Key Biscayne Maritime Lawyers

Attorney Jason M. Melton, is a founding partner of Whittel & Melton. As a former state prosecutor, he continues fighting for victims bringing in some of the largest single event results in Central Florida. Jason is a lifetime member of the Multi-Million and Million Dollar Advocates Forum, AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and continues to be listed among SuperLawyers in Florida by Thomson Reuters. He is a Founding Member of the National Academy of Motorcycle Injury Lawyers, and in 2023 was named President. Attorney Melton is dedicated to providing clients with personalized, high-quality representation. We handle Auto Accidents, Slip and Fall, Injury, Nursing...

Jack Hickey is the lead trial attorney at Hickey Law Firm, P.A. For the first 17 years of his practice he represented Cruise lines and insurance companies. For the last 17 years, he has been trying personal injury and wrongful death cases in the areas of cruise ship accidents, sexual assault and rapes on cruise ships, admiralty and maritime, medical malpractice, premises liability including inadequate security, car, truck and bus crashes, product liability, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other catastrophic, life changing injuries. Hickey is Board Certified in 2 areas, Civil...

Philip M. Gerson is a board certified civil trial lawyer who has practiced law in Miami, Florida for more than 40 years. He is a cum laude graduate of the University of Miami Law School, where he was a member of the editorial board of the Law Review, a Moot Court winner and student instructor in legal research and writing. Mr. Gerson is admitted to practice in all Florida Courts, the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Claims, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits, and the United States District Court for...

Nicholas I. Gerson is a personal injury attorney whose practice consists of representing plaintiffs in serious, catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. Mr. Gerson focuses on auto, truck, and motor vehicle accidents, cruise ship accidents, maritime and marine related injuries, negligent security, premises liability, victims of crime, and other complex litigation.

Mr. Gerson is known within the legal community for his hard work, dedication and providing zealous legal representation. He has secured over 25 million dollars in jury verdicts and personal injury settlements in his first 13 years of practice. Some of Mr. Gerson's highlights include a $1.7 million dollar jury...

Brett Rivkind is a world renowned Maritime Personal Injury Lawyer. He has decades of experience handling maritime and admiralty cases. Mr. Rivkind represents individuals and families who have been the victims of accidents and crimes onboard all types of boats and ships, including incidents occurring aboard cruise ships. Well recognized for his dedication and excellence, Attorney Rivkind has testified before the United States Congress as a maritime expert, and has appeared on numerous television show including Larry King Live, MSNBC, Good Morning America, The Today Show, 20/20, Court T.V., Nancy Grace, Scarborough, Rita Cosby Show, The Early Show, Geraldo at...

Curtis J. Mase is the Managing Shareholder and founder of Mase Mebane & Seitz. He is board certified in civil trial law by the Florida Bar and National Board of Trial Advocates (NBTA). Mr. Mase is also board certified in pretrial practice by the NBTA. His main area of practice is civil litigation with an emphasis on maritime and admiralty, personal injury and class actions. Mr. Mase has tried hundreds of jury and non-jury matters. Born in Coral Gables, Florida, Mr. Mase earned his B.A. with a dual major in English and Business from Florida State University in 1982. He graduated...

Edward S. Schwartz has practiced law in Miami, Florida since 1982. He graduated magna cum laude from Williams College and cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law, where he served as Articles and Comments Editor of the Law Review. He is admitted to practice in all Florida courts. He is a member of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers and of its Appellate Practice Section. He has also served on the Amicus Committee of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, in which capacity he has prepared and submitted amicus briefs on behalf of that organization. His practice...

Justin B. Shapiro is a partner at Leesfield & Partners, a renowned personal injury law firm located in Miami, Florida. Upon graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Miami School of Law, Mr. Shapiro joined the firm and immediately focused his practice on catastrophic injury cases and wrongful death cases. Upon being named Partner, Justin Shapiro obtained a record verdict of $36,960,000.00 in a wrongful death.

Ricardo V. Alsina is an active trial attorney and maritime lawyer at Lipcon, Margulies, Alsina & Winkleman, P.A. Mr. Alsina has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1991 and has earned a Martindale-Hubbell rating of AV – the highest rating for legal ability and professional and ethical standards in the industry. He focuses his practice on maritime related matters including cruise ship personal injury, cruise ship rape matters and wrongful death claims. He is also experienced in handling a number of personal injury areas including aviation disasters, automobile accidents, medical malpractice and class action civil lawsuits.

Patrick W. Harland, Jr. is a seasoned litigator and personal injury attorney having tried cases in both Florida State and Federal Court.

Upon graduating from Stetson University College of Law in 1999, Mr. Harland focused his law practice on defending insurance companies as well as some of the nation’s largest nursing home chains in liability suits relating to patient care. Mr. Harland also defended physicians in correctional healthcare cases brought by inmates alleging civil rights violations due to inadequate healthcare.

Today, Mr. Harland uses that defense background to the advantage of St. Petersburg clients who have been injured by the negligence of...

I have been representing people who need help ever since I graduated from Suffolk University Law School in 1997. I am a member of good standing of the Florida Bar, the Washington DC Bar, the Federal Southern District of Florida Bar, the Rhode Island Bar, the Dade County Bar Association, a board member of the Miami-Dade Justice Association, and a member of the Italian American Chamber of Commerce in Miami. I handle cases all over Florida in both the Federal and State Court.

David Markel is a personal injury attorney whose practice consists of representing plaintiffs in serious, catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. Mr. Markel focuses on auto, truck, and motor vehicle accidents, cruise ship accidents, maritime and marine related injuries, negligent security, premises liability, victims of crime, and other complex litigation.

Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Mr. Markel graduated from Ransom Everglades School in Coconut Grove where he was an All Dade County football player and AP Scholar. Mr. Markel attended Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he continued his football career and graduated with a degree in History...

Joseph J. Rinaldi, Jr., graduated from the University of Florida in 1998 and from the University of Miami School of Law in 2002. He is licensed to practice in Florida, in both State and Federal Courts, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States. Memberships: Florida Bar Association, American Association for Justice, Florida Justice Association, American Bar Association, Broward County Bar Association, Florida Admiralty Trial Lawyers Association, United District Court for the Southern District of Florida, United District Court for the Northern District of Florida, United States...

David is the managing attorney of BRILL & RINALDI, The Law Firm. He is also co-counsel with the Miami-based law firm of Crewmember & Maritime Advocacy Center, P.A. David began his legal career in the Office of the State Attorney in and for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami, first serving as a Certified Legal Intern and then for over three years as an Assistant State Attorney. He tried six jury trials as an Intern. He tried dozens of bench proceedings and approximately two dozen jury trials as an Assistant State Attorney. After his departure...

Matthew Kish is an attorney with substantial experience in all aspects of bankruptcy, real estate, and commercial law. Matthew has practiced law in California and Florida and he has a proven ability to find sound solutions to complex legal, commercial, and financial concerns. Originally from Philadelphia, he is an avid surfer and outdoorsman.

Eric T. Halsey is a native Floridian who joined Sheftall & Torres as an associate in April 2006, after serving as a law clerk in the firm's civil trial and appellate practice since January 2004. Mr. Halsey practices in the areas of commercial and tort litigation, including personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, breach of contract, judgment collection, and defamation. First as a law clerk and now as an associate, Mr. Halsey has worked extensively with the firm's partners on some of Sheftall & Torres' most successful cases, including a $10 million wrongful death settlement in 2005 and a $6...

Amir Ghaeenzadeh graduated from the University of South Florida, with honors, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in Public Health in 2009. He then attended Florida Coastal School of Law, where he graduated Cum Laude, and is admitted to practice law in Florida and the District of Columbia. Mr. Ghaeenzadeh passionately represents injured clients, and has the knowledge as he formally worked as an insurance defense attorney. He also represents corporations. Mr. Amir Ghaeenzadeh has considerable experience dealing with automobile and trucking negligence, and premise liability (malls, hotels, restaurants, venues, etc.) resulting in catastrophic injuries...

Eric Morales is a knowledgeable cruise ship and boating injury lawyer. He represents passengers and crewmembers injured on cruise ships, shipping vessels, yachts, and personal watercraft and has helped Plaintiffs recover millions of dollars during his career. Mr. Morales practices with the firm of Lipcon, Margulies, Alsina & Winkleman, P.A., the premier Plaintiff's maritime personal injury firm in the country. Learn more at www.lipcon.com or www.yacht-injury.com

John O'Connell is a lawyer, Commercial Pilot (Single-Multi Engine Land and Sea with Instrument Rating)and an experienced scuba diver (certified advanced open water) who has been litigating personal injury cases for the past twenty eight years. He is admitted to practice in Florida and Massachusetts. Cruise line accident cases require familiarity with cruise ship accident procedures (including venue and claim limitations). John has the experience to handle your case.

Spencer Aronfeld, is a board-certified civil trial lawyer who has earned international recognition as being a “lawyer for the people.” Born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Wichita, Kansas, Aronfeld graduated cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law in 1991. Upon graduation, he founded his own firm, Aronfeld Trial Lawyers, based in Coral Gables, Florida.

He has dedicated his life to representing individuals against corporate giants, such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruise Lines, Disney Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Holland America Cruise Lines, Bayer, Johnson & Johnson, Stryker, Target, Publix, Walmart, Mt....

Mr. Margulies is board certified by the Florida Bar as an expert in Admiralty and Maritime Law. To achieve this status, Mr. Margulies had to demonstrate a substantial background in handling maritime cases and maritime law continuing legal education. In addition, Mr. Margulies was rigorously evaluated by the board as to character, ethics, and reputation for professionalism and was required to pass a written examination on all areas of admiralty and maritime law.

Charles R. Lipcon has represented victims of cruise ship personal injury and cruise line sexual assault and claims for more than 50 years. His firm, Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., has successfully handled more than 3,000 cases and recovered well over $450 million on behalf of their clients. Mr. Lipcon was named "Lawyer of the Year" in Admiralty & Maritime by US News & World Report (Miami) in 2020 and his firm is named to "Best Law Firms" by US News & World Report. Mr. Lipcon and his firm can assist with the following types of accidents and injuries: - Cruise...

Mitchell J. Panter is Board Certified as a Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar and National Board of Trial Advocacy, primarily practicing in the areas of Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Product Liability, Sexual Assault, Food Contamination and Premises Liability Cases. Mitchell Panter is also Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial Advocacy since 1996. At the age of 31, Mitchell Panter argued the case of American Aerial Lift v. Jose Perez in the Florida Supreme Court addressing the issue of Strict Liability and Product Liability. This precedent setting case involved the award of a...

Jason Turchin, Esq. is an Attorney, Author, Media Correspondent, Producer and Entrepreneur who has handled more than 6,500 Personal Injury, Accident, Product Liability, Life Insurance, and Wrongful Death Claims. Jason has appeared throughout the national and international news on various legal topics, including car accidents, wrongful death, product liability, Takata airbag shrapnel claims, exploding pressure cooker claims, life insurance, personal injury and more. Several major media outlets have turned to Jason for legal opinions or stories on his cases, including CBS Evening News, Wall Street Journal, Miami Herald, Bloomberg News, CBS Miami, Orlando Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, Telemundo, The New...

Florida Board Certified Admiralty & Maritime Attorney; "AV" Preeminent Rated with Martindale-Hubbell; Member of Multi-Million & Million Dollar Advocates Forum; Super Lawyer Member & Lecturer ... Southeastern Admiralty Law Committee; Member & Lecturer ... Ft. Lauderdale Mariner's Club; Three U.S. Coast Guard Marine Engineering Licenses (Inactive); Sailed seven (7) years aboard Offshore Drilling Platforms; Specialties: Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Resort-Vacation, Negligent Security, Sexual Assault, Premises Liability, Pool & Hot Tub Entrapment Drowning Claims. Admiralty & Maritime Lawyer licensed in Florida & Massachusetts.

Michael A. Winkleman is one of the nation’s top maritime lawyers. An active trial and appellate attorney, Mr. Winkleman is also a frequent contributing expert on maritime and cruise ship law. He has made more than 100 national television appearances regarding cruise ship law, including The Today Show, Dr. Oz, Good Morning America, 20/20, Inside Edition, OutFront with Erin Burnett, Fox News Channel’s ‘American’s Newsroom,’ ‘Fox & Friends,’ ‘America Live,’ ‘Happening Now,’ ‘Justice with Judge Jeanine’; and ‘Imus in the Morning.’ Mr. Winkleman has received numerous honors and accolades in recognition of his contributions to the field of maritime law

David Pollack is an AV rated attorney who specializes in complex business litigation and appeals. His practice focuses on maritime, labor and employment, defamation, and construction litigation. In 2006, Mr. Pollack obtained the largest verdict in an internet defamation case in the United States, which was later affirmed on appeal. Mr. Pollack regularly represents businesses in cases involving defamation, employment discrimination, wage and overtime claims, and other commercial matters. He also represents passengers and crew members in cases involving maritime personal injuries. Mr. Pollack has written and argued more than 50 appeals before the Third District Court of Appeal, the...

I worked for the insurance companies for 10 years before becoming a trial lawyer for the past 37 years. While working for the insurance companies I learned how insurance companies operate and gained valuable inside information. I have concentrated my practice in the area of personal injury including automobile accidents, premises liability, in adequate security, brain damage, and a variety of other types of cases. I am bilingual in English and Spanish.

I pride myself on the personal service we give to every client. I provide my cell phone number for 24/7 access to me personally. I...

“Achieving substantial compensation for our seriously injured clients in a way that dramatically improves the quality of their lives is the most satisfying thing about the work that we do.” Robert B. Boyers

Elizabeth Estrada is a Partner at Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A. she represents clients in the areas of Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice Claims, Products Liability, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Insurance Coverage Disputes, Negligent Security, Wrongful Death, Catastrophic Injuries, Nurse Home Negligence, Workers' Compensation Claims, Long-shore, and Harbor Act Based Claims. She has litigated, arbitrated, and mediated cases throughout the State of Florida.

Ms. Estrada has obtained several million-dollar settlements, judgments, and jury verdicts on behalf of her clients during her career. She is a member of Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a membership for trial lawyers who have won million-dollar settlements and...

James Hannon is a native of Miami, Florida and a founding shareholder of the law firm, Hannon Legal Group. The firm began on Brickell Avenue in the heart of Miami's financial district and relocated to central downtown Dadeland. The Firm specializes in serious personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, negligent security, dialysis errors, pharmacy errors, premises liability, defective products, crime victim's rights, cruise line negligence and insurance claims.

Mr. Hannon holds an AV Preeminent Rating - the highest rating for legal skill and ethics - in the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory and has been repeatedly recognized as one of the "Best Lawyers...

Michelle has concentrated in the area of plaintiffs’ civil trial practice since the beginning of her legal career. Her experience includes land-based and admiralty/maritime personal injury, wrongful death, and class action litigation. Michelle works closely with her clients and will always take the time to address their concerns and provide an honest assessment of their cases.

Michelle was co-lead counsel in a jury trial in Broward County resulting in one of the top 100 personal injury verdicts in Florida in the year 2017. She is fluent in Spanish.

Mr. Mermell has been the senior partner for the past twenty years in a firm that specializes in the representation of injured workers; Mr. Mermell has handled the claims of over 2,000 injured workers during the past 27 years; Mr. Mermell has tried numerous cases before the Office of Administrative Law Judges and has successfully handled appeals to the Benefits Review Board and the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit; Mr. Mermell was trained by Donald D. Gillis, Esquire, who had over 35 years of experience in handling DBA/Longshoremen’s claims; Mr. Mermell has been Florida Bar Board...