Lawyers
Tolu Sojobi is an Associate in Lydecker’s Los Angeles office. Her practice focuses on Employment Practices Liability (EPLI) and Professional Liability litigation, where she represents businesses and insurers in complex civil matters. She has an extensive background in employment law and defends clients in cases involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage and hour disputes.
Ms. Sojobi earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis, and her Juris Doctor from Thomas Jefferson School of Law. During law school, she interned at several well-known law firms and gained valuable dispute resolution experience as a volunteer mediator for the San Diego County Small Claims Court.
Ms. Sojobi joined Lydecker in November 2024, bringing a strong foundation in both employment and professional liability defense to the firm.
James Spratt is a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office and practices in all courts in California. His primary areas of practice include complex commercial litigation, tort practice in products liability, real property and construction defect.
Mr. Spratt earned his Juris Doctor Certificate from University of La Verne and his Bachelor’s degree in History from University of California, Santa Barbara. While in law school, Mr. Spratt has held numerous legal internships, including Office of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. In Mr. Spratt’s practice, he has held various partner positions with national law firms and has worked for national insurance companies, as staff counsel. He has worked defending national insurance companies in professional negligence, commercial trucking negligence, premises liability and habitability claims.
Mr. Spratt has handled the defense of Property Owners, Landlords, Property Managers, and Homeowners Associations in claims arising out of California Habitability Claims pursuant to compliance with statutory duties under California Civil Code Section 1941.1 and California Health and Safety Code Section 17920.3. While the defense of these claims is often challenging in the pro-tenant environment of California law, Partner, James Spratt has displayed skill and expertise in navigating the display of substantial compliance with statutory duties in order to minimize exposure to risks. This is often achieved by a careful analysis of the jurisdictional building code and health & safety code records, in order to achieve favorable results in mediation of these claims. Additionally, Mr. Spratt has engaged some of the best experts in the fields of Property Management and Environmental Science to defend these claims, including Toxicologists, Microbiologists and Medical Doctors specializing in California Mycotoxin, Mold and Environmental Diseases.
Mr. Spratt is active in conservation efforts of Santa Monica Mountains Restoration Trust and enjoys snow skiing and swimming in his spare time. He also enjoys spending time with his family and his German Shepard dog. Mr. Spratt is also a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
Thomas Stevenson is an attorney in Lydecker’s Orlando office where he represents design professionals, developers, contractors, and subcontractors in construction related disputes, including representation for litigation, mediation, arbitration, contract drafting, and licensure issues. Thomas has experience handling matters from inception to disposition, including appellate matters. Thomas represents these clients throughout the State of Florida.
Thomas also has experience handling cases involving insurance litigation and appellate practice. Thomas has also worked in an advisory role when he was in-house counsel for a loss assessment and engineering company; Thomas was also exposed to collection matters there. Further, Thomas has also represented clients in tax matters and has defended clients against the IRS and Florida Department of Revenue, including pre and post assessment matters and tax court litigation.
Thomas is originally from Wisconsin before starting law school in Orlando, Florida in 2017 where he earned his Juris Doctorate in 2019 from Barry School of Law. Thereafter, he earned an LLM in Taxation from the University of Florida, graduating in 2020. Researching case law and articulating it are passions of his. Further, Thomas tends to approach cases from a variety of perspectives to achieve best results for clients.
Ryan Stocks is an Associate in Lydecker’s Miami office. His practice involves civil litigation, with a primary focus on environmental law.
Ryan received his B.B.A. in economics and international business as well as a minor in environmental economics and management from the University of Georgia in 2021. He then received his J.D. and certificate in Environmental, Natural Resources, and Land Use Law at Florida State University College of Law in 2024. While in law school, Ryan held several executive board positions, including vice president, in the Environmental Law Society and Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Ryan worked as legal intern at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and as a law clerk at a boutique law firm specializing in environmental law. He also previously interned at two other law firms, where he gained experience in residential real estate and personal injury law.
Carrie E. Stricklin, Esq., is a partner in the firm’s Boca Raton office and part of our Workers’ Compensation Practice Group. She practices general civil litigation, concentrating in the areas of insurance defense litigation, including bodily injury; attorney malpractice; negligent security; and workers’ compensation litigation. Ms. Stricklin has represented numerous carriers and private entities such as the State of Florida Department of Financial Services, Whole Foods Supermarkets, Signature Healthcare, AMS Staff Leasing, City Electric Supply Company, iAero, LLC, as well as municipalities including the City of Sunny Isles, City of Bal Harbour, City of Dania Beach, City of Miami Gardens and Town of Surfside through the Florida League of Cities. She has also handled occupational injury and disease claims as well.
Within the scope of her practice, Ms. Stricklin covers the entire spectrum of the defense of the workers’ compensation claims to include the following: investigating suspicious or fraudulent claims; thoroughly evaluating claims for potential resolution at state and/or private mediation; discovery and trial preparation when appropriate for litigation up to and through Final Hearing; evaluation and resolution of subrogation claims; and facilitation and submission of Medicare Set Asides with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Ms. Stricklin also previously developed a comprehensive Continuing Education seminar for claims professionals, which provides an update on numerous developments of the law, as well as CE credit
Ms. Stricklin received her Juris Doctorate from the Shephard Broad Law Center at Nova Southeastern University, where she was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society and a Law Student Advisor. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Arts degree in History from Florida Atlantic University. During graduate school, Ms. Stricklin served as the President of the school’s chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, History Honor Society.
Mr. Sunnucks is an experienced Florida attorney in Lydecker’s Tampa office and has developed extensive litigation experience representing both national and state insurance carriers. His diverse experience reflects strong analytical, negotiation, and advocacy skills, as well as a commitment to client representation and professional excellence. His background includes handling first party property, general liability, and construction defect matters. He earned his Juris Doctor with honors from Florida State University College of Law.
Before his legal career, Mr. Sunnucks worked as a teacher in Pinellas County Schools. Mr. Sunnucks also holds a Master of Science in Psychology from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Florida State University.
Ms. Sweet is a bilingual (English and Spanish) attorney known for her strong courtroom presence and aggressive, results-driven approach to litigation. She has extensive experience handling complex, high-stakes matters and a proven ability to take cases from initial filing through trial, consistently positioning them for success through strategic, proactive advocacy. Her practice is defined by thorough case development, decisive motion practice, and a willingness to litigate aggressively to achieve favorable outcomes, including prevailing on dispositive motions.
Ms. Sweet began her legal career as an Assistant State Attorney in Florida, where she spent over four years prosecuting a wide range of cases. During that time, she first-chaired dozens of jury trials, building a reputation for confident courtroom advocacy, sharp cross-examination, and persuasive argument. She developed cases aggressively from the outset, ensuring they were trial-ready and leveraging that preparation to secure convictions and favorable resolutions.
She later served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of Texas, where she handled complex federal cases and further honed her litigation skills. In that role, she regularly briefed and argued substantive and dispositive motions, using strategic motion practice to narrow issues, gain leverage, and, where possible, resolve cases short of trial.
Since returning to Florida in 2023, Ms. Sweet has focused her practice on civil litigation, where she continues to apply the same disciplined, assertive approach. She is known for working cases up aggressively, developing the factual record early, and using targeted motion practice to put her clients in the strongest possible position—whether that means prevailing before trial or succeeding in the courtroom.
Ms. Sweet is committed to delivering exceptional, client-focused representation and remains dedicated to maintaining a competitive edge through ongoing legal education and continuous refinement of her advocacy skills.
Zayd Takiedine is an Associate Attorney in Lydecker’s Doylestown, Pennsylvania office. Mr. Takiedine’s practice primarily focuses on the areas of professional liability, general liability, commercial litigation, and insurance-related disputes.
Mr. Takiedine earned his Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School, where he obtained a Certificate in Corporate and Business Law. While at Rutgers, he was selected to participate in the Entrepreneurship Clinic, where he assisted in representing local start-up for-profit and non-profit entrepreneurs. During law school, Mr. Takiedine gained valuable in-house transactional and litigation experience as an intern for a Fortune 500 real estate developer and served as a Summer Associate at a prominent suburban Philadelphia law firm.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Mr. Takiedine practiced at a full-service law firm in the Philadelphia area, where he handled a broad range of civil litigation matters and real estate tax assessment appeals.
Rachael Talento is an associate in Lydecker’s Los Angeles office. Her practice focuses on General Liability and Employment Practices (EPLI) litigation, where she defends employers, businesses, and insurers in various civil matters including product liability, premises liability, bodily injury, and employment-related claims. Ms. Talento is admitted to practice law in California state courts.
Ms. Talento earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School, where she served as a Production Editor for the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review. She was also a clinical law student with the Youth Justice Education Clinic, where she advocated on behalf of students with disabilities.
Before joining Lydecker, Ms. Talento worked at a plaintiff’s firm focusing on mass torts, representing thousands of clients in wildfire, toxic torts, and sexual abuse cases. She earned her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and Modern Foreign Languages from James Madison University.
Ms. Thomas is an associate in Lydecker’s Orlando office whose practice focuses on general liability, third-party claims, property defense, and personal injury matters. She brings a well-rounded litigation background and a strategic, client-centered approach to every case she handles.
Prior to her current role, Ms. Thomas worked at an insurance defense firm, where she represented insurance carriers across a broad range of matters, including first-party property disputes, general liability, bodily injury claims, trucking litigation, and third-party claims. This experience provided her with a comprehensive understanding of the insurance industry.
Ms. Thomas earned her Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, from Florida A&M University College of Law in 2021. She has gained valuable experience through working with the Conviction Integrity Unit at the State Attorney’s Office for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, as well as with the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association. She also contributed to the legal community through scholarship, publishing an article in a well-known legal journal.
Javad Valad is an Associate in Lydecker’s New Jersey Office. Mr. Valad’s practice involves all aspects of civil litigation, with a primary focus on bodily injury defense, general liability, premise liability, and labor law matters.
Prior to practicing law, Mr. Valad built a diverse professional background spanning investigative, military and entrepreneurial roles. Mr.Valad owned and operated service, and construction-based businesses giving him practical, firsthand insight into the operational issues faced by today’s clients. This combination of experience informs his practical approach to litigation.
Angelia Williams is an Associate in the firm’s Lydecker Miami office. Ms. Williams is an accomplished litigation attorney with over 26 years of experience representing clients in state and federal courts across Florida. She focuses her practice on defending insurers, corporate clients, and commercial vehicle owners in matters involving personal injury, premises liability, product liability, and insurance disputes.
Ms. Williams is known for her strategic approach, thorough preparation, and commitment to achieving favorable results for her clients. She has handled cases from initial pleadings through trial, mediated settlements, and argued dispositive motions with proven success.
Ms. Williams earned her J.D. from Florida State University College of Law and her B.S. in Journalism, cum laude, from Florida A&M University.
Tolu Sojobi is an Associate in Lydecker’s Los Angeles office. Her practice focuses on Employment Practices Liability (EPLI) and Professional Liability litigation, where she represents businesses and insurers in complex civil matters. She has an extensive background in employment law and defends clients in cases involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage and hour disputes.
Ms. Sojobi earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis, and her Juris Doctor from Thomas Jefferson School of Law. During law school, she interned at several well-known law firms and gained valuable dispute resolution experience as a volunteer mediator for the San Diego County Small Claims Court.
Ms. Sojobi joined Lydecker in November 2024, bringing a strong foundation in both employment and professional liability defense to the firm.
James Spratt is a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office and practices in all courts in California. His primary areas of practice include complex commercial litigation, tort practice in products liability, real property and construction defect.
Mr. Spratt earned his Juris Doctor Certificate from University of La Verne and his Bachelor’s degree in History from University of California, Santa Barbara. While in law school, Mr. Spratt has held numerous legal internships, including Office of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. In Mr. Spratt’s practice, he has held various partner positions with national law firms and has worked for national insurance companies, as staff counsel. He has worked defending national insurance companies in professional negligence, commercial trucking negligence, premises liability and habitability claims.
Mr. Spratt has handled the defense of Property Owners, Landlords, Property Managers, and Homeowners Associations in claims arising out of California Habitability Claims pursuant to compliance with statutory duties under California Civil Code Section 1941.1 and California Health and Safety Code Section 17920.3. While the defense of these claims is often challenging in the pro-tenant environment of California law, Partner, James Spratt has displayed skill and expertise in navigating the display of substantial compliance with statutory duties in order to minimize exposure to risks. This is often achieved by a careful analysis of the jurisdictional building code and health & safety code records, in order to achieve favorable results in mediation of these claims. Additionally, Mr. Spratt has engaged some of the best experts in the fields of Property Management and Environmental Science to defend these claims, including Toxicologists, Microbiologists and Medical Doctors specializing in California Mycotoxin, Mold and Environmental Diseases.
Mr. Spratt is active in conservation efforts of Santa Monica Mountains Restoration Trust and enjoys snow skiing and swimming in his spare time. He also enjoys spending time with his family and his German Shepard dog. Mr. Spratt is also a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
Thomas Stevenson is an attorney in Lydecker’s Orlando office where he represents design professionals, developers, contractors, and subcontractors in construction related disputes, including representation for litigation, mediation, arbitration, contract drafting, and licensure issues. Thomas has experience handling matters from inception to disposition, including appellate matters. Thomas represents these clients throughout the State of Florida.
Thomas also has experience handling cases involving insurance litigation and appellate practice. Thomas has also worked in an advisory role when he was in-house counsel for a loss assessment and engineering company; Thomas was also exposed to collection matters there. Further, Thomas has also represented clients in tax matters and has defended clients against the IRS and Florida Department of Revenue, including pre and post assessment matters and tax court litigation.
Thomas is originally from Wisconsin before starting law school in Orlando, Florida in 2017 where he earned his Juris Doctorate in 2019 from Barry School of Law. Thereafter, he earned an LLM in Taxation from the University of Florida, graduating in 2020. Researching case law and articulating it are passions of his. Further, Thomas tends to approach cases from a variety of perspectives to achieve best results for clients.
Ryan Stocks is an Associate in Lydecker’s Miami office. His practice involves civil litigation, with a primary focus on environmental law.
Ryan received his B.B.A. in economics and international business as well as a minor in environmental economics and management from the University of Georgia in 2021. He then received his J.D. and certificate in Environmental, Natural Resources, and Land Use Law at Florida State University College of Law in 2024. While in law school, Ryan held several executive board positions, including vice president, in the Environmental Law Society and Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Ryan worked as legal intern at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and as a law clerk at a boutique law firm specializing in environmental law. He also previously interned at two other law firms, where he gained experience in residential real estate and personal injury law.
Carrie E. Stricklin, Esq., is a partner in the firm’s Boca Raton office and part of our Workers’ Compensation Practice Group. She practices general civil litigation, concentrating in the areas of insurance defense litigation, including bodily injury; attorney malpractice; negligent security; and workers’ compensation litigation. Ms. Stricklin has represented numerous carriers and private entities such as the State of Florida Department of Financial Services, Whole Foods Supermarkets, Signature Healthcare, AMS Staff Leasing, City Electric Supply Company, iAero, LLC, as well as municipalities including the City of Sunny Isles, City of Bal Harbour, City of Dania Beach, City of Miami Gardens and Town of Surfside through the Florida League of Cities. She has also handled occupational injury and disease claims as well.
Within the scope of her practice, Ms. Stricklin covers the entire spectrum of the defense of the workers’ compensation claims to include the following: investigating suspicious or fraudulent claims; thoroughly evaluating claims for potential resolution at state and/or private mediation; discovery and trial preparation when appropriate for litigation up to and through Final Hearing; evaluation and resolution of subrogation claims; and facilitation and submission of Medicare Set Asides with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Ms. Stricklin also previously developed a comprehensive Continuing Education seminar for claims professionals, which provides an update on numerous developments of the law, as well as CE credit
Ms. Stricklin received her Juris Doctorate from the Shephard Broad Law Center at Nova Southeastern University, where she was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society and a Law Student Advisor. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Arts degree in History from Florida Atlantic University. During graduate school, Ms. Stricklin served as the President of the school’s chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, History Honor Society.
Mr. Sunnucks is an experienced Florida attorney in Lydecker’s Tampa office and has developed extensive litigation experience representing both national and state insurance carriers. His diverse experience reflects strong analytical, negotiation, and advocacy skills, as well as a commitment to client representation and professional excellence. His background includes handling first party property, general liability, and construction defect matters. He earned his Juris Doctor with honors from Florida State University College of Law.
Before his legal career, Mr. Sunnucks worked as a teacher in Pinellas County Schools. Mr. Sunnucks also holds a Master of Science in Psychology from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Florida State University.
Ms. Sweet is a bilingual (English and Spanish) attorney known for her strong courtroom presence and aggressive, results-driven approach to litigation. She has extensive experience handling complex, high-stakes matters and a proven ability to take cases from initial filing through trial, consistently positioning them for success through strategic, proactive advocacy. Her practice is defined by thorough case development, decisive motion practice, and a willingness to litigate aggressively to achieve favorable outcomes, including prevailing on dispositive motions.
Ms. Sweet began her legal career as an Assistant State Attorney in Florida, where she spent over four years prosecuting a wide range of cases. During that time, she first-chaired dozens of jury trials, building a reputation for confident courtroom advocacy, sharp cross-examination, and persuasive argument. She developed cases aggressively from the outset, ensuring they were trial-ready and leveraging that preparation to secure convictions and favorable resolutions.
She later served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of Texas, where she handled complex federal cases and further honed her litigation skills. In that role, she regularly briefed and argued substantive and dispositive motions, using strategic motion practice to narrow issues, gain leverage, and, where possible, resolve cases short of trial.
Since returning to Florida in 2023, Ms. Sweet has focused her practice on civil litigation, where she continues to apply the same disciplined, assertive approach. She is known for working cases up aggressively, developing the factual record early, and using targeted motion practice to put her clients in the strongest possible position—whether that means prevailing before trial or succeeding in the courtroom.
Ms. Sweet is committed to delivering exceptional, client-focused representation and remains dedicated to maintaining a competitive edge through ongoing legal education and continuous refinement of her advocacy skills.
Zayd Takiedine is an Associate Attorney in Lydecker’s Doylestown, Pennsylvania office. Mr. Takiedine’s practice primarily focuses on the areas of professional liability, general liability, commercial litigation, and insurance-related disputes.
Mr. Takiedine earned his Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School, where he obtained a Certificate in Corporate and Business Law. While at Rutgers, he was selected to participate in the Entrepreneurship Clinic, where he assisted in representing local start-up for-profit and non-profit entrepreneurs. During law school, Mr. Takiedine gained valuable in-house transactional and litigation experience as an intern for a Fortune 500 real estate developer and served as a Summer Associate at a prominent suburban Philadelphia law firm.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Mr. Takiedine practiced at a full-service law firm in the Philadelphia area, where he handled a broad range of civil litigation matters and real estate tax assessment appeals.
Rachael Talento is an associate in Lydecker’s Los Angeles office. Her practice focuses on General Liability and Employment Practices (EPLI) litigation, where she defends employers, businesses, and insurers in various civil matters including product liability, premises liability, bodily injury, and employment-related claims. Ms. Talento is admitted to practice law in California state courts.
Ms. Talento earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School, where she served as a Production Editor for the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review. She was also a clinical law student with the Youth Justice Education Clinic, where she advocated on behalf of students with disabilities.
Before joining Lydecker, Ms. Talento worked at a plaintiff’s firm focusing on mass torts, representing thousands of clients in wildfire, toxic torts, and sexual abuse cases. She earned her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and Modern Foreign Languages from James Madison University.
Ms. Thomas is an associate in Lydecker’s Orlando office whose practice focuses on general liability, third-party claims, property defense, and personal injury matters. She brings a well-rounded litigation background and a strategic, client-centered approach to every case she handles.
Prior to her current role, Ms. Thomas worked at an insurance defense firm, where she represented insurance carriers across a broad range of matters, including first-party property disputes, general liability, bodily injury claims, trucking litigation, and third-party claims. This experience provided her with a comprehensive understanding of the insurance industry.
Ms. Thomas earned her Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, from Florida A&M University College of Law in 2021. She has gained valuable experience through working with the Conviction Integrity Unit at the State Attorney’s Office for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, as well as with the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association. She also contributed to the legal community through scholarship, publishing an article in a well-known legal journal.
Javad Valad is an Associate in Lydecker’s New Jersey Office. Mr. Valad’s practice involves all aspects of civil litigation, with a primary focus on bodily injury defense, general liability, premise liability, and labor law matters.
Prior to practicing law, Mr. Valad built a diverse professional background spanning investigative, military and entrepreneurial roles. Mr.Valad owned and operated service, and construction-based businesses giving him practical, firsthand insight into the operational issues faced by today’s clients. This combination of experience informs his practical approach to litigation.
Angelia Williams is an Associate in the firm’s Lydecker Miami office. Ms. Williams is an accomplished litigation attorney with over 26 years of experience representing clients in state and federal courts across Florida. She focuses her practice on defending insurers, corporate clients, and commercial vehicle owners in matters involving personal injury, premises liability, product liability, and insurance disputes.
Ms. Williams is known for her strategic approach, thorough preparation, and commitment to achieving favorable results for her clients. She has handled cases from initial pleadings through trial, mediated settlements, and argued dispositive motions with proven success.
Ms. Williams earned her J.D. from Florida State University College of Law and her B.S. in Journalism, cum laude, from Florida A&M University.
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