Highlands County Lawyers

I am a trial attorney. I'm a member of the Florida Bar, Federal Bar Association, Hillsborough County Bar Association and George E. Edgecomb Bar Association. I'm also admitted to practice in the United States District Court of the Middle District of Florida. I practice solely in the areas of personal injury, family law, criminal law, and immigration.

Christopher M. Smith currently holds the position of Managing Litigation Attorney with Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, a prestigious personal injury law firm assisting clients across Clearwater, FL, and the rest of the Tampa Bay area. Smith grew up in Clearwater and knew he wanted to practice law from a young age, stating that he “loved the idea of being in court advocating for others.” He obtained his undergraduate degree from Florida State University in 2007 and his Juris Doctor from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2011. Attorney Smith worked for the Hillsborough County Public Defenders after he graduated...

I was born and raised in the Tampa Bay area and earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Tampa in 2010. Before pursuing a career in law, I worked as a Copy Editor for the Tampa Tribune. I was awarded a scholarship to attend Western Michigan University, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where I graduated Cum Laude in 2016. During my time in law school, I received Book Awards in Legal Writing, Scholarly Writing, and Pre-Trial Skills. I served as Senior Articles Editor for the Thomas M. Cooley Journal of Practical and Clinical Law, and...

Bill Winters is the founding lawyer of Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, a highly-regarded personal injury law firm helping clients in Tampa, Florida, as well as the surrounding areas. Winters grew up in Tampa Bay and has dedicated his career to helping personal injury victims and their families in his community. Currently, he has 30 years of experience exclusively practicing personal injury law. Winters earned his Juris Doctor as well as his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville. He initially wanted to become a tax attorney after graduation but decided to change course to personal injury law...

We are O’Brien Hatfield, PA, a criminal defense law firm with offices in Tampa, Orlando, and Miami. I am a partner. My law firm consists of five lawyers, four legal assistants, two private investigators, one mitigation specialist, and numerous third party experts. We have three divisions in our firm: federal criminal defense, state criminal defense, and appellate criminal defense. I am in charge of the appellate division. A good criminal appellate attorney should possess a combination of legal knowledge, research and writing skills, attention to detail, oral advocacy abilities, persistence, dedication, strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, preparation and deadline management, teamwork,...

My goal is to bring peace and stability to the family. I care about my client's welfare and peace of mind. I manage bankruptcy proceedings and debt relief for individuals and businesses. Deal with tax issues and resolution. Handle probate proceedings. Conduct family law proceedings. Provide advice on estate planning matters, wills and trusts. Also engage in foreclosure defense and civil litigation.

For over 20 years, our team has been representing property and business owners in eminent domain and property rights litigation throughout the State of Florida. My practice concentrates on problem-solving from strategy and negotiation thorough trial. I serve as lead counsel in jury and non-jury trials, mediations, and other dispute resolution procedures. Our firm guides an owner through the condemnation process, protects an owner's property rights, and fights for an owner to receive full compensation. Practice areas: Eminent domain and property rights legal representation in trial and appellate court proceedings and administrative hearings. Founded in 1970, Trenam...

Anthonia “Toni” Imudia attended Columbia University in the City of New York where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science degree in Nursing. She obtained a doctorate degree in nursing practice from the Univeristy of Miami before attending Stetson University College of Law where she obtained her Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees. Toni worked in healthcare for over 13 years and rose to the level of an executive director of a non-profit agency in New Orleans. The agency provided primary care to HIV-AIDS patients under the Ryan White program. Toni later took an...

Attorney Luis A. Mena, Esq. is the leading lawyer at the Miami insurance law firm, Mena Law Firm. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami, and his Juris Doctorate degree from Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad Law Center. Mr. Mena is a member of the Florida State Bar, and is licensed to practice law in State and Federal courts throughout Florida. He has worked in the insurance industry for 15 years and, through his experience, has gained insight into all aspects on insurance claims intake, claims handling, policy drafting, and the claims decision-making process. After witnessing first-hand...

The Carney Law Firm serves individuals and businesses throughout Florida in business litigation, estate planning, and probate matters. The Carney Law Firm offers clients expertise from a firm they can trust. Mr. Carney has big law firm experience, but provides small firm service. A potential client’s biggest worry is often the expense of hiring a professional attorney. Mr. Carney is often able to assist his clients by offering contingency and flat fee options. The Carney Law Firm is committed to providing each client aggressive and practical legal representation. In recognition of his legal skills and ethical standards, Mr. Carney received an AV...

Paige L. Carlos devotes the majority of her practice to Real Estate Law. She also has ample experience practicing Family Law and handling dissolutions of marriage, child support issues, child custody disputes and mediations. She takes her work very seriously and enjoys being able to help her clients through difficult times. Paige has a real passion for people and she strives to put forth her best effort to serve those who cannot serve themselves. Paige grew up in Southern Connecticut. In 2009 Paige received her Bachelor’s degree from Colgate University in Hamilton, New York where she majored in Africana...

Lee Pearlman was born and raised in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, a small town just outside of Harrisburg.

He attended college at the University of Maryland, College Park where he received two bachelor of arts degrees and two minors. While in college he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and served two years in the Military Police.

After college Lee moved to St. Petersburg where he attended Stetson University College of Law. While there Lee was a member of Stetson's top nationally-ranked Trial Team and Alternative Dispute Resolution Board. He was the recipient of the Ralph Harris Ferrel...

David has been in Orlando since 2012. He was born and raised in New York City, and developed a desire to attend law school after spending two years as a guardian ad litem to foster children in Austin, Texas. In 2009, David moved to Tallahassee, Florida, to attend law school at Florida State University, where he earned his Juris Doctorate degree in 2012. While attending law school, he participated in a Criminal Law Externship in the 2nd Judicial Circuit, reinforcing his decision to enter the field of criminal defense work after graduation. David moved to Orlando in...

Amy Ruiz received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Marketing and International Economics from the University of Florida in 2000. She received her Juris Doctorate from the Florida State College of Law in 2004. While at Florida State, Ms. Ruiz was a member of the Journal of Transnational Law & Policy. She also participated in the Institute on World Legal Problems where she studied Comparative Constitutional Law at the University of Innsbruck, in Austria, with Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court Antonin Scalia.

Upon graduating law school, Ms. Ruiz, a Tampa native, returned to Tampa and commenced...

Andrew Peter Zesinger is a senior associate with NeJame Law, P.A. Born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania, Mr. Zesinger earned his Bachelor’s degree in Health Policy Administration from The Pennsylvania State University in 1999. He created a summer externship in the business administration department that emphasized and analyzed universal health care coverage. Mr. Zesinger earned his Juris Doctor from The University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Mr. Zesinger began his career as a judicial clerk for the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.

Attorney Andrew Zesinger focuses his practice in civil litigation throughout the state of Florida. Mr. Zesinger also handles...

At the Law Office of Paulette Hamilton Divorce Lawyers, we are a dedicated family law firm serving Orlando, Florida. We understand that every case is unique, and we pride ourselves on taking a client-centered approach. While some cases may share similarities, each family’s situation is distinct. That’s why we don’t rely on a one-size-fits-all method when handling family law matters. Building strong, long-term relationships with our clients is a priority, and we tailor our legal strategies to meet each individual’s specific needs and goals. Our commitment to personalized service is backed by a drive to achieve the best possible outcomes...

Michael LaFay Trial Attorney graduated from the American University Law School in Washington, D.C. in 1983. He was admitted to the New York Bar in 1984 and the Florida Bar in 1985. Michael LaFay is board certified in Criminal Law by the Florida Bar and has achieved an "AV" rating overall, which is the highest ranking bestowed by Martindale-Hubbell, the national attorney ranking service. He has practiced in Central Florida as a trial attorney for the past 27 years and has litigated over 300 jury trials. During that time, he has served as a criminal defense attorney and also as...

Ryan graduated with a B.S. in Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida. A Florida Bright Futures Scholarship recipient and Dean’s List honoree, he then began a career in business and sales management. Having a strong desire to advocate and continue with his legal career, he attended Barry College of Law in Orlando, Florida. While attending law school on an academic scholarship, Ryan worked as a law clerk in an established criminal defense firm. He additionally participated in an internship with the Osceola County Attorney’s Office and a judicial externship under Circuit Judge Jenifer M....

Sekou Clarke was born in St. Andrew, Jamaica, where his discipline and athletic ability earned him a full athletic scholarship to the University of Florida (UF). While at UF he was Team Captain, ten-time All-American and helped the Gators to two national titles in Track and Field. Sekou graduated with a B.S. in Tourism and Hospitality Management and earned All SEC and Academic Honor Roll Honors.

After graduating from UF he competed professionally and represented Jamaica internationally competing in over 15 countries worldwide. During this time, he earned his MBA in Marketing from St. Leo University.

Sekou was urged and inspired at...

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...

Michael C. Minardi is the Senior Partner at Minardi Law. For over 16 years, Michael has dedicated his practice to fighting for clients charged with cannabis crimes and advocating for cannabis law reform. His passion has driven him to learning and understanding medical cannabis laws in the State of Florida and throughout the country.

Michael’s practice represents clients in corporate cannabis consulting, application preparation, lobbying, forfeiture matters, and criminal matters. He has won many medical cannabis cases, including several landmark high-profile cases in Florida. He won the first and second jury trials in Florida presenting the medical necessity...

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...

Tracee L. Ivins graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology. After graduation she worked for the State of Florida as a certified investigator, before deciding to pursue a law degree. As an attorney Ms. Ivins has handled files from inception all the way to a jury verdict. Her experience has included claims involving serious bodily injury, product liability injury and wrongful death arising from auto accidents, slip and falls, dog bites, negligent security, motorcycle and tractor trailer accidents.

Lawsuits including Negligence, Breach of Contract, Negligent Entrustment, Uninsured Motorist Insurance Claims, Under-Insured Motorists Insurance disputes, Wrongful Death, Bad...

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...

"Serving the community as an estate planning & elder law attorney is extremely rewarding, both professionally and personally. It is a uniquely challenging practice. The laws, regulations and informal policies, both state and federal, are many, complex and ever changing. My clients come to me with a unique problem and deserve an innovative solution tailor-made to achieve their desired result. Hearing stories about old times, repairing family rifts, or even enabling a client to fulfill a goal and leave their legacy is immensely satisfying to me as both an attorney and as an individual. There is nothing more fulfilling than...

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....

We are a law firm based in the heart of Tampa with expertise in Family Law, Discrimination and Business Litigation. Our lawyers have collective experience of over 35 years handling cases just like yours. We are a boutique law firm focused on your rights and making sure that those rights are taken care of.

Our attorneys are able to provide the skills and expertise that may be found at larger firms without the overhead expenses many of these larger law firms typically pass on to its clients. We are passionate about helping to build our community and its businesses and work...

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...

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 2024, bringing with him a strong commitment to client advocacy and community engagement. He is a member of the Orange County Bar Association, including its...

I have been practicing law since 1992 when I began as a Assistant State Attorney in the Tampabay area, In 1996 I entered private practice in an effort to share my experience with clients seeking legal help. My background includes 10 years of law enforcement experience as a patrolmen, K-9 officer and organized crime detective. I was trained by the DEA in narcotics investigations and worked on local and Federal task force. My experience includes investigating fatal traffic crashes, K-9 handler, covert investigations, state prosecution and extensive criminal defense including traffic and serious felony trials. I have represented injured families...

As a Martin County native, Attorney Kathryn Roegiers attended Martin County High School before enrolling in the University of Florida. She then went on to pursue her legal education by enrolling in Stetson University College of Law. After graduating, Ms. Roegiers worked with the 19th Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s office, obtaining valuable experience working on juvenile, misdemeanor, and felony cases. Ms. Roegiers briefly worked at a private law firm on the Treasure Coast before opening her own practice. Now, she is able to provide the criminally accused a haven for defense at Roegiers Law. Ms. Roegiers has been given a...

I have been practicing Personal Injury and Immigration Law for over 25 years. Throughout my career, I have been honored with several awards including the Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Award for Legal Services, the Martindale-Hubbell Client Distinction Award, and three American Jurisprudence Awards for achieving the top grades in three of my Law School classes. I am a member of the State Bars of Florida and Texas, The Orange County Bar, The American Immigration Lawyers Association, The American Bar Association, and the U.S District Courts for the Southern and Middle Districts in Florida. In my personal injury practice, I operate...

Mindi Lasley is a Tampa divorce attorney and focuses her practice in the areas of paternity, modification, child custody, child support and all aspects of family law. Ms. Lasley also handles estate planning and elder law cases and volunteers to assists non-profits assisting animals. Please contact family attorney Mindi Lasley for an experienced attorney to handle your case. Ms. Lasley has an office in both Tampa and St. Petersburg for your convenience.

Eric Barker earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Florida in 1989 and went on to earn his J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law in 1992. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1992 and is currently admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Eric has been rated as a preeminent lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell and has earned an AV rating, the highest rating given by the organization, which is a nationally recognized attorney rating service. As a former Assistant Public Defender, Mr. Barker took several dozen...

Robert Pollick was raised in Palm Harbor, Florida and graduated from East Lake High School. Robert continued his education at the University of Florida and graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. While at the University of Florida, Robert was actively involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters where he was president of Students for Big Brothers Big Sisters and served on the Executive Board for Big Brothers Big Sisters Mid-Florida as the Student Liaison. Robert also was an active member of Theta Chi Fraternity. Upon graduation, Robert attended University of Florida’s Levin College of Law where he graduated with...

Since 1991, I have been assisting people get out of debt and helping them rebuild their credit. This is a very enjoyable way of practicing law. I am proud to say we have helped over 8,000 families get out of debt, save their homes and cars and start over. I became Board Certified in Consumer Bankruptcy about 10 or so years ago to make sure I learned what I needed to properly assist my clients. Our firm has a total of 4 lawyers and 20 assistants who are all great and...

With over 20 years of experience, Alex Fiol has represented clients in cases ranging from nursing home litigation to general negligence cases. As the founding attorney of Fiol Law Group, a Tampa personal injury firm, Alex and his business partner Alina Morros have represented hundreds of clients gravely injured due to someone else's actions.