Lawyers
Samantha Brown is an Associate in the firm’s Boca Raton office. Ms. Brown’s practice involves Catastrophic Injury & Loss Defense, Complex Commercial Litigation, Professional Liability, Municipal Defense, Environmental / Toxic Tort, Premises Liability, Products Liability, and Transportation Liability.
Ms. Brown earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, a minor in Legal Studies, and a Certification in Criminal Profiling and Intelligence and National Security from the University of Central Florida in May 2020.
Ms. Brown earned her Juris Doctorate Degree from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Upon graduation, Ms. Brown was inducted into the Order of Barristers, a national honor society. During law school, Ms. Brown was part of the honor program and received the Dean’s List award every semester. Ms. Brown served as NSU’s Trial Association’s Vice President of External Operations. She was a national competitor for the NSU Trial Team and NSU’s Moot Court Honor Society. Ms. Brown was a Senior Associate of Nova Law Review and a teaching assistant for criminal law and criminal procedure classes. Ms. Brown was President of NSU’s Federalist Chapter and National Security Society.
Before joining the firm, Ms. Brown was a Judicial intern for the Honorable Judge Weekes. Ms. Brown previously worked at a large defense firm practicing vehicular negligence.
Shavon Brooks is an Associate attorney in Lydecker’s Orlando office. Ms. Brooks focuses her practice on employment law, commercial litigation, general liability, and construction matters.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Shavon represented clients in a range of complex legal matters. Shavon graduated cum laude from the State University of New York at Albany and earned a Juris Doctor from Barry University School of Law. While at Barry, Shavon completed an externship with the Department of Children and Families, where she gained experience assisting with petitions and supporting matters involving children and families. She also completed internships at small law firms focused on general liability work.
Edward R. Butler III is a Senior Associate in Lydecker’s Orlando office. With more than 10 years of litigation experience, his primary practice areas include bodily injury, premises liability, probate, and general liability matters.
Edward has extensive litigation and trial experience, having successfully represented clients through all phases of complex disputes. He has secured full defense verdicts in cases involving potential exposure in the multimillion-dollar range.
Known for his meticulous attention to detail and proactive communication, Edward prioritizes strong client relationships and strategic advocacy. He is committed to delivering thoughtful, results-driven representation and upholding the highest standards of professionalism and legal integrity in every matter he handles.
Richard Brush is an Associate in Lydecker’s Los Angeles office. His practice focuses on Directors and Officers Liability, Education Law, Errors and Omissions, Government and Municipal Liability Defense, Labor and Employment, Landlord Tenant Law, Professional Liability, and Workers’ Compensation.
Mr. Brush previously worked for a legal aid organization, where he represented low income clients facing a variety of housing and employment related matters. He advocated on their behalf in both trial court and administrative proceedings.
Mr. Brush earned his bachelor’s degree from California State University, Sacramento and his Juris Doctor from Lincoln Law School of Sacramento.
Yina Cabrera is a Partner in Lydecer’s Miami office. Ms. Cabrera’s practice involves all aspects of federal and state civil trial litigation with a primary focus in personal injury, government liability, and civil rights litigation. Ms. Cabrera also handles employment litigation matters, including FLSA and FMLA violations, and Title VII violations including discrimination, retaliation, and sexual harassment.
Ms. Cabrera earned her J.D. from Florida International University College of Law in May 2021, graduating with honors. During law school, Ms. Cabrera interned at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and was a research assistant at FIU Law, responsible for researching topics in employment discrimination. Ms. Cabrera was on the Executive Board of the FIU Law Review, serving as the Executive Comments Editor; her Law Review student note was chosen for publication in the FIU Law Review. Ms. Cabrera was also a member of the FIU Board of Appellate Advocates and was a semifinalist in the Intramural Moot Court Competition. Ms. Cabrera was the President of the Cuban American Bar Association, Vice President of the Employment and Labor Law Society, and served as a Student Ambassador. Furthermore, Ms. Cabrera was a Dean’s Scholar and was awarded an Excellence in Civic Engagement Medallion for her pro-bono work.
Christopher J. Campbell is a Partner at Lydecker’s Newport Beach, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco offices, serving as lead counsel in state and federal courts, as well as high-stakes arbitration. Mr. Campbell’s practice focuses on defending companies across materials, industrials, utilities, healthcare, information technology, financials, and consumer discretionary sectors. Mr. Campbell prioritizes organizational objectives over legal convenience to secure favorable verdicts, settlements, and dispositive judgments.
As a trial attorney for Lydecker’s EPLI Department, Environmental Mass Tort, Product Liability Department and Professional Liability Department, Mr. Campbell has defended against complaints involving consumer and commercially available substances and materials, class action, mass, and toxic tort litigation, and recalled products claims. Mr. Campbell spearheaded growing nationwide silicosis litigation by bringing its bellwether case to verdict in Los Angeles County. His work with EPLI offers clients invaluable guidance on navigating the complex landscape of employment law. With a focus on defending employers in employment-related claims, Mr. Campbell has experience handling a wide range of workplace issues, including wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, and wage and hour disputes. Mr. Campbell has a deep understanding of the complexities involved in professional liability cases and is committed to protecting the reputations and careers of his clients. His dedication to delivering tailored solutions and safeguarding his clients’ interests makes him a trusted advocate in professional liability defense.
Finding his roots in the in-house legal department of an international company with over 13,000 employees, Mr. Campbell brings a unique perspective to the courtroom, tailoring litigation strategies to his clients’ executive philosophies and microeconomic constraints to advance long-term organizational goals through a trial-focused approach that forces outcomes on his clients’ terms. This has allowed Mr. Campbell to adopt a proactive methodology in developing internal employment policies and procedures to reduce risks and avoid costly litigation in the first place.
Mr. Campbell’s representative clients are diverse, ranging from multinational corporations, medical device and pharmaceutical companies to local business and municipal governments, as well as global manufacturers, distributors, and major retailers. Mr. Campbell specifically focuses on defending companies against complaints involving consumer and commercially available substances and materials, class action, mass and toxic tort litigation, recalled products claims, employment discrimination, wrongful termination, and wage disputes.
Before joining Lydecker, Mr. Campbell defended businesses operating throughout California, and has acted as lead trial counsel throughout strategic discovery, pre-trial motion practice, and to completion of trial. His prior experience includes a range of manufacturer defect, fraud, employment, and regulatory compliance litigation on a state and federal level. In law school, Mr. Campbell was a Dean’s Merit Scholarship Recipient, and finalist and Best Opening Statement winner in University of California, Irvine School of Law’s Mock Trial competition. Mr. Campbell continues to participate in the development and mentorship of aspiring civil litigators.
Alejandro Candela is an Associate in Lydecker’s Miami office. Mr. Candela’s practice focuses on all aspects of liability and general civil litigation.
Mr. Candela began his legal career in 2018 as a law clerk for various Miami law firms, handling personal injury and real property matters. Most recently, he spent more than three years clerking on first-party property insurance litigation, where he developed a strong foundation in Florida civil litigation practice and procedure.
Mr. Candela earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Florida. He went on to receive his Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University College of Law in 2026 and was admitted to The Florida Bar that same year. At St. Thomas, he was a founding member of the Golf Law Society, serving first as Treasurer and later as President. He also received the Silver Oar Award in Maritime Law. Mr. Candela is fluent in Spanish.
Amanda Carballo is an associate in Lydecker’s Miami office. Her practice focuses on civil litigation, with an emphasis on toxic tort defense and products liability, and she has a particular interest in appellate practice.
Ms. Carballo earned her J.D. and LL.M. in Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law from the University of Miami School of Law, where she received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Copyright Law. As a member of the Charles C. Papy, Jr. Moot Court Board, she was a Regional Finalist in the National Moot Court Competition and an Octo-Finalist in the John T. Gaubatz Moot Court Competition, and she competed in the Kaufman Securities Moot Court Competition.
During law school, Ms. Carballo served as a judicial intern in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida. She also completed a practicum with the in-house legal department of a leading live-entertainment company in Santiago, Chile, where she reviewed and negotiated commercial agreements. Ms. Carballo is fluent in Spanish and has drafted, negotiated, and translated contracts in both English and Spanish.
Filippo Carnazzi is an associate in the firm’s Miami office. Mr. Carnazzi’s practice focuses on construction defect litigation. In his practice, Mr. Carnazzi represents developers, general contractors, subcontractors, design professionals in a variety of contexts arising from the construction and design defect. Mr. Carnazzi joined the firm in February 2022.
Mr. Carnazzi was born and raised in Italy and he obtained his Juris Doctor and Master of Laws in International Arbitration from the University of Miami School of Law. While in law school, Mr. Carnazzi interned with the in-house counsel with two multinationals companies, and he started his practice of law in Miami based law firm as an associate to assist companies in litigation and transactional matters.
DeSharné Carroll is a Partner in Lydecker’s Atlanta office. Ms. Carroll’s practice involves state and federal civil litigation. She brings experience representing individuals, businesses, and insurance carriers in complex matters involving automobile and trucking liability, premises liability, medical malpractice, and other insurance-related disputes. Ms. Carroll has managed cases from inception through resolution, including discovery, depositions, motion practice, mediation, and trial preparation.
Ms. Carroll earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Mississippi State University and her Juris Doctor from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. During law school, she was recognized for her academic achievements through placement on both the Chancellor’s List and the Dean’s List.
Ms. Carroll is admitted to practice in all state courts in Georgia and Alabama. She is also admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Georgia and the Northern and Middle Districts of Alabama. Her professional memberships include the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association and the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers.
Peyton Marie Cassatta is an Associate in Lydecker’s Miami office. She primarily focuses her practice on insurance defense, premises liability, product liability, and general civil litigation.
Prior to working at Lydecker, Ms. Cassatta practiced as an Attorney at a prominent full-service law firm based in Miami, Florida, where she gained experience across all phases of litigation and developed a strong foundation in complex case analysis and advocacy.
Ms. Cassatta graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Science and a minor in Chemistry. Thereafter, Ms. Cassatta earned her Juris Doctor from Florida International University College of Law. During her time at FIU Law, Ms. Cassatta was a Staff Member and Senior Staff Member for FIU Law Review, a member of the Sports, Entertainment, Fashion, and Art Law Society (SEFA), and a member of the Intellectual Property Student Association (IPSA). Additionally, she earned medallion honors for her pro bono service, and a Certificate of Intellectual Property for her extensive work in the discipline.
In her free time, Ms. Cassatta enjoys Pilates and walks around Brickell Key, traveling, and experiencing Miami’s music and sports scene.
Christopher Chapaneri is the managing partner for our offices in Texas and Oklahoma and the founding partner of our Dallas office. Christopher is a strategic, results-oriented litigator obtaining favorable settlements where appropriate and trying cases before a judge or jury when needed, including first and second chair jury trial experience in state and federal courts. Christopher intuitively anticipates litigation methods pursued by all parties in a lawsuit, allowing him the ability to engage in “outside the box” strategies where appropriate.
Christopher is experienced in and enjoys practicing in a wide array of cases involving commercial litigation, wrongful death/survivor actions, products liability, premises liability, construction defect, catastrophic injury, transportation matters, employment litigation, commercial landlord-tenant disputes, professional liability for engineers, amusement park law, and environmental law. Moreover, Christopher has handled a variety of appellate matters to the Texas Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Christopher has taught the following Lydecker U courses “Handling Complex Litigation in Amusement Park Industry in Texas” and “Enforcement of Arbitration & Pre-Injury Waivers Against Minors in Texas” for CE/CLE credit.
Samantha Brown is an Associate in the firm’s Boca Raton office. Ms. Brown’s practice involves Catastrophic Injury & Loss Defense, Complex Commercial Litigation, Professional Liability, Municipal Defense, Environmental / Toxic Tort, Premises Liability, Products Liability, and Transportation Liability.
Ms. Brown earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, a minor in Legal Studies, and a Certification in Criminal Profiling and Intelligence and National Security from the University of Central Florida in May 2020.
Ms. Brown earned her Juris Doctorate Degree from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Upon graduation, Ms. Brown was inducted into the Order of Barristers, a national honor society. During law school, Ms. Brown was part of the honor program and received the Dean’s List award every semester. Ms. Brown served as NSU’s Trial Association’s Vice President of External Operations. She was a national competitor for the NSU Trial Team and NSU’s Moot Court Honor Society. Ms. Brown was a Senior Associate of Nova Law Review and a teaching assistant for criminal law and criminal procedure classes. Ms. Brown was President of NSU’s Federalist Chapter and National Security Society.
Before joining the firm, Ms. Brown was a Judicial intern for the Honorable Judge Weekes. Ms. Brown previously worked at a large defense firm practicing vehicular negligence.
Shavon Brooks is an Associate attorney in Lydecker’s Orlando office. Ms. Brooks focuses her practice on employment law, commercial litigation, general liability, and construction matters.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Shavon represented clients in a range of complex legal matters. Shavon graduated cum laude from the State University of New York at Albany and earned a Juris Doctor from Barry University School of Law. While at Barry, Shavon completed an externship with the Department of Children and Families, where she gained experience assisting with petitions and supporting matters involving children and families. She also completed internships at small law firms focused on general liability work.
Edward R. Butler III is a Senior Associate in Lydecker’s Orlando office. With more than 10 years of litigation experience, his primary practice areas include bodily injury, premises liability, probate, and general liability matters.
Edward has extensive litigation and trial experience, having successfully represented clients through all phases of complex disputes. He has secured full defense verdicts in cases involving potential exposure in the multimillion-dollar range.
Known for his meticulous attention to detail and proactive communication, Edward prioritizes strong client relationships and strategic advocacy. He is committed to delivering thoughtful, results-driven representation and upholding the highest standards of professionalism and legal integrity in every matter he handles.
Richard Brush is an Associate in Lydecker’s Los Angeles office. His practice focuses on Directors and Officers Liability, Education Law, Errors and Omissions, Government and Municipal Liability Defense, Labor and Employment, Landlord Tenant Law, Professional Liability, and Workers’ Compensation.
Mr. Brush previously worked for a legal aid organization, where he represented low income clients facing a variety of housing and employment related matters. He advocated on their behalf in both trial court and administrative proceedings.
Mr. Brush earned his bachelor’s degree from California State University, Sacramento and his Juris Doctor from Lincoln Law School of Sacramento.
Yina Cabrera is a Partner in Lydecer’s Miami office. Ms. Cabrera’s practice involves all aspects of federal and state civil trial litigation with a primary focus in personal injury, government liability, and civil rights litigation. Ms. Cabrera also handles employment litigation matters, including FLSA and FMLA violations, and Title VII violations including discrimination, retaliation, and sexual harassment.
Ms. Cabrera earned her J.D. from Florida International University College of Law in May 2021, graduating with honors. During law school, Ms. Cabrera interned at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and was a research assistant at FIU Law, responsible for researching topics in employment discrimination. Ms. Cabrera was on the Executive Board of the FIU Law Review, serving as the Executive Comments Editor; her Law Review student note was chosen for publication in the FIU Law Review. Ms. Cabrera was also a member of the FIU Board of Appellate Advocates and was a semifinalist in the Intramural Moot Court Competition. Ms. Cabrera was the President of the Cuban American Bar Association, Vice President of the Employment and Labor Law Society, and served as a Student Ambassador. Furthermore, Ms. Cabrera was a Dean’s Scholar and was awarded an Excellence in Civic Engagement Medallion for her pro-bono work.
Christopher J. Campbell is a Partner at Lydecker’s Newport Beach, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco offices, serving as lead counsel in state and federal courts, as well as high-stakes arbitration. Mr. Campbell’s practice focuses on defending companies across materials, industrials, utilities, healthcare, information technology, financials, and consumer discretionary sectors. Mr. Campbell prioritizes organizational objectives over legal convenience to secure favorable verdicts, settlements, and dispositive judgments.
As a trial attorney for Lydecker’s EPLI Department, Environmental Mass Tort, Product Liability Department and Professional Liability Department, Mr. Campbell has defended against complaints involving consumer and commercially available substances and materials, class action, mass, and toxic tort litigation, and recalled products claims. Mr. Campbell spearheaded growing nationwide silicosis litigation by bringing its bellwether case to verdict in Los Angeles County. His work with EPLI offers clients invaluable guidance on navigating the complex landscape of employment law. With a focus on defending employers in employment-related claims, Mr. Campbell has experience handling a wide range of workplace issues, including wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, and wage and hour disputes. Mr. Campbell has a deep understanding of the complexities involved in professional liability cases and is committed to protecting the reputations and careers of his clients. His dedication to delivering tailored solutions and safeguarding his clients’ interests makes him a trusted advocate in professional liability defense.
Finding his roots in the in-house legal department of an international company with over 13,000 employees, Mr. Campbell brings a unique perspective to the courtroom, tailoring litigation strategies to his clients’ executive philosophies and microeconomic constraints to advance long-term organizational goals through a trial-focused approach that forces outcomes on his clients’ terms. This has allowed Mr. Campbell to adopt a proactive methodology in developing internal employment policies and procedures to reduce risks and avoid costly litigation in the first place.
Mr. Campbell’s representative clients are diverse, ranging from multinational corporations, medical device and pharmaceutical companies to local business and municipal governments, as well as global manufacturers, distributors, and major retailers. Mr. Campbell specifically focuses on defending companies against complaints involving consumer and commercially available substances and materials, class action, mass and toxic tort litigation, recalled products claims, employment discrimination, wrongful termination, and wage disputes.
Before joining Lydecker, Mr. Campbell defended businesses operating throughout California, and has acted as lead trial counsel throughout strategic discovery, pre-trial motion practice, and to completion of trial. His prior experience includes a range of manufacturer defect, fraud, employment, and regulatory compliance litigation on a state and federal level. In law school, Mr. Campbell was a Dean’s Merit Scholarship Recipient, and finalist and Best Opening Statement winner in University of California, Irvine School of Law’s Mock Trial competition. Mr. Campbell continues to participate in the development and mentorship of aspiring civil litigators.
Alejandro Candela is an Associate in Lydecker’s Miami office. Mr. Candela’s practice focuses on all aspects of liability and general civil litigation.
Mr. Candela began his legal career in 2018 as a law clerk for various Miami law firms, handling personal injury and real property matters. Most recently, he spent more than three years clerking on first-party property insurance litigation, where he developed a strong foundation in Florida civil litigation practice and procedure.
Mr. Candela earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Florida. He went on to receive his Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University College of Law in 2026 and was admitted to The Florida Bar that same year. At St. Thomas, he was a founding member of the Golf Law Society, serving first as Treasurer and later as President. He also received the Silver Oar Award in Maritime Law. Mr. Candela is fluent in Spanish.
Amanda Carballo is an associate in Lydecker’s Miami office. Her practice focuses on civil litigation, with an emphasis on toxic tort defense and products liability, and she has a particular interest in appellate practice.
Ms. Carballo earned her J.D. and LL.M. in Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law from the University of Miami School of Law, where she received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Copyright Law. As a member of the Charles C. Papy, Jr. Moot Court Board, she was a Regional Finalist in the National Moot Court Competition and an Octo-Finalist in the John T. Gaubatz Moot Court Competition, and she competed in the Kaufman Securities Moot Court Competition.
During law school, Ms. Carballo served as a judicial intern in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida. She also completed a practicum with the in-house legal department of a leading live-entertainment company in Santiago, Chile, where she reviewed and negotiated commercial agreements. Ms. Carballo is fluent in Spanish and has drafted, negotiated, and translated contracts in both English and Spanish.
Filippo Carnazzi is an associate in the firm’s Miami office. Mr. Carnazzi’s practice focuses on construction defect litigation. In his practice, Mr. Carnazzi represents developers, general contractors, subcontractors, design professionals in a variety of contexts arising from the construction and design defect. Mr. Carnazzi joined the firm in February 2022.
Mr. Carnazzi was born and raised in Italy and he obtained his Juris Doctor and Master of Laws in International Arbitration from the University of Miami School of Law. While in law school, Mr. Carnazzi interned with the in-house counsel with two multinationals companies, and he started his practice of law in Miami based law firm as an associate to assist companies in litigation and transactional matters.
DeSharné Carroll is a Partner in Lydecker’s Atlanta office. Ms. Carroll’s practice involves state and federal civil litigation. She brings experience representing individuals, businesses, and insurance carriers in complex matters involving automobile and trucking liability, premises liability, medical malpractice, and other insurance-related disputes. Ms. Carroll has managed cases from inception through resolution, including discovery, depositions, motion practice, mediation, and trial preparation.
Ms. Carroll earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Mississippi State University and her Juris Doctor from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. During law school, she was recognized for her academic achievements through placement on both the Chancellor’s List and the Dean’s List.
Ms. Carroll is admitted to practice in all state courts in Georgia and Alabama. She is also admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Georgia and the Northern and Middle Districts of Alabama. Her professional memberships include the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association and the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers.
Peyton Marie Cassatta is an Associate in Lydecker’s Miami office. She primarily focuses her practice on insurance defense, premises liability, product liability, and general civil litigation.
Prior to working at Lydecker, Ms. Cassatta practiced as an Attorney at a prominent full-service law firm based in Miami, Florida, where she gained experience across all phases of litigation and developed a strong foundation in complex case analysis and advocacy.
Ms. Cassatta graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Science and a minor in Chemistry. Thereafter, Ms. Cassatta earned her Juris Doctor from Florida International University College of Law. During her time at FIU Law, Ms. Cassatta was a Staff Member and Senior Staff Member for FIU Law Review, a member of the Sports, Entertainment, Fashion, and Art Law Society (SEFA), and a member of the Intellectual Property Student Association (IPSA). Additionally, she earned medallion honors for her pro bono service, and a Certificate of Intellectual Property for her extensive work in the discipline.
In her free time, Ms. Cassatta enjoys Pilates and walks around Brickell Key, traveling, and experiencing Miami’s music and sports scene.
Christopher Chapaneri is the managing partner for our offices in Texas and Oklahoma and the founding partner of our Dallas office. Christopher is a strategic, results-oriented litigator obtaining favorable settlements where appropriate and trying cases before a judge or jury when needed, including first and second chair jury trial experience in state and federal courts. Christopher intuitively anticipates litigation methods pursued by all parties in a lawsuit, allowing him the ability to engage in “outside the box” strategies where appropriate.
Christopher is experienced in and enjoys practicing in a wide array of cases involving commercial litigation, wrongful death/survivor actions, products liability, premises liability, construction defect, catastrophic injury, transportation matters, employment litigation, commercial landlord-tenant disputes, professional liability for engineers, amusement park law, and environmental law. Moreover, Christopher has handled a variety of appellate matters to the Texas Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Christopher has taught the following Lydecker U courses “Handling Complex Litigation in Amusement Park Industry in Texas” and “Enforcement of Arbitration & Pre-Injury Waivers Against Minors in Texas” for CE/CLE credit.
- List Item #1
- List Item #2
- List Item #3