & Benton, 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...

Jack T. Cook is a managing partner of Morgan & Morgan’s Birth Injury Trial Group. He received his undergraduate degree from University of North Carolina Wilmington, a graduate degree from University of Central Florida Orlando, and his Juris Doctorate from Florida A&M University College of Law. Mr. Cook began his career in the United States Marine Corps before turning to law. Prior to joining Morgan & Morgan, he earned acclaim and recognition as a skilled litigator and trial lawyer in both medical malpractice and birth injury litigation. Mr. Cook formerly represented the interests of physicians, physician groups, and hospitals, but...

Mr. Persad has worked in the legal profession for over 20 years. He is licensed to practice law in Florida, the United States Virgin Islands, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and before the U.S. Supreme Court. He earned his Juris Doctor degree and his Masters in Public Administration degree from the University of Akron in 1993 and 1994, respectively. He also holds a Bachelors of Arts in Business Administration from the University of the Virgin Islands and a diploma in paralegal studies from New York University. Mr. Persad's experience in the legal field...

Dan Brown is a partner at Sanchez & Brown. Prior to jthis, Dan practiced personal injury law with a prominent firm in the Tampa Bay Area, where he handled a multitude of cases in the areas of car accidents, slip & falls, insurance disputes, and negotiations. After graduating from the Honors College at the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg, Dan enrolled at Stetson University College of Law on a Faculty Merit Recognition Award Scholarship. While in law school, he completed an externship with the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, where...

For 25 years, Russell Hershkowitz has continuously served his community in Altamonte Springs as the founding family law attorney for Russell S. Hershkowitz, L.L.C. He is a proud graduate of the University of Florida and Western Michigan Cooley Law School. Attorney Hershkowitz is a member of the Family Law Section of Florida Bar Association and the Bankruptcy Committee of the Orange County Bar Association. He focuses his practice on divorce cases with complex asset and financial matters. The Altamonte Springs divorce lawyer is committed to protecting his client’s best interest. Set up a free consultation with Russell S. Hershkowitz, L.L.C....

The Alvarez Law Firm a Professional Association is a private firm owned by Rachel M. Alvarez. Her practice focuses on financial matters. Rachel’s vision is to aggressively represent her clients in any financial stage for individuals of any walk of life. She is committed to building ongoing relationships with her clients to facilitate their success. Rachel attended the University Of Central Florida where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration. Upon graduating she pursued her dream to be an attorney at Regent University School of Law. At the tender age of five Rachel decided to be...

Christopher S. Reed, is a native Floridian, born and raised in Tampa, Florida, where he graduated from Henry B. Plant High School in 1986. Following high school, Chris moved to New York City to attend Columbia University, an Ivy League School, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1990. Chris was recruited by Columbia University as a football player and was a member of the football team during his four years of study at Columbia. Chris was also a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity where he held various leadership positions. ...

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 Dana Brooks has a diverse background in the legal and mental health fields, as she works as both a paralegal, certified family law mediator, and mental health counselor, among other professions. The day she was sworn in to the State Bar in 2008, she was named a partner at the law firm of Fasig | Brooks. She is well-known throughout Florida for her knowledge and dedication, having appeared on radio and in print as well as being honored by many of the country’s most prestigious legal honors. She is a skilled advocate and a proud member of her local...

Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Justin earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Louisville in 2019 before moving to Orlando to pursue his legal education. He attended Barry University School of Law, where he was an active member of the school’s prestigious Trial Team. Today, Justin gives back to that same program as a coach, helping train and mentor the next generation of trial advocates. Justin joined Wooten, Kimbrough, Damaso & Dennis, P.A. in 2023, bringing with him a strong commitment to client advocacy and community engagement. He is a member of the Orange County Bar Association, including its...

Jeffrey S. Kaufman was born in Miami, Florida and he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management in 1991 from Florida State University. He also obtained a second Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunications from the University of Florida in 1993. Mr. Kaufman went on to attend law school at The University of Tulsa where he completed his Juris Doctorate in 1996. He is currently licensed to practice law in Florida and seventeen other states including: Oklahoma, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Texas, Michigan, Maryland, New York, Washington, Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia, Connecticut, Ohio, West Virginia, Arizona, and Minnesota.