Top best W Lawyers in Clearwater | 55 available

Tom began his career as a lawyer fighting for victims as a prosecutor with the State Attorney’s Office.  There he was quickly promoted to a lead trial attorney and recognized by R.I.D.D. and M.A.D.D. for his trial victories against drunk drivers.  As a felony prosecutor, Tom was part of the DUI manslaughter response team and received specialized training in serious and fatal DUI accident investigation, which he now puts to use in pursuing punitive damages in civil cases.. Tom worked 5 years for a large central Florida “insurance defense” law firm after leaving the State Attorney’s Office.  For those years he focused his career on trial litigation in car accidents, motorcycle accidents, boating accidents, trucking accidents, and wrongful deaths.  Mr. Cope took many of these serious injury cases to trial against the best plaintiff’s lawyers in the State.  As a defense lawyer, Tom simply never lost.. Tom has brought his formidable trial and litigation skills to work for the injured and their families.   He frequently uses the skills and inside knowledge he learned as a trucking and insurance company lawyer for the benefit of his clients.

Kaitlyn Statile attended the University of Georgia where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Public Relations and a minor in Sociology. She then went on to earn her juris doctorate from Florida State University, College of Law. While in Tallahassee, she interned at the State Attorney’s Office, beginning her passion for trial law. After graduation she began working at the State Attorney's Office in Pinellas County where she conducted over 50 trials and obtained a murder indictment from a grand jury. She then went on to practice civil litigation prior to moving to Costa Rica where she learned Spanish and worked in immigration and real estate law for ex-pats. She has now joined Carlson, Meissner, Hart and Hayslett.. Kaitlyn resides in Pinellas County with her family. She enjoys traveling, being outdoors, playing tennis, gardening, cooking and spending time with her children. She has a passion for helping others and seeking justice and fair treatment for all.

John Richert is a Managing Attorney at Richert Quarles, P.A. He received his Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida and a Master’s in Business Administration from Stetson University in Deland, Florida in May 2013. While at Stetson, John participated in Stetson’s pro bono program and was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. Before attending Stetson, John attended the College of William and Mary located in Williamsburg, Virginia and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration majoring in Finance. John was admitted to the Florida Bar in September 2013.. John’s practice is focused on civil litigation and business law. He also has experience in landlord/tenant law, bankruptcy litigation, Florida administrative practice, and corporate law. In his practice, John takes special account of taking most economical course of action for his clients. In some cases, it is more economical and achieves a faster result to work out a solution between parties without litigation. John believes that good communication between an attorney and his client is incredibly important. That’s why John strives to answer all calls and emails from clients on the same day and will never bill clients who call him with short questions. An attorney and a client are a team and John will always work to be a great teammate with his clients.. John is licensed to practice law in Florida, the U.S. Middle District Court of Florida, and the U.S. Southern District Court of Florida. He is currently a member of the Clearwater Bar Association.. You can email John directly at

Jay A. Hebert. As a well-established defense lawyer within the Tampa Bay legal system, Jay Hebert puts his clients first. He is dedicated to serving his clients not only by navigating them through the complicated and daunting court system but also by helping them stay on the right side of the law.. “One of the reasons people come to me is that we try not to put a Band Aid on the problem. I get to the root of the problem and solve it. I consider myself more of a problem solver. That’s how I have distinguished my career from many others.”. Born in Winter Park­­­­­­­, Florida, Jay A. Hebert is a  Florida native who attended Clemson University (B.A., 1985) and continued his education at Stetson University College of Law (J.D., 1990). In 1991, he was admitted to the Florida Bar, the United States District Court, the Middle District of Florida and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Mr. Hebert started his own firm, The Hebert Law Group, in 1994.. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, St. Petersburg Bar Association, Pinellas County Trial Lawyers Association, and the Pinellas County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity.. Since 2010, Mr. Hebert has spoken to numerous school groups and parents about the possible negative impact the internet has on friendships and relationships. Jay Hebert has also taught as an adjunct Professor at the Stetson University College of Law and regularly speaks to students as a guest lecturer.. He has received the AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell 5.0 out of 5.0 since 2005 and received a superb rating, 10 out of 10, by AVVO. He has also been recognized by Marquis as Who’s Who in American Law.

In 1997, I founded my personal injury law firm with the goal of providing a unique, personal experience for my clients, where they felt that they had been heard, had a sharp, well-respected lawyer in their corner and received the compensation they deserved for the harms and losses they sustained from their injuries. Today, over 25 years later and with nearly 30 years of personal injury experience, I know I have succeeded in creating what I set out to create. I am proud to have obtained an "AV Preeminent" peer review rating by Martindale-Hubbell. This rating is anonymous and given by lawyers and by judges, all who know your legal ability and ethics. I also have a Superb 10.0 rating here on Avvo and I'm a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. While I have recovered well over $150 million on behalf of my clients, it has been the relationships I have with those clients that have been and still are the cornerstone of my representation. Personal service. Personal relationships. This is what having a lawyer and being a lawyer should be all about.. Professionally, I am an Eagle Member of the Florida Justice Association, a member of the President's Circle of the American Association for Justice, a member of the invitation-only Injury Board, the Trial Lawyers' section of The Florida Bar, as well as local bar associations in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Hillsborough County and Orange County.. Socially, I am a member of multiple bicycle clubs across the State of Florida, as well as the Alliance Française de Sarasota, American Mensa, Tampa Bay Mensa, and the YMCA of the Suncoast. I enjoy cycling, skiing, playing soccer, and salsa dancing, as well as cooking and sharing a good bottle of wine with friends.

I have been practicing criminal law for over 30 years.  My initial consultation is free.  Please call so that I can let you know how I can help you.. Larry Sandefer has handled well over 5,000 criminal cases. Over 200 of these have resulted in jury trials of from one day to several weeks in length. These trials have included numerous first degree murder cases, multi-jurisdictional drug and homicide conspiracies, drug trafficking, sales and possessions, sexual battery, lewdness and exposure charges, arson, white collar crimes including trade secrets and fraud, robbery, theft, assault and battery, domestic violence, traffic deaths, DUI, resisting arrest, shoplifting, abuse allegations of children and the elderly, embezzlement, insurance fraud, burglary, kidnaping, and many other criminal charges.. After over 30 years in criminal law in Florida, Mr. Sandefer is familiar with and has worked very often with the Judges and prosecutors assigned to the criminal and civil courts. He is a former prosecutor of over eight years, with experience as both a Lead Trial Attorney and a Division Director in the State Attorney's Office. In those positions, he not only tried the most serious cases, he also over saw several trial divisions and trial attorneys. He was involved with the investigation and decision making aspects of these charges. As a member of the homicide investigation unit, he was often called out to the scene of homicides.. In 1986, Mr. Sandefer opened his own office and has continued in the defense of criminal cases since that time. He was one of the first attorney's in the State of Florida to become Board Certified in criminal trial law, that occurred in 1987. He has maintained that certification continually since that date. This vast background of experience gives him the knowledge of both sides of a criminal case from both a decision making perspective and a trial perspective, and the understanding of what affects those decisions by the prosecution and what goes into those decisions. What this means for you is the knowledge, the experience, and the court room skills to assist you in your defense.. Mr. Sandefer has continued his training through continuing education courses involving violent crime, organized crime, defending capital cases in Florida, narcotic investigation techniques, and various advanced education programs by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is a graduate of the Criminal Trial Advocacy Institute at the University of Florida and has attended Masters of DUI Courses of the Florida Bar and the DUI Defender Courses in Las Vegas, Nevada of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.. Mr. Sandefer has been honored with the national recognition of being named to the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers in America. This is a register which lists only the most distinguished law practices, those that signify the highest levels of legal ability and the adherence to professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability, and diligence.. Mr. Sandefer has achieved a prestigious rating of AV by Martindale-Hubbell. This rating is a result of a peer review system based upon the confidential opinions of practicing attorneys and judges. Martindale-Hubbell has been recognized for over a century as the most respected source of authoritative information about members of the legal community. An AV rating reflects an attorney who has reached the heights of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest level of skill, integrity, and ethical standards.

I began my egal career in 2016, working for a statewide workers' compensation defense firm in Sarasota. I then returned to Tampa where I continued to defend employers and insurance companies for the next five years. I have been afforded the opportunity to see how insurance companies evaluate and handle claims. I have seen injured workers denied workers' compensation in an unjust manner and am dedicated to helping those involved in workplace accidents receive the benefits to which they are entitled to. My entire practice is now dedicated to the representation of injured workers' and have successfully attended trials in pursuit of benefits for his clients. My philosphy is to develop personal relationships with my clients, so that we can better understand their needs, and help them better understand the process of resolving their claim, be it through an amicable settlement or trial of their case.

Biography: Paul A. Meissner was born in New York and moved to Florida with his family as a child.  He is a graduate of Clearwater High School.  He co-founded the Carlson & Meissner law firm with Edward Carlson in 1971.  Paul and his wife Jayne have five children & thirteen grandchildren.  They enjoy boating and traveling, especially on Paul's Harley motorcycle.. Paul Meissner has written The Florida Law Enforcement Manual.. Position: Paul A. Meissner is a co-founder of Carlson, Meissner, Hart & Hayslett P.A.  He co-founded the firm in 1971.. Areas of Practice:. Certification / Specialties:. Professional Associations and Memberships:. Education:. Classes / Seminars Taught:. Past Employment:

Alexis M. Wert graduated Stetson University College of Law in December 2004 and received a Certificate of Concentration in Trial Advocacy.  Ms. Wert received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Ithaca College in New York in May 2001.  After graduating from Stetson, Ms. Wert became an Assistant Public Defender for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Pinellas County where she defended various misdemeanor and felony cases.   Ms. Wert joined the firm in 2006.  Ms. Wert’s trial experience includes over 15 jury trials and 10 bench trials.. Ms. Wert concentrates in the areas of criminal defense and business litigation.  In the area of criminal law, Ms. Wert has extensive experience in DUI, DWLSR, Habitual Traffic Offenders, Drug Offenses, Domestic Violence, Fraud, Juvenile, Murder, Sex Crimes, Theft and Violations of Probation.   In 2007, Ms. Wert successfully appealed to the Second District Court of Appeal for the return of a client’s $20, cash bond wrongfully taken by the Clerk of Court in a drug trafficking case. 1  Most notably, Ms. Wert played an instrumental role in the acquittal of a pro bono client accused of Murder in the second degree punishable by life in. In the area of business litigation, Ms. Wert has personally handled, both as plaintiff and defense counsel, claims for Account Stated, Breach of Contract, Breach of Warranty, Constructive Trust, Fraud, Injunctions, Malicious Prosecution, Mortgage Foreclosure, Open Account, Racketeering (RICO), Securities Fraud, Unfair Deceptive Trade Practices and Worthless Checks.. Ms. Wert is admitted to practice in all Florida state courts and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.  Ms. Wert is also admitted to practice law pro hac vice in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York and the New York State Supreme Court.   Additionally, Ms. Wert has attended and completed legal courses in international law in Melbourne, Australia, Granada, Spain and Buenos Aires, Argentina.. Ms. Wert is a member of The Florida Bar, The American Bar Association, Clearwater Bar Association, The Barney Masterson Inn of Court, Pinellas County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers where she serves on the Advisory Board for The Champion magazine.. In her spare time, Ms. Wert is an active participant in Habitat for Humanity.  She also enjoys fishing the flats for Redfish, Snook and. 1 Barrett v. State, 965 So. 2d 1260 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007).. 2 State v. Nguyen, Chris Tisch, Man is acquitted of murder after spending 3 years in jail, St. Petersburg Times, May 28, 2008, at 8B.. 3 Action Spotter: West Central, Florida Sportsman, October 2007.

Experienced W attorney serving clients in Clearwater and surrounding areas.

Experienced W attorney serving clients in Clearwater and surrounding areas.

Experienced W attorney serving clients in Clearwater and surrounding areas.

Experienced W attorney serving clients in Clearwater and surrounding areas.

Experienced W attorney serving clients in Clearwater and surrounding areas.

Experienced W attorney serving clients in Clearwater and surrounding areas.

Experienced W attorney serving clients in Clearwater and surrounding areas.