Washington County Lawyers

Michael John Griffith is a criminal defense attorney in Pensacola, Florida. The Law Office of Michael J. Griffith assists people in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties who have been charged with or accused of a crime. Our attorneys have over 30 years of experience handling criminal cases and have practiced throughout the United States in drug and sex crime cases.

M.B. Adelson, LL.M. - Practices throughout Florida and consults nationwide, on property and property rights law, natural resources (especially water) and environmental law; title and boundary issues, easements, shoreline property rights and submerged lands; public lands, resource conservation, fisheries resources; boat ramps, docks, marinas and waterway access; local, state and federal regulatory agency licensing, permitting, compliance and remediation; firearms personal ownership and firearms business laws; professional ethics; provides representation in administrative and judicial trials and appellate litigation. Mr. Adelson is a certified mediator, a member of The Florida Bar, and is admitted in the...

Diana Cohn, a partner at Cohn Slater, is a civil litigator and child advocate with extensive experience in family law and divorce cases. In honor of her service to Florida’s families, Cohn has received several of the state’s top family law accolades, including the Children’s Home Society of Florida Family Champion Award and the Excellence in Child Welfare Award. She was also named a Women of Distinction Award finalist by the Girl Scouts of the Florida Panhandle.

While serving as Managing Attorney at Children’s Legal Services, Attorney Cohn led the active litigation and prosecution of several hundred legal cases each year....

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...

I handle Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases for debtors. I also handle probate and estate planning, wills, trusts and power of attorneys. I have practiced in Pensacola, Florida for over 30 years.

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...

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.

James Barnes has been practicing law in Pensacola and surrounding areas for thirty-two years. His legal expertise is the result of having tried more than 150 jury trials. His defense method has procured proven results due to 9,000+ dismissals, favorable plea dispositions, not guilty verdicts and unmatched trial success rate. One of his cases achieved national attention and was featured on CNN and CourtTV. He has extensive experience resulting from many years, both, representing and defending many types of legal actions. Every county and courthouse has its own way of doing things. Based on James Barnes' experience and diverse involvement in...

Attorney, Gillis E. (Beau) Powell III, has dedicated most of his practice to criminal cases. He began his career by working at the Office of the State Attorney, prosecuting both felony and misdemeanor criminal cases. As a former prosecutor, he can evaluate your criminal case from the state's perspective and provide legal insight into what the State can or cannot prove in your case.

A lawyer for over 30 years, Mark's extensive legal background representing large corporate entities and artists both established and emerging, as well as his work as a gigging musician, make him equally comfortable navigating the halls of Corporate America and the mustiest of music halls. Licensed to practice law in all the federal and state courts of Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Alabama, as well as the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, Mark is an alumnus of the University of Alabama (B.A.) and Cumberland School of Law (J.D.), and served two years as judicial law clerk to a federal judge....

I have been a licensed attorney in Florida since April 2007 and have represented hundreds if not thousands of people. As a former Assistant Public Defender, I represented hundreds of people in criminal cases ranging from misdemeanor traffic cases to serious felonies. I created the Law Office of Mario R. Theodore in 2008 and strengthened my criminal defense experience while broadening my legal knowledge and representing people in administrative cases before agencies such as the Social Security Administration and Agency for Persons with Disabilities. In that same year I began expanding my knowledge and committing firm resources to Family Law. I...

Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer Partner/Shareholder in a regional personal injury and wrongful death law firm with a national client base. Experience includes aviation, automobile and trucking injury and wrongful death litigation. Mass torts include pharmaceuticals, medical devices and construction materials.

Specialties: Personal Injury Law . . . It's All We Do!

Phone: 850-432-3333, I have managed my Law Practice in Pensacola and the Florida Panhandle for over 25 years. I enjoy the challenge of complex cases, designing strategies for success and then fighting through to a great result. I help clients with their legal matters from complex family issuers, and divorce to HURRICANE claims, automobile accidents, and probate issues. I will fight DCF. If you have been turned down by others, don't give up until you give me a call. I help with all family litigation like: divorce, custody, custody by a relative, child support, alimony, military retirement and the...

Kristen Marks, founder of My Pink Lawyer®, has worked with women & families for over 20 years helping them with their Wills, Trusts, Estates & Guardianship needs. Kristen understands that many women often feel intimidated or overwhelmed when it comes to legal matters. Never intimidating nor stuffy, Kristen prides herself on being a lawyer for “wise women.” You don't have to be rich to benefit from practical and effective estate planning, including Wills, Trusts and naming guardians for your kids. EVERYONE has an estate plan whether you know it or not. A written estate plan custom designed for your...

United States Immigration Attorney. Voted Elite Lawyer (2022) and Lawyers of Distinction (2022). Born in Whittier, California, Jerry took over the family business (a small construction company) at a young age and successfully ran it for years before relocating to the Gulf Coast. During that same period, he sold real estate in the Los Angeles market by day and went to law school at night, graduating with Moot Court honors (JD). After graduating from the University of Alabama with a Master’s degree in business administration (MBA), 2013, he launched a successful local boutique luxury real estate company to offer his expertise...

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.

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...

Serving Tallahassee and North Florida in criminal and personal injury cases. I am a Florida Bar Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer, also Board Certified in Criminal Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and a National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) certified advocate. I am AV* rated by Martindale-Hubbell lawyer rating service (the highest), and a very experienced criminal trial and appellate attorney. I have handled thousands of cases, been to jury trial on over a hundred trials, and have written dozens of appellate briefs. I have won reversals in several Florida District Courts of Appeal,...

Anthony L. Conticello EDUCATION: University of Florida – College of Law – Graduated May 1997 University of Florida – B.A. Honors – August 1994 Broward Community College – A.A. Honors – August 1991 WHY CHOOSE ATTORNEY ANTHONY CONTICELLO? Attorney Conticello leverages over two decades of legal experience in a variety of complementary legal areas. His current practice focuses on Elder Law Planning, Estate & Trust Planning, Estate Administration including Probate, as well as Sunshine Law and Public Records compliance. Additionally, firm handles Civil litigation and Commercial disputes, and has served as outside Business and Corporate Counsel for a variety of corporations. While our office is in...

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...

Geoffrey H. L. Pittman attended the University of West Florida and Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, earning Dean’s list honors multiple times. He graduated with a Juris Doctorate from Florida Coastal School of Law, in Jacksonville, Florida and was recognized with distinction for his pro bono work conducted while in law school. During law school, Mr. Pittman volunteered at the Office of the Public Defender (4th Judicial Circuit) and Legal Services of North Florida, and he also completed a judicial internship for the Honorable Circuit Court Judge Jean...

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.

Ryan Yeary joined the firm of Caminez & Yeary, P.A. in 2016. Mr. Yeary began his legal career working as a trial court staff attorney for the Second Judicial Circuit. In this position he worked closely with members of the judiciary gaining invaluable insight into the judicial process.

In 2011, Mr. Yeary joined a Tallahassee law firm where he represented insurance companies in defense of lawsuits brought by those injured in automobile accidents. As a defense lawyer, he gained invaluable insight into the defense of a personal injury claim while gaining experience as a trial attorney.

After nearly five years...

Pensacola personal injury attorney Austin R. Ward is a Pensacola native and graduate of Washington High School. In 2006, he returned to his hometown and began practicing law in the areas of tax, estate planning, corporate and real estate.

Austin R. Ward graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of West Florida in 2001. He then attended Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama, where he received his J.D. in 2004. Following graduation, Austin decided to pursue an advanced legal degree (an L.L.M. in Taxation) at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

In 2008, he decided to...

Cameron M. Kennedy is a Tallahassee injury attorney at Searcy Denney, dedicated to representing clients across South Florida and the Southeastern United States. Cameron has recovered over $100 million for his clients in a variety of different cases.

I have been a member of the Family Law Committee of the Escambia/Santa Rosa Bar Association and have participated as a speaker on Family Law topics. I am a member of the Florida Bar (both in Family Law and Criminal Law Sections), Escambia/Santa Rosa Criminal Defense Society and The Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. I received my law degree from Florida State University College of Law (1994), and have been a member of the following Bar and Courts: Florida Bar since 1995; Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals for the Northern and Middle District of Florida since 1995. I am...

Nick A. Ortiz is a Pensacola Florida attorney who represents accident victims in car, truck and motorcycle accidents. He also represents disabled claimants in Social Security Disability, SSI, and Short Term and Long Term Disability insurance claims.

My name is Logan Francis Sliva. I have worked as an attorney at the Sliva Law Firm, LLC in Pensacola, FL for 10 years. I handle primarily consumer bankruptcy cases (Chapter 7 and Chapter 13). I have personally handled over 2,000 bankruptcy cases. I work hard to help my clients achieve their financial goals by eliminating their debt and/or coming up with a plan to manage their debt that fits their individual needs. I offer a FREE consultation where we can discuss what is best for you and your family. You have nothing to lose by giving me a...

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....

Terence A. Gross

Founder & Managing Partner
The experience of Terence A. Gross provides the background for the emphasis of his practice. With extensive litigation experience, he has earned his client’s trust. In order to stay abreast of emerging changes in the law, Mr. Gross regularly conducts continuing legal education programs, is a frequent speaker at personal injury seminars for the attorneys in the area, teaches at Pensacola State College in the paralegal program and has published articles on Florida insurance laws. Terence Gross has handled thousands of automobile negligence cases and strives to obtain just compensation from insurance companies that are...

Gillis E. (Gill) Powell, Jr.main focus is litigation and trial practice. He handles complex personal injury cases, medical malpractice cases, wrongful death cases, catastrophic injury cases, criminal defense cases, railroad cases, real estate litigation, and commercial litigation. Mr. Powell has tried and won numerous civil trials and he has obtained substantial jury awards for his clients. He is a member of the million dollar advocates club as a result of his jury verdicts. He has also successfully defended many clients in criminal cases, including clients charged with homicide, aggravated battery, sexual battery, drug offenses, driving under the...

Luke Newman is an experienced Tallahassee criminal defense attorney who began his practice in 2004 as part of a small law firm handling only criminal matters, from civil traffic infractions to murder appeals. In 2009, Luke opened his own law practice dedicated to criminal trial advocacy and criminal appeals. He is one of fewer than 70 Florida attorneys board certified by the Florida Bar in criminal appeals. He has been appointed by the Florida Bar to chair the committee which tests and evaluates other attorneys (including prosecutors and judges) seeking criminal law board certification. He has been elected by his...

I am an aggressive trial lawyer who wants to tell my clients' stories and fight for them in the courtroom or out of the courtroom.

Attorney Brandon Morris is a skilled criminal defense attorney with extensive courtroom experience. He has obtained a superior understanding of criminal law and has aggressively litigated thousands of criminal cases ranging from capital felonies to second-degree misdemeanors.

Some of his practice areas include criminal defense, assault & battery, drug crimes, DUIs, expungements, felonies, juvenile offenses, misdemeanors, pre-trial diversions & interventions, juvenile offenses, sex crimes, theft crimes, and violent crimes.

Call or visit his website for more information.

Brett is a partner in the law firm Levin Papantonio. He is a native of Pensacola, Florida, and has been practicing law for more than two decades. He specializes in workers compensation injuries, social security disability, and auto accidents. Brett received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Florida in 1987. He received his law degree from Stetson University College of Law in 1991, and his Masters in Business Administration from the University of South Florida in 1992. After graduating from the University of South Florida, Brett became employed by United Insurance Company Inc., a billion dollar life...

I represent clients with personal injury claims, including wrongful deaths, caused by automobile collisions, truck collisions, motorcycle accidents, ATV accidents and dangerous products.

I am an AV-rated former assistant state attorney, former bar counsel and former assistant attorney general with over 24 years experience. I represent people who are being prosecuted by the government. If you are in Florida and have been accused of a crime or your licensing board is trying to discipline you, call me. I can help.

Scott C. Barnes earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology from Florida State University, graduating summa cum laude at the top of his class. Scott then attended the University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law, where he earned his law degree, graduating magna cum laude and in the top seven percent of his class.

Upon graduation, Scott C. Barnes passed the Florida Bar Exam, earning one of the highest scores on the state exam. As a result, the Florida Supreme Court selected Scott to speak on behalf of the new inductees at the First District Attorney Induction...