Nichols Lawyers

Diane Buerger has over 30 years experience as a Florida Criminal Defense lawyer – with cases ranging from felonies to misdemeanor and traffic cases. Her practice includes representation on both the trial and appellate levels. She handles cases from high-profile to first-time offenders. Her primary practice is criminal law -- in both trial and appellate courts. She's successfully argued before the Florida Supreme Court -- and District Courts of Appeal. She's a Past President of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers -- and also the Polk County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

Adam Bantner is a board certified criminal trial law attorney who represents those accused of committing crimes in Brandon, FL, Hillsborough County, and Polk County. The Bantner Firm is also proud to help those injured by no fault of their own in an auto accident, slip and fall, or through some other negligence.

We are Your Community Lawyer and we'd love to help. Check us out at https://www.TampaCrimeAttorneys.com or call us at 813.397.3965 to set up your free consultation today!

Stephanie Koether is the founder and principal attorney at Koether Law, P.A., a Brandon family law firm helping families in the Bay Area with divorce, child custody and related matters as well as other important legal needs such as personal injury and estate planning. Ms. Koether completed her undergraduate studies at Fordham University in the Bronx, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. These studies have helped Ms. Koether understand the emotional and mental health challenges her clients are going through as they deal with a contested divorce or child custody dispute and other difficult matters. Upon completing her undergraduate degree,...

Attorney Brian Monk has lived in the Central Florida area nearly his entire life. In 2000, he graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. in Business Management and a B.A. in Political Science. Thereafter, Brian earned a Law degree, a Master’s of Education degree and Specialist degree in counseling from the University of Florida. While in law school, Brian earned a Certificate in Family Law and was named a Fellow of the UF Law Center on Children and Families. Following law school, Brian worked as an Assistant State Attorney in Ocala, Florida, prosecuting felony and misdemeanor cases...

John M. Hemenway is a founding partner of Bivins & Hemenway, P.A. John serves as a trusted legal advisor to business owners, real estate investors, and families seeking to preserve and pass down their wealth and values. His practice focuses on estate planning and probate, small and closely held businesses, and real estate, combining experience in each of these areas to provide a comprehensive approach to transactions and planning.

John earned his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Florida. John regularly presents at legal education seminars on both probate and estate planning topics, and is published on estate planning...

Mr. Wells has been a member of the Florida Bar for over 30 years and has represented both insurers and their insureds over the course of his career. Mr. Wells handles bodily injury cases and insurance coverage claims, including first party property matters (fire, sinkhole, hurricane, windstorm, and water damage claims), other insurance claims (life, disability and other direct actions against insurers), bad faith claims (claims against an insurer for improper claim handling), and insurance agent negligence cases, in both the state and federal courts. Mr. Wells is an experienced litigator, having litigated matters statewide, including the...

Ginger L. Dugan practices Family Law Litigation including: Adoption, Divorce, Child Custody, Time-sharing, Parental Responsibility, Child Support Modifications, Custody Modifications, Contempt, and all other aspects of family law.

Ms. Dugan earned her Bachelor's Degree in English Literature at Florida State University in 2003. In college she received numerous honors including Student of the Year, Literature Award, Campus Leadership Award, Student Government Award, STRIKE Award, and Who's Who Among American College Students.

Ms. Dugan received her Law Degree from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In law school, Ms. Dugan participated in the Summer Study Abroad program where she studied International...

With over 30 years of experience in personal injury law, Mr. Abrahamson embraces the practice of working with clients on a contingency basis.

“A system of hiring an attorney on an hourly basis rewards inefficiency, creates delays and commonly creates negative issues between the lawyer and the client. Representing clients on a contingency basis in which the law firm earns a percentage of the settlement, however, is much more rewarding for the client and the attorneys. We have a common goal: to pursue the maximum recovery for the client. If there is no financial recovery (i.e. settlement or jury verdict), the...

Army Veteran handling Probate, Estate Planning, and Guardianship. Offices located in Orlando, Auburndale, and Tampa. We serve clients in the surrounding Central Florida areas and all of Florida. Orange County, Polk County, Hillsborough County, Lake County, Osceola County, Seminole County, Pinellas County.

Sanga Turnbull is the founder and principal attorney at The Turnbull Law Firm, a Florida law firm helping personal injury victims in Lakeland, Winter Haven and Orlando recover compensation for harm done to them by the negligence of others. The comprehensive personal injury practice at The Turnbull Firm includes all manner of motor vehicle accidents, nursing home neglect and abuse, slip and fall, workplace and industrial accidents, medical malpractice, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and more. Injury victims or their families are invited to call The Turnbull Firm for a no-cost, confidential consultation about any potential claims they may have.

Born and...

I am an entrepreneur at heart and went to college to study business. While in college I began working at a law firm, where I discovered my passion for the law. While in law school, I focused my studies on business law, and wills, trusts and estates. I graduated from law school in May of 1996 and was admitted to the Florida Bar in September 1996.

My first job out of law school was working for a sole practitioner representing businesses in workers compensation cases. Soon thereafter I took a job with an international law firm managing a satellite office in...

Army Veteran and former Law Enforcement Officer, Sean decided to continue to serve his community by becoming an Attorney. Sean has a mission to protect the people and started Panther Law, P.A. to do just that. He offers legal help in Litigation, Estate Planning, Probate, Bankruptcy, and Special Needs Law.

Thomas C. Saunders is one of only a small handful of lawyers in Polk County, Florida that hold themselves out as double Board Certified. Tom is certified by the Florida Bar as a specialist in both Civil Trial and Business Litigation.

WORK EXPERIENCE Board Certified as a Criminal Trial Specialist by the Florida bar (1999-Present) BOSWELL & DUNLAP, LLP Bartow FL. Partner, Litigation Specialist, 2004 - Present OFFICE OF THE STATE ATTORNEY, TENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, Tallahassee, FL Assistant State Attorney, Special Prosecution Director. EDUCATION COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Board of Directors Bartow Women’s Care Center, (2009 to Present) Board of Directors, Chairman, Heartland for Children. (2010 to Present) Tenth Judicial Circuit Professionalism Committee (2005-Present) Bartow Chamber of Commerce, Board of...

Deborah Carroll grew up in central Florida, raised her family in central Florida and committed her practice to her hometown area. She graduated in 1999 from University of South Florida with a B.A. in Business Management. In 2002, Ms. Carroll graduated from Stetson University with her MBA and Stetson University College of Law with her JD.

Following law school, Ms. Carroll worked as an Assistant Public Defender with the 10th Judicial Circuit in Bartow, Florida, with both felony and misdemeanor cases. In 2005, Ms. Carroll went into private practice with a well known law firm in Lakeland, FL...

Heather Bryan stands as a seasoned trial attorney, wielding extensive knowledge across family law, criminal law, and personal injury law. In 2016, she took a significant step in her legal journey by founding her own law practice, focusing predominantly on family law. In this capacity, Heather has been a guiding force for numerous families, navigating them through the intricacies of the divorce process with compassion and legal acumen. Heather's commitment to the legal profession extends beyond her practice. She has been an integral part of the Polk Association for Women Lawyers since its inception, serving on the Board of Directors and...

A native of Florida, Timothy H. David earned his J.D. from Nova Law School in 1985 and his B.S. from the University of Central Florida in 1981. He is admitted to practice law in Florida bar and the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Mr. David started his legal career as an Assistant State Attorney in Orange County, Florida. Mr. David worked as a Felony Prosecutor where he gained considerable trial experience. He then joined a large insurance defense firm. At this firm he continued his trial practice defending various insurance companies and governmental agencies against...

Ashley Ivanov's professional history includes working for a large international law firm and small to mid-size law firms, as well as clerking within a division of the Executive Office of the United States President. She has represented plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of causes of action, including but not limited to matters related to breach of contract, deceptive and unfair trade practices, construction defect, foreclosure, guardianship, breach of fiduciary responsibilities, and real estate. She currently focuses her practice primarily on probate and estate planning. Ashley uses her acute negotiating skills and meticulous attention to detail to zealously advocate for...

Jacquelyn M. Codd, Esq., has been a Polk County native since she was 5 years old. She started working in local law firms in 2010 and worked as a paralegal and law clerk throughout her time in undergrad and law school. She consistently focused on clerking in areas which could give her valuable contracts, collections, and construction law experience. She also ensured that she spent at least one year working in the area of consumer and collection defense so that she could learn the tricks of the trade and protect her future clients from falling into regulatory compliance traps during...

Mr. Curry is a civil trial lawyer and has had his own firm for most of his career. He has been recognized by Judges and his colleagues as one of the preeminent lawyers in his field receiving an “AV’ rating from Martindale Hubbell. He has an active Civil Trial Practice participating in civil trials involving Commercial, Personal Injury, Family Issues and General Business Litigation. In addition to his successful Law Practice he served as a Founding Director and General Counsel of Platinum Bank from 1997 through 2012.

Mr. Curry has served as President of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce. He was...

Tiffani K. Thornton is a solo practitioner in Tampa, Florida. Her primary areas of practice and expertise are estate planning, trust administration, real estate and real property. These areas include landlord/tenant relations, condominium and homeowners' associations, real estate transactions and property-related disputes. Ms. Thornton is a former Assistant Attorney General for the State of Florida, where she managed cases from intake through trial preparation, including making regular court appearances and arguments on behalf of a state agency. While a student at USF St. Petersburg she launched her mother’s senior care business, worked as a Legal Assistant for an attorney representing Homeowners...

Mr. Russo is a personal injury, car accident, and medical malpractice attorney located in Lakeland, Florida. Mr. Russo's office is located across from Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center on Lakeland Hills Boulevard.

He handles lawsuits involving car accidents, motorcycle accidents, semi-truck accidents, slip and fall, product liability, and medical malpractice. A consultation with Mr. Russo is free. Accident and injury cases are free unless you win.

Mr. Russo is originally from Lakeland, Florida and attended Lake Gibson High School. He went to the United State Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO, the University of Central Florida in...

Ramil Kaminsky is the first-generation American son of Jewish Uzbek immigrants who fled the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R) under threat of religious persecution. He was raised on Brighton Beach, NY, also known as “Little Moscow”, where he learned not only about the “evils of communism”, but also the value of being an American. Young Ramil was very blessed. Unlike other Jewish parents, who only wanted medical doctors, Ramil’s parents gave him options to either be a medical doctor, a lawyer, or an accountant. Ramil’s parents pursued the American dream from New York to Florida. He moved to the Tampa Bay Area as a Junior...

Rafael was born and raised in Polk County, Florida, and graduated from Auburndale High School in 1984. Rafael received his B.A. degree from the University of Florida and his Juris Doctor degree from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1997. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in April of 1998, and initially served as an Assistant Public Defender, handling a variety of cases. After just a few months as a misdemeanor attorney, Rafael was quickly promoted to Felony, where he was responsible for cases ranging from drug possession to murder. Rafael soon established...

Laurie Ohall is a Florida Board Certified Elder law attorney who has been practicing law since 1994. She concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning and elder law which includes the related fields of asset protection planning, probate, special needs planning, guardianship advocacy and trust administration. Ms. Ohall is also licensed in Ohio and is Of Counsel at the Ohio law firm of Browning & Meyer Co., LPA. In 2015, Ms. Ohall was nominated by her peers and selected to the Florida Super Lawyers list for two years in a row (2015 & 2016). ...

William Gearhart has extensive experience representing a wide range of clients in nearly all aspects of immigration law. His practice focuses on assisting employers and employees with nonimmigrant and immigrant visa petitions, labor certifications, and I-9 compliance issues. William also assists individuals in obtaining nonimmigrant status, asylum, waivers, permanent legal residency, citizenship, and petitions for family members. William has been repeatedly selected by Super Lawyers® as a Rising Star in the field of immigration law. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and is licensed to practice law in the State of Indiana, and the United States District...

Sarah hails from Upstate New York and is a Yankee at heart, though she relocated to Florida over a decade ago. After high school, she moved to New York City to attend Fordham University. While living in the Big Apple, she gained experience through several jobs, including interning for The Fresh Air Fund, tutoring disadvantaged children in the Bronx through the America Reads Challenge program, and working on a congressional campaign, to name a few. During her junior year, she traveled to Ireland for a six month study abroad program and studied Celtic History and International Economics at University...

At the law office of D. Michael Elkins, P.A. in Brandon, Florida, representing the injured is all I do. When you have been hurt because of someone else's negligence or carelessness, you deserve to be compensated for medical bills, lost wages and other expenses resulting from your accident. Put my twenty-plus years of legal experience to work for you!

Mr. David A. Faulkner received his undergraduate degree in criminal justice/criminology from Florida State University. He later attended law school at FSU and received his Juris Doctorate with honors. Mr. Faulkner has practiced law for over 21 years. He focuses in the areas of criminal law and family law. In addition to practicing law, Mr. Faulkner is also a Florida Class C Licensed Private Investigator as well as a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator.

I was born and raised in Polk County. I was a prosecutor in Bartow for three years before I went into private practice. I have tried over 75 jury trials. I am a married father of three and I live in Winter Haven. I also serve on the Lake Region Lakes Management District.

Ms. Hooglander attended Cleveland Marshall College of Law and Cleveland State University after graduating from the University of Florida. She not only graduated with her juris doctor but also a master of public administration degree. Shortly after graduation, she began her legal career as an Assistant State Attorney with the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office. During her tenure there, she progressed from a county prosecutor to a top felony prosecutor. She gained the experience of over 25 jury trials and a wide array of bench trials during this time. In 2001 Ms. Hooglander began as...

Pete was raised in Hardee County and graduated from Hardee Senior High School in 2003. He then went on to get his bachelor's degree in International Affairs from Florida State University with a focus on Middle Eastern Studies. He received his law degree with honors from Tulane University Law School in New Orleans in 2010 and was a Notes and Comments Editor for the Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law. After law school, Pete worked as a prosecutor mostly in Hardee and Highlands Counties, and briefly in Polk County in the Economic Crimes Division. Pete then worked for William Fletcher...

While growing up, I had the pleasure to spend many summers in Florida were I developed an appreciation for boating Florida's waterways. These positive experiences influenced my decision to attend the United States Merchant Marine Academy, a federal service academy. While at the Academy, I had the opportunity to work on container ships, boom ships, and a LASH ship. Upon graduating and receiving a USCG license, I gained valuable experience working as a marine engineer aboard research vessels, ATBs and tug boats. I also had the privilege to serve as an officer in the US Navy Reserve. After...

George Hunter began his professional career after graduating from college as a claims adjuster for a major national property and casualty insurance company specializing in handling automobile accident claims. As a Florida licensed All-Lines (620) claims adjuster, George gained valuable insurance industry experience in every aspect of the claims process. His experience included everything from writing vehicle damage estimates, handling PIP/No-Fault claims, and adjusting vehicle total loss claims, to handling and evaluating bodily injury claims, including catastrophic loss and death claims, and overseeing mediation, arbitration and litigation files.

George later decided to take his professional career in...

Elaine Thompson has been practicing law since 1989. She began her legal career working as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Appeals Division of the Florida Attorney General's Office in Tampa. Ms. Thompson work in private practice includes work on workers compensation matters, criminal appeals, civil appeals, civil litigation, family appeals, medical malpractice, and personal injury cases. As an Assistant Public Defender, she served as a supervisor of the Appellate Division, represented clients in Baker Act proceedings, and handled post-conviction matters.

Ms. Thompson decided to focus her practice on the most rewarding work she performs...

Dedicated to the representation of Family Law clients.