Directors and Officers

D&O Litigation

The firm also has substantial experience in defending directors and officers in a wide variety of D&O claims and coverage matters. The matters we have handle range from litigating the deepening of an insolvency to claims of mismanagement and fraud. We also defend both for-profit D&O claims and claims against non-profit corporations and State-created corporations. We recognize the disruption a company faces when senior management is targeted in litigation, as well as the concomitant public relations concerns.

Our experience permits our D&O team to promptly evaluate strategic and cost issues, and to defend or resolve disputes in a cost-effective and expeditious manner. Our D&O experience has led us to deal with a variety of specific areas including creditor “deepening insolvency,” securities, employment issues, concerns, and franchise disputes, among other things.

Other areas in which our attorneys have been called upon to defend include commercial disputes, condominium association director’s actions, shareholder derivative actions and insurance coverage.

Contact Us Regarding Directors and Officers Lawsuits

Our attorneys have represented directors and officers in various D&O disputes. Contact us today to schedule a consultation regarding a D&O lawsuit.

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Directors and Officers Team

Victoria A. Arthington is Of Counsel in Lydecker’s Orlando office where she concentrates her practice in civil litigation with a primary focus on personal injury and premises liability law. In her personal injury and premises liability practice, Ms. Arthington primarily represents and advises business owners and condominium associations in various civil matters, and litigation.

Prior to joining Lydecker, Ms. Arthington worked with investors and landowners by helping them navigate complex zoning and compliance issues with real estate investments. Ms. Arthington earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida School of Law, where she also served in the Conservation Law Clinic.

Mr. Arthington was admitted to practice in the State of Florida in 2020 and is an active member of the Florida Bar.

Victoria A. Arthington, ESQ

Of Counsel

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.

Christopher J. Campbell, ESQ

Partner

Hannah Cast is an Associate located in Lydecker’s Jersey City office. Hannah’s practice focuses on representing insurers, businesses, professionals, and property owners in a wide range of civil litigation matters. She defends clients in complex construction accident claims and advises on construction and design contracts, working closely with contractors, developers, and design professionals. Hannah also has experience handling high-stakes directors and officers (D&O) and errors and omissions (E&O) claims, where she is committed to protecting the interests of executives, boards, and professionals.

Her work extends to general liability and premises liability matters, where she provides strategic defense to corporations, landlords, and commercial property owners facing claims of negligence or injury. In addition, Hannah practices in professional liability, representing a broad range of licensed professionals, and in transportation liability, where she defends motor carriers, logistics companies, and drivers against claims arising from roadway and cargo incidents. She also regularly advises employers in labor and employment disputes, including discrimination, wrongful termination, and workplace policy matters.

She obtained her J.D. from Seton Hall Law School. Hannah is licensed to practice in both New Jersey and New York.

Prior to joining Lydecker, Hannah clerked for the Honorable Ana Esteves at the New Jersey Superior Court in Essex County.

Hannah Cast, ESQ

Associate

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.

Paola M. Garcia, ESQ

Partner

Morgan Taylor Gieser is an associate in the Miami and Tampa office. Ms. Gieser represents clients throughout the state in a variety of federal and state civil litigation claims with a focus on labor and employment. These claims involve allegations of violations of Title VII, whistleblower claims, ADEA claims, Title IX, EPA claims, ADA claims, Family and Medical Leave Act claims, Fair Labor Standards Act claims and Florida Civil Rights Act violations. As part of her practice, Ms. Gieser represents clients in pre-suit claims, in addition to handling charges filed with government agencies such as the EEOC and NLRB.

Prior to joining Lydecker, Ms. Gieser represented private companies in all aspects of labor and employment litigation. Ms. Gieser has additional litigation experience in insurance defense, defending clients in a wide array of general liability matters as well as property damage cases.

Morgan Taylor Gieser, ESQ

Of Counsel

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.

Michael Goldman, ESQ

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.

Katie Gudaitis, ESQ

Partner

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.

Stephen Hunter Johnson, ESQ

Partner

Richard Lydecker is a founding partner at Lydecker, a full-service AV-rated national law firm with offices throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, California, and Georgia. As a distinguished leader and visionary in the legal community, Richard has played an instrumental role in shaping the firm’s reputation and success since its inception in 1994 as an aggressive and responsive law firm.

With a career spanning over several decades, Richard J. Lydecker has established himself as a formidable force in the field of defense litigation. His practice predominantly focuses on complex commercial litigation, professional liability, bodily injury, auto negligence, environmental law, employment, D&O, E&O, accounting malpractice, commercial litigation, bankruptcy, bad faith litigation, and insurance coverage. His extensive background in these areas has earned him recognition as a trusted and skilled litigator, consistently delivering exceptional results for his clients. Richard’s diverse and extensive background makes Lydecker a premiere law firm.

Richard’s legal journey began with a robust education and training, laying the foundation for his future accomplishments. He earned his Juris Doctor from a prestigious law school and quickly rose through the ranks, gaining invaluable experience and expertise in civil litigation. Over the years, Richard has handled a wide array of cases, ranging from intricate commercial disputes to high-stakes professional liability claims.

Prior to Richard’s career in civil practice, he was a Senior Major Case Bureau Prosecutor in New York with an outstanding record of success in preparing, managing, and trying high-profile cases. Casework involved high-profile, high-visibility criminal prosecution of homicides, robbery, arson, rape, and burglary. Richard successfully tried in excess of 100 criminal cases, many resulting in guilty verdicts carrying life sentences. Before accepting his appointment to the District Attorney’s Office, Richard was an attorney at a prestigious Wall Street, N.Y. law firm.

Richard Lydecker’s remarkable career as a founding partner of Lydecker showcases his expertise in defense litigation, his leadership within the firm, and his dedication to client success. His diverse background and extensive experience have made him a respected figure in the legal community, and his contributions continue to shape the firm’s reputation as a premier law firm nationwide.

Today Lydecker has ten main practice areas:

Appellate
Bankruptcy and Banking
Business, Corporate and Transactional
Condominium & HOA
Construction Design & Environmental
Employment
General Liability
Government
Insurance
Professional Liability

Lydecker has the following sub practice areas:

Accounting Malpractice, Admiralty and Maritime, Appellate Advocacy, Appellate Practice, Architects and Engineers, Attorney Malpractice, Bad Faith Litigation, Banking and Financial Services Litigation, Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights, Bodily Injury Defense, Business Law, Business Reorganization, Catastrophic Injury & Loss Defense, Class Action Defense, Commercial Litigation, Commercial Property, Complex Commercial Litigation, Condominium & Homeowners’ Association Law, Construction & Design Contracts, Construction Accident Claims, Construction Defect Litigation, Construction Payment, Delay and Lien Disputes, Corporate Law, Corporate Liability, Coverage Disputes, Cyber Liability ⁄ Internet Law, Defamation, Directors and Officers, Education Law, Environmental Law, Errors and Omissions, Financial Litigation, General Liability, Government, Government Liability, Healthcare, Hospitality, Insurance, Insurance Agents and Brokers, Insurance Coverage and Extra-Contractual Litigation, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Land Use and Zoning, Mass Environmental Toxic Tort Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Negligent Security, Premises Liability, Products Liability, Property Practice, Real Estate Practice, Residential Property, Tort Liability, Transportation Liability and Workers Compensation.

Complex Commercial Litigation: Richard’s proficiency in complex commercial litigation is well-known. He has successfully represented clients in multifaceted legal battles, navigating intricate legal frameworks and securing favorable outcomes. His strategic approach and meticulous attention to detail have been pivotal in resolving disputes efficiently and effectively.

Professional Liability: Richard has extensive experience defending professionals across various industries against liability claims. His deep understanding of the nuances of professional conduct and standards enables him to provide robust defense strategies, protecting his clients’ reputations and careers.

Bad Faith Litigation: Richard is a recognized authority in bad faith litigation, representing clients in cases involving insurance companies. His tenacity and commitment to justice have resulted in significant victories, holding insurers accountable for their obligations.

Insurance Coverage: Richard’s expertise extends to insurance coverage matters, where he advises clients on complex coverage issues and disputes. His comprehensive knowledge of insurance law ensures that his clients receive the coverage they are entitled to, and he has successfully litigated numerous coverage cases.

Leadership and Oversight
As a founding partner, Richard oversees the firm’s practice groups and manages the firm’s relationships with its clients and carriers. His leadership is characterized by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and client-centric service. Richard is dedicated to fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment within the firm, ensuring that every client receives personalized attention and tailored legal solutions.

Richard’s strategic vision has been instrumental in the firm’s growth and expansion. Under his guidance, Lydecker has become a nationally recognized law firm, known for its dedication to client success and its ability to handle complex legal challenges. His emphasis on continuous improvement and professional development has cultivated a team of highly skilled attorneys who share his passion for legal excellence.

Commitment to Clients
Richard’s client-centric approach is at the heart of his practice. He believes in building long-standing relationships grounded in mutual trust and respect. By understanding each client’s unique needs and goals, Richard provides strategic counsel and representation that aligns with their best interests. His ability to navigate complex legal landscapes and deliver practical solutions has earned him a loyal client base and numerous accolades within the legal community.

Personal and Professional Values
Beyond his professional achievements, Richard is known for his unwavering commitment to integrity, ethics, and community service. He actively participates in various professional organizations and contributes to legal scholarship through speaking engagements and publications. Richard’s dedication to giving back to the community is reflected in his involvement in pro bono work and charitable initiatives.

Looking Ahead
As Lydecker continues to grow and evolve, Richard remains dedicated to leading the firm towards new heights of success. His vision for the future includes expanding the firm’s capabilities, embracing technological advancements, and maintaining the highest standards of legal practice. Richard’s legacy is one of excellence, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to justice.

Richard Lydecker, ESQ

Senior Partner

Matthew is a partner in our Philadelphia and New Jersey offices and a seasoned civil litigator with extensive experience representing clients in administrative proceedings and in state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels. His diverse practice encompasses complex litigation matters, with a strong focus on construction litigation, professional liability, general liability, commercial litigation, insurance-related disputes, and the defense and counseling of clients in the financial services industry.

Construction

Matthew has developed a particular emphasis in defending developers, contractors, subcontractors, and design professionals in public and private construction disputes. He regularly handles matters involving construction defects, accidents, and contract disputes, and serves as outside counsel to contractors in Pennsylvania and New Jersey on issues including contract negotiation, risk transfer, and construction payment claims. For example, Matthew practice includes:

Representing a national engineering firm in a multi-day, seven-figure arbitration over a public project dispute, resulting in a favorable settlement;
Defending numerous engineering and architectural firms in construction defect litigation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania;
Representing developers, general contractors, and subcontractors in construction defect litigation involving low-, mid-, and high-rise projects;
Defending developers and contractors in seven- and eight-figure construction accident cases; and
Defending residential contractors in construction defect, warranty, consumer fraud, and breach of contract claims.

Professional Liability

In the professional liability space, Matthew is widely recognized for his defense of attorneys, insurance brokers, real estate professionals, title agents, accountants, and other licensed professionals in malpractice actions, licensing board matters, and disciplinary proceedings. Notable successes include:

Securing summary judgment for a New Jersey law firm and its principal in a legal malpractice action in federal court;
Successfully defending commercial and residential real estate brokers in post-transaction litigation;
Defending a title agency against mortgage fraud allegations and an accounting firm in a malpractice dispute;
Representing financial professionals in FINRA proceedings, including suitability claims brought by investors; and
Resolving numerous legal and insurance broker malpractice claims through early resolution.

Insurance Coverage

Matthew also has a robust insurance coverage practice, representing insurers in high-stakes disputes involving complex policy interpretations and bad faith allegations. He has:

Secured dismissals for insurance carriers in a declaratory judgment and breach of contract actions;
Successfully represented insurance carriers in coverage litigation before state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels affirming no duty to defend or indemnify;
Represented a reinsurer in an insurance coverage action; and
Represented a hospital in a multi-year insurance coverage battle involving multiple appeals.

Commercial Litigation

Outside of the insurance context, Matthew also represents individuals and corporate clients in sophisticated, high-profile commercial disputes involving business dissolution, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, trade secrets, products liability, and employment-related matters including ERISA, discrimination, harassment, whistleblower, and wrongful termination claims such as:

Defended corporate clients in matters involving business dissolution, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and trade secrets;
Defended companies and their owners in corporate raiding cases;
Successfully represented an owner of a closely held corporation in a judicial dissolution action and a breach of fiduciary duty action;
Successfully defended a national staffing agency and various employees in a corporate raiding matter; and
Successfully represented medical professionals in RICO, insurance fraud, and licensure cases.

Matthew’s strategic, results-driven approach and breadth of experience make him a trusted advisor to professionals, insurers, and corporate clients facing complex and high-stakes litigation.

Matthew Major, ESQ

Partner

Crystal Miller-O’Brien is a partner in Lydecker’s Los Angeles office. Her labor and employment law practice includes counseling and defending multiple sectors of businesses against all workplace obstacles involved in employing labor (start-ups, small private, non-profit, public, and large companies). She is an experienced litigator and enjoys providing advice and counsel to help businesses manage restructuring, establishing corporate governance, responding to union organization concerns, defending wage & hour class actions, responding to state and federal harassment/discrimination/retaliation claims, and more.

Ms. Miller-O’Brien is licensed to appear in all courts in California. She has practiced law with large and boutique firms throughout the West Coast. She has provided counsel as Corporate and General Counsel to private and public employers. As a graduate of Willamette University in Oregon, she had the distinction of serving as the Editor-in-Chief of Willamette Law Online, a Forms Editor for the Willamette University Law Review, the Student Liaison to the Oregon State Bar’s Affirmative Action Committee, and was elected by her peers to serve as the Chair of Willamette University’s Minority Law Student Association.

Crystal Miller-O’Brien, ESQ

Partner

Brian is Litigation Partner in Lydecker’s San Diego office with more than twenty years of success providing legal analysis, strategy and endeavors to look at all options for purposes of protecting clients. Brian represents parties from incept to trial in proceeding, including alternative dispute resolution.

Brian balances attention to detail and management methodologies to maintain a ‘big picture’ focus while minimizing client /company exposure to risk. He develops working relationships with all counsel in all litigation matter to ensure organization, steer the litigation towards the best resolution, and leverages these relationships to control client expenses.

Brian maintains a strong courtroom presence and drives case strategies to achieve favorable outcomes for individual and corporate clients through the application of critical thinking and outside the box.

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.

Brian D. Murphy, ESQ

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.

Robert Joseph Pariser, ESQ

Partner

Mr. Patten is a Partner at Lydecker’s New York and New Jersey offices. He serves in the commercial litigation department where he works on third party insurance defense, including General Liability Defense, Bodily Injury Defense, New York Labor Law Defense, Construction Defect Litigation, Architects & Engineers litigation, Products Liability, and a variety of other civil litigation issues. Mr. Patten has litigated countless cases involving wrongful death and catastrophic accidents/injuries at construction sites, including claims brought under New York Labor Laws section 200, 240, and 241.

In addition, Mr. Patten is an expert in automobile negligence defense. He has been working in the auto negligence industry for the majority of his career and manages complex cases involving multi-vehicle accidents and catastrophic injuries or wrongful death. Mr. Patten provides legal guidance on issues involving vicarious liability, indemnity, as well as non-permissive use. He has experience in both trial and arbitration settings, reaching final judgments, verdicts, and beneficial settlements for his auto negligence clients.

Prior to joining Lydecker, Mr. Patten was a prosecutor for the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office where he obtained extensive trial experience prosecuting criminal misdemeanor and felony level charges. Mr. Patten also prosecuted for the State of Florida Department of Children and Families, where he litigated dependency issues and termination of parental rights cases.

Mr. Patten received his Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University School of Law, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in the top 3% of his class. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in History, Cum Laude, from St. John’s University in Minnesota.

While in law school, Mr. Patten served as Editor-in-Chief for the St. Thomas Law Review, as well as Student Bar Association President. Mr. Patten also tutored students in property law and worked as an intern for the Honorable Judge John O’Sullivan in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Lee Patten, ESQ

Partner

Stephanie Pidermann (Woodard) is a shareholder in the firm’s Miami, Florida office. Ms. Pidermann concentrates her practice on commercial litigation matters, as well as, defending, significant labor & employment, personal injury, premises liability, and professional liability lawsuits. She represents major hotels, grocers and retailers, Fortune 500 companies, insurers, governmental entities, and transportation companies in state and federal courts throughout Florida and the United States.

Ms. Pidermann’s 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. Pidermann regularly handles Federal and State actions involving issues of civil rights violations, False Claims Act litigation, sovereign immunity, qualified immunity, 1983 actions, wrongful death claims, sexual harassment, FLSA compliance, discrimination, retaliation, Title VII, whistleblower claims, fraud, and a battery of common law torts.

Ms. Pidermann also regularly represents Directors and Officers in actions involving violations of consumer protection laws, misrepresentation, fraud, malpractice, breaches of fiduciary duties, violations of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and generalized negligence. She has represented insurance brokers, accountants, brokers, real estate professionals, title agents, closing agents, appraisers, home inspectors, escrow agents, and health care professionals, including physicians, nurses, physician’s assistants, and mental health practitioners involved in a wide array of claims.

Ms. Pidermann has been consistently recognized as a Florida Super Lawyers “Rising Star” since 2014 and has been recognized as a Legal Elite lawyer by Florida Trend’s Legal Elite since 2014.

Stephanie Pidermann, ESQ

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.

J.W. Webb, ESQ

Partner

Mary Williams is an Associate in Lydecker’s Miami office. Ms. Williams’ practice involves all aspects of federal and state commercial and civil litigation, with a primary focus on labor and employment, personal injury, premises liability, and professional liability matters.

Ms. Williams earned her J.D. from St. Thomas University College of Law in May 2025, graduating cum laude. During law school, she served as a Certified Legal Intern with St. Thomas University’s Appellate Litigation Clinic, where she represented multiple clients before Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal.

Ms. Williams also served as a Judicial Intern to the Honorable Elaine A. Carbuccia in Florida’s Seventeenth Judicial Circuit. She was an active member of the Moot Court Board, where she held the position of Vice President of Competitions and participated in both national and intramural competitions, earning honors such as Top Oralist and Best Brief.

In addition, Ms. Williams was the President and Founder of the Golf Law Society and the Treasurer of the Maritime Law Society. She was recognized as a Dean’s Scholar and received the Pro Bono Award for completing over 100 hours of pro bono service.

Mary Catherine Williams, ESQ

Associate

Directors and Officers

D&O Litigation

Contact Us Regarding Directors and Officers Lawsuits

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Directors and Officers Team

Victoria A. Arthington, ESQ

Christopher J. Campbell, ESQ

Hannah Cast, ESQ

Paola M. Garcia, ESQ

Morgan Taylor Gieser, ESQ

Michael Goldman, ESQ

Katie Gudaitis, ESQ

Stephen Hunter Johnson, ESQ

Richard Lydecker, ESQ

Matthew Major, ESQ

Crystal Miller-O’Brien, ESQ

Brian D. Murphy, ESQ

Robert Joseph Pariser, ESQ

Lee Patten, ESQ

Stephanie Pidermann, ESQ

J.W. Webb, ESQ

Mary Catherine Williams, ESQ

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