BestLawyers THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN TAMPA

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1 T A M P A s BestLawyers E d i t i o n THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN TAMPA Who Are The Lawyers of the Year? Barry Cohen Commitment and Passion A Special Advertising Supplement to A S p e c i a l s u p p l e m e n t t o

2 C o h e n, F o s t e r & R o m i n e, P. A. From Left: Stephen L. Romine, Esq., Todd A. Foster, Esq., Barry A. Cohen, Esq., Patricia Allen, Investigator, Kimberly A. DeGroat, Investigator, Kevin J. Darken, Esq., Everett S. Rice, Esq., Rohom Khonsari, Esq., Christina L. Kimball, Investigator, Steven L. Cohen, MA, Michael L. Rubinstein, Esq., Chinwe O. Fossett, Esq., Jack M. Ross, Esq., Michael A. Gold, Esq., Brian J. Lefferts, Financial Investigator SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN B t a m p a S LAWYERS E D I T I O N Barry A. Cohen Kevin J. Darken Todd Foster Cohen, Foster & Romine is a Tampa-based firm t h at provides legal counsel and representation in the areas of criminal defense, civil litigation, commercial litigation, and qui tam/ false claims act or whistleblower actions. Selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in the area of White Collar Criminal Defense are Barry A. Cohen ( ), Todd Foster (2010) and Kevin J. Darken ( ). In addition, Mr. Cohen is recognized in 2010 by The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Personal Injury Litigation, Medical Malpractice, and Non-White Collar Criminal Defense. This is his 27th consecutive year of recognition bythe Best Lawyers in America. The firm is comprised of a meticulously assembled team of attorneys and support personnel who bring their independent strengths to the firm s legal arsenal. Firm members are no strangers to the courtroom, and they utilize their litigation skills not only in trial, but also in negotiations with opposing counsel. Founding partner Barry A. Cohen w it h over 40 years of practice as a criminal and civil trial attorney, has represented a number of high profile clients and, as evidenced by this year s 27th consecutive inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, he has consistently earned the respect of his peers. Partner Todd Foster, a former FBI special agent and federal prosecutor who heads the federal criminal division, has almost 30 years of federal criminal experience, is a nationally recognized speaker on trial advocacy, and defends clients, including lawyers, doctors and business professionals, in matters including securities, tax and bank fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering. Partner Stephen Romine, with over 18 years of criminal trial experience, heads the firm s state criminal division and is a Florida Bar Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer, a distinction held by less than 1% of all Florida attorneys. Mr. Romine has represented clients in many of the firm s most high profile cases and in 2010 received a Florida Bar President s Pro Bono Service Award for his representation of a young man fighting a wrongful conviction and 30 year prison sentence. Kevin J. Darken, who heads up the firm s qui tam division, is a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, an experienced litigator, and author of a leading national treatise on qui tam and health care fraud litigation. The litigation team also includes Keith Thomas, a Martindale-Hubble AV rated civil trial attorney, who with a background in mechanical engineering and over twenty years of civil trial experience brings a unique and valuable prospective to litigating complex product liability, medical malpractice, personal injury, wrongful death and commercial litigation cases; Chinwe Fossett, a former prosecutor and national trial team champion; Michael Rubinstein, a former Assistant US Attorney with over 35 years of federal criminal and civil experience; Rohom Khonsari, a former prosecutor and experienced criminal defense and civil trial advocate; Michael Gold, an experienced civil and criminal litigator who earned his LL.M. in securities law from Georgetown University; and Jack Ross, a former prosecutor and commercial litigator with a strong background in political and international affairs. While each lawyer is highly involved in the investigation of cases, their in-house investigative staff boasts the presence of a former FBI special agent, a former HHS-OIG (health care fraud) special agent, a forensic accountant, and Everett Rice, the former Sheriff of Pinellas County, who, in addition to his work with the firm as a lawyer, participates and supervises investigations that benefit from his experience. Alex McNight 5/3 Center, 201 Ea s t Ke n n e d y Bo u l e va r d, Su i t e 1000, Ta m pa, FL Ph: o r

3 T h e G u i d e T o T a m p a s T o p A t t o r n e y s It s inevitable at some point in your life, you re going to need a lawyer, and you won t always be able to predict when that need will arise. Whether you re starting a business or selling one, getting married or divorced, patenting your invention, litigating a contract, or buying a home there is a talented and highly competent attorney listed in this guide who can help. Perhaps you or a family member is involved in an accident or accused of a crime. These are all serious matters for which you need first-rate legal representation. Tampa s Best Lawyers helps take the mystery out of locating a highquality advocate to protect you, your family, your business and all other assets The exceptional attorneys listed in this guide are only those attorneys listed in The Best Lawyers in America. These attorneys were nominated by and voted in by their peers. Lawyers cannot buy their way into this guide. They must earn a spot through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. To remain on the list, they must be at the top of their game, year after year. Best Lawyers, the leading referral list in the legal profession, and ALM, the nation s leading legal journalism and information company, have teamed up to provide this invaluable resource for readers, whatever your legal needs may be. Lawyers in this guide are arranged by their legal specialty from Administrative Law to Workers Compensation Law which makes it easy to find the professional advice you need. Keep this comprehensive guide available for those times when you need a first-rate advocate to assist you. The lawyers listed in Tampa s Best Lawyers are eager to help. METHODOLOGY T his list is excerpted from the 2011 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, the preeminent referral guide to the legal profession in the United States. Published for nearly three decades, Best Lawyers lists attorneys in 82 practice areas, representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia, who have been chosen through an exhaustive survey in which thousands of the nation s top lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. The 2011 edition of Best Lawyers, which will be published in November 2010, is based on more than 3.1 million evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers. The method used to compile Best Lawyers remains unchanged since the first edition was compiled more than 28 years ago. Lawyers are chosen for inclusion based solely on a vote of their peers. Listings cannot be bought, and no purchase is required to be included. In this regard, Best Lawyers remains the gold standard of reliability and integrity in lawyer ratings. The nomination pool for the 2011 edition consisted of all lawyers whose names appeared in the previous edition of Best Lawyers, lawyers who were nominated since the previous survey, and new nominees solicited from listed attorneys. In general, lawyers were asked to vote only on nominees in their own practice area in their own jurisdiction. Lawyers in closely related practice areas were asked to vote across practice areas, as were lawyers in smaller jurisdictions. Where practice areas are national or international in nature, lawyers were asked to vote nationally as well as locally. Voting lawyers were also given an opportunity to offer more detailed comments on nominees. Voting lawyers were provided this general guideline for determining if a nominee should be listed: If you had a close friend or relative who needed a real estate lawyer (for example), and you could not handle the case yourself, to whom would you refer them? All votes and comments were solicited with a guarantee of confidentiality a critical factor in the viability and validity of Best Lawyers surveys. To ensure the rigor of the selection process, lawyers were urged to use only their highest standards when voting, and to evaluate each nominee based only on his or her individual merits. The additional comments were used to make more accurate comparisons between voting patterns and weight votes accordingly. Best Lawyers uses various methodological tools to identify and correct for anomalies in both the nomination and voting process. Ultimately, of course, a lawyer s inclusion is based on the subjective judgments of his or her fellow attorneys. While it is true that the lists may at times disproportionately reward visibility or popularity, the breadth of the survey, the candor of the respondents, and the sophistication of the polling methodology largely correct for any biases. For all these reasons, Best Lawyers lists continue to represent the most reliable, accurate and useful guide to the legal profession in the United States. Best Lawyers lists are available at Best Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America are registered trademarks of Woodward/White, Inc. Congratulations to our 2011 Best Lawyers in America: Marie A. Borland Michael P. Brundage Mark A. Danzi David S. Felman John B. Grandoff, III Gina K. Grimes William C. Guerrant, Jr. Bret T. Hamlin R. Reid Haney Linda D. Hartley Thomas N. Henderson, III Benjamin H. Hill, III John L. Holcomb Stephen M. Hudoba Timothy A. Hunt C. Howard Hunter Jonathan P. Jennewein Robert E. V. Kelley, Jr. David T. Knight Erik Matheney Brett J. Preston R. James Robbins, Jr. Robert A. Shimberg W. Lawrence Smith Brian C. Sparks R. Dennis Tweed Kirsten L. Vignec Dennis P. Waggoner Alton C. Ward Most Tier One Practice Rankings Among Tampa Law Firms U.S. News & World Report 2010 Best Law Firms View our 19 Tier One Rankings at Bank of America Plaza, 101 E. Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, Fl For more info go to Tampa s Best Lawyers 3

4 T A M P A s B LAWYERS E D I T I O N Barry Cohen on Commitment and Passion Lawyers of the Year 8 Cover Photograph by Alex McNight Tampa s best lawyers by specialty Administrative Law 6 Alternative Dispute Resolution 6 Antitrust Law 6 Appellate Law 6 Banking Law 6 Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law 6 Bet-the-Company Litigation 6 Biotechnology Law 6 Civil Rights Law 6 Commercial Litigation 6 Construction Law 8 Corporate Governance and Compliance Law 9 Corporate Law 9 Criminal Defense: Non-White-Collar 9 Criminal Defense: White-Collar 9 Elder Law 9 Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law 9 Employee Benefits Law 9 Energy Law 9 Entertainment Law 9 Environmental Law 9 Equipment Finance Law 9 Family Law 9 Family Law Mediation 10 First Amendment Law 10 Food and Beverage Law 10 Franchise Law 10 Government Relations Law 10 Health Care Law 10 Immigration Law 10 Information Technology Law 10 Insurance Law 10 Intellectual Property Law 10 International Trade and Finance Law 10 Labor and Employment Law 10 Land Use & Zoning Law 10 Legal Malpractice Law 10 Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law 10 Maritime Law 11 Mass Tort Litigation 11 Media Law 11 Medical Malpractice Law 11 Mergers & Acquisitions Law 11 Municipal Law 11 Natural Resources Law 11 Non-Profit/Charities Law 12 Personal Injury Litigation 12 Private Funds Law 12 Product Liability Litigation 12 Professional Malpractice Law 12 Public Finance Law 12 Real Estate Law 12 Securities Law 13 Tax Law 13 Technology Law 14 Transportation Law 14 Trusts and Estates 14 Venture Capital Law 14 Water Law 14 Workers Compensation Law 14 Wiand Guerra King PL Wiand Guerra King is a new firm with more than one hundred years of experience. Launched in November 2009 by six partners of one of Florida s largest and most highly-regarded firms, the firm continues to devote its energies to complex commercial litigation, the resolution of business disputes, regulatory compliance and white collar criminal matters. The firm maintains a nationally recognized practice in matters involving securities and financial services, including class action and other complex multiparty litigation, arbitration, regulatory enforcement, and white collar criminal defense. Four of Wiand Guerra King s attorneys have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in the area of commercial litigation: George L. Guerra, Peter B. King, Katherine C. Donlon, and firm chairman Burton W. Wiand, who was also recognized as a Bet-the-Company Litigator. SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN T A M P A S B LAWYERS E D I T I O N Katherine C. Donlon George L. Guerra Peter B. King Burton W. Wiand In just its first year in existence, the firm was recognized in U.S. News and World Report as a Tier 1 Tampa firm in four practice areas: general commercial litigation, securities and capital markets, alternative dispute resolution, and criminal defense white collar. Mr. Wiand, who spent fourteen years in the SEC s Division of Enforcement, is currently acting as the federal court-appointed receiver in an SEC enforcement action against Arthur Nadel, the former Florida hedge fund manager who was involved in a Ponzi scheme that bilked investors out of over $330 million. With the firm as his counsel, Mr. Wiand is recovering money through litigation and other procedures and investigating, gathering, and managing other assets for eventual distribution among defrauded investors. Wiand Guerra King s clients include Fortune 500 companies, national, regional, and local financial services firms, officers and directors of public and private companies, and individuals. The firm has enjoyed considerable growth in its infancy, adding three lawyers this year to its original ten. Standing from left: Elaine M. Rice, George L. Guerra, Michael S. Lamont, Peter B. King, Gianluca Morello. Seated from left: Burton W. Wiand, Katherine C. Donlon Wia n d Guerra Ki n g PL 3000 Bayport Drive Suite 600, Tampa, FL Ph: Fax: Tampa s Best Lawyers For more info go to

5 COVER Spotlight Barry COHEN Commitment and Passion Make the Lawyer Alex McNight When young lawyers come to interview at Barry Cohen s high-profile practice in Tampa, the man who used to cut class to watch trials as a teenager makes one thing crystal clear to those potential additions to his firm: If you don t live it, that s ok... but they should not accept the responsibility of being a lawyer without having the passion and the commitment to it. Cohen-who founded his first law firm back in 1975-takes his work seriously and wants the 11 attorneys working on his team to follow his lead. Along with his co-partners Todd Foster (a former U.S. Department of Justice lawyer and FBI Special Agent) and Stephen Romine (a Florida Bar Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer), Cohen s firm handles criminal defense, civil litigation, commercial litigation, and has a qui tam division that handles whistle blower actions. Cohen called his partners very talented, adding that he couldn t imagine two more principled guys. Cohen got his start as a state prosecutor in Tampa after earning his JD at Mercer University s Walter F. George School of Law, and served in that capacity for four years before starting a practice with former Hillsborough County State Attorney Paul Antinori. Five years later, Cohen -whose first case as a solo practitioner came defending Jimmy Burke, who was portrayed famously in the film Goodfellas by actor Robert DeNiro-started his current practice, which in addition to its current 11 lawyers, recently brought on Keith Thomas a civil litigator with over 20 years of courtroom experience. Cohen-who handpicks every lawyer on the payroll-said he is excited about Thomas addition to the firm, where the legal staff are mentored by the partners and encouraged to continuously study and perfect their craft. For more info go to When you deal with people s freedom and you deal with their economic futures, there is absolutely no room for mediocrity. Barry Cohen As a lawyer, when you deal with people s freedom you deal with their economic futures. In my view, there is absolutely no room for mediocrity. Cohen whose firm employs full-time psychologists and former federal agents as investigators, says People put their faith in you and you have to earn it. It s my philosophy that lawyers should do everything they need to do to make sure no stone s left unturned. This is not just a job. If you think it is, you need to go into another area of law where people don t count on you for help regarding their freedom, their lives, and their economic futures. After several years of criminal defense, Cohen decided to branch out into civil litigation. It was another challenge, he says. I was tired of people saying He s just a criminal lawyer. I thought it was a little condescending. Cohen has strived to develop a creative approach to the practice of law. For example, we get out on the street ourselves and interview people. We do not rely on others to develop our cases or defenses Cohen encourages his team to work together, so that every legal mind is involved in each case. Every lawyer should get the benefit of the entire practice, and each other s independent thinking. I encourage them to think outside of the box. Cohen says the lawyers at Cohen, Foster & Romine, are proud to be a part of the firm because of the principles it stands for. They like being part of a firm that will not back down because we may get criticized. They like being part of a firm that has the respect we do in the legal community, Cohen explains. Outside of the office, the firm works with organizations like Big Brothers, Big Sisters and even organizes events for area youth. The firm recently sponsored a screening of the film The Great Debaters, a film that inspired Cohen. We brought 300 lower-income children and showed them this movie. After the film, we brought in (the female lead) Jurnee Smollett and she spoke to them. It was very inspiring. Chris Harris Tampa s Best Lawyers 5

6 tampa s Administrative Law RHEA F. LAW, DAVID C. SHOBE ROBERT A. SHIMBERG Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg Sarasota, FL WILLIAM W. MERRILL III Manson Law Group Tampa, FL DOUGLAS P. MANSON Alternative Dispute Resolution MICHAEL F. NUECHTERLEIN Cary R. Singletary Tampa, FL CARY R. SINGLETARY Charles W. Ross St. Petersburg, FL CHARLES W. ROSS MARK A. HANLEY WILLIAM S. DUFOE Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg Sarasota, FL THOMAS F. ICARD, JR. Lau, Lane, Pieper, Conley & McCreadie Tampa, FL MARY A. LAU Peter J. Grilli Tampa, FL PETER J. GRILLI William E. Hahn Tampa, FL WILLIAM E. HAHN Antitrust Law JONATHAN C. KOCH CHRIS S. COUTROULIS STACY D. BLANK Appellate Law WAYNE LEE THOMAS Banker Lopez Gassler St. Petersburg, FL CHARLES W. HALL Brannock & Humphries Tampa, FL STEVEN L. BRANNOCK, CELENE HUMPHRIES Buell & Elligett Tampa, FL RAYMOND T. ELLIGETT, JR., AMY S. FARRIOR Carlton Fields St. Petersburg, FL ROBERT BIASOTTI GARY L. SASSO, SYLVIA H. WALBOLT HALA A. SANDRIDGE Gunn Appellate Practice Tampa, FL TRACY RAFFLES GUNN MARIE A. BORLAND Kubicki Draper Tampa, FL BETSY E. GALLAGHER Kynes, Markman & Felman Tampa, FL JAMES E. FELMAN, STUART C. MARKMAN Schropp Law Firm Tampa, FL CHARLES P. SCHROPP Vaka, Larson & Johnson Tampa, FL GEORGE A. VAKA Banking Law AILEEN S. DAVIS ROBERT B. GLENN B est L a w y e r s David S. Felman CHARLES L. STUTTS WILLIAM KENT IHRIG, DARRELL C. SMITH MARVIN E. BARKIN Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law HAROLD BRADLEY STAGGS, JEFFREY W. WARREN JOHN J. LAMOUREUX, HYWEL LEONARD Foley & Lardner Tampa, FL MARK J. WOLFSON JOHN D. EMMANUEL, DONALD R. KIRK, EDWARD M. WALLER, JR. ROBERT B. GLENN, GREGORY M. MCCOSKEY, EDWIN G. RICE Greenberg Traurig Tampa, FL ROBERT A. SORIANO MICHAEL P. BRUNDAGE ROD ANDERSON, NOEL R. BOEKE, WILLIAM KEITH FENDRICK, LEONARD H. GILBERT Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns Clearwater, FL MICHAEL C. MARKHAM Shutts & Bowen Tampa, FL LYNN WELTER SHERMAN Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Prosser Tampa, FL RUSSELL M. BLAIN, CHARLES A. POSTLER, RICHARD C. PROSSER, HARLEY E. RIEDEL II, DON M. STICHTER, SCOTT A. STICHTER Page 14 Trenam Kemker St. Petersburg, FL MICHAEL P. HORAN ROBERTA A. COLTON, WILLIAM KNIGHT ZEWADSKI Bet-the-Company Litigation Buell & Elligett Tampa, FL MARK P. BUELL CHRIS S. COUTROULIS, EDWARD W. GERECKE, KEVIN J. NAPPER, GARY L. SASSO Frost Van den Boom & Smith Bartow, FL JOHN W. FROST II BENJAMIN H. HILL III WILLIAM S. DUFOE, BRADFORD D. KIMBRO, JOSEPH H. VARNER III Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns Clearwater, FL FRED WALLACE POPE, JR. Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns Tampa, FL GUY M. BURNS Keane Reese Vesely & Gerdes St. Petersburg, FL MICHAEL J. KEANE Kynes, Markman & Felman Tampa, FL STUART C. MARKMAN Matthews, Eastmoore, Hardy, Crauwels & Garcia Sarasota, FL ARTHUR LAMAR MATTHEWS, JR. Shook, Hardy & Bacon Tampa, FL JAMES B. MURPHY, JR. MARVIN E. BARKIN, WILLIAM C. FRYE Wiand Guerra King Tampa, FL BURTON W. WIAND Page 4 Zuckerman Spaeder Tampa, FL DELMAR LEE FUGATE, MORRIS SANDY WEINBERG, JR. Biotechnology Law CHRISTOPHER PARADIES Civil Rights Law Farmer & Fitzgerald Tampa, FL MATTHEW FARMER Commercial Litigation Addison & Howard Tampa, FL MICHAEL C. ADDISON LESLIE E. JOUGHIN III, MARGARET D. MATHEWS, L. JOSEPH SHAHEEN, JR., WAYNE LEE THOMAS Bajo Cuva Cohen and Turkel Tampa, FL KENNETH G. TURKEL RICHARD M. SEBEK Barnett, Bolt, Kirkwood, Long & McBride Tampa, FL THOMAS G. LONG Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & Wein St. Petersburg, FL STEPHEN J. WEIN Broad and Cassel Tampa, FL STEVEN G. BURTON Buckley & Fudge St. Petersburg, FL FREDRIC S. ZINOBER Buell & Elligett Tampa, FL MARK P. BUELL J. CARTER ANDERSEN, DAVID C. BANKER, JONATHAN C. KOCH, EDWARD O. SAVITZ Carey, O Malley, Whitaker & Mueller Tampa, FL MICHAEL R. CAREY Carlton Fields St. Petersburg, FL STEVEN C. DUPRÉ, LEE H. RIGHTMYER MARK A. BROWN, CHRIS S. COUTROULIS, EDWARD W. GERECKE, KEVIN J. NAPPER, THOMAS J. ROEHN, GARY L. SASSO, SYLVIA H. WALBOLT, GWYNNE A. YOUNG Conwell Kirkpatrick Tampa, FL GEORGE DONOVAN CONWELL, JR. de la Parte & Gilbert Tampa, FL RICHARD A. GILBERT WILLIAM DONALD COX, G. CALVIN HAYES, PAUL R. PIZZO, RICHARD G. SALAZAR, EDWARD M. WALLER, JR. Frost Van den Boom & Smith Bartow, FL JOHN W. FROST II TIMOTHY A. ANDREU, MICHAEL B. COLGAN, ROBERT B. GLENN, MICHAEL S. HOOKER GrayRobinson Lakeland, FL ROBERT L. TROHN RICHARD M. ZABAK Greenberg Traurig Tampa, FL GREGORY W. KEHOE, DAVID B. WEINSTEIN WILLIAM C. GUERRANT, JR., BENJAMIN H. HILL III, ROBERT E. V. KELLEY, JR., DAVID T. KNIGHT, DENNIS P. WAGGONER 6 Tampa s Best Lawyers For more info go to

7 G u n n L a w G r o u p, P. A. The Gunn Law Group is a statewide plaintiff s practice focused primarily on issues of insurance coverage and bad faith, medical malpractice, and complex personal injury. The firm has garnered numerous multi-million dollar recoveries on behalf of clients. After seventeen years spent defending insurance companies and hospitals, founder Lee D. Gunn IV made the decision to become a plaintiff s advocate. For over ten years he has been solely dedicated to the representation of injured people, policyholders, patients, and consumers. Mr. Gunn relishes using his years of experience to hold businesses accountable for their conduct and insurers accountable for their promises. I am frequently humbled by the opportunity our civil justice system affords to change the lives of our clients who have experienced a devastating loss, says Mr. Gunn. Mr. Gunn s time spent on both sides of the courtroom gives him the insight and balance he needs to help provide his clients with financial security and justice at a time when possibly everything else has been taken away through serious injury or the death of a loved one. I never take for granted what a privilege it is to be allowed to represent people in need, says Mr. Gunn. More than ninety percent of Gunn Law Group s cases and client referrals come from fellow attorneys. Lee Gunn is greatly flattered that his peers would deem his talent appropriate for them to send clients his way. Gunn Law Group makes it a priority to respect the attorney-client relationships of referring attorneys. SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN B t a m p a S LAWYERS E D I T I O N Lee D. Gunn IV Mr. Gunn is Board Certified as a specialist in Civil Trial Practice by The Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocates, is AV- rated by Martindale-Hubbell, and has been named among Leading American Attorneys and to Florida Trend Magazine s Legal Elite. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, and in Florida Super Lawyers since North Ashley Drive, Suite 2050 Tampa, FL Toll Free: 866.GUNNLAW Ph: Fax: Alex McNight

8 2011 Lawyers of the Year Best Lawyers has named individuals as Lawyers of the Year in Tampa, based on their particularly high level of peer recognition. Jeffrey W. Warren Bush Ross Bankrup tcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law Born in Jersey City in 1948 and raised in Starke, Florida, Jeff Warren graduated from the University of Florida in 1969, after securing an athletic scholarship. Sadly, the offensive guard sat on the bench, and never played a down of varsity football. Three years later, he earned his JD from the University of Florida and passed the bar that same year. Warren got his start with McFarlane, Ferguson, Allison & Kelly, representing several banks and financial institutions. Five years later, the Bankruptcy Code was enacted, which changed the course of his concentration and in 1981, he was one of the founding partners of Bush Ross, PA. He made a name for himself representing Celotex Corporation, and is a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, where he is a contributing editor for the American Bankruptcy Institute Journal. Warren who has an AV-rating by Martindale-Hubbell has penned several chapters for publication for The Florida Bar and numerous articles regarding creditors rights issues. But mentoring is where he derides most of his joy these days. Having the opportunity to see young lawyers come to my firm and watch them grow, prosper and become good lawyers, and have a high degree of integrity and sense of professionalism...that is very rewarding, Warren who teaches the occasional advanced course on bankruptcy practice says. Professionalism is important. Lawyers need to understand the need to deal with civility and courtesy dealing with opposing counsel and the judiciary and the need for ethical conduct and professionalism. Warren and his wife Susan have two children, Matthew and Laura. Chris Harris Tampa s Lawyers of the Year Alt er nat i v e Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year: Charles W. Ross Appellate Lawyer of the Year: Sylvia H. Walbolt Banking Lawyer of the Year: Robert B. Glenn Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Lawyer of the Year: Jeffrey W. Warren Bet-the-Company Li t igator of the Year: Fred Wallace Pope, Jr. Construction Lawyer of the Year: Michael R. Carey Corporate Lawyer of the Year: Nathaniel L. Doliner Non-White-Collar Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Year: William F. Jung White-Collar Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Year: James E. Felman Eminent Domain and Condemnation Lawyer of the Year: S. Cary Gaylord Employee Benefits Lawyer of the Year: Williams Schifino Mangione Carol L. Myers & Steady Tampa, FL Bet-the-Company Litigation Columbus, OH Commercial Litigation Columbus, OH Environmental Lawyer of the Year: Roger D. Schwenke Family Lawyer of the Year: Caroline Kapusta Black He a lt h Care Lawyer of the Year: Thomas B. Smith Immigration Lawyer of the Year: William J. Flynn III Insurance Lawyer of the Year: Benjamin H. Hill III Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year: Stefan V. Stein Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year: Richard C. McCrea, Jr. Land Use & Zoning Lawyer of the Year: Keith W. Bricklemyer Legal Malpractice Lawyer of the Year: Thomas D. Masterson Maritime Lawyer of the Year: David F. Pope Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year: James D. Clark Personal Injury Li t igator of the Year: Robert E. Banker Public Finance Lawyer of the Year: Steven E. Miller Real Estate Lawyer of the Year: David R. Brittain Securities Lawyer of the Year: Robert C. Rasmussen Tax Lawyer of the Year: Michael D. Annis Trusts and Estates Lawyer of the Year: Joel D. Bronstein STACY D. BLANK, MICHAEL L. CHAPMAN, WILLIAM S. DUFOE, LEONARD H. GILBERT, FRED GRADY, BRADFORD D. KIMBRO, JOSEPH H. VARNER III, CHARLES A. WACHTER Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg Sarasota, FL CHARLES BARTLETT Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns Clearwater, FL FRED WALLACE POPE, JR., CHARLES SAMARKOS Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns Tampa, FL GUY M. BURNS, FRANK R. JAKES, DARRYL R. RICHARDS Keane Reese Vesely & Gerdes St. Petersburg, FL MICHAEL J. KEANE Knopik Deskins Law Group Tampa, FL CHRISTOPHER S. KNOPIK Kynes, Markman & Felman Tampa, FL STUART C. MARKMAN Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen Clearwater, FL JOSHUA MAGIDSON Matthews, Eastmoore, Hardy, Crauwels & Garcia Sarasota, FL ARTHUR LAMAR MATTHEWS, JR. Peterson & Myers Lakeland, FL ROBERT E. PUTERBAUGH Phelps Dunbar Tampa, FL KARL J. BRANDES, LAWRENCE P. INGRAM, JOHN E. PHILLIPS, SETH M. SCHIMMEL, DONALD H. WHITTEMORE Quarles & Brady Tampa, FL WILLIAM F. HAMILTON Shook, Hardy & Bacon Tampa, FL JAMES B. MURPHY, JR. C. PHILIP CAMPBELL, JR. Steven D. Hutton Sarasota, FL STEVEN D. HUTTON Thomas, LoCicero & Bralow Tampa, FL GREGG D. THOMAS MARVIN E. BARKIN, ROBERT H. BUESING, STANLEY H. ELEFF, WILLIAM C. FRYE, CHARLES F. KETCHEY Wiand Guerra King Tampa, FL KATHERINE C. DONLON, GEORGE L. GUERRA, PETER B. KING, BURTON W. WIAND Page 4 WILLIAM J. SCHIFINO, JR Back Cover Zuckerman Spaeder Tampa, FL JACK E. FERNANDEZ, JR., DELMAR LEE FUGATE, MORRIS SANDY WEINBERG, JR. Construction Law Adams and Reese St. Petersburg, FL V. JAMES DICKSON Banker Lopez Gassler St. Petersburg, FL DAVID L. BRESLER EDWARD O. SAVITZ Carey, O Malley, Whitaker & Mueller Tampa, FL MICHAEL R. CAREY GEORGE J. MEYER, MICHAEL F. NUECHTERLEIN, LUIS PRATS, HARDY L. ROBERTS III, WILLIAM CARY WRIGHT Conrad J. Lazo Bradenton, FL CONRAD J. LAZO Deeb & Durkin St. Petersburg, FL BRIAN P. DEEB Donald D. Clark Bradenton, FL DONALD D. CLARK Forizs & Dogali Tampa, FL ANTHONY ANDERSON BENTON DOGALI DALE W. VASH GEORGE E. SPOFFORD IV Gurley & Associates Sarasota, FL DAVID E. GURLEY 8 Tampa s Best Lawyers For more info go to

9 Timothy A. Hunt Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg Sarasota, FL THOMAS F. ICARD, JR. Meirose & Friscia Tampa, FL LEO H. MEIROSE STEVEN G. SCHEMBER ROBERT H. BUESING, STANLEY H. ELEFF, JOHN S. VENTO Corporate Governance and Compliance Law NATHANIEL L. DOLINER Foley & Lardner Tampa, FL MARTIN A. TRABER ROBERT C. RASMUSSEN MICHAEL NEUKAMM CHESTER E. BACHELLER, ROBERT J. GRAMMIG, RICHARD B. HADLOW Shutts & Bowen Tampa, FL ROBERT ALAN HIGBEE RICHARD M. LEISNER, GARY I. TEBLUM Corporate Law DAVID M. DONEY Barnett, Bolt, Kirkwood, Long & McBride Tampa, FL LESLIE J. BARNETT Bronstein, Carlson, Gleim & Smith St. Petersburg, FL JOEL D. BRONSTEIN JOHN N. GIORDANO NATHANIEL L. DOLINER Drummond Wehle & Ross Tampa, FL CARY ROSS OLGA M. PINA, DAVID C. SHOBE ROBERT C. RASMUSSEN MICHAEL NEUKAMM, JOHN I. VAN VORIS MARK A. DANZI, DAVID S. FELMAN, R. REID HANEY, R. JAMES ROBBINS, JR. CHESTER E. BACHELLER, ANDERSON L. BALDY III, ROBERT J. GRAMMIG, RICHARD B. HADLOW Mark T. Tate Tampa, FL MARK T. TATE Robert E. Aylward Tampa, FL ROBERT E. AYLWARD PAUL R. LYNCH, DARRELL C. SMITH, GREGORY C. YADLEY Shutts & Bowen Tampa, FL ROBERT ALAN HIGBEE NELSON T. CASTELLANO, RICHARD M. LEISNER, HAROLD W. MULLIS, JR., GARY I. TEBLUM Criminal Defense: Non-White-Collar EDWARD J. PAGE Cohen, Foster & Romine Tampa, FL BARRY A. COHEN Page 2 Denis M. de Vlaming Clearwater, FL DENIS M. DE VLAMING For more info go to John M. Fitzgibbons Tampa, FL JOHN M. FITZGIBBONS Jung & Sisco Tampa, FL WILLIAM F. JUNG Kynes, Markman & Felman Tampa, FL JAMES E. FELMAN Ronald K. Cacciatore Tampa, FL RONALD K. CACCIATORE Tragos & Sartres Clearwater, FL GEORGE E. TRAGOS Trombley & Hanes Tampa, FL GARY R. TROMBLEY Page 12 Criminal Defense: White-Collar KEVIN J. NAPPER, EDWARD J. PAGE Cohen, Foster & Romine Tampa, FL BARRY A. COHEN, KEVIN J. DARKEN, TODD FOSTER Page 2 Denis M. de Vlaming Clearwater, FL DENIS M. DE VLAMING George & Titus Tampa, FL PETER E. GEORGE, DOUGLAS J. TITUS, JR. ERIK MATHENEY John M. Fitzgibbons Tampa, FL JOHN M. FITZGIBBONS Jung & Sisco Tampa, FL WILLIAM F. JUNG, PAUL M. SISCO Kynes, Markman & Felman Tampa, FL JAMES E. FELMAN, STUART C. MARKMAN Law Offices of Ed Suarez Tampa, FL EDUARDO A. SUAREZ Page 15 Rochelle A. Reback Tampa, FL ROCHELLE A. REBACK Ronald K. Cacciatore Tampa, FL RONALD K. CACCIATORE The Byrd Law Firm Sarasota, FL LARRY BYRD Tragos & Sartres Clearwater, FL GEORGE E. TRAGOS Trombley & Hanes Tampa, FL RONALD P. HANES, GARY R. TROMBLEY Page 12 Zuckerman Spaeder Tampa, FL JACK E. FERNANDEZ, JR., DELMAR LEE FUGATE, MARCOS E. HASBUN, MORRIS SANDY WEINBERG, JR. Elder Law RICHARD M. SEBEK Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law Brigham Moore Sarasota, FL S. WILLIAM MOORE Brigham Moore St. Petersburg, FL JACKSON H. BOWMAN IV, GREGORY S. RIX Buell & Elligett Tampa, FL MARK P. BUELL, RAYMOND T. ELLIGETT, JR., MARC IRA SACHS De Young Law Group Tampa, FL DONALD TOBYN DEYOUNG Gaylord Merlin Ludovici Diaz & Bain Tampa, FL PAUL D. BAIN, ANDREW G. DIAZ, S. CARY GAYLORD, LORENA HART LUDOVICI, KIMBEL L. MERLIN ROBERT E. V. KELLEY, JR. tampa s B est L a w y e r s James A. Helinger, Jr. St. Petersburg, FL JAMES A. HELINGER, JR. Peterson & Myers Lake Wales, FL JACK P. BRANDON ROBERT H. BUESING William B. Smith Tampa, FL WILLIAM B. SMITH Employee Benefits Law RUSSELL BUHITE BRET HAMLIN, R. DENNIS TWEED, KIRSTEN VIGNEC, ALTON C. WARD FREDERICK M. ROTHENBERG Myers & Shaw Sarasota, FL CAROL L. MYERS Shutts & Bowen Tampa, FL STEVEN K. BARBER Squire, Sanders & Dempsey Tampa, FL JOSEPH D. EDWARDS ROBERTA CASPER WATSON Energy Law LAUREL E. LOCKETT, JAMES MICHAEL WALLS Entertainment Law McDermott & Thacker Brandon, FL MICHAEL J. MCDERMOTT Environmental Law LAUREL E. LOCKETT, ROGER D. SCHWENKE RHEA F. LAW, RONALD H. NOBLE Gayle B. Carlson Tampa, FL GAYLE BUTTRAM CARLSON George F. Gramling, III Tampa, FL GEORGE F. GRAMLING III Greenberg Traurig Tampa, FL DAVID B. WEINSTEIN Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen Tampa, FL WILLIAM B. TAYLOR IV Mechanik Nuccio Hearne & Wester Tampa, FL FRANK L. HEARNE, DAVID M. MECHANIK THEODORE C. TAUB Williams Schifino Mangione & Steady Tampa, FL SCOTT I. STEADY Back Cover Equipment Finance Law LEONARD H. GILBERT Family Law Allen Dell Tampa, FL MARIAN P. MCCULLOCH Givens Law Group Tampa, FL STANN W. GIVENS Hastings and Estreicher St. Petersburg, FL MICHAEL L. HASTINGS Himes & Hearn Tampa, FL JOHN FRASER HIMES James P. Knox Tampa, FL JAMES P. KNOX Jeanne T. Tate Tampa, FL JEANNE T. TATE Koch, Smith & Hoffman Clearwater, FL WAYNE J. BOYER, KY M. KOCH, KINNEAR KING SMITH Law Office of Larry K. Coleman Bradenton, FL LARRY K. COLEMAN Maney, Damsker, Jones & Kuhlman Tampa, FL DAVID A. MANEY Tampa s Best Lawyers 9

10 2011 Survey Results Mason Black & Caballero Tampa, FL CAROLINE KAPUSTA BLACK, ALEX CABALLERO, MIRIAM E. MASON Page 15 Raleigh Lee Greene St. Petersburg, FL RALEIGH LEE GREENE Raymond A. Alley, Jr. Tampa, FL RAYMOND A. ALLEY, JR. Robert W. Fields Tampa, FL ROBERT W. FIELDS Ronald J. Russo Tampa, FL RONALD J. RUSSO Family Law Mediation Raleigh Lee Greene St. Petersburg, FL RALEIGH LEE GREENE Raymond A. Alley, Jr. Tampa, FL RAYMOND A. ALLEY, JR. First Amendment Law Rahdert, Steele, Bole & Reynolds St. Petersburg, FL GEORGE KARL RAHDERT Thomas, LoCicero & Bralow Tampa, FL CAROL J. LOCICERO, GREGG D. THOMAS Food and Beverage Law RICHARD M. BLAU Franchise Law Quarles & Brady Tampa, FL DAVID A. BEYER Government Relations Law RHEA F. LAW Steven A. Anderson Tampa, FL STEVEN A. ANDERSON Health Care Law KIRK S. DAVIS, JOSEPH W. RUGG Allen Dell Tampa, FL CYNTHIA A. MIKOS RICHARD M. SEBEK Bronstein, Carlson, Gleim & Smith St. Petersburg, FL THOMAS B. SMITH Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney Tampa, FL JAMES J. KENNEDY, RICHARD ANDREW ROCK C. HOWARD HUNTER Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell Tampa, FL BRUCE D. LAMB RONALD A. CHRISTALDI Trenam Kemker St. Petersburg, FL JACQUELINE M. CRAIN, RICHARD O. JACOBS DON B. WEINBREN Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen Sarasota, FL CAROL ANN KALISH Immigration Law Christian & Associates Tampa, FL TERRY C. CHRISTIAN Dilip Patel Oldsmar, FL DILIP PATEL Page 15 Dilip Patel Oldsmar, FL Gerald P. Seipp WILLIAM J. FLYNN III Lund & O Flaherty Tampa, FL JOHN E. LUND Timothy M. Spridgeon Clearwater, FL TIMOTHY M. SPRIDGEON Information Technology Law Conwell Kirkpatrick Tampa, FL GEORGE DONOVAN CONWELL, JR. Phelps Dunbar Tampa, FL HARVEY S. KAUGET Insurance Law PHILIP BRUCE CULPEPPER BRUCE A. AEBEL Barr Murman & Tonelli Tampa, FL DANIEL P. MITCHELL WILLIAM DONALD COX BENJAMIN H. HILL III, BRETT J. PRESTON Merlin Law Group Tampa, FL WILLIAM F. MERLIN, JR Page 15 Phelps Dunbar Tampa, FL MATTHEW L. LITSKY Schropp Law Firm Tampa, FL CHARLES P. SCHROPP Vaka, Larson & Johnson Tampa, FL GEORGE A. VAKA Intellectual Property Law CHARLES DOUGLAS MCDONALD, JR. Conwell Kirkpatrick Tampa, FL GEORGE DONOVAN CONWELL, JR., JAMES M. MATULIS MONICA B. MASON STEFAN V. STEIN Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns Tampa, FL FRANK R. JAKES Phelps Dunbar Tampa, FL HARVEY S. KAUGET Quarles & Brady Tampa, FL WILLIAM F. HAMILTON J. TODD TIMMERMAN International Trade and Finance Law RICHARD A. JACOBSON CHESTER E. BACHELLER, ROBERT J. GRAMMIG Sharp Kemm Tampa, FL WILLIAM M. SHARP Labor and Employment Law KAREN MEYER BUESING, SCOTT T. SILVERMAN Allen, Norton & Blue Tampa, FL WILLIAM REYNOLDS ALLEN, DAVID J. STEFANY Burr & Smith Tampa, FL SAM SMITH JOHN P. MCADAMS, JAMES R. WILEY Constangy, Brooks & Smith Tampa, FL JOHN W. CAMPBELL, MICHAEL D. MALFITANO Cynthia N. Sass Tampa, FL CYNTHIA N. SASS Fisher & Phillips Tampa, FL THERESA M. GALLION Fisher Law Group St. Petersburg, FL SCOTT A. FISHER Florin Roebig Palm Harbor, FL WOLFGANG M. FLORIN, CHRISTOPHER D. GRAY Ford & Harrison Tampa, FL ROBERT D. HALL, JR., TRACEY K. JAENSCH, TAMMIE L. RATTRAY CATHY JO BEVERIDGE, JOHN W. ROBINSON IV, RICHARD G. SALAZAR MARK A. HANLEY Greenberg Traurig Tampa, FL RICHARD C. MCCREA, JR., PETER W. ZINOBER WILLIAM B. DEMEZA, JR. Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns Clearwater, FL JOAN M. VECCHIOLI Kelly & McKee Tampa, FL MARK F. KELLY, ROBERT F. MCKEE Kwall, Showers & Barack Clearwater, FL RYAN D. BARACK Lau, Lane, Pieper, Conley & McCreadie Tampa, FL MARY A. LAU Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith Tampa, FL J. ROBERT MCCORMACK Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen Tampa, FL FRANK E. BROWN, JANET GOLDBERG MCENERY Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart Tampa, FL TONY B. GRIFFIN, EDMUND J. MCKENNA, GRANT D. PETERSEN, KEVIN D. ZWETSCH Phelps Dunbar Tampa, FL DENNIS M. MCCLELLAND, JOHN D. MULLEN, JOHN E. PHILLIPS Phyllis J. Towzey St. Petersburg, FL PHYLLIS J. TOWZEY Reeser, Rodnite, Outten & Zdravko Palm Harbor, FL ANGELA E. OUTTEN MARY LI CREASY The Fraley Law Firm Tampa, FL RONALD W. FRALEY The Linesch Firm Palm Harbor, FL DAVID J. LINESCH Thompson, Sizemore, Gonzalez & Hearing Tampa, FL JAMES M. CRAIG, THOMAS M. GONZALEZ, GREGORY A. HEARING, KEVIN D. JOHNSON Wenzel Fenton Cabassa Tampa, FL MATTHEW K. FENTON Land Use & Zoning Law Bricklemyer Smolker & Bolves Tampa, FL KEITH W. BRICKLEMYER RHEA F. LAW, ANDREA E. ZELMAN George F. Gramling, III Tampa, FL GEORGE F. GRAMLING III JOHN B. GRANDOFF III, GINA K. GRIMES JAMES H. SHIMBERG, JR. Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg Sarasota, FL MICHAEL J. FUREN, ROBERT K. LINCOLN, WILLIAM W. MERRILL III Mark Bentley Tampa, FL MARK S. BENTLEY Page 15 Mechanik Nuccio Hearne & Wester Tampa, FL DAVID M. MECHANIK Peterson & Myers Lake Wales, FL JACK P. BRANDON THEODORE C. TAUB Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson Tampa, FL RONALD L. WEAVER Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen Sarasota, FL CHARLES D. BAILEY, JR. Legal Malpractice Law FRANK H. GASSLER GARY L. SASSO BENJAMIN H. HILL III, BRETT J. PRESTON Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen Tampa, FL STEPHEN H. SEARS Masterson Law Group St. Petersburg, FL THOMAS D. MASTERSON Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law DAVID S. FELMAN 10 Tampa s Best Lawyers For more info go to

11 ROBERT J. GRAMMIG GREGORY C. YADLEY GARY I. TEBLUM Maritime Law Bajo Cuva Cohen and Turkel Tampa, FL ANTHONY J. CUVA DAVID F. POPE, ALLEN K. VON SPIEGELFELD CARL R. NELSON Lau, Lane, Pieper, Conley & McCreadie Tampa, FL TIMOTHY C. CONLEY, DAVID W. MCCREADIE Munch and Munch Tampa, FL JACOB J. MUNCH Wagner, Vaughan & McLaughlin Tampa, FL JOHN J. MCLAUGHLIN, ROGER A. VAUGHAN, JR. Mass Tort Litigation EDWARD W. GERECKE, KEVIN J. NAPPER, GARY L. SASSO Media Law Thomas, LoCicero & Bralow Tampa, FL GREGG D. THOMAS Medical Malpractice Law KIRK S. DAVIS Alley, Clark & Greiwe Tampa, FL JAMES D. CLARK, DONALD GREIWE ROBERT E. BANKER, RICHARD K. BOWERS Barr Murman & Tonelli Tampa, FL DAVID S. NELSON, CLIFFORD L. SOMERS Beytin, Bolin, McLaughlin & Willers Tampa, FL KENNETH A. BEYTIN DAVID C. BANKER, TROY J. CROTTS, JAMES J. EVANGELISTA Cohen, Foster & Romine Tampa, FL BARRY A. COHEN Page 2 Florin Roebig Palm Harbor, FL WIL H. FLORIN BENJAMIN H. HILL III, JOHN L. HOLCOMB, C. HOWARD HUNTER Knopik Deskins Law Group Tampa, FL CHRISTOPHER S. KNOPIK Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen Clearwater, FL JAMES A. MARTIN, JR. Masterson Law Group St. Petersburg, FL THOMAS D. MASTERSON Morgan, Lamb, Goldman & Valles Tampa, FL CARL A. GOLDMAN, ROLAND J. LAMB, KELLY LAMB, RODNEY W. MORGAN Rissman, Barrett, Hurt, Donahue & McLain Tampa, FL RICHARD MANGAN Stephens Lynn Klein LaCava & Puya Tampa, FL LOUIS J. LACAVA The Yerrid Law Firm Tampa, FL C. STEVEN YERRID Thompson, Goodis, Thompson, Groseclose, Richardson & Miller St. Petersburg, FL JEFFREY M. GOODIS tampa s Valenzuela & Stern Tampa, FL HENRY E. VALENZUELA William E. Hahn Tampa, FL WILLIAM E. HAHN B est L a w y e r s Mergers & Acquisitions Law NATHANIEL L. DOLINER Foley & Lardner Tampa, FL CURT P. CREELY, CAROLYN T. LONG, MARTIN A. TRABER, STEVEN W. VAZQUEZ DAVID C. SHOBE ROBERT C. RASMUSSEN DAVID S. FELMAN CHESTER E. BACHELLER, ANDERSON L. BALDY III DARRELL C. SMITH, GREGORY C. YADLEY Shutts & Bowen Tampa, FL ROBERT ALAN HIGBEE HAROLD W. MULLIS, JR. Municipal Law RHEA F. LAW Susan Johnson-Velez Tampa, FL SUSAN JOHNSON-VELEZ Natural Resources Law LAUREL E. LOCKETT S E L E C T E D F O R INCLUSION IN Practice Areas: Bankruptcy and Creditors Rights Business, Tax and Corporate Finance Casualty Practice Commercial Collections Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Community Associations Estate Planning Health Care Practice Real Property and Lending Sports and Entertainment Trial and Appellate Practice t a m p a S B LAWYERS E D I T I O N J. Carter Andersen Commercial Litigation David C. Banker Commercial Litigation Troy J. Crotts Health Care and Civil Trial Samuel B. Dolcimascolo Estate Planning James J. Evangelista Health Care and Civil Trial John N. Giordano Business, Tax and Corporate Finance Jonathan C. Koch Commercial Litigation Steven H. Mezer Community Associations 1801 No r t h Hi g h l a n d Av e n u e, Ta m pa, Fl o r i d a Ph: Fa x: The hiring of an attorney is an important decision which should not be based solely on advertisements. Before you decide, please ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. The content of this advertisement was approved by Jeffrey Warren. Edward O. Savitz Commercial Litigation H. Bradley Staggs Bankruptcy and Creditors Rights Jeffrey W. Warren Bankruptcy and Creditors Rights For more info go to Tampa s Best Lawyers 11

12 2011 Survey Results Non-Profit/Charities Law FRANK J. RIEF Barnett, Bolt, Kirkwood, Long & McBride Tampa, FL LESLIE J. BARNETT, PETER T. KIRKWOOD Personal Injury Litigation Alley, Clark & Greiwe Tampa, FL C. TODD ALLEY, JAMES D. CLARK Banker Lopez Gassler St. Petersburg, FL DAVID L. BRESLER, JEFFREY P. WINKLER ROBERT E. BANKER, THOMAS R. BOPP, LOUIS ROBERT BOURGEOIS, RICHARD K. BOWERS, FRANK H. GASSLER, JOHN A. KRENTZMAN, JOSEPH K. LOPEZ, BRADLEY E. POWERS Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & Wein St. Petersburg, FL AUBREY O. DICUS, JR. Brennan, Holden, Kavouklis Tampa, FL WELDON EARL BRENNAN Buell & Elligett Tampa, FL MARK P. BUELL Bush Graziano & Rice Tampa, FL RONALD E. BUSH DAVID C. BANKER, TROY J. CROTTS, JAMES J. EVANGELISTA Carey & Leisure Clearwater, FL THOMAS W. CAREY Page 14 KEVIN J. NAPPER Cohen, Foster & Romine Tampa, FL BARRY A. COHEN Page 2 de la Parte & Gilbert Tampa, FL RICHARD A. GILBERT Florin Roebig Palm Harbor, FL THOMAS D. ROEBIG, JR. GARY W. MARTIN George & Titus Tampa, FL DOUGLAS J. TITUS, JR. GrayRobinson Lakeland, FL ROBERT L. TROHN Grossman Roth Sarasota, FL WILLIAM E. PARTRIDGE Gunn Law Group Tampa, FL LEE D. GUNN IV Page 7 JOHN L. HOLCOMB, C. HOWARD HUNTER Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg Sarasota, FL ROBERT G. LYONS Knopik Deskins Law Group Tampa, FL CHRISTOPHER S. KNOPIK Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen Tampa, FL STEPHEN H. SEARS Masterson Law Group St. Petersburg, FL THOMAS D. MASTERSON Rissman, Barrett, Hurt, Donahue & McLain Tampa, FL RICHARD MANGAN Rywant, Alvarez, Jones, Russo & Guyton Tampa, FL MICHAEL S. RYWANT Page 13 Swope Rodante Tampa, FL DALE M. SWOPE The Yerrid Law Firm Tampa, FL C. STEVEN YERRID Valenti Campbell Trohn Tamayo & Aranda, P.A. Lakeland, FL JONATHAN B. TROHN Valenzuela & Stern Tampa, FL HENRY E. VALENZUELA Wagner, Vaughan & McLaughlin Tampa, FL KEVIN MCLAUGHLIN, ROGER A. VAUGHAN, JR., BILL WAGNER, ALAN F. WAGNER Weekly Schulte Valdes Tampa, FL CHRISTOPHER SCHULTE Wilkes & McHugh Tampa, FL BENNIE LAZZARA, JR., TIMOTHY C. MCHUGH, JAMES L. WILKES II William E. Hahn Tampa, FL WILLIAM E. HAHN William F. Blews St. Petersburg, FL WILLIAM F. BLEWS Williams Schifino Mangione & Steady Tampa, FL ROBERT M. STOLER Back Cover Private Funds Law DAVID S. FELMAN Product Liability Litigation FRANK H. GASSLER Bush Graziano & Rice Tampa, FL RONALD E. BUSH EDWARD W. GERECKE, KEVIN J. NAPPER Shook, Hardy & Bacon Tampa, FL DANIEL F. MOLONY Professional Malpractice Law ROBERT E. BANKER JAMES J. EVANGELISTA, EDWARD O. SAVITZ BENJAMIN H. HILL III Public Finance Law 12 Tampa s Best Lawyers Pictured: Wesley Trombley, Gary Trombley, Ronald Hanes and Matt Luka Congratulations Trombley & Hanes Gary Trombley & Ronald Hanes have been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America for another consecutive year. Concentrating in federal and state criminal matters and complex civil litigation. 707 N. Franklin St., 10 th Floor, Tampa Theatre Building Tampa, FL Phone: (813) Fax: (813) Web: Bryant Miller & Olive Tampa, FL DUANE D. DRAPER GrayRobinson Lakeland, FL HENRY M. MORGAN, JR. FRANK N. FLEISCHER Holland & Knight Lakeland, FL RICHARD B. STEPHENS, EDWARD W. VOGEL III Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson Tampa, FL L. THOMAS GIBLIN, STEVEN E. MILLER, JOHN R. STOKES Squire, Sanders & Dempsey Tampa, FL ALEXANDRA M. MACLENNAN Real Estate Law Adams and Reese St. Petersburg, FL DAVID S. BERNSTEIN AILEEN S. DAVIS Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & Wein St. Petersburg, FL ANTHONY S. BATTAGLIA Bricklemyer Smolker & Bolves Tampa, FL KEITH W. BRICKLEMYER Bryant Miller & Olive Tampa, FL SAMUEL P. QUEIROLO STEVEN H. MEZER Carlton Fields St. Petersburg, FL JOEL B. GILES, RICHARD C. LINQUANTI, DAVID R. PUNZAK For more info go to

13 ROBERT S. FREEDMAN, EDGEL C. LESTER, JR., ROGER D. SCHWENKE, MICHAEL J. VIRGADAMO DLA Piper Tampa, FL MICHAEL A. BEDKE Fisher & Sauls St. Petersburg, FL LOUIE N. ADCOCK, JR. Foley & Lardner Tampa, FL THOMAS M. LITTLE, FRED S. RIDLEY, STEPHEN J. SZABO RHEA F. LAW, JEFFREY C. SHANNON JEANETTE M. FLORES, STEPHEN L. KUSSNER GINA K. GRIMES, THOMAS N. HENDERSON III, STEPHEN M. HUDOBA, JONATHAN P. JENNEWEIN, ROBERT E. V. KELLEY, JR., R. JAMES ROBBINS, JR., W. LAWRENCE SMITH RICHARD D. ECKHARD, JAMES H. SHIMBERG, JR. Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg Sarasota, FL MICHAEL J. FUREN Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns Clearwater, FL ROGER A. LARSON McNamara & Carver Tampa, FL CHARLES H. CARVER Phelps Dunbar Tampa, FL BARBARA H. LUIKART, DONALD H. WHITTEMORE Powell, Carney, Gross, Maller & Ramsay St. Petersburg, FL MARY JO CARNEY, JAMES N. POWELL Preston O. Cockey, Jr. Tampa, FL PRESTON O. COCKEY, JR. C. GRAHAM CAROTHERS, JR., WILLIAM KENT IHRIG, JOHN S. INGLIS, THEODORE C. TAUB Squire, Sanders & Dempsey Tampa, FL JEFFREY DREW BUTT, STEPHEN J. MITCHELL Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson Tampa, FL RONALD L. WEAVER Trenam Kemker St. Petersburg, FL ROBERT C. DECKER, ROBERT DONALD MASTRY J. ALAN ASENDORF, DAVID R. BRITTAIN, MARY H. QUINLAN, RICHARD H. SOLLNER, ROBERT G. STERN Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen Sarasota, FL J. MICHAEL HARTENSTINE Securities Law DAVID M. DONEY JOHN N. GIORDANO RICHARD A. DENMON, NATHANIEL L. DOLINER Foley & Lardner Tampa, FL CURT P. CREELY, MARTIN A. TRABER, STEVEN W. VAZQUEZ DAVID C. SHOBE ROBERT C. RASMUSSEN MICHAEL NEUKAMM CHESTER E. BACHELLER, ROBERT J. GRAMMIG, RICHARD B. HADLOW Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns Tampa, FL GUY M. BURNS tampa s B est L a w y e r s DARRELL C. SMITH, GREGORY C. YADLEY NELSON T. CASTELLANO, RICHARD M. LEISNER, GARY I. TEBLUM Williams Schifino Mangione & Steady Tampa, FL WILLIAM J. SCHIFINO, JR Back Cover Tax Law WILLIAM KALISH, AUGUST M. VAN EEPOEL Barnett, Bolt, Kirkwood, Long & McBride Tampa, FL LESLIE J. BARNETT, PETER T. KIRKWOOD, DAVID L. KOCHE Bronstein, Carlson, Gleim & Smith St. Petersburg, FL JOEL D. BRONSTEIN, SUSAN W. CARLSON DAVID P. BURKE Foley & Lardner Tampa, FL MICHAEL D. ANNIS E. JACKSON BOGGS, HUNTER J. BROWNLEE, MITCHELL I. HOROWITZ Gardner Law Firm Tampa, FL MERRITT A. GARDNER Page 15 Harrison & Guerrini Tampa, FL WILLIAM T. HARRISON III ROBERT E. V. KELLEY, JR., BRIAN C. SPARKS Rywant, Alvarez, Jones, Russo and Guyton, PA Alex McNight Rywant, Alvarez, Jones, Russo and Guyton, PA is a law firm specializing in litigation. Our practice involves insurance disputes, personal injury and wrongful death claims, family law, and criminal law. The firm s clients are diverse, ranging from individual consumers to business associations to insurance companies. Its lawyers are licensed to practice in all Florida state and federal courts. The firm has offices in Tampa, Inverness, and Gainesville. The firm s five shareholders Michael S. Rywant, Manuel J. Alvarez, Gregory D. Jones, Andrew F. Russo, and John A. Guyton III are all Florida Bar Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyers, which is the highest evaluation of the competency and experience for attorneys in the approved areas. Together, they bring more than a century of combined experience to the practice, using their expertise to help clients find the best solution to fit their needs. All of the partners are Florida Super Lawyers, and have received an AV Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell the highest such rating available to any individual lawyer. Mike Rywant acted as lead counsel in Berges vs. Infinity Insurance, a leading Florida Supreme Court decision explaining insurer obligations. SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN T A M P A S B LAWYERS E D I T I O N Michael S. Rywant From Left: Mike Rywant, Greg Jones, Manny Alvarez, Andrew Russo, John Guyton Ryw a n t, Alvarez, Jo n e s, Russo a n d Gu y t o n, PA Tampa 109 Brush Street, Suite 500, Tampa, FL ph: Gainesville 2440 S.W. 76th Street, Suite 130, Gainesville, FL ph: Inverness 407 Courthouse Square, Inverness, FL ph: For more info go to Tampa s Best Lawyers 13

14 2011 Survey Results BERNARD A. BARTON, JR., JACK A. LEVINE, DOUGLAS A. WRIGHT Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns Clearwater, FL BRUCE H. BOKOR Mark T. Tate Tampa, FL MARK T. TATE Sharp Kemm Tampa, FL WILLIAM M. SHARP BRUCE H. GORDON HAROLD W. MULLIS, JR., ALBERT C. O NEILL, JR. Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen Sarasota, FL E. JOHN WAGNER II Technology Law BRENT C.J. BRITTON Phelps Dunbar Tampa, FL HARVEY S. KAUGET Transportation Law ALLEN K. VON SPIEGELFELD Trusts and Estates Adams and Reese Sarasota, FL BARRY F. SPIVEY Thomas Carey & Jodi Leisure Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Prosser, P.A. is proud to have six firm lawyers recognized as Best Lawyers in the 2011 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the category of Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Don Stichter, Harley Riedel, Russ Blain, Richard Prosser, Charles Postler, and Scott Stichter are listed in the Bankruptcy Lawyers section of Best Lawyers in America for Since 2001, the firm has had at least four attorneys continuously listed in the Bankruptcy Lawyers section of Best Lawyers in America. It is the only firm in Florida, Georgia and Alabama (the three states within the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeal) to be so honored. Don Stichter and Harley Riedel have 110 E. Madison St., Suite 200 Tampa, Florida (813) Personal Injury Litigation Thomas Carey received his AB degree from Georgetown, University, his Juris Doctorate degree, cum laude, from Suffolk University in 1978, and his LLM degree from New York University Law School in 1979 on full Academic Fellowship. In 1977 he was admitted to the Rhode Island Bar and the Massachusetts Bar, and in 1978 he was admitted to the Florida Bar. He is Board Certified as a Civil Trial Lawyer and as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He has been selected for inclusion since 2006 as a Florida Super Lawyer. Jodi Leisure is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Ms. Leisure received her Juris Doctorate degree, magna cum laude, from Stetson University College of Law in 1999, and her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, magna cum laude, from Palm Beach Atlantic College in She was selected for inclusion as a Florida Super Lawyer in C a r e y & Le i s u r e 622 Bypass Drive, Clearwater, FL Toll Free: Ph: been listed for more than twenty years in this category and Richard Prosser and Russ Blain have been listed for over ten years. Harley Riedel was also named the Best Lawyers 2010 Tampa Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Lawyer of the Year. Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Prosser, P.A., is a 16-lawyer firm specializing in the representation of parties in bankruptcy cases, insolvency matters, out-of-court workout arrangements, and related civil litigation. WILLIAM KALISH, FRANK J. RIEF, AUGUST M. VAN EEPOEL Barnett, Bolt, Kirkwood, Long & McBride Tampa, FL LESLIE J. BARNETT, PETER T. KIRKWOOD Baskin Fleece Clearwater, FL JOSEPH W. FLEECE III Bronstein, Carlson, Gleim & Smith St. Petersburg, FL JOEL D. BRONSTEIN SAMUEL B. DOLCIMASCOLO Fergeson, Skipper, Shaw, Keyser, Baron & Tirabassi Sarasota, FL RICHARD R. GANS, J. RONALD SKIPPER Fisher & Wilsey St. Petersburg, FL GEORGE F. WILSEY E. JACKSON BOGGS, AMELIA M. CAMPBELL, DONNA LONGHOUSE Gardner Law Firm Tampa, FL MERRITT A. GARDNER Page 15 GrayRobinson Lakeland, FL JOHN K. VREELAND MICHAEL J. NOLAN II LINDA D. HARTLEY, BRIAN C. SPARKS JOHN ARTHUR JONES, ROBERT JAMES KLINE, EDWARD F. KOREN, JR., WILLIAM R. LANE, JR. Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns Clearwater, FL BRUCE H. BOKOR Linda C. Hanna Tampa, FL LINDA C. HANNA Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell Tampa, FL DEBRA L. BOJE BRUCE H. GORDON Shutts & Bowen Tampa, FL ROBERT H. WALTUCH The Payne Law Group Sarasota, FL L. HOWARD PAYNE Trenam Kemker St. Petersburg, FL BRUCE MARGER THOMAS D. AITKEN, J. ERIC TAYLOR William Fletcher Belcher St. Petersburg, FL WILLIAM FLETCHER BELCHER William R. Platt Tampa, FL WILLIAM R. PLATT Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen Sarasota, FL JOHN BERTEAU, RIC GREGORIA Venture Capital Law DAVID S. FELMAN Water Law ROGER D. SCHWENKE de la Parte & Gilbert Tampa, FL EDWARD P. DE LA PARTE, JR. Manson Law Group Tampa, FL DOUGLAS P. MANSON Workers Compensation Law Banker Lopez Gassler St. Petersburg, FL GREGORY A. BROOKS DONALD S. BENNETT, DAVID C. LOCKWOOD, TIMOTHY D. WOLF Law Office of James H. Smith Tampa, FL JAMES H. SMITH Stiles, Taylor & Grace Tampa, FL MARY ANN STILES 14 Tampa s Best Lawyers For more info go to

15 Land Use and Zoning Eminent Domain Governmental Law Mark Bentley, Esq., AICP Mark has been selected as a Florida Super Lawyer, a Florida Legal Elite, one of the Best Lawyers of Tampa Bay by Tampa Bay Magazine, and Planner of the Year by the Sun Coast Section of the American Planning Association. Mark also serves as an adjunct professor for the University of South Florida s Masters of Urban and Regional Planning Program, where he teaches land use law. Board Certified by The Florida Bar as an Expert in City, County and Local Government Law P: (813) F: (813) Caroline Kapusta Black Family Law Caroline has held numerous positions related to her practice area, including Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, President of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, Chair of the Florida Bar Family Law Section and past-chair of the Hillsborough County Bar Association Family Law Section. She is AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell and mentioned in The Best Lawyers in America. She has been published in The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Publications on Family Law. She is a Board Certified marital and family lawyer by The Florida Bar s Board of Certification. Mason Black & Caballero PA 307 S. Magnolia Avenue Tampa, FL ph: fax: caroline@mbc-lawoffice.com tampa s B est L a w y e r s Alexander Caballero Family Law Alex is board certified in Marital and Family Law and exclusively practices family law. He is a partner at Mason Black & Caballero, PA. He is a former prosecutor with the Hillsborough County State Attorney s Office. He is a former Executive Council member of The Florida Bar and current Executive Council member and Secretary/Treasurer of the Hillsborough County Family Law Section. Alex was appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to The Florida Board of Bar Examiners and is currently an Emeritus Member of the Board of Bar Examiners. He is past chair of two separate Bar Grievance Committees. Alex received his Juris Doctorate with high honors from Florida State University College of Law in He graduated cum laude from the University of South Florida. Mason Black & Caballero PA 307 S. Magnolia Avenue Tampa, FL ph: fax: alex@mbc-lawoffice.com merritt a. gardner Gardner Law Firm Watermark 5, Suite Mariner Street Tampa, Florida Tel: Business, Estate and Tax PLanning Estate and Trust Administration Tax and Pro b at e Litigation Selected For Inclusion in Tampa s Best Lawyers Certified Tax Lawyer The Florida Bar Miriam E. Mason Family Law Miriam has held numerous positions related to her practice area, including President of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, President of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Chair of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar, Chair of The Florida Bar s Family Law Rules Committee, and Editor of the Family Law Commentator Miriam is a past-president of The Athena Society, Inc. and past-president of the J. Clifford Cheatwood American Inn of Court. She is also a Diplomat of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, a Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is AV-rated by Martindale- Hubbell, and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America. She is a board-certified marital and family lawyer by The Florida Bar s Board of Certification. Mason Black & Caballero PA 307 South Magnolia Avenue Tampa, FL ph: fax: William F. Chip Merlin, Jr. Insurance Law William F. Chip Merlin, Jr. is founder and president of Merlin Law Group, P. A. A graduate of the University of Florida School of Law, Mr. Merlin was admitted to the Florida Bar in He has dedicated his career to seeking justice for insurance policyholders. Mr. Merlin s practice focuses on insurance disputes and insurance bad faith claims. He is routinely asked to speak at some of the nation s most prestigious conferences and seminars on insurance issues and insurance bad faith. Mr. Merlin is widely regarded as one of the foremost practitioners of insurance claim litigation in the country and actively promotes consumer protection legislation for policyholders. Merlin Law Group, PA 777 S. Harbour Island Blvd. Suite 950 Tampa, FL ph: fax: Dilip Patel, Esq Immigration Law Dilip Patel has practiced immigration law from the Tampa Bay area for the past 20 years. Dilip is one of only 54 attorneys Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Immigration and Nationality Law. He has achieved Martindale-Hubbell s highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards. He is also listed in The Best Lawyers in America for immigration law. The lawyer rating agency AVVO has ranked him Superb with a score of 10/10. Dilip received his LLB law degree from The London School of Economics at the University of London in He received his JD Degree with high honors from the Florida State University College of Law in He is a past Chair of the Central Florida Chapter of AILA and currently serves on the Florida Bar Immigration and Nationality Law Certification Committee. Dilip s family originated from Gujarat, India. He was born in Uganda, East Africa and lived in London, England for 20 years before moving to Florida in Dilip Patel Law Firm Business and Immigration Attorneys Offices in Tampa and Oldsmar ph: Ed Suarez Criminal Defense: White-Collar Ed Suarez has tried a wide range of cases in front of juries in the state and federal courts of Florida. He graduated from Florida State University, College of Law in 1987, where he was a member of the moot court team, mock trial team, and a recipient of the James Harold Thompson Scholarship. In 1988, he was admitted to the Florida state bar and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. He is also a member of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Ed Suarez began his career as a prosecutor in Florida s 13th Judicial Circuit, prosecuting cases including fraud and other financial crimes, capital sexual battery, child abuse, and other serious felony offenses. Since 1991, Ed has concentrated his efforts on helping clients with criminal and personal injury matters in the Tampa Bay area. Law Offices of Ed Suarez, PA 1011 West Cleveland Street Tampa, FL ph: fax: esuarez@suarezlawfirm.com To order reprints of Tampa s Best Lawyers, please contact or reprintscustomerservice@alm.com Woodward/White Inc. has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate. Neither Woodward/ White Inc. nor ALM Media, LLC (or either party s affiliates, employees, officers, directors or agents) assumes, and both parties hereby disclaim, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause. This magazine includes paid attorney advertising. Consumers should contact the state bar for verification and additional information prior to securing the legal services of any attorney. For more information, see The 2011 edition of The Best Lawyers in America is available from the publisher. For information call ; write 129 First Avenue, Aiken, SC 29801; info@bestlawyers.com; or visit com. The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers are registered trademarks of Woodward/White, Inc. ALM is a trademark of ALM Media Properties, LLC. practice area highlighted denotes best lawyers selection For more info go to Tampa s Best Lawyers 15

16 Looking at a high risk business transaction? Confidence is everything. Client-Driven. Results-Focused. One Tampa City Center Suite 3200 Tampa, Florida (813) Litigation Land Use and Zoning Business Transactions Real Estate and Lending Securities Environmental