Commercial Litigation
Commercial Litigation Team
Our Commercial Litigation practice includes the representation of regional, national and international clients throughout state and federal court systems in a variety of issues such as banking, commercial disputes, commercial collections, government contract disputes, international trade issues, securities litigation, tax litigation, unfair competition, breach of contract, and business torts.
Our commercial litigation attorneys have successfully represented clients in business litigation cases.
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Commercial Litigation Team
Christopher Chapaneri is a partner in Lydecker’s Dallas office and 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 primarily focuses his practice on legal issues and liability involving amusement parks, water parks, adventure parks, carnivals, trampoline parks, and other entertainment venues nationwide. While Christopher’s primary practice is in amusement park liability, he is experienced 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 mandamus actions.
Partner
Forrest Andrews is the Chair of Lydecker LLP’s Errors & Omissions Department and Co-Chair of its Commercial Department. Forrest has extensive experience defending claims against attorneys, insurance agents and brokers, real estate agents and brokers, property managers, directors and officers, and other types of professionals. Forrest understands that his clients have spent years establishing their businesses and reputation, which is why he focuses his practice on providing effective legal strategies and solutions to protect those interests.
With respect to environmental claims, Forrest handles cases involving mold damage and exposure, air and water pollution, and other contaminates.
Forrest is also Chair of Lydecker LLP’s Appellate Department and is Board Certified in Appellate Practice by The Florida Bar. Forrest handles all types of appellate proceedings, including extraordinary writs, in state and federal courts, and provides litigation support services to trial counsel by developing effective strategies at the trial level in anticipation of an appeal.
Before joining Lydecker LLP, Forrest had an extensive career in the public sector, including serving as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Miami where he represented the City of Miami in many federal civil rights suits, personal injury, commercial, and appellate cases.
Partner
Jamie Baboolal is an associate with the firm’s Miami office. Her practice areas include products liability, premises liability, and general liability. Jamie graduated summa cum laude from Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad College of Law. During law school, Jamie received Dean’s List Honors, multiple CALI Excellence for the Future Awards, and was an active member of the Nova Moot Court Society and Nova Law Review. She also held positions as teaching assistant for Constitutional Law and research assistant for Health Law. While attending law school, Jamie worked as a law clerk at a boutique firm where she gained practical experience handling wills, estates, family law, and real estate transactions. Jamie also worked as a legal intern at a securities litigation firm where she gained valuable experience in securities class actions.
Associate
Jane M. Braugh is a partner in Lydecker’s Los Angeles office and received her B.A. in English from the University of Kentucky. She attended law school at the University of Houston, Law Center in Houston, Texas. During law school, Jane M. Braugh studied abroad in Innsbruck Austria and Mexico City, Mexico, where she completed a law internship at Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), Mexico’s state-owned petroleum company.
After obtaining her juris doctorate degree, Jane M. Braugh was appointed Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas in the Financial Crimes Division, and practiced in Austin, Texas from May 1995 through December 1999. While an Assistant Attorney General, Jane M. Braugh took her first jury trial to verdict obtaining a judgment for the State of Texas against a nightclub owner in Fort Worth. Ms. Braugh co-authored the Texas County and District Attorney’s Practice Guide on Asset Seizure and Forfeiture, drafted proposed legislation and testified before Legislative committees regarding pending legislation.
Jane M. Braugh then transferred her practice to Southern California in January 2000 where her practice focused on a variety of complex litigation matters involving catastrophic injury, wrongful death, product liability, premises liability, vehicular and trucking accidents, aircraft accidents, workplace accidents, labor and employment claims, and a variety of business and commercial disputes. Included in her practice is the participation in the complex courtrooms of Los Angeles County Superior Court, Judicial Council Coordination Proceedings (JCCP) for products liability cases involving auto and tire manufacturers. Such complex coordinated matters included those filed in, In Re Firestone Tires (including a jury trial to judgment in Ramon Moreno Sr., et al. v. ATV, Inc.) and In Re Winston Tires. Jane M. Braugh was part of the trial team that obtained a judgment after jury trial in the products liability case of Mendoza v. Ford Motor Co., in Kern County Superior Court.
Jane M. Braugh is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the State Bar of California. She is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Northern, and Western Districts of Texas, as well as the Central District of California. Jane M. Braugh is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Jane M. Braugh, a Native American, is also a member of the judiciary. In 2004, Jane M. Braugh was elected District Court Judge of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation (CPN) of which she is a tribal member, where she served until 2010. On June 26, 2010, Jane M. Braugh was elected Associate Supreme Court Justice of the CPN Supreme Court where she remains serving for multiple consecutive terms.
Partner
Christopher J. Campbell is a Partner at Lydecker’s Newport Beach, Los Angeles offices and San Francisco, 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.
Partner
Mr. Conto is a Partner at the firm’s Boca Raton Office. Mr. Conto began his career in law representing corporations in legal matters concerning maritime law. Mr. Conto then joined a well-known litigation defense firm with offices throughout Florida. There he focused his practice on defending corporations in construction defect matters, premises liability matters and negligent security matters involving claims of wrongful death. He also represented insurance companies in high exposure first-party property disputes.
At Lydecker Mr. Conto is concentrating his practice on defending developers, general contractors, subcontractors, design professionals, environmental consultants, product manufacturers and insurance carriers in a variety of contexts arising from the construction and use of real property. Mr. Conto has successfully represented clients in all phases of litigation including trials, summary judgment proceedings and mediations.
Partner
Mr. Costa is an Associate Attorney at Lydecker, handling matters throughout the State of Florida, in both State and Federal Courts. He engages in a wide variety of insurance defense and commercial litigation areas, including general bodily injury and casualty. He also handles labor and employment matters and various other civil litigation matters.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Mr. Costa handled civil rights claims, labor and employment claims, personal injury claims, and workers’ compensation claims. Mr. Costa obtained trial experience as first chair in multiple jury trials prior to joining Lydecker, and had received favorable judgments on behalf of his clients.
Associate
Jacob Diamond is an Associate in the firm’s Jersey City office. Prior to joining Lydecker, Mr. Diamond served as a Law Clerk in the Superior Court of Essex County, New Jersey, where he clerked for several judges in matters relating to General Equity, Civil, and Family Law. Mr. Diamond’s practice area involves all aspects of Civil Litigation.
Associate
Marianne Elias an Associate in the firm’s Miami office. Ms. Elias’ practice involves all aspects of federal and state civil trial litigation with a focus in labor and employment, civil rights litigation and governmental immunity.
Ms. Elias earned her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts. While completing her legal studies, Ms. Elias was Director of Public Relations for the Latin American Law Students Association and was a member of the Trademark Law Moot Court team.
Associate
Ms. Camara Garcia is Of Counsel in the Lydecker Miami office. Ms. Camara Garcia is currently based in London. She counsels insurers on insurance coverage, claim adjustment, and contract interpretation on first-party property homeowners and commercial losses, bad faith litigation, fire/theft/fraud investigation, and windstorm coverage. In addition to handling matters of insurance coverage, Ms. Camara Garcia undertakes appellate work concerning first-party property and bad faith litigation.
Of Counsel
Mr. Garcia is an associate attorney at the firm’s Tampa Office. While earning his Juris Doctorate, Mr. Garcia served as a law clerk for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, where he assisted several judges in civil matters. Mr. Garcia also represented indigent clients as part of his law school’s Youth Defense Clinic. Prior to joining Lydecker, Mr. Garcia practiced in the areas of PIP, auto negligence, landlord-tenant, and public records violations at a Plaintiff’s firm. Mr. Garcia now practices a range of topics in civil defense.
Of Counsel
Paola Garcia’s practice involves all aspects of federal and state civil trial litigation, with a primary focus on general liability. Ms. Garcia’s General Liability experience includes premises liability, personal injury, property damage, professional liability, automobile and trucking accidents, wrongful death, cruise ship accidents, and negligent security cases. Ms. Garcia’s practice includes specific experience with a variety of lawsuits for one of the largest transportation network companies. Ms. Garcia regularly handles actions involving issues such as intentional torts, negligence, negligence security, premises liability, dram shop, products liability, and slip and fall.
Partner
Michael Goldman is a Partner at the firm’s New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania offices. His practice focuses in the area of employment law. Michael represents employers across a multitude of industries in litigation related to employment discrimination claims, wage and hour claims, and restrictive covenants. He also counsels clients on best practices.
Michael has extensive civil litigation experience and handles cases from inception through trial. He regularly appears in federal and state courts, as well as in administrative law and dispute resolution forums. Prior to joining the firm, Michael practiced as an associate at a prominent New Jersey firm, concentrating his practice in defense litigation on behalf of private and public entities, with an emphasis on tort liability, labor and employment law, and civil rights defense. He also represented clients in the areas of wage and hour claims, commercial litigation, construction law, and education law. Earlier in his career, Michael was an associate at a well-known litigation boutique where he focused his practice on representing public entities in matters involving tort liability, labor and employment law, and civil rights defense. Michael has been selected to the New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Star list from 2019-2023.
Partner
Katie Gudaitis is an associate in the firm’s Miami office. Ms. Gudaitis’ practice involves all aspects of federal and state civil trial litigation with a primary focus in commercial litigation, professional liability, labor and employment litigation, premises liability, and government liability.
Ms. Gudaitis’ Labor and Employment litigation experience includes representing private and public employers in all phases of employment litigation, from administrative hearings through trial on matters arising under Federal, State and local employment laws. Ms. Gudaitis regularly handles Federal and State actions involving issues of civil rights violations, sovereign immunity, qualified immunity, 1983 actions, wrongful death claims, Chapter 119 violations, sexual harassment, FLSA compliance, discrimination, retaliation, Title VII, whistleblower claims, fraud, and a battery of common law torts.
Partner
Jeremy W. Harris is the Co-Chair of the Firm’s National Catastrophic Injury and Loss Defense Department. Mr. Harris has extensive trial and appellate court experience in complex litigation, with a special focus on the defense of claims involving wrongful death, paralysis, amputations, traumatic brain injury, sexual assault, and other serious injuries. These claims can result from a multitude of alleged causes, including construction site accidents and collapses, road construction accidents, commercial trucking and car accidents, premises liability, negligent security, and products liability, to name a few. Mr. Harris has specialized knowledge of each of the industries involved in these claims-knowledge that he uses to represent his clients to the best of his abilities.
Mr. Harris’s judicial philosophy involves every action being taken only if it is a purposeful step towards a favorable end result for his clients, whether that involves litigating a matter to conclusion or providing the best possible platform for settlement. He believes attention to the plaintiff’s claim is paramount, but opportunities for risk transfer must always be fully explored. This is especially true in cases involving catastrophic injury, as these claims often have millions or tens of millions of dollars at stake.
Mr. Harris also maintains a healthy construction law practice and represents architects, engineers, general contractors/subcontractors, and developers in all manner of construction/design defect litigation.
He has taken hundreds (if not thousands) of depositions and has attended hundreds (if not thousands) of hearings. Mr. Harris has tried cases before many trial courts throughout the state of Florida and has engaged in oral arguments in front of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Districts of the State of Florida. He obtained favorable results in the vast majority of these trials and appeals.
Mr. Harris serves as defense counsel from accident investigation to trial (and beyond if necessary) and also serves as monitor counsel/trial counsel for large claims that need a second look or additional help due to the complexity of the claims. When asked to join ongoing litigation, his approach is to immediately and forcefully take all action necessary to ready a case for trial.
Before joining the firm, Mr. Harris was a shareholder and managing attorney of a national firm’s Florida office, leading a large team of attorneys in complex litigation. Prior to going to law school, Mr. Harris was part of his collegiate and high school debate teams-qualifying in college for the prestigious National Debate Tournament. He is a proud husband and father of four boys and enjoys weightlifting in his free time.
Partner
Bobbie Ann Henderson is Of Counsel in Lydecker’s Atlanta office. Ms. Henderson has over 25 years of experience representing clients in all aspects of civil litigation. Her practice is focused on complex commercial and business litigation, insurance tort liability/defense, and premises liability/negligent security matters.
Ms. Henderson began her legal career with a 15-year focus on construction law, in which she represented sureties, developers, contractors, owners and design professionals in complex construction matters. Her work included payment and delay claims, regulatory compliance, construction defects and performance claims. A significant part of her practice involved business transactions and disputes and the assertion of creditor rights.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Ms. Henderson’s practice included defense of insurance companies and their insureds in matters involving first and third party insurance claims, complex civil litigation, serious bodily injury, and wrongful death cases.
Ms. Henderson received her undergraduate degree and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida. She is admitted to practice in the states of Georgia and Florida.
Of Counsel
Mr. Johnson specializes in the representation of professionals, corporations and insurers in a broad range of business and tort matters, including employment claims, environmental claims and other complex actions. Mr. Johnson also has experience litigating government municipal matters throughout the state of Florida, as well as representing journalists and media companies in intellectual property and defamation litigation. Mr. Johnson’s practice also includes the defense of attorneys, accountants and real estate professionals in professional liability matters and non-profit corporations as well as their directors and officers in a range of matters.
Before joining Lydecker, Mr. Johnson began his career as an associate in the Miami office of a business litigation boutique headquartered in New York, where he represented banking and corporate interests in multiple international business and commercial disputes. Mr. Johnson is also an experienced and accomplished appellate attorney, having multiple published Federal and Florida opinions, as well as oral arguments and appellate mediations across multiple appellate courts.
In addition to his professional commitments, Mr. Johnson recognizes his responsibility to serve the community. He is a member of the 100 Black Men of South Florida, one of the leading youth mentoring organizations in the country, as well as the Miami-Dade County Black Affairs Advisory Board. He is also a director of BAC Funding Corp. a non-profit state funded lender for disadvantaged business. He is also Secretary of the Coppin State University Development Foundation which raises money for scholarships to his alma mater, Coppin State University. He also Serves as Vice Chair of the Miami-Dade School District Audit and Budget Committee. He has also served as a member of the Executive Board of the Miami-Dade Chapter of NAACP and the Polemarch (President) of the Richmond-Perrine (FL) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Partner
Young Kim is an Associate located in Lydecker’s Jersey City office. He is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey. Mr. Kim’s practice area involves all aspects of Civil Litigation in the state courts of New York and New Jersey.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Kim served as a Law Clerk in the New York State Supreme Court Civil Division, and he also practiced as a trial and appellate counsel handling civil matters involving real property disputes and mortgage foreclosure defenses.
Mr. Kim attended New York Law School, as a Global Law Fellow receiving a merit-based full scholarship. During the second year in Law School, Mr. Kim participated in the New York City Municipal Litigation Defense Clinic and worked for the Tort Division of the New York City Law Department. In his third year, Mr. Kim was accepted into the New York State Pro Bono Scholar program and worked at the Legal Services NYC.
Prior to law school, Mr. Kim worked as a legislative aide to a member of the New York State Assembly.
Associate
Cuiyun Li AKA Laura Li is an Associate in the firm’s Jersey City office. Prior to joining Lydecker, Laura has engaged in several firms litigating employment issues, commercial issues, real estate issues, and other civil issues. Laura has zealously represented clients to resolve employment issues under the Title VII of Civil Rights of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the New York State Human Rights Law, the New York City Human Rights Law, the New York Labor Law, etc. Laura also represented clients in commercial litigation where contract disputes require meticulous interpretation. Real Estate Disputes regarding ownership and partition are orthodox and perplexing where Laura undertook painstaking.
Associate
Ms. Maken is a partner at Lydecker and has substantial experience in handling complex business litigation and appellate matters in both Florida and in Mississippi. Over her career, she has authored hundreds of briefs filed in the Florida Supreme Court, Florida’s District Courts of Appeal, the Eleventh Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. Her practice areas include banking-foreclosure law, commercial litigation, torts, insurance defense, employment law, parental rights, criminal law, and challenging unconstitutional state action.
Ms. Maken is a former Assistant United States Attorney with the Southern District of Florida. As Lydecker LLP’s lead counsel, she successfully represented the Florida Department of Financial Services as Receiver in its suit against the statutory auditors (a big 5 accounting firm) of a failed insurance company (whose insolvency exceeded a billion dollars).
She clerked at the Third District Court of Appeals and the Mississippi Supreme Court.
Partner
Natalia Pinzon Martinez is an associate in the firm’s Miami Office. Ms. Pinzon Martinez’s practice involves all aspects of federal and state civil trial litigation with a primary focus in personal injury, governmental liability, and labor and employment litigation.
Ms. Pinzon Martinez earned her J.D. from St. Thomas University School of Law, graduating with honors and a certificate in Human Trafficking. While completing her legal studies, Ms. Pinzon Martinez was part of the St. Thomas University School of Law Appellate Litigation Clinic, where she handled two appeals for the appellants in two criminal cases. Additionally, Ms. Pinzon Martinez was a member of the Intercultural Human Rights Law Review and served as Vice President of Membership in the St. Thomas University School of Law Moot Court team, attending competitions in New Jersey and San Diego.
Upon graduating, Ms. Pinzon Martinez served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Miami Dade State Attorney’s Office. During her time at the Miami Dade State Attorney’s Office, Ms. Pinzon Martinez handled cases ranging from misdemeanors to punishable by life offenses, from intake up to trial. Additionally, Ms. Pinzon Martinez served as the Assistance Chief of the Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Unit and Chief of Litigation. While in this position, Ms. Pinzon Martinez was in charge of the training of over twenty Assistant State Attorneys in areas ranging from court decorum, motion calendar practice, plea negotiations, to trial advocacy
Associate
Bryan Zaverl is a partner at Lydecker;s Los Angeles office and his work includes a wide scope of civil defense litigation. Bryan’s work encompasses small trip and fall/property damage cases, minor automobile accident cases, all the way to catastrophic losses with multi-million-dollar exposure potential in paralysis, death, and brain injury cases. Bryan’s approach is to take an aggressive, ethical, and zealous approach to each case with an eye on how this matter will present to a jury but remaining cognizant of client input throughout litigation. At heart, litigation is a “service profession” and Bryan believes it is necessary to always be “of service” to clients and carriers alike. Bryan Miller is a lawyer with significant litigation and trial experience. He has over 25 years of client-centered plaintiff and defense experience.
He was a named equity partner in the civil rigths firm of Litt, Estuar, Harrision, Miller and Kitson, LLP where he practiced high-impact, class-action litigation. He worked as counsel, co-counsel, trial counsel, and co-trial counsel.
Serving as Of Counsel at Norton & Melnik, APC, he litigated insurance defense cases in personal injury fraud, products liability, and intentional torts while practicing all forms of ADR. He settled multiple insurance defense cases for nuisance value, protecting his clients from exposure to significant damages.
While studying for his LL.M. in the Netherlands, he was a volunteer lawyer for the Israeli Embassy to The Hague, working for Ambassador Harvey Kney-Tal.
More recently he worked at the Wade Law Group as a Senior Trial Lawyer practicing real estate and labor and employment law.
He has practiced in all four district courts in California, argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and is admitted before the United States Supreme Court.
Partner
Mewerick Mozza is an associate attorney at the Lydecker’s Miami office. Mr. Mozza concentrates his practice in all aspects of federal and state civil litigation.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Mozza worked for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida at the Chambers of Magistrate Judge John J. O’Sullivan, where he aided with matters from Social Security Disability determinations, maritime personal injury cases, to international breach of contracts. Furthermore, Magistrate Judge O’Sullivan and Mr. Mozza were invited to Bolivia to provide an international conference where they were awarded Distinguished Visitor status and laws passed under their names for aiding the judiciary system in Bolivia. Additionally, Mr. Mozza worked for Mozza & Abogados Asociados exposing him to a different legal system. He counseled in the administration and legal transactions of the clients’ international businesses throughout South America and in the United States, including the purchasing and leasing of real estate and their international commercial transactions. Furthermore, Mr. Mozza was the recipient of the Law Awards 2022 by Latin American Quality Institute due to the exceptional performance in representing clients in international business transactions. In addition, Mr. Mozza worked at the Law Offices of Anidjar and Levine, P.A., where he handled personal injury claims and property damage claims in the pre-litigation and litigation departments. Mr. Mozza is committed to providing aggressive representation for all his clients and ensuring all clients receive effective legal representation.
Mr. Mozza graduated from the Trinity University with a Bachelor of Arts and Majors in Political Science, Philosophy, and International Studies in addition to a Minor in Human Communication in 2011. Mr. Mozza graduated Cum Laude from his Juris Doctorate from St. Thomas University School of Law in 2015, and was a member of the Intercultural Human Rights Law Review. Subsequently, Mr. Mozza graduated from a Master in Law in International Commercial Arbitration from the University of Miami in 2017. Mr. Mozza additionally obtained a Bachelor of Humanities in Political Science from Universidad Autónoma Gabriel Rene Moreno, in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, in 2022. In addition to being a member in good standing of the Florida Bar, Mr. Mozza is also a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Senior Associate
Brian is a partner in the firm’s San Diego office; and specifically works in the Product Liability Department. Mr. Murphy’s practice involves all aspects of federal and state civil trial litigation with a primary focus on product liability, premises liability, personal injury, and government liability. In his professional career, Brian has successfully represented corporate clients, private individuals, and government clients in all phases of litigation. His representation includes manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, and major retailers in numerous areas within the field, such as mass and toxic tort litigation, product defect claims, as well as defending claims involving consumer and commercially available chemicals, substances, and materials.
Over the course of nearly 20 years, Mr. Murphy has represented a diverse range of clients, including large and small businesses in the biotech, chemical, communications, construction, education, entertainment, healthcare, hospitality, insurance, law enforcement, manufacturing, pest control, private post-secondary school, retail, and transportation industries.
Mr. Murphy also has extensive experience defending municipalities (defending government entities and their employees and school districts) and employers. He is admitted to practice in California.He is admitted to practice in all California district Courts, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California.
He earned his law degree from University of San Diego School of Law and his undergraduate degree from University of California, Riverside.
Partner
Robert Pariser supervises a talented team of attorneys who practice in the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania offices. The attorneys I collaborate with are comprised of former educators, prosecutors, law clerks to state and federal judges and insurance professionals.
Robert Pariser’s legal practice focuses on the defense of claims against professionals (E&O, A&B, LPL or MPL), directors and officers (D&O) and against employers (EPL). Mr. Pariser represents design professionals (A&E) and other real estate professionals, including managing agents, appraisers, title agents, condo and co-op boards and developers in various disputes. On behalf of construction owners and managers, he defends claims prosecuted by injured workers brought pursuant to the New York Labor Law.
Robert Pariser also represent clients on other types of discrimination claims, including alleged civil rights violations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Robert Pariser defends environmental cases, involving mold, asbestos and ground contamination.
Robert Pariser represents public and private educators in breach of contract, employment, bullying, failing to promote and in due process matters.
Robert Pariser has had election, stock redemption, auction, foreclosure/ sheriff sale, false arrest, prosecutorial misconduct disputes. Robert Pariser has been on the New York Metro Super Lawyers list from 2011-present.
Partner
Mr. Sanchez Parraga is a partner at Lydecker’s Miami and New York offices. He counsels insurers on insurance coverage, claim adjustment, and contract interpretation on first-party property homeowners and commercial losses, bad faith litigation, fire/theft/fraud investigation, and windstorm coverage. In addition to handling matters of insurance coverage, Mr. Sanchez Parraga frequently represents insurers in trial and appellate courts in first-party property and bad faith litigation. He is also a frequent lecturer on seminars regarding first-party property claims and litigation topics.
Partner
Michael Poreda is Of Counsel in the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania offices of Lydecker. He is licensed to practice law in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and is admitted to practice in five of the federal jurisdictions in those states.
He is an experienced litigator who has practiced widely in the areas of discrimination, civil rights, health care, personal injury, consumer fraud, and professional malpractice. His past clients have included municipal entities such as school boards and police departments, a variety of for-profit and not-for-profit corporations, and political candidates.
Michael clerked for the Honorable Hector R. Velazquez of the Superior Court of New Jersey in Hudson County and for the Honorable William J. Martini of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey in Newark.
Michael graduated with highest honors from Rutgers University with a B.A. He has an M.A. from Teachers College – Columbia University. He earned his J.D. magna cum laude from Seton Hall University School of Law where he was a law review editor. Before attending law school, Michael taught high school history in New Jersey and has served as adjunct faculty at Rutgers University. He is the 2024-25 Chair of the LGBTQ Rights Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association.
Of Counsel
Gabriel (Gabe) Z. Reynoso is a Partner of the Los Angeles office of Lydecker law firm. He is a trial attorney with nearly two decades of experience in various forms of complex litigation and arbitrations. During that time, he has represented and counseled small and large business entities and individuals in connection with employment litigation matters pending in both Northern and Southern California and in response to investigations and audits conducted by the DFEH, EEOC, DLSE, and DOL.
His representative employment litigation matters have included single and multi-plaintiff lawsuits, arbitrations, and class actions involving allegations of wrongful termination, employment discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, wage and hour law violations, unlawful denial of leave, failure to enforce COVID-19 protocols, denial of COVID-19 supplemental paid leave, unauthorized background checks, PAGA violations, trade secret misappropriation, ERISA violations, and UCL violations.
He has also advised clients on employment matters and personnel issues, including termination, layoffs, disciplinary issues, compliance with wage and hour laws, FMLA/CFRA compliance, employee classification issues, employee compensation agreements, COVID-19, background checks, drug testing, written employment policies and manuals, in addition to conducting workplace investigations.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Mr. Reynoso practiced law for over ten years in the San Francisco Bay Area where he worked at both international and regional law firms. Most recently, and since 2014, he has been practicing in Los Angeles, during which time he was a Partner at a national insurance defense law firm.
Partner
Mr. Richardson is an Associate in the Products Liability department of Lydecker’s Miami office. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Philadelphia University (now Thomas Jefferson University) and his Juris Doctor from Cooley Law School.
While earning his Juris Doctor, Jordan was an intern for a legal center for women and children. After finishing law school, he worked as a law clerk, gaining experience in maritime and personal injury law for a firm in Miami.
Associate
Ms. Robles is an Associate at Lydecker, where her focus is on Florida civil litigation. She maintains a varied practice in insurance defense and commercial litigation, including general bodily injury and casualty, and first-party property, as well as professional malpractice.
Before joining Lydecker, Ms. Robles was an Associate at Cole, Scott & Kissane in their First-party Property Group, representing carriers throughout South Florida and gaining extensive litigation experience.
Associate
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 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.
Partner
J.W. Webb is a Litigation Partner in the firm’s Orlando office, where he maintains an active trial and civil litigation practice in Federal and State Courts throughout Florida.
Mr. Webb has considerable experience dealing with automobile negligence, arson, medical malpractice, premise liability and product liability cases resulting in catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. Mr. Webb has also handled cases dealing with bad faith, commercial transaction disputes, construction defects, declaratory actions, land disputes and property damage. He has successfully tried cases in Brevard, Broward, Marion, Orange, Palm Beach, Seminole, and Volusia Counties.
Mr. Webb began his legal career with Hightower and Rudd, P.A. a Miami based insurance defense firm. Shortly after joining the firm, Mr. Webb became the managing attorney of its West Palm Beach office.
After two years in practice, Mr. Webb was invited to join Kubicki Draper, P.A. a State-wide insurance defense firm, where he became a shareholder and was chosen by the firm’s managing partner to start its Orlando Office, which he ran for six years before opening his own law firm.
Mr. Webb has given lectures throughout the country on many subjects during his career. He lectures to insurance carriers on issues ranging from hospital liens and personal injury protection to complicated medial claims and high exposure cases.
Mr. Webb is licensed to practice law in all Florida State Courts and the . He has also served as a Guardian ad Litem for children in the Central Florida area.
Mr. Webb graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas in 1989 with a B.A. in business and a concentration in economics. Before going to law school Mr. Webb worked in the business world for a number of years managing companies in Texas, California, Illinois, and Florida.
Mr. Webb returned to his home state of Michigan to obtain his Juris Doctorate – Cum Laude, from Michigan State University. While attending law school, Mr. Webb served as Managing Editor of Business and Production for the Michigan State Law Review, as an intern for United States Federal District Judge Gerald E. Rose, and as a law clerk for the Department of Justice: United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Michigan. During his tenure with the Department of Justice, under the internship section of the program, Mr. Webb functioned as lead counsel for the prosecution and trial of numerous misdemeanor cases.
Partner
Ronald (Ronn) S. Whitaker is a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office and brings a wealth of litigation experience in the both the public and private sectors. He has represented corporate clients, public entities and private individuals in all phases of litigation in both State and Federal Courts with an emphasis in the defense of product liability, class action, personal injury, civil rights, professional liability, and premises liability cases. He also has extensive experience in employment litigation, including being admitted in pro hac vice in the State of Arizona to successfully defend a large national corporation against claims of wrongful discrimination and racial discrimination. Prior to joining Lydecker, Ronn had a lengthy career in defending high exposure claims on behalf of both corporate and governmental clients, including a number of high-profile parties in high stakes litigation. He has represented multinational corporations, and has a deep understanding of the complexities in defending large corporate entities and institutions, including providing legal and strategic advice which contemplates the impact of large scale litigation and claims on the client’s competing needs.
As a trial attorney for Lydecker’s Environmental Mass Tort, Product Liability Department and General Liability Department, Ronn has tried in excess of sixty (60) jury trials as lead trial counsel with an outstanding record of success. At Lydecker, his primary focus is utilizing his extensive experience and unique background to vigorously defend global manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, and other business owners from the inception of a claim through trial, as well as in spearheading new and emerging litigation in the mass and toxic tort arena.
Ronn completed his undergraduate studies at UCLA, and then obtained his law degree from the UCLA School of Law, where he was selected as a Distinguish Advocate in the Moot Court Honors Program.
Partner
Saasha Williams is an Associate Attorney at Lydecker with extensive experience in handling all aspects of civil litigation.
Saasha is a Central Florida native and member of the Florida Bar Association. Saasha graduated from Stetson University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. At Stetson, Saasha was involved in mentorship, community outreach, and fundraising for disabled Veterans.
Thereafter, Saasha earned her Juris Doctorate from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Law in Orlando, Florida. After earning her J.D., Saasha devoted her career to serving the State of Florida as an Assistant State Attorney for the 9th Judicial Circuit and a Senior Attorney for the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Prior to joining the Lydecker, Saasha gained significant litigation experience in a variety of areas of law making her a well rounded asset to the Lydecker family.
Associate
Mr. de Zayas’ experience includes debtor-creditor law, bankruptcy law, insurance insolvency, construction litigation, employment litigation, and appeals.
He has tried numerous jury and bench trials in state and federal courts and has been appellate counsel in many reported appellate decisions in the commercial litigation, insolvency, creditors’ rights and bankruptcy areas. Mr. De Zayas also has significant experience representing clients in civil antitrust, competition and restraint of trade litigation in state and federal courts. Mr. de Zayas has served as general counsel for the Florida Workers’ Compensation Insurance Guaranty Association since 2004. He heads the Bankruptcy and Insurance Receivership Practice Group at Lydecker.
Mr. de Zayas also has substantial experience representing both commercial debtors and institutional creditors in connection with commercial claims, collections; in documentation and perfection of security interests in all types of collateral; in protection of, and realization on, various types of collateral upon default; in enforcement of judgments; in commercial foreclosure of mortgages and other security interests; in contract litigation; in preference and fraudulent conveyance actions, in insurance company and other commercial receiverships, and in Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganizations. This varied experience with “both sides” of typical commercial litigation disputes benefits the Firm’s clients in developing successful and efficient strategies for the protection of their interests.
Mr. de Zayas’s practice includes professional liability defense and defense of Bar disciplinary proceedings.
Partner
