Winter Springs Lawyers

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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,...

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....

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...

Darryl R. Smith, Criminal Defense and Civil Litigation Lawyer, graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2008 summa cum laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies. Darryl went on to attend Vanderbilt University Law School, and graduated with his Juris Doctorate in 2011. He then moved to Orlando to pursue his dream of practicing law in Central Florida.

Darryl Smith began his legal career with the Office of the Public Defender for the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orlando, Florida, exclusively practicing criminal law. In 2012, Darryl Smith was offered the prestigious opportunity to become a Civil Litigation...

Brandt Immigration is led by Orlando Immigration Attorney Chad M. Brandt. As both the owner and founder of Brandt Immigration, he has years of experience in representing clients in both federal court and immigration court. One of the areas of immigration law he particularly focuses on is that of deportation defense. If you are being threatened with deportation, he and his team could help protect you. He understands how to deal with deportation officers, removal offices, and immigration court. Over the years, Attorney Brandt has been able to assist clients who are attempting to secure work visas, temporary visas, green cards,...

Daniel D. Whitehouse entered the legal profession with more than a decade of experience in the information technology (IT) industry. He has had the privilege of managing the IT infrastructures of some of the world’s largest companies while working for one of the largest international IT service providers. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), both from Webster University. His unique blend of technology and business experience is an invaluable asset to the clients he represents. Mr. Whitehouse attended Stetson University College of Law and graduated Co-Valedictorian of his class...

I'm a former central Florida police detective who also has 10 years insurance industry experience. I assist motorcycle crash victims anywhere in Florida.

Attorney Heather Barry grew up in Napa Valley, California as the youngest of three children. She pursued a variety of interests including Girl Scouts, dance, music, baseball and gymnastics. In high school Ms. Barry participated in Air Force ROTC, campus leadership and had the privilege to serve as a prosecutor in her government class mock trial where she first got her first exposure to law. Ms. Barry moved to Orlando, Florida in 2004 for college where she majored in Entertainment Business at Full Sail University and minored in Recording Arts. During her degree program Ms. Barry took several law...

I was first employed in the field of criminal justice in 1983. I worked for the Indiana University Police Department and was a law enforcement officer at the Bloomington, Indiana, campus. I graduated from Indiana University in 1985 with B.S. with a major in criminal justice.
I came to Florida in December 1985, when my Dad's employer transferred him from Indianapolis to Orlando. I became a Florida State Trooper in 1987. As a Trooper, I thought that the most interesting part of my job was...

If you are looking for the best Orlando family law attorney or Orlando criminal defense attorney call The 850 CALL JOE Law Firm! Orlando attorney Joe Knape is highly experienced when it comes to the matters of criminal defense and family law in Orlando and Central Florida. Joe understands the complexity of today’s legal system serving the Central Florida area for over 6 years. To make sure the highest quality legal services are provided, Joe dedicates himself to every single client and works whenever It’s necessary providing Orlando with some of the best family law and criminal defense services without...

"Whitney Boan is an experienced Orlando criminal defense lawyer with 11 years of trial litigation experience who is committed in serving her clients by treating them with dignity and respect, by humanizing them to the court and to opposing counsel, and by expeditiously and aggressively assisting them by protecting their legal, civil, and human rights through what is sometimes a daunting and complex legal system. In 2015, she formed Whitney S. Boan, P.A. where she continues to handle federal and state criminal cases as well as select family matters for her clients. At Whitney S. Boan, P.A., she...

The defense of men, women, and juveniles who have been charged with crimes has been the driving focus of Maria D. Hale for over 10 years. Her experience within criminal defense gives her the confidence to pursue dropped or minimized charges for her clients. Maria's passion for criminal defense began as a result of a comprehensive legal education at the Stetson University College of Law and later experience as a Prosecutor. After receiving a Juris Doctor (JD), Maria went on to become a Prosecutor in Central Florida. As a Prosecutor, Hale conducted nearly 50 trials in front of a jury....

Stephen J. Calvacca has over thirty-five years of litigation experience in a broad range of practice areas ranging from murder to legal malpractice. He began his career as a criminal trial lawyer in New York City working as a Public Defender in one of the busiest courts in the country. He was later appointed by New York’s Attorney General as Special Assistant Attorney General to investigate and prosecute corruption in the nursing home industry during its most scandalous heydays. He was lead prosecutor in some of the most significant Medicaid fraud cases in New York City and earned the...

My name is Neyza Guzman, and I’m a family-focused attorney serving Central Florida, with a passion for helping families navigate challenging times. Born and raised in Orlando, I’ve dedicated my career to family law, with training in Collaborative Family Law from Barry University School of Law. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with minors in Business Administration and Psychology - an academic foundation that strengthens my ability to support clients with empathy and strategic insight. I approach every case with the same care and dedication I would give to my own family. Outside of work, I enjoy spending...

Shawn Diederich, founder of Diederich Law Firm, P.A., is a native of Orlando and has been licensed to practice law in Florida since 2008. Shawn’s primary focus is on Workers’ Compensation and personal injury litigation. Shawn is incredibly passionate about being an advocate for the injured. Prior to founding the Diederich Law Firm, P.A. Shawn was a trial attorney at one of Florida’s largest workers compensation defense firms, defending cases for the nation’s largest fast food, rental car and beverage companies. Shawn graduated from Florida A & M Law School in Orlando and received his undergraduate degree from The Florida...

Vanette Augustin is a savvy Bilingual (Haitian Creole) attorney who has been successfully practicing since 2009 in the areas of Family Law, Immigration Law, and Estate Planning. Over the last 15 years, she has handled hundreds of cases and have assisted countless families navigate the legal system. She is a mother of two daughters who are the joys of her life. She lives by the belief that every day is a new opportunity to refine her skills. There is never a moment when you get to the point of saying I have arrived because as soon as...

R. Gregory Colvin knows what it’s like to be facing difficult family law disputes. He grew up in a single-parent household without his father’s involvement. His mother supported the family on a teacher’s salary. Mr. Colvin is also a single father with sole custody of his child. He truly understands what families are facing when they go through family issues such as divorce and custody because he has gone through it himself. His approach when it comes to practicing law is to provide client-focused and personalized solutions that are tailored to their specific needs.

Serge Hovhanessian is a dedicated and highly respected attorney based in Orlando, Florida, focusing his practice on personal injury and criminal defense. Of Armenian and Lebanese descent, Mr. Hovhanessian brings a unique and culturally rich perspective to his legal practice, combining a deep understanding of his clients’ needs with a relentless drive to deliver justice. Fluent in Arabic and conversational in Armenian, Mr. Hovhanessian’s multilingual abilities allow him to connect with a diverse clientele. His background as a long-time entrepreneur and his experience managing various business ventures have instilled in him the discipline, resourcefulness, and commitment needed to excel in the...

I am a board certified civil trial attorney helping clients with their personal injuries claims.

Blair T. Jackson was born in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada in 1965. He attended McGill University in Montreal where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1988. He then attended the Western Michigan Cooley School of Law where he received his juris doctorate in 1991. Mr. Jackson also graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law with a LL.M. (Masters of Law) degree in Business Transactions in 2014. Mr. Jackson has more than twenty-three (23) years of civil litigation experience, practicing in both state courts in the State of Florida, as well as the United States District Court of the Middle...

Laura Douglas received a B.A from the University of Central Florida and began her professional career as an award winning news producer at WFTV in Orlando, where she developed the passion for investigation and advocacy that led her to law school. While attending St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami, she served as a Certified Legal Intern for the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida and clerked for the Florida Department of Transportation trial division. Following early graduation, Laura obtained priceless courtroom experience as an Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade County, prosecuting domestic violence, child abuse and...

Bruce has concentrated his entire legal career in the area of construction law and in 1997 he was a founding member of the firm. He routinely provides advice in the areas of contract drafting and negotiations, bidding, project administration and on-site performance, lien and bond issues, labor disputes, insurance matters, and preparation/evaluation of claims. Having worked in the construction industry, Bruce has a strong appreciation for the need to proactively avoid disputes as well as expedite the resolution of claims in order to minimalize business disruptions and legal expenses. His passion for creative and aggressive use of alternative...

April represents clients from all facets of the construction industry in disputes, including arbitrations, lawsuits, and appeals. She has drafted and negotiated many multi-million dollar construction contracts on behalf of contractors and public owners, including complicated cost-plus contracts for work outside of the United States, as well as contracts for architectural and consulting services and subcontracts. April also provides real-time counseling and representation for issues with ongoing construction projects.

Doug handles a variety of real property issues, primarily construction related negotiations and disputes representing public and private owners, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, sureties, architects, engineers, and insurers. He has negotiated and litigated the full spectrum of any project, from land use, zoning, and permitting to initial contract negotiations, bid protests, contemporaneous contract administration, change order disputes, mediation, arbitration and litigation.

My name is Camyla Hernandez-Meneses and I am an attorney at Quintero Fortich Legal. I am a graduate of Florida A&M University College of Law in Orlando, Florida. I chose to practice immigration as I myself am an immigrant and I was fueled by inspiration from my hard-working immigrant parents and my passion to help others similarly situated from having negative attorney experiences that may impact their abilities to stay here and create a better future for themselves. I am so thankful and proud to have the opportunity to help ease the immigration process for people in my community. I...

Attorney Chavelys Y. Alers was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She specifically grew up in the towns of Vega Baja and Dorado. Attorney Alers is bilingual, as she is fluent in both English and Spanish. Two decades ago, Attorney Alers migrated from Puerto Rico to the mainland United States, Central Florida. Attorney Alers attended Boone High School and excelled, graduating with Honors. Attorney Alers is a proud alumnus of the University of Miami, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and an associate’s degree in Music Business & Entertainment Industries. After several years in the workforce,...

Brian was born and raised in Kokomo, Indiana where he stood out as an Indiana All-Star student and athlete. In 1988, he moved to Florida where he attended the University of Florida on a basketball scholarship. As a freshman, the Gator basketball team proudly won their first SEC Championship in school history. While at UF, Brian graduated from the Business College with a major in Finance. As a proud Gator, he continued onto the University of Florida, College of Law where he graduated in 1996 with his Juris Doctorate. After moving to Orlando in 1997, Brian began working as an...

Elizabeth Rice knows that obtaining justice demands sound case preparation, skill, knowledge, experience and the determination to obtain a fair result. Elizabeth will challenge anyone who has wrongfully victimized our client’s health, safety, liberty, or well-being. It is her mission is to provide tireless, dedicated representation to her clients. She has always maintained the highest standard in managing her cases. She works tirelessly. While she was a prosecutor there was a rumor that she never went home. The joke was that she slept there. This is because when she got her teeth into a case she would...

Isabella Fortich is one of the founders and managing partners at the Orlando law firm Quintero Fortich Legal, PLLC. Isabella represents individuals and families throughout the country and around the world who require legal assistance with matters related to immigration. Attorney Fortich is incredibly knowledgeable in regards to immigration and is an immigrant herself. She is very passionate about helping others and is proficient in handling cases involving deportation, asylum, temporary protected status, deferred action for children arrivals, naturalization, and U-Visas, VAWA, EB-2 National Interest Waiver, H1B1, H-1B, labor certification, etc.rench.

Leslie A. Sweet accepts representation of cases from criminal traffic to first degree murder in Orange, Osceola, Lake and Seminole County. She will represent clients in other jurisdictions upon consultation. Please vist her website at lawispower.com for additional information.

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...