Haines City Lawyers

Charles R. Maxwell II is a Florida native. He attended the University of Florida from 1991 through 1999 where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance with Honors, a Masters in Business Administration, and a Juris Doctorate degree. Upon completion of his studies, Mr. Maxwell was admitted into the Florida Bar and immediately began practicing law in 1999. He started his career working with the law firm of Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson, P.A, where his practice primarily focused in the areas of debtor in possession financing in Chapter 11 corporate bankruptcies, affordable housing, and municipal bond law. Next,...

After attending the United States Coast Guard Academy, I transferred to the University of Florida. There, I worked my way through college and law school as a full-time police officer and police Sgt. On graduation, I was appointed the first attorney for the Gainesville Police Department. Later, I was appointed General Counsel for the Orange County Sheriff's Office and Legal Advisor to the 10 city police agencies in Orange County, Florida. I attended the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and did a post-doctoral program at Case Western Reserve University in Public Safety Law. I'm a Past President of the...

A veteran of the United States Army and Texas National Guard, and a native Floridian, John Russo has a passion for helping his neighbors. Born and raised in Central Florida, John chose to serve his country in the United States Army. After his service, he attended the University of Texas at Austin, earning a Bachelor of Science in Applied Learning and Development. Pursuing his interest in the law, John earned his Juris Doctor degree at the University of Wyoming. This background provided John with the foundation that developed his commitment to professional excellence, client service, and providing the best possible legal...

Attorney Kristen M. Jackson is the founding partner at Jackson Montoya Law Firm. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in 1974, and then another from the University of South Florida in 1981. Ms. Jackson then earned a Juris Doctorate from Stetson University in 1983, and an LLM in Taxation from Washington School of Law in 1983. Attorney Jackson established Jackson Montoya Law firm in 1996, after working for various other firms for 12 years. At the firm, Ms. Jackson focuses her practice on estate planning, probate and trust administration, elder law, business...

Lee Karina Dani received her B.A. in psychology from Florida State University in 2000 and is a 2003 graduate of the University Of Florida College Of Law. Ms. Dani was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2004 and has been an associate with Korshak & Associates, P.A., since her admittance. Since joining the firm, Ms. Dani has handled hundreds of cases including civil litigation, probate, guardianships, divorces, child support, child custody, stepparent adoption, landlord/tenant, disputes with homeowners' associations, personal injury, and commercial and residential closings. Ms. Dani is the managing attorney for the probate, family law and guardianship sections of...

Attorney Andrew John Manie was born in Queens, New York, to a family with roots in Trinidad and Tobago. Raised in the Virgin Islands and later settling in North Lauderdale, Florida, Mr. Manie’s diverse upbringing has provided him with a unique perspective on life and the law. He graduated from Boyd Anderson High School, and soon after, he answered the call to serve his country. The day after his 18th birthday, Mr. Manie enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served as a communications repairman with an infantry battalion. His military service included a deployment to Iraq, where he...

Experienced divorce attorney located in the Clermont, Florida area and practicing only Family Law, including, but not limited to, divorce, child support, parenting plans and timesharing arrangements (custody and visitation issues), alimony, paternity, parental relocations, step-parent adoptions, modifications and other Family Law matters. Our firm is dedicated to aggressive, successful and honest representation of our clients. As your lawyers, we believe that communication is key to a positive outcome. Therefore, we strive to always be as accessible as possible to our clients through direct, personal contact, prompt returning of phone calls and via cutting edge technology, such as instant notification...

I am a native Floridian and Cuban-American, born and raised in the vibrant state of Florida. In 2015, I completed my bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration at the University of Central Florida. Before stepping into the legal field, I was deeply involved in coordinating healthcare services for injured workers within Florida’s workers’ compensation system. This role provided me with invaluable experience in navigating complex regulations and advocating for those who were injured. In 2017, I moved to Saint Petersburg to pursue my legal studies at Stetson University College of Law. During my time in law school, I sharpened my skills as...

Mr. Russo is a personal injury, car accident, and medical malpractice attorney located in Lakeland, Florida. Mr. Russo's office is located across from Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center on Lakeland Hills Boulevard.

He handles lawsuits involving car accidents, motorcycle accidents, semi-truck accidents, slip and fall, product liability, and medical malpractice. A consultation with Mr. Russo is free. Accident and injury cases are free unless you win.

Mr. Russo is originally from Lakeland, Florida and attended Lake Gibson High School. He went to the United State Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO, the University of Central Florida in...

Marc Yonker is a founding partner at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, a well-known personal injury law firm serving clients throughout Florida with offices in New Port Richey, Lakeland, Tampa, Clearwater and St. Petersburg. His father’s best friend was a personal injury lawyer. Marc admired his work ethic and the way he helped people in need. This admiration stuck with Marc, and he attended law school after graduating from the University of South Florida. He earned his J.D. from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1993. Subsequently, Marc was admitted to both the Florida and Pennsylvania State Bars. Marc...

Christopher S. Ison, an aviation attorney from Lakeland, Florida, has been a licensed airman since 2014. Passionate about aviation since childhood, he combines this interest with his legal expertise. Christopher's early career focused on jury trial litigation, both in criminal and personal injury cases. He is recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star and a member of The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 – Civil Plaintiff. Christopher began his legal education at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center in 2006, after earning an English degree from Florida Southern College. He graduated in the top 20 percent of his...

Attorney Elayne M. Perez has been providing foreclosure and bankruptcy services for over a decade. After obtaining her Juris Doctor from Temple University, she opened her own practice. With a small boutique firm, Attorney Perez believes that she can more effectively provide high quality representation with personalized solutions. She wants to be directly involved with as many clients as possible, working hard to help them with both legal matters and personal finance. Attorney Perez is admitted to practice law in the state courts of Florida, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, as well as the United States District Court for the Middle...

I was born and raised in Polk County. I was a prosecutor in Bartow for three years before I went into private practice. I have tried over 75 jury trials. I am a married father of three and I live in Winter Haven. I also serve on the Lake Region Lakes Management District.

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...

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.

I am a trial attorney with more than nineteen years of courtroom experience helping individuals, couples, and families in Polk and Hardee Counties. I hold a Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability. Due to the nature of my practice, I appear before the judges in the Family Law division practically every day of the week. Through my years of trial work I have grown to recognize which cases may ultimately have to be tried and which cases may be resolved without going to court. By focusing on solutions to my client’s problems rather than...

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...

Attorney Joshua Tejes is a member and managing attorney of Tejes Law, PLLC. Josh received his undergraduate degree from Pensacola Christian College and his law degree from Florida Coastal School of Law. He is a member of the Orange County Bar Association and the Central Florida Bankruptcy Bar Association. Before becoming a member of Tejes Law, PLLC, Josh worked as an associate attorney in several bankruptcy and civil litigation law firms. Josh focuses his practice on consumer advocacy, bankruptcy law, debt defense, debt harassment, foreclosure defense, estate planning, and probate.

I SUE debt collectors. I represent people in individual and class actions because they received : (1) robo calls from debt collectors, creditors and telemarketers who violate the Telephone Consumer Protection Act ("TCPA"); and (2) debt collectors who violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ("FDCPA") when they attempt to collect a consumer debt.

Clients often hire me to represent them against debt collectors for many different violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and other laws which govern debt collectors' conduct. My clients' problems have included :(1) collection letters which violate the FDCPA;...

An arrest or accident, can have a far-reaching impact on your future. Misdemeanors and felony convictions can stay on your record indefinitely, casting a shadow on your future. Additionally, you may suffer from your car accident for many years to come.
I can advise you on the best course of action for your situation. I was admitted to the bar in 2004 and my law firm concentrates on criminal defense. My experienced, aggressive representation comes from 13 years of courtroom experience, including 6 years as a felony prosecutor.
I am tough in the courtroom, but I always put the needs of my...

Mr. Jonathan K. Allen, Esquire, received his bachelor's degree in Legal Studies from University of California, Berkeley. He minored in philosophy. Having acquired a notable scholarship, he continued his education and earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Thomas M. Cooley School of Law. While in law school, he served as Vice President of the law school chapter of Amnesty International and became a member of Phi Alpa Delta Law Fraternity. He also participated in mock trial and moot court competitions. After completing law school, Mr. Allen gained admission to practice law in New York, New Jersey and Florida. He...

Donna M. Chesteen, Esq., an attorney licensed in both Florida and Mississippi, is the owner of The Tech Law Firm, PLLC, a law firm whose services can best be characterized as the intersection of law and technology. She concentrates on those areas of the law that have a direct connection with technology—eDiscovery, information governance, IP, and transactional law for technology companies—to leverage her twenty years of experience as a professional software engineer and her formal education in Computer Science. She has more than two decades of software development experience and was a technical leader at Symantec prior to earning...

Keersten Heskin Martinez has over 20 years experience and is one of the few attorneys that is board certified in Marital and Family Law. A partner at a civil litigation firm for many years, she recently started The Heskin Martinez Law Group to focus solely on family law. Keersten tries to resolve cases amicably if possible. However, if not possible, she has the experience necessary to aggressively represent her client's interests in Court.

A native Spanish speaker, Vanessa Cotto was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and moved to Orlando, Florida when she was five years old. Ms. Cotto was born with a passion for helping others and a conviction to fight for justice. As a young lawyer, Ms. Cotto has demonstrated a rigorous work ethic, exceptional leadership skills, and an ability to motivate and mentor others. Before attending law school, Ms. Cotto gained valuable legal experience as a legal assistant in the Central Florida community for several years. While in law school, she was the recipient of a scholarship from the...

Florida Trial Attorney Piercy Stakelum

Practice Areas: Airplane Accidents, Car Accidents, Catastrophic Injury, Construction Accidents, Cruise Ship Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Wrongful Death, Natural Disasters

Piercy Stakelum has always had a strong passion for justice-a zealous desire to stand up for those who have been mistreated, hurt, or injured due to the actions of others. That passion led him to a career as a prominent personal injury in Florida.
Background:

While born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Piercy pursued his BA from Florida State University. After, he went on to pursue his JD from the University of Florida College of Law. During his time in law...

William Vásquez is a native of Queens, NY. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 2000-2007. He is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and received the Joint Service Achievement Medal for his work as a Spanish linguist for the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2005. William graduated from Campbell University in 2007 with a degree in computer science. He earned his J.D. in 2011 from the North Carolina Central University School of Law. His practice areas include immigration law and criminal defense cases. He is licensed and in good standing with the State Bar of North Carolina and...

Vivien is a partner in Watson Sloane’s Finance, Government Relations, Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate groups. Her real estate practice focuses on serving clients in areas related to land use, zoning, growth management law, environmental and local government issues. This focus includes assisting clients with matters relating to development permitting and other approvals, impact fees, entitlement issues, bid protests, and alcoholic beverage licensing. In matters related to public finance, Vivien’s practice includes representation of issuers, financial institutions, underwriters, and investors in connection with the public and private offering of municipal and corporate securities.

Vivien is Board-Certified by the Florida...

Elizabeth (Beth) Aires practices law in the Personal Injury Division of NeJame Law. She handles claims in the areas of Auto Accidents, Slip and Falls, Wrongful Death, Premise Liability, Dog Bites, Medical Malpractice, False Arrest, Excessive Police Force cases and all Personal Injuries. Beth graduated from Florida A&M University College of Law. She demonstrated academic excellence earning the Book Award (highest grade) in Advanced Florida and Federal Rules of Evidence. Always caring for and protecting the underdog, Beth devoted over one hundred hours advocating for the indigent at the Orange County Legal Aid Society while still a student....

Caroline Fischer Espi is an attorney that specializes in personal injury cases. She has worked in matters involving auto accidents, slip and falls, wrongful death, and civil rights violations.

Caroline was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil where she started her legal career. After earning her Bachelor of Law degree from Mackenzie University, she became an attorney in Brazil in 2011. After one year practicing Brazilian civil law, she decided to expand her education and experience. In 2012, she moved to the United States aiming to improve her legal studies. She earned her Master's degree from Boston University School of Law and...

In 2001, Mr. Francis joined the law firm of Morgan and Morgan, P.A., as a partner. He focused his practice on medical malpractice, police misconduct, wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury cases. From 2004-2006, Morgan & Morgan, P.A., participated in a joint venture with famed trial lawyer Johnny Cochran and his national law firm to open an office in Miami, Florida. Mr. Francis served as the co-managing partner of the Miami office of The Cochran Firm. In 2006, Mr. Francis became a shareholder of Morgan & Morgan, P.A., where he strives to seek justice “for the least of these” EVERY...

Sherri K. DeWitt was born and grew up in Middletown, New York. She was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1982 and has been authorized to practice before the U.S District Court of the Middle District of Florida since 1983 and before the U.S. Court of Appeal since 1985. She received her B.A. Cum Laude in 1973 and Ph.D. in 1977 from State University of New York at Binghamton. Dr. DeWitt received her J.D. Degree from Cornell University in 1982. She was an editor of the Cornell Law Review and is the author of a book and numerous articles. Dr....

After obtaining his law degree with honors from the University of Florida, Mr. Alexander clerked under the Honorable Thomas D. Sawaya at Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal. Upon Judge Sawaya’s retirement, he continued clerking for the Fifth District under the Honorable James A. Edwards, rising to the level of Senior Law Clerk.

At the Fifth District Court of Appeal, Mr. Alexander was involved in the decision-making process for dozens of complex appellate cases, including multi-million dollar commercial disputes, intricate real estate transactions, life-altering personal injury cases, complicated divorce and family law litigation, convictions for capital offenses, and other sophisticated,...

Rusten C. Hurd is a founding partner at the law firm of Colombo and Hurd, PL. In over sixteen years of legal practice, Mr. Hurd has garnered experience with a wide variety of immigration matters including family petitions, deportation litigation, investor visas, as well as naturalization and citizenship matters. Mr. Hurd devotes a substantial portion of his time to assist clients successfully obtain fiancé and marriage visas. As the husband of an immigrant, Mr. Hurd is fully cognizant of the importance of this process to his clients. Mr. Hurd also has successfully appeared before immigration judges throughout...