Premises Liability
Premises Liability Team
When an owner of a business or home fails to secure the safety of those entering the premises, the owner may be responsible for harm or injuries that may arise.
Our premises liability attorneys represent property owners in claims arising from personal injuries, wrongful death, injuries caused by code violation, injuries caused by premises in disrepair and injuries due to the presence of toxic or any dangerous substances.
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Premises Liability Team
Therese Adipietro is the Office Lead and Supervising Attorney in Lydecker’s Jacksonville Office. Ms. Adipietro’s practice includes all aspects of civil litigation. Ms. Adipietro has litigated numerous cases through trial throughout Florida, including bodily injury, premises liability, negligent security, product liability, foodborne illness, construction defect, third-party and first-party property, and landlord-tenant disputes.
Ms. Adipietro earned her B.A. and J.D. from Stetson University and was a member of the Stetson University Women’s Golf Team.
Dianna L. Albini, a Partner at Lydecker’s California Offices, has been a trial attorney for more than 34 years. She is recognized by Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers™, and the Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers™ Judicial Edition as an AV Rated-Preeminent member.[1]
Ms. Albini primarily handles complex catastrophic injury litigation, as well as mass tort litigation involving environmental, medical device implant, and pharmaceutical matters, and civil litigation. Ms. Albini has been admitted Pro Hac Vice as a trial attorney throughout the United States, including New Jersey, Florida, Montana, Georgia, Minnesota, Puerto Rico, Louisiana, and Illinois.
Ms. Albini founded her boutique law firm in San Francisco, California. As the firm’s trial attorney, she secured multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements, and over the course of her career thus far, her clients have recovered more than $100 million. Ms. Albini also served on the Board of Directors for the San Francisco Trial Lawyers. She is a Lifetime Member of the Million Dollar Trial Lawyers and the Multi-Million Dollar Trial Lawyers Association. Ms. Albini, is a California and San Francisco Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist on numerous occasions.
Ms. Albini is a member of the United States District Court for the Eastern and Northern Districts of California and has appeared in the Court of Appeal of California, First, Second, and Fifth Appellate Districts.
Ms. Albini has served as a Judge Pro Tem for the Counties of Contra Costa, Alameda, and San Francisco, in the State of California. She has also volunteered as an Adjunct Professor at the University of San Francisco, Hastings, and Golden Gate University Law Schools.
Ms. Albini received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports Management and Administration from the University of San Francisco, where she attended on a full-ride athletic scholarship. Ms. Albini was the third female athlete inducted into the University of San Francisco Athletic Hall of Fame. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, where she made the Dean’s list.
[1] AV-Preeminent ratings are the Highest possible rating, reflecting the confidential opinions of California Bar and Judiciary members who know Ms. Albini’s legal ability and ethical standards.
Belissa Ardisson is an Associate with the firm’s Miami office. Ms. Ardisson’s practice involves all aspects of federal and state civil trial litigation with a primary focus in personal injury, government liability, employment, and civil rights litigation.
Ms. Ardisson earned her J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in May of 2021. While in Law School, Ms.Ardisson interned with the Miami Dade State Attorney’s Office in the Domestic Violence division where she assisted with research and drafting pre-trial motions. Ms. Ardisson also worked as a research assistant and served as a member of the University of Miami Race and Social Justice Law Review.
Upon graduating, Ms. Ardisson served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Miami Dade State Attorney’s Office. During her time at the State Attorney’s Office, Ms. Ardisson handled cases ranging from misdemeanors to first degree felonies, handling all pre trial motions up to trial. Additionally, Ms. Ardisson served as a County Training Attorney where she trained new incoming attorney’s on how to prepare and argue different evidentiary hearings, pre trial motions, and assisted them in trial. During her time at the State Attorney’s Office, Ms. Ardisson litigated countless jury trials to verdict.
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 Atencio is an Associate in the firm’s Miami office. Ms. Atencio’s practice brings an assertive and conscientious approach to all aspects of federal and state civil litigation.
Victoria earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida International University in 2017, followed by her Juris Doctor from Florida International University College of Law in 2024, where she was honored to be admitted under the Dean’s Scholarship. Her academic journey was marked by a focus on practical experience, as she held various positions throughout law school, including legal assistant, intake specialist, scheduling clerk, and paralegal. This hands-on experience in First Party Property, Personal Injury, Insurance Defense, and Commercial Litigation has equipped her with a well-rounded understanding of the legal landscape.
Jamie Baboolal is an Senior 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.
Angela M. Bekhit is an Associate in the Orlando office. She was born and raised in The City Beautiful Orlando and has resided in Florida her entire life. She earned her Juris Doctor at Barry University, Dwayne O. Andreas in 2016 and her Bachelor of Science Degree from Nova Southeastern University.
Prior to joining the firm, Mrs. Bekhit was an associate at a general civil litigation firm practicing in the areas of family law, probate, homeowner’s association disputes, and estate planning.
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.
Ms. Brice is a Senior Associate in Lydecker’s Los Angeles office. Ms. Brice has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology. She earned her law degree from Glendale University College of Law.
She currently focuses her practice on insurance defense litigation, products liability and personal injury. She also has experience in medical malpractice and worker’s compensation defense.
Ms. Brice is a member of the State Bar of California, California Lawyers Association, and Women’s Lawyer Association of Los Angeles, and is dedicated to promoting the full participation of women lawyers and judges in the legal profession. She is a vigilant advocate for each client she represents, taking great pride and interest in each case.
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.
Yina Cabrera is an Associate in the firm’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.
Denis M. Carey is Of Counsel in the firm’s New Jersey office. He is licensed to practice law in the federal and state courts of New Jersey and New York. He handles matters in the fields of premises liability, motor vehicle, construction defect, professional malpractice, construction casualty and insurance coverage. Mr. Carey has over 12 years’ experience in commercial litigation. He has been involved in numerous nationwide multidistrict litigations dealing with various product liability and drug injury cases. He’s also worked in securities fraud, data privacy, employment law, antitrust, and consumer fraud matters.
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.
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.
Mr. Clouser is an Associate Attorney in the Lydecker Miami office. Mr. Clouser began his career in the legal field in 2021 working as a law clerk for a prominent law firm based in Miami, Florida, where he gained an integral and fundamental understanding of the complex issues and processes surrounding civil litigation in Florida. Upon graduation from Capital University Law School in May 2023, Mr. Clouser sat for the Florida bar in July 2023. After passing the bar, Mr. Clouser was admitted to practice as a licensed attorney in the State of Florida in September 2023.
Following bar admission, Mr. Clouser began his career as an attorney working for a national full service law firm based out of Miami, Florida, where he handled a variety of complex civil litigation cases prior to joining Lydecker.
Laura Compton is Of Counsel at the Tampa office of Lydecker. Laura’s has represented individuals, small business owners, global corporations, and insurance companies in a wide array of civil litigation defense matters, including premises liability, automobile and trucking negligence, products liability, Dram Shop, and wrongful death, as well as counseling clients on coverage and bad faith issues.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Laura was a partner at an insurance defense firm in Tampa for 12 years.
After receiving her Bachelor’s degree from the University of The South (Sewanee), Laura returned to her home state of Florida and graduated from Stetson University College of Law.
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.
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.
Felipe Curiel is an associate in Lydecker’s Los Angeles office, where he defends policy holders in personal injury, premises liability, product liability, and employer liability claims.
A native of the Inland Empire (Ontario, California), Mr. Curiel attended the University of California at Irvine before pursuing his Juris Doctor at The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL). He enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time outdoors.
Eliz Demren is an Associate in the Products Liability department of Lydecker’s Miami office. Prior to working at Lydecker, Ms. Demren was an associate at a boutique complex civil litigation firm. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from the Honors College at Florida International University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law.
During law school, Eliz received the Dean’s Certificate of Achievement Award and CALI Excellence for the Future Award for receiving the top grades in her courses. She also competed in Moot Court, interned for Circuit Court Judge Spencer Eig, and externed for Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge John J. O’Sullivan. While earning her Juris Doctor, Eliz completed several internships at various law firms to fully maximize her time in law school before beginning to practice as an attorney.
Ms. Diefendorf is an associate attorney at the firm’s Orlando Office. Ms. Diefendorf earned her J.D. from Barry University School of Law in 2022. While in Law School, Ms. Diefendorf interned with the Public Defender’s Office in the Seventh Judicial Circuit, located in Daytona Beach, where she assisted with research and drafting pre-trial motions.
During her third year of law school, Ms. Diefendorf was a Certified Legal Intern for the State Attorney’s Office in the Seventh Judicial Circuit, located in Daytona Beach, where she assisted the Misdemeanor and Felony Divisions with preparing cases for trial.
Ms. Diefendorf was admitted to practice in the State of Florida in 2023 and is an active member of the Florida Bar.
Mrs. Diverio is a shareholding partner at Lydecker’s Miami office and is the chair of the property practice group. She is a trial and appellate attorney for first and third party lawsuits. She handles bad faith claims, third party claims nationally, fire/theft/fraud investigations, windstorm coverage insurance defense, personal injury, general liability, subrogation claims, fraud investigations, and all types of property damage claims.
In addition to her broad insurance coverage practice, Ms. Diverio has significant experience in Directors & Officers (D&O) condominium litigation, where she represents boards, associations, and insurers in matters involving governance disputes, fiduciary duty claims, and coverage issues. Her work in this area provides clients with strategic counsel on both preventative risk management and litigation defense.
Mrs. Diverio litigates insurance disputes involving high exposure commercial and personal lines in both State and Federal court. Mrs. Diverio’s practice group handles claims from pre-suit investigations through trials and appeals.
Mrs. Diverio has handled a multitude of appellate and trial matters and has been first-handedly involved in changing and upholding Florida Statutes on significant current insurance defense issues.
Most importantly, Mrs. Diverio’s strength lies in client relations and professionalism. She maintains an open line of communication with her clients during all phases of litigation, settlement of a dispute, and works in conjunction with her adjusters to quickly and efficiently resolve claims.
Naomi Estella is an associate in the firm’s Orlando and Miami offices. Her practice focuses on products liability, premises liability, and general liability matters.
She earned her J.D. from Barry University School of Law, Dwayne O. Andreas, in 2024, and her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Central Florida.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Estella gained valuable experience as an associate at a general civil litigation practice, focusing on bodily injury defense.
Cynthia Carrasco-Escalera is an Associate in the firm’s Orlando office. Ms. Carrasco’s current practice is primarily focused on personal injury.
Ms. Carrasco obtained her Juris Doctor from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University College of Law, with Cum Laude honors. While in law school, Ms. Carrasco worked as an educator in the State of Florida, where she taught career and technical courses.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Ms. Carrasco served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida. In this role, she gained extensive trial experience by conducting multiple jury trials of misdemeanor and felony cases.
I am litigation associate in the firm’s Orlando office, where I focus my practice area in a range of topics in general civil litigation. I graduated from Barry University with a Juris Doctor in 2018 and the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a behavioral forensics certification in 2015. During law school and prior to joining the firm, I worked in both state and federal litigation along with transaction contract work. Along with Florida state admission, I am also admitted in Middle and Southern District of Florida.
Ms. Franks is a partner in the firm’s Miami office, where she defends local, national, and international organizations, as well as individuals, and tries catastrophic personal injury actions, premises liability matters, professional liability claims, construction defect matters, and medical/substance abuse treatment malpractice claims throughout the State of Florida.
Ms. Franks is originally from Pennsylvania and moved to South Florida in 2002 to study journalism and political science. Prior to pursuing her law degree, Ms. Franks taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Miami in the Department of Political Science for five years. Her classes included Intro to American National Government, the Legislative Process, and Congressional Representation. Ms. Franks earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in 2011.
Ms. Franks has considerable experience dealing with automobile negligence, professional malpractice, medical malpractice, and premises liability matters involving catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, and extra contractual exposure, including a focus on evidentiary issues, dispositive motion practice, complex liability claims, and damages mitigation.
Ms. Franks earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the University of Miami in 2004. She graduated cum laude with a double-major in journalism and political science. Ms. Franks went on to complete a Master’s degree in Communication at the University of Miami in 2005, also graduating cum laude.
Ms. Franks earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in 2011. At the University of Miami School of Law, Ms. Franks was the recipient of the Hugh L. Wood Scholarship, Outstanding Merit Scholarship, and the Ehrich Scholarship. Ms. Franks served as a research assistant to multiple highly regarded University of Miami School of Law professors in the areas of environmental litigation and legislation, the first amendment, and communication regulation.
Peter Gabriel de Armas is an associate in Lydecker’s Miami office. Mr. de Armas has been working in civil trial litigation for over three years, specifically in the practice areas of insurance defense, first party property, general premises liability, complex corporate and business litigation, condominium foreclosures, and mechanics’ liens, amongst others.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Mr. de Armas worked in insurance defense where he defended clients in personal injury claims, wrongful death claims, and property insurance claims, providing successful and positive results for both private and corporate clients. Mr. de Armas has also been involved in cases which went to trial, and handled various aspects of trial including voir dire and direct and cross examination. Mr. de Armas also handled and reviewed corporate documents, including LLC restructuring, assignments of benefits, articles of organization and incorporation, and transfers of membership interests.
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.
Doug Gerber is Of Counsel with Lydecker and works in the Firm’s Orlando office. Mr. Gerber been a member of the Florida Bar since 2005 and the Middle District of Florida since 2006. Mr. Gerber’s areas of practice include but are not limited to civil litigation, commercial litigation, general liability litigation, premises liability, property practice, and business law throughout the State of Florida. He has extensive experience in representing business entities, insurers, and individuals in litigation often involving motion practice, mediations, and trials.
A native Floridian who was born in and raised in South Florida and who has lived in Central Florida for more than 25 years, Mr. Gerber is a double Gator, having earned his bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from the University of Florida in 1992 and his master’s degree in Exercise and Sports Sciences with a Specialization in Sports Management from the University of Florida in 1996. While at the University of Florida, Mr. Gerber was admitted and a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.
After working for various sports organizations in Central Florida involving amateur sports events, college bowl games, NFL exhibitions, and the 1996 Olympic Games, Mr. Gerber attended the Shepard Broad Law Center at Nova Southeastern University, where was first a Staff Member and then became an Articles Editor for the Nova Law Review. Mr. Gerber had his article on the validity of arbitration clauses in personal injury suits involving minors published in the Fall 2003 issue of the Nova Law Review. He was also a member of the Pro Bono Honor Society while at the Shepard Broad Law Center after interning with the Administrative Judge for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida and with the City Attorney’s Office with the City of Coral Springs.
Mr. Gerber has served as the Chairman of the Real Property Law Committee of the Orange County Bar Association, was a member of the Small Claims Rules Committee of the Florida Bar, and most recently served as the Chair of Section C of the Grievance Committee of the Florida Bar for the Ninth Judicial Circuit.
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.
Mrs. Grant is an associate in Lydecker’s Boca and Orlando office and specializes in premises liability and property practice. Mrs. Grant obtained her J.D. from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. While at Cumberland, Mrs. Grant was involved in a number of student organizations and events, including competing in the school’s 1L Williams Trial Competition, serving as President of the Florida Student Bar Association, and mentoring first- and second- year students as both an Academic Success Advisor and as a Women in Law mentor.
Mrs. Grant also has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida Atlantic University, where she majored in English Literature with a concentration in British literature, and minored in Political Science.
Prior to joining the Lydecker Boca Raton Office, Mrs. Grant helped represent major hotel, retail, and restaurant chains in premises liability actions, as well as homeowners insurance companies in both first- and third-party property disputes for a mid-size litigation firm.
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.
Ariel Hassine is an Associate at Lydecker, focusing on litigation matters. Before joining Lydecker, Mr. Hassine worked as an Associate at Florida defense firms, representing insurance carriers in first-party property cases across Florida. He also served as In-House Counsel for an insurance carrier and has experience in plaintiff-side employment law.
Mr. Hassine is licensed to practice law in Florida and New York. He also holds a Juris Doctor degree from Syracuse University College of Law.
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.
Mr. Hendricks is the Managing Partner for Lydecker LLP. He practices out of the firm’s Miami and Boca Raton offices where he maintains an active trial and civil litigation practice in the Federal, State, and Appellate Courts throughout the State of Florida. Mr. Hendricks’ areas of practice include general civil litigation and trial practice, commercial litigation, professional liability/malpractice defense, insurance/tort liability defense, and labor and employment. He also serves as lead trial counsel for the firm’s clients and carriers and oversees the firm’s trial teams. He has over 25 years of experience representing clients and has successfully defended clients against multi-million dollar cases as lead trial counsel. He is often called upon to assist clients and carriers on high exposure and large loss claims in his capacity as monitoring counsel or co-counsel.
Upon graduating with Honors from the University of Miami School of Law, Mr. Hendricks began practicing as an associate Greenberg, Traurig, in the environmental litigation and land use department. Looking to further his litigation experience he accepted a position as a practiced commercial litigation associate with Kimbrell & Hamann. In 1990, Mr. Hendricks relocated to Palm Beach County where he spent several years practicing insurance defense and commercial litigation at Walton Lantoff. He subsequently joined the firm of Carman, Beauchamp and Sang as a senior associate and trial attorney. From 1999 thru 2007, Mr. Hendricks was employed as a partner at Panza, Maurer, Maynard & Noel where he served as a senior litigation partner and lead trial attorney for many of the firm’s corporate, institutional and governmental clients.
In law school, Mr. Hendricks was the winner of the University of Miami Law School’s Mock Trial Competition and member of the National Trial Competition Team. He also served as a member of the Inter-American Law Review, member of the Society of Bar & Gavel, Society of Wig and Robe, and was inducted into the school’s Moot Court Board.
Mr. Hendricks’ representative clients include private and public educational institutions, environmental, pollution and toxic tort defense, prison liability, prison healthcare and liability, public and private corporations, municipal governments, state agencies and political subdivisions, insurance companies and self-insured entities. Mr. Hendricks’ trial experience includes Federal, state and appellate proceedings including public procurements and bid protests.
Sarah Hinton is a Senior Associate at the firm’s Orlando office, where her focus is on Florida civil litigation cases.
Mrs. Hinton has represented companies of all sizes in all phases of litigation with a variety of complex civil litigation matters with a focus on auto accidents and premises liability. Mrs. Hinton has conducted countless depositions and has a track record of success drafting and arguing motions at all stages of litigation.
Mrs. Hinton began her career as a Plaintiff’s litigation attorney and has since dedicated her career to being a Defense litigation attorney giving Mrs. Hinton a unique and vast amount of experience in civil litigation from both sides.
Mrs. Hinton achieved her undergraduate degree from Florida State University graduating cum laude and her juris doctorate degree from Barry University School of Law. During her legal career Mrs. Hinton has also been a Certified County Mediator, a Certified Legal Intern and a Guardian Ad Litem.
John Jabro is an associate in Lydecker’s Orlando office where he practices civil litigation with a primary focus on personal injury and premises liability law. Mr. Jabro primarily represents business owners and condominium associations in various civil matters, and litigation.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Mr. Jabro worked as a legal assistant for a civil litigation firm located in Sarasota, Florida.
Parker Kindley is an Associate at Lydecker, based in the firm’s Los Angeles office. He earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from California Western School of Law in January 2021.
Mr. Kindley focuses his practice on a broad range of federal and state trial litigation, with particular expertise in general liability matters. His experience spans various areas, including premises liability, products liability, transportation (trucking), professional liability, toxic torts, and other personal injury claims. Mr. Kindley is know for his strong litigation skills, and is committed to delivering strategic and effective legal solutions for his clients in complex and high-stakes cases.
Shaun Robert Koby is a Shareholder with the Firm’s Florida offices. His practice focuses in the areas of complex commercial litigation, professional malpractice, insurance defense, and constitutional law.
Mr. Koby earned his undergraduate degree from the Florida State University in 2004. He graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Criminology. Mr. Koby graduated first in his class out of over 9000 students.
Besides academics, he was also actively involved in Student Government and created two community service organizations that enabled students to perform countless hours of service to the FSU campus and surrounding community. During the summer before graduation, Mr. Koby was an intern in the Governor’s Office of Legislative Affairs for Governor Jeb Bush.
Mr. Koby earned his Juris Doctor Degree, with honors, from the University of Florida in 2007. He was a Teaching Assistant for Legal Research and Writing, Appellate Advocacy, and Trial Practice. Mr. Koby also created a community service organization named Gators United Together for Service and was awarded a Community Service Certificate upon completion of law school.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Mr. Koch served as a Public Defender for the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court in Orlando, Florida. During his time as a Public Defender Mr. Koch handled cases ranging from felonies to misdemeanors, from intake to trial preparation. He has extensive litigation experience, including representing businesses and associations in state court. Mr. Koch finds success in securing favorable outcomes for his clients, including a full defense verdict during a four-day jury trial in May of 2023 which saved his clients from a potential million-dollar liability exposure.
David B. Kowalski is a partner in the Orlando office of Lydecker. He has extensive experience in the defense of civil disputes. Mr. Kowalski represents a wide range of clientele, including condominium associations, homeowners associations, governmental entities, trucking companies, products manufacturers, resorts, restaurants, and other establishments within the hospitality industry. This diverse background provides him with a unique perspective on the needs of each individual client. He has significant experience in cases of catastrophic personal injury, large settlement negotiation, mediation, and arbitration.
While earning his Juris Doctorate, Mr. Kowalski worked as a law clerk with Jacksonville area law firms where he focused on complex commercial litigation. During the course of his clerkships, he gained experience litigating high value cases in state courts as well as the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. His interest in litigation lead him to Lydecker where he now practices a range of topics in civil defense.
Mr. Kowalski earned his Juris Doctorate in 2013 from the Florida State University College of Law where he graduated cum laude. There, he was an active member of the Dispute Resolution Society, Business Law Society, and Estate Planning & Elder Law Society. During the course of his legal education, Mr. Kowalski received numerous merit-based scholarships and was a five time recipient of the Dean’s List award. Prior to law school, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Florida State University.
Ms. LaFaurie is a Lydecker Partner overseeing teams throughout the Firm’s Florida and California offices, with extensive experience handling a wide variety of high exposure and complex general liability and personal injury matters. Ms. LaFaurie is the Head of the Firm’s Product Liability Department and the co-chair of the Mass Tort Department. She is one of the firm’s trial attorneys, who regularly handles matters through all phases of litigation, from evidentiary hearings, arbitrations, and through trial, before Local, State and Federal Courts in connection with a wide variety of complex civil and commercial litigation matters.
Ms. LaFaurie’s general liability, product liability, and mass tort litigation experience includes representing premises owners and operators, local and global manufacturers, as well as major national retailers in numerous areas within the wider tort-based field, such as catastrophic injury, premises liability claims, class action, mass and toxic tort litigation, recalled product claims, as well as defending claims involving consumer and commercially available substances and materials. Her experience includes high exposure injury, wrongful death, and commercial matters. Ms. LaFaurie proactively manages and advises her clients on legal and factual matters of first impression, including efforts to mitigate and limit the prospective of emerging and anticipated claims, future class action and large-scale legal exposures.
Ms. LaFaurie is actively involved in leadership and mentorship in several national organizations focused on defense of business owners of all kinds. She sits on several committees with a focus which reflects her practice in civil litigation, product liability and mass tort.
Quinn LaHiff is Of Counsel in the firm’s Tampa office where his practice encompasses a broad range of civil defense matters.
A Florida native, Quinn received his Bachelor of Science of Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida. He then went on to earn his Juris Doctor from Stetson Law, where he served as Deputy Chief of the Stetson Ambassador and Mentorship Program. Upon graduation, Quinn began his practice as a civil litigation attorney representing clients in both state and Federal Court in a broad range of cases. In addition to litigating, Quinn also spent a significant portion of his career working in private capital and investment advisory firms serving as in-house counsel and chief compliance officer.
In his free time, Quinn enjoys spending time with his family in the great outdoors immersed in the natural beauty that his home state has to offer.
Mr. Lewis is Of Counsel to the firm’s Miami office. Mr. Lewis spent over 35 years as a partner at a well known Miami insurance defense firm. Mr. Lewis concentrates his practice on defense of large corporations and insurance companies in premises liability, negligent security, products liability, legal malpractice and general tort liability.
At Lydecker Mr. Lewis serves as senior trial counsel having tried over 100 jury trials. Mr. Lewis has secured defense verdicts throughout the State of Florida, is AV rated and admitted to practice in all state and Federal Courts in the State of Florida.
Alberto Llorente is an Associate in the firm’s Miami office. Mr. Llorente’s practice involves all aspects of federal and state civil trial litigation with a primary focus in personal injury, general liability, and premises liability. Mr. Llorente also handles Construction defect litigation, and commercial litigation.
Mr. Llorente earned his J.D. from Saint Thomas University school of law in 2022 and was admitted to the florida bar the following year. After his admittance Mr. Llorente began his career as an attorney working for a national full service law firm based out of Miami, Florida, where he handled a variety of complex civil litigation cases prior to joining Lydecker.
Valentina Lopera is an Associate at the Firm’s Miami office. Valentina’s practice focuses on civil litigation and insurance defense. Valentina has experience defending claims for personal injury sounding in auto negligence, premises liability, product liability, and construction negligence, as well as defending first party property damage claims, civil rights claims, employment-based claims, and workers’ compensation claims.
After graduating cum laude from Florida International University with a degree in Political Science, Valentina obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad College of Law. While in law school, Valentina was a Junior Associate and Bilingual Translator for the school journal, ILSA Journal of International and Comparative Law.
Valentina has a commitment to pro-bono work and received an honorary distinction for completing more than 200 hours of pro-bono services during law school career. Valentina interned with Mission United Veterans Pro Bono Legal Aid Services of Broward County, where she helped low-income veterans appeal their military discharge status and/or their benefits; as well as assisting veterans in various civil matters including evictions and child custody disputes. Valentina also interned at the Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Law Clinic, providing legal assistance services to caregivers of adults with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, Valentina has experience having interned with the Miami-Dade Public Schools Board of Education. Valentina continues to do pro-bono work.
Christopher Lutzel is an associate at the firm’s Dallas and Miami offices. Mr. Lutzel is a detail-oriented, communicative litigator experienced in providing tailored strategies that conclude with superb results for his clients whether through favorable settlements or other means of resolution. Mr. Lutzel provides in-depth analysis of all facets of a case from presuit investigation through trial preparation in order to provide his clients with optimal strategy recommendations based on how any case develops through the course of litigation.
Mr. Lutzel concentrates his practice in cases involving Bodily Injury, Premises Liability, and Commercial and Homeowner’s First-Party Disputes. His experience involves matters dealing with traumatic brain injuries, physical altercations resulting in injury, slip/trip and fall, and motor vehicle accidents among others in addition to his experience in property matters centered around catastrophes, weather, and non-weather related property damage.
Mr. Lutzel graduated from the FIU College of Law. While in Law School, Mr. Lutzel was president of the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Society. While in college, Mr. Lutzel was a member of the Baylor University football team.
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.
Mr. Masson is an experienced civil litigator with a history of success in handling a broad array of complex and high exposure civil matters for individuals, insurers, and other business entities. Mr. Masson prides himself on being an out of the box thinker that is dedicated to meeting his client’s specific needs, providing them with superb legal representation, and obtaining very favorable results.
Bryan Miller is a partner in Lydecker’s Los Angeles office and is an experienced senior level attorney and advisor with more than twenty-five years of success providing legal analysis and strategy to craft options and winning solutions for clients.
Bryan effectively represents parties in trial proceedings or artfully crafted approaches in arbitration, mediation, or alternative dissolution proceedings.
Bryan is able to through listening, engagement, and opening opportunities for resolution, is often able to guide diametrically opposed parties to come to acceptable resolution actions and results. Bryan balances attention to detail and management methodologies to expertly maintain a ‘big picture’ focus while minimizing client /company exposure to risk. He leverages powerful courtroom presence and consistently drives case strategies to achieve favorable outcomes for individual and corporate clients through the application of critical thinking and creative negotiation tactics.
He was a named equity partner in the civil rights 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.
Mr. Miller is Of Counsel at Lydecker’s Jacksonville and Tampa offices. Mr Miller has been practicing civil litigation for over 25 years. His practice is primarily focused on third party civil defense litigation, with an emphasis on premises liability, negligent security, wrongful death, auto negligence, commercial transportation, dram shop, construction defect.
Mr. Miller has handled high exposure negligence and wrongful death cases, including negligent security, drowning, trucking, construction and racetrack accidents. He represents his clients with professionalism, diligence, and aggressiveness in their defense. Mr. Miller has first chaired numerous successful jury trials in various Florida jurisdictions. Mr. Miller is admitted to practice in all state and Federal Courts in the State of Florida.
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.
Daniel Muggeo is an associate in the firm’s Boca Raton office. Mr. Muggeo focuses his practice on civil litigation including the defense of negligence, traumatic bodily injury, wrongful death, and malpractice. Mr. Muggeo is admitted to practice law in Florida state courts. Mr. Muggeo received his Juris Doctorate from the Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern University where he was a member of the ILSA Journal of International & Comparative Law and the Nova Trial Association. He earned his undergraduate degree from Nova Southeastern University where he received his degree in legal studies.
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.
Ms. Negrette is Of Counsel in the firm’s Boca Raton office where she focuses her practice in construction defect litigation and construction-related disputes. In this complex field, Ms. Negrette is dedicated to representing contractors, developers, subcontractors, and other construction professionals in a wide range of high-stakes, multi-million dollar litigation disputes stemming from the design and construction of residential and commercial projects. Ms. Negrette joined the firm in May 2023. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Negrette focused her practice in the areas of insurance coverage, first-party property defense, general liability, and complex commercial litigation.
While in law school, Ms. Negrette competed in four moot court competitions including the National Puerto Rican Bar Moot Court Competition where her team was awarded Best Brief at Nationals. Ms. Negrette graduated magna cum laude and received Book Awards in Contracts, Evidence, and Appellate Practice Workshop. During law school, Ms. Negrette also completed a judicial internship with the Honorable Tim Bailey of the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.
In 2025, Ms. Negrette was recognized as a Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star. Lawyers are selected for inclusion each year based on peer nominations, evaluations, and third-party research.
Mr. Norris’s practice primarily involves representing, defending, and counseling business owners regarding a diverse array of legal issues. Mr. Norris has had the privilege of successfully representing hotel operators and other hospitality businesses, medical practices, airlines, MROs, universities, banks, governmental entities, large institutional clients, and small businesses.
Mr. Norris has extensively litigated matters involving labor and employment law, commercial law, professional liability, hospitality law, premises liability, ADA accessibility, real estate, admiralty and maritime, wrongful death, and various types of negligence. Mr. Norris has defended private and public employers in all phases of litigation, from administrative hearings through trial on matters arising under Federal, State and local employment laws.
Mr. Norris also has extensive experience servicing business owners in the preparation and negotiation of contracts, including stock purchase and asset purchase agreements, ensuring compliance with laws, rules, and regulations, and providing guidance to mitigate risk and limit liability.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Norris served as in-house counsel for a successful Real Estate Investment Company that focused on acquiring and re-positioning distressed assets.
Yanina Onyewenjo is an Associate at the firm’s Tampa office. Ms. Onyewenjo’s practice involves a range of topics, including personal injury, premises liability, and other topics in civil defense.
Ms. Onyewenjo obtained her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Florida International University College of Law in May 2022, graduating as a Dean’s Scholar. During her tenure in law school, Ms. Onyewenjo refined her legal advocacy and negotiation skills through active participation in the FIU Law Negotiation & Mediation Team (“NAMT”). As a Finalist in the 18th Annual FIU Law Intramural Negotiation Competition, Ms. Onyewenjo was subsequently chosen to represent FIU Law at the 2021 ABA Regional Negotiation Competition in Chicago, competing against 24 teams nationwide. Her outstanding performance in four national and international competitions, along with her contributions to the negotiation team, led to her selection for the FIU Law 2022 Outstanding Negotiation Skills Award and FIU Law 2022 Outstanding Service Award.
Ms. Onyewenjo’s legal experience includes a judicial internship under the esteemed Honorable Judge Patricia Seitz. In this role, she gained profound insights into the federal court system and contributed to Judge Seitz’s pro bono re-entry program for ex-convicts. Ms. Onyewenjo also served as a law clerk at an international securities law firm supporting the legal department’s management of German class actions.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Ms. Onyewenjo worked as an Associate Attorney for a Florida insurance defense firm. In this capacity, she represented clients in general liability matters, including premises liability, automobile negligence, negligent security, and other issues related to liability and casualty defense. Ms. Onyewenjo has represented clients across various industries, including retail, hospitality, and insurance.
Ms. Onyewenjo’s hobbies include playing with her dog Bella, enjoying Florida’s art and music scene, bodybuilding, and discovering new vegan recipes.
Katrina Pacheco is an Associate at Lydecker handling Florida civil litigation matters. Ms. Pacheco has extensive experience in the defense of civil disputes. She maintains a varied practice in insurance defense and commercial litigation, including general bodily injury and casualty, and professional malpractice.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Ms. Pacheco was an Associate at a prominent Florida defense firm where she gained significant litigation experience representing numerous insurance carriers in First Party Property matters throughout Florida. While earning her Juris Doctorate, Ms. Pacheco clerked with the Honorable Judge Peter Lopez and also worked as a law clerk with boutique law firms in the Miami area who focused on insurance litigation at both the State and Federal levels.
Joel Vicente Bello Parra is an associate in Lydecker’s Orlando office. With a proven record of managing complex litigation at both the state and federal levels, Mr. Parra has provided comprehensive leadership in cases involving contract disputes, accident liability, and general litigation.
Mr. Parra has guided the full case lifecycle, including strategy, depositions, court appearances, mediations, and settlements. Through the application of meticulous research, persuasive advocacy, and collaborative negotiations, Mr. Parra has consistently delivered successful resolutions and favorable outcomes for corporate and private clients.
Mr. Sanchez Parraga is a partner at Lydecker’s Miami, New Jersey, New York, and Los Angeles offices. He is an experienced insurance and commercial litigation attorney whose practice focuses on first-party and third-party property coverage and related litigation. He advises domestic and international insurers on complex coverage issues arising from a broad range of construction and property losses, including those caused by hurricanes, fires, hailstorms, structural failures, and other catastrophic events.
Mr. Parraga regularly acts as both coverage and litigation counsel, with experience representing insurers in high-exposure claims involving commercial buildings, residential developments, hospitality properties, and industrial sites. He is well-versed in policy interpretation, claim assessment, and the application of exclusions and endorsements, and is familiar with insurer reporting obligations and litigation management protocols.
He understands the financial, reputational, and operational pressures faced by insurers and their insureds in the wake of significant property losses. Whether handling claims involving large commercial assets or navigating disputes tied to policyholder obligations, Mr. Parraga offers practical, tailored advice aimed at achieving efficient and favorable outcomes.
In addition to his broad insurance coverage practice, Mr. Sanchez Parraga has developed substantial experience handling Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance claims, particularly in the context of condominium litigation. He regularly represents boards, associations, and insurers in matters involving governance disputes, alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, and complex coverage issues. His work in this area combines strategic counsel on D&O risk management with effective litigation defense.
Mr. Sanchez Parraga routinely collaborates with trial attorneys to enhance case strategies, ensuring that issues are preserved for appeal and maximizing the potential for favorable outcomes. His analytical skills enable him to foresee potential challenges and craft strategic solutions, ensuring that every pleading, motion and brief is meticulously prepared and delivered.
Mr. Sanchez Parraga is admitted to practice in Florida, New York, New Jersey, California, Texas, and Georgia.
Mr. Sanchez Parraga earned a Bachelor in Law, with honors, from the University of Barcelona, and received his Juris Doctorate magna cum laude from Nova Southeastern University in 2018. He is admitted to practice law in Florida, New York, New Jersey, and California as well as in the United States District Courts for the Middle and Southern District of Florida.
Winfield Pollidore is a trial and civil litigation attorney in Lydecker’s Atlanta office. He has extensive experience representing clients in a variety of civil litigation matters, including the defense of tort claims such as construction defects, motor vehicle accidents, property damage, premises liability, and product liability. In addition to his civil litigation practice, Mr. Pollidore is well-versed in family law, handling all aspects of domestic relations issues, including divorce, child custody, mediation, spousal support, and post-divorce disputes.
Before pursuing a legal career, Mr. Pollidore worked as a mechanical engineer in the automotive industry, where he developed a keen analytical approach to problem-solving. His engineering background provides him with a unique perspective in handling complex construction defect cases, allowing him to effectively represent contractors, property owners, and other professionals facing intricate liability issues. His ability to navigate both technical and legal complexities makes him a valuable advocate for his clients.
A significant portion of Mr. Pollidore’s practice has been dedicated to construction defect litigation. His comprehensive understanding of construction-related claims, allows him to tailor effective legal solutions for his clients. Whether defending businesses against liability claims or guiding families through challenging legal matters, Mr. Pollidore is committed to delivering results-driven representation.
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.
Yehuda brings a wealth of experience as an associate attorney at our Jersey City office. He earned his J.D. from New York Law School in 2023. During law school, Yehuda served as an editor on a regulatory law database at an Amlaw 100 Firm and interned for special counsel at the District Attorney’s office, focusing on appellate matters.
Yehuda is a certified Mediator and is admitted to practice law in both New York and New Jersey. Prior to joining our firm, he worked on estate planning and general litigation matters.
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 also the past Chair of the LGBTQ Rights Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association.
Mr. Quetglas is an associate in the firm’s Miami office. Mr. Quetglas’ practice involves defending organizations and individuals involved in personal injury actions, premises liability matters, negligent security claims, professional liability claims, and construction defect matters throughout the State of Florida.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Quetglas was an associate at a boutique defense litigation firm based in Downtown Miami, Florida, where he represented insurers in complex insurance coverage litigation, claims handling, general liability claims, first-party property coverage, and bad faith litigation.
During law school, Mr. Quetglas worked as a Law Clerk at a national firm in Downtown Washington, D.C. specializing in the litigation of complex personal injury, medical malpractice, negligent security and civil rights matters.
Anthony Ricucci is a partner in the firm’s San Francisco office. Mr. Ricucci’s practice involves all aspects of federal and state courts civil trial litigation with a primary focus on toxic torts, products liability and bodily injury litigation.
Mr. Ricucci earned his J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law, where he was the Director of the Moot Court Board Advanced Competitions and served as an intern at the U.S. Attorneys’ Office in both San Francisco and in Washington D.C. He received trial practice training at the Attorney General’s Trial Advocacy Institute in Washington D.C. Prior to that he received his B.A. degree at UCLA, graduating magna cum laude, and serving as a congressional intern in Washington D.C.
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.
Ms. Robles is Of Counsel 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.
Dianera Rodriguez is an Associate in the Products Liability department in the firm’s Miami office. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Rodriguez was an associate at a civil defense litigation firm where she handled premises liability claims, personal injury claims, property damage claims, and workers’ compensation claims.
Ms. Rodriguez earned Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University School of Law and her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice along with a Minor in Business from Florida International University. During law school, Ms. Rodriguez received the Dean’s Honor Award and CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Criminal Justice.
Kyle Scher is an associate attorney in the firm’s Tampa office. Mr. Scher earned his J.D. from Stetson University College of Law in 2022.
During his time at Stetson, he completed nearly 200 hours of pro bono service, and was recognized with the William F. Blews pro bono award. Prior to joining Lydecker in 2023, Mr. Scher gained experience through internships involving civil litigation matters. This included a summer at the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida where he assisted a family law judge.
Brittany Singletary is Of Counsel in the firm’s Miami office. Her practice is concentrated in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death, premises liability, and vehicle negligence.
Ms. Singletary is a Miami native. After graduating from the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Coral Reef Senior High School, she received her Bachelor of Business Administration from Florida International University. She went on to earn her Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law. Throughout law school, she clerked at a local prominent civil trial firm, and also served as a Fellow at the Children and Youth Law Clinic, where she represented children in foster care and former foster youth in dependency, health care, disability, immigration, and other legal matters. She also clerked at Legal Services of Greater Miami, where she represented low-income tenants to help them avoid homelessness and preserve their housing. Prior to joining Lydecker, Ms. Singletary practiced at a large Florida corporate insurance defense firm in the areas of wrongful death, premises liability, security negligence, condominium and homeowners’ association law, construction litigation, vehicle negligence, and trucking accident defense.
Matthew T. Smith is an associate in Lydecker’s Orlando office, where his practice focuses on civil litigation, general liability, commercial litigation, toxic torts, and product liability matters. He has represented both large corporate clients and individuals, having practiced on both the defense and plaintiff sides of litigation. This dual perspective gives him unique insight into opposing strategies, enabling him to craft efficient, cost-conscious, and results-driven solutions for his clients.
Originally from New York, Mr. Smith has spent most of his life in Central Florida. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida and his J.D., Magna Cum Laude, from Florida A&M University College of Law. While in law school, he earned multiple Dean’s List honors, served as Executive Articles Editor for the Law Review, and completed a judicial internship in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court.
Mr. Smith understands the importance of protecting a business’s reputation and bottom line while navigating complex legal disputes. He prides himself on being a well-rounded litigator and trusted advisor, committed to delivering practical, strategic counsel that aligns with each client’s operational and financial goals.
James Spratt is a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office and practices in all courts in California. His primary areas of practice include complex commercial litigation, tort practice in products liability, real property and construction defect.
Mr. Spratt earned his Juris Doctor Certificate from University of La Verne and his Bachelor’s degree in History from University of California, Santa Barbara. While in law school, Mr. Spratt has held numerous legal internships, including Office of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. In Mr. Spratt’s practice, he has held various partner positions with national law firms and has worked for national insurance companies, as staff counsel. He has worked defending national insurance companies in professional negligence, commercial trucking negligence, premises liability and habitability claims.
Mr. Spratt has handled the defense of Property Owners, Landlords, Property Managers, and Homeowners Associations in claims arising out of California Habitability Claims pursuant to compliance with statutory duties under California Civil Code Section 1941.1 and California Health and Safety Code Section 17920.3. While the defense of these claims is often challenging in the pro-tenant environment of California law, Partner, James Spratt has displayed skill and expertise in navigating the display of substantial compliance with statutory duties in order to minimize exposure to risks. This is often achieved by a careful analysis of the jurisdictional building code and health & safety code records, in order to achieve favorable results in mediation of these claims. Additionally, Mr. Spratt has engaged some of the best experts in the fields of Property Management and Environmental Science to defend these claims, including Toxicologists, Microbiologists and Medical Doctors specializing in California Mycotoxin, Mold and Environmental Diseases.
Mr. Spratt is active in conservation efforts of Santa Monica Mountains Restoration Trust and enjoys snow skiing and swimming in his spare time. He also enjoys spending time with his family and his German Shepard dog. Mr. Spratt is also a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
Ryan Stocks is an Associate in Lydecker’s Miami office. His practice involves civil litigation, with a primary focus on environmental law.
Ryan received his B.B.A. in economics and international business as well as a minor in environmental economics and management from the University of Georgia in 2021. He then received his J.D. and certificate in Environmental, Natural Resources, and Land Use Law at Florida State University College of Law in 2024. While in law school, Ryan held several executive board positions, including vice president, in the Environmental Law Society and Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Ryan worked as legal intern at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and as a law clerk at a boutique law firm specializing in environmental law. He also previously interned at two other law firms, where he gained experience in residential real estate and personal injury law.
Carrie E. Stricklin, Esq., is a partner in the firm’s Boca Raton office and part of our Workers’ Compensation Practice Group. She practices general civil litigation, concentrating in the areas of insurance defense litigation, including bodily injury; attorney malpractice; negligent security; and workers’ compensation litigation. Ms. Stricklin has represented numerous carriers and private entities such as the State of Florida Department of Financial Services, Whole Foods Supermarkets, Signature Healthcare, AMS Staff Leasing, City Electric Supply Company, iAero, LLC, as well as municipalities including the City of Sunny Isles, City of Bal Harbour, City of Dania Beach, City of Miami Gardens and Town of Surfside through the Florida League of Cities. She has also handled occupational injury and disease claims as well.
Within the scope of her practice, Ms. Stricklin covers the entire spectrum of the defense of the workers’ compensation claims to include the following: investigating suspicious or fraudulent claims; thoroughly evaluating claims for potential resolution at state and/or private mediation; discovery and trial preparation when appropriate for litigation up to and through Final Hearing; evaluation and resolution of subrogation claims; and facilitation and submission of Medicare Set Asides with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Ms. Stricklin also previously developed a comprehensive Continuing Education seminar for claims professionals, which provides an update on numerous developments of the law, as well as CE credit
Ms. Stricklin received her Juris Doctorate from the Shephard Broad Law Center at Nova Southeastern University, where she was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society and a Law Student Advisor. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Arts degree in History from Florida Atlantic University. During graduate school, Ms. Stricklin served as the President of the school’s chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, History Honor Society.
Ms. Sweet is a bilingual (English and Spanish) and highly experienced attorney. She has a proven track record of success in handling complex trials and high-profile cases. Ms. Sweet is committed to providing her clients with the highest level of legal representation, tailored to meet their specific needs.
Ms. Sweet was an Assistant State Attorney in Florida for over four years, where she gained extensive experience in handling complex cases and over dozens of jury trials. She then moved to work as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of Texas. She moved back to Florida in 2023 and has been providing outstanding legal services in the civil litigation area of law ever since.
Ms. Sweet is committed to staying up to date on the latest developments in the law, and regularly is attending courses to keep her knowledge and skills sharp.
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.
Angelia Williams is an Associate in the firm’s Lydecker Miami office. Ms. Williams is an accomplished litigation attorney with over 26 years of experience representing clients in state and federal courts across Florida. She focuses her practice on defending insurers, corporate clients, and commercial vehicle owners in matters involving personal injury, premises liability, product liability, and insurance disputes.
Ms. Williams is known for her strategic approach, thorough preparation, and commitment to achieving favorable results for her clients. She has handled cases from initial pleadings through trial, mediated settlements, and argued dispositive motions with proven success.
Ms. Williams earned her J.D. from Florida State University College of Law and her B.S. in Journalism, cum laude, from Florida A&M University.
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.
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.
Demetrius Wilson is Of Counsel in the firm’s Orlando office. He earned his Juris Doctor from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of South Florida.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Wilson was an associate at a general civil litigation firm practicing in the areas of personal injury and nursing home defense.
Bryan Zaverl is a partner in Lydecker’s Los Angeles office. He has held various positions with national and local law firms handling many different types of litigation. Mr. Zaverl most recently worked for a national insurance company, as staff counsel where he tried multiple cases a year for the past five years. He has worked defending individual policy holders as well as many well-known corporations in personal injury, premises liability, and product liability claims.
Mr. Zaverl, in his spare time, enjoys ice hockey (playing, coaching, watching) and photography. He also enjoys spending time with his children and his chocolate Labrador, Aldo. Mr. Zaverl is also a member of the Ventura County Bar Association.
