Manatee County Government & Administrative Lawyers

Ms. Patricia C. Wall is an energetic and passionate attorney. She received her law degree in June 2003 from the Interamerican University School of Law. In May 2004, after passing her bar exam and being admitted to practice law by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, she started working for a former INS prosecutor, giving her a vast understanding and experience with US immigration and nationality laws.

When it comes to helping, guiding, and counseling clients from all walks of life and more than 15 countries, Attorney Wall attributes her success to her multicultural education, multilingual background, and extensive immigration experience....

The Law Office of Annette Newman, PLLC is a professional full-service law firm dedicated to providing quality legal services at an affordable price throughout the State of Florida. Attorney Newman practices primarily in employment/labor law claims, including discrimination claims based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, pregnancy, religion and/or disability; sexual harassment claims, unpaid wages and/or overtime, whistle blower claims, unemployment hearings and appeals, housing discrimination and public accomodation discrimination as well as other civil rights issues. Attorney Newman also handles matters dealing with all types of employment agreements, including independent contractor, non-compete, severance, non-disclosure, non-solicitation...

Diana Cohn, a partner at Cohn Slater, is a civil litigator and child advocate with extensive experience in family law and divorce cases. In honor of her service to Florida’s families, Cohn has received several of the state’s top family law accolades, including the Children’s Home Society of Florida Family Champion Award and the Excellence in Child Welfare Award. She was also named a Women of Distinction Award finalist by the Girl Scouts of the Florida Panhandle.

While serving as Managing Attorney at Children’s Legal Services, Attorney Cohn led the active litigation and prosecution of several hundred legal cases each year....

Theodore W. Small Jr. ("Ted Small") has over 30 years of legal experience, formerly with the large law firm of Holland & Knight LLP in its Tampa, Washington DC, and Orlando offices and currently as a small firm practitioner in Volusia County, Florida. Attorney Small brings the training and experience from his large firm experience to a small firm setting with the goal of pursuing cost-effective solutions for businesses, employers and elder law clients. Attorney Small also has experience as a mediator and NAM arbitrator and is available to serve as a professional neutral to resolve commercial and...

Thomas R. Spencer is an experienced lawyer and arbitrator. Spencer practices business law, international private business law, formation of businesses, contracts, litigation, representation of entities and persons before governments, internal investigations, ethics issues, and election law. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London.

Mr. Leiby has practiced construction law in Florida since 1973. He is board certified by the Florida Bar in construction law. He was the founder and first chairman of the Florida Bar Construction Law Committee. In 2008 he was awarded the lifetime achievement award by the Florida Bar Construction Law Committee. He is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell in construction law. He wrote the Florida Br Construction Law Manual published by Thompson Reuters West, which is also on-line in Westlaw.

“Achieving substantial compensation for our seriously injured clients in a way that dramatically improves the quality of their lives is the most satisfying thing about the work that we do.” Robert B. Boyers

I practice land use and zoning, environmental and natural resources, and real property law, with a focus on litigation. I assist developers and property owners in negotiating the myriad of local, state and federal laws and regulations governing the development of property. Additionally, I assist clients in conducting environmental due diligence, and in securing incentives for redevelopment of contaminated property.

We are a law firm of aggressive and experienced advocates focusing on complex civil litigation, government regulatory enforcement matters, internal investigations, receiverships, whistleblower representation and white collar criminal defense. Whether it is assisting a whistleblower to report fraud and collect a reward, advising a corporation managing an allegation of wrongdoing, defending an executive accused of fraud, or recovering assets on behalf of fraud victims, our attorneys can help.

Dwight Slater is a Board-Certified Specialist in Appellate Practice. He was born and raised in Miami, Florida. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in 2002, and his law degree from Emory University in 2006.

Dwight Slater has extensive trial and appellate litigation experience. He began his career as a criminal defense attorney in Orlando, Florida, where he tried numerous misdemeanor and felony cases. He moved to Tallahassee in 2009 to the join the General Counsel’s Office at the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. There, Slater handled health facility licensure and Medicaid overpayment cases at the trial level and...

Mrs. Diffenderfer is Shareholder and President of Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A. and holds an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Michelle assists landowners, businesses and governments with local, state and federal, environmental, natural resource and land development legal requirements. Michelle helps clients navigate these laws and regulations in the permitting of their land development and infrastructure projects.

Michelle volunteers for a number of organizations dear to her, including, the American Bar Association's Section of Environment, Energy & Resources, the Gulfstream Council for Leadership Florida and the Episcopal Church of Bethesda by the Sea. Michelle is also a member of...

A Miami-native, Oscar grew up and attended all academic training in South Florida. While in college, he obtained his Real Estate Sales Associate license and has been actively engaged in real estate transactions throughout South Florida since the age of 19. During his undergraduate degree, he created and opened his own Real Estate Brokerage company, Endeavor International Real Estate. It was through these labors that helped pay his way through law school. During his law school training, he worked for The Lasarte Law Firm where he worked over two years in the land use/zoning and governmental affairs field. It was...

Ryan Stumphauzer represents clients in government regulatory enforcement matters, white collar criminal litigation, internal investigations, whistleblower suits, compliance counseling, and civil litigation. Prior to founding Stumphauzer & Sloman, Mr. Stumphauzer served for six years as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of Florida, where he directed over one hundred cases involving allegations of health care fraud, mail and wire fraud, securities fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, identity theft, and violations of HIPAA and the health care anti-kickback statutes. While at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Stumphauzer served as the Deputy Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit,...

Daniel Woodring was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but has lived in Florida for the past twenty years. In Florida, he has lived and worked in Pensacola, Clearwater, Jacksonville, Gainesville and Tallahassee. His wife Jean, who is also an attorney, was born in Miami, and grew up in Ft. Myers. Daniel Woodring is a member of the Florida and Georgia Bars, and is admitted to practice before the Florida Federal Southern, Middle and Northern District Courts, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has worked at the trial level on cases in...

Otto C. de Cordoba, was born in Cuba on August 5, 1956, and immigrated with his family to the United States in 1960. He grew up in Queens, New York. He received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University in 1980 and his law degree from Columbia University in 1984. After he was admitted to the New York Bar in 1985, he worked at a prestigious law firm for several years before he decided to move to Miami, Florida. Over the greater part of fifteen years, De Cordoba has been partner at several prestigious firms where he has represented several Fortune...

I've been working with small to medium size businesses for over 15 years, helping them navigate the complex regulations governing the production and sale of alcoholic beverages. Before becoming a beverage lawyer I worked as a bar tender and then attended culinary school and worked in a NYT 2 star restaurant for several years before attending law school When I found that I could build a career out of serving the industry I loved, I couldn't wait to get started. I've been working with retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers ever since. Whether facing licensing, transactional, or administrative...

Leslie W. Langbein, Esq. is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in the area of Labor & Employment Law. She represents busineses and individuals in all areas of employment law. She is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts of the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida. Additional areas of practice include housing discrimination defense, contracts and business torts. Ms. Langbein is a Florida Circuit/Civil Mediator and listed on the American Arbitration Association's national panels of Labor, Employment and Commercial arbitrators.

Mr. Persad has worked in the legal profession for over 20 years. He is licensed to practice law in Florida, the United States Virgin Islands, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and before the U.S. Supreme Court. He earned his Juris Doctor degree and his Masters in Public Administration degree from the University of Akron in 1993 and 1994, respectively. He also holds a Bachelors of Arts in Business Administration from the University of the Virgin Islands and a diploma in paralegal studies from New York University. Mr. Persad's experience in the legal field...

Mrs. Capote represents businesses with regulatory compliance issues and litigation. She focuses her practice on representing clients before regulatory agencies, such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

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Mr. Asbury is an Ivy League grad (Penn/Wharton), published legal scholar, lecturer, former state healthcare prosecutor (AHCA), and a law school professor with broad legal and corporate experience spanning over 15 years. His practice emphasis is focused on business law and consulting, contract compliance, administrative law with an emphasis on representing healthcare facilities, drafting and negotiating business and contract documents, estate planning and probate, and litigation of wills, trusts and estates.

Prior to re-entering private practice, Tom Asbury was the regulatory compliance counsel for WellCare, a Fortune 500 company (NYSE: WCG). He provided in-house legal advice and analysis on various regulatory and...

Carol L. Finklehoffe is a partner at Lipcon, Margulies and Winkleman, P.A. who has been practicing for 30 years in both the state and federal courts throughout Florida, California and Massachusetts. Ms. Finklehoffe is an “AV” rated trial attorney who is a certified specialist in Maritime and Admiralty law. The main concentration of her practice relates to complex personal injury, resort law, wrongful death, sexual assault and medical malpractice. Ms. Finklehoffe is also a skilled maritime lawyer who has developed an expertise in cases involving cruise ship passengers and maritime crew members on various types of commercial and private vessels. Ms....

Patrick Harris is a retired judge (2003-2015) now serving as a lawyer in Central Florida. His practice focus includes Criminal, Traffic and DUI Defense, Mental Health (Baker Acts, Guardianship), Education Law (school suspensions, expulsions and disciplinary actions), Administrative Law, Small Business Law, and Child and Family Law. His 25 years of legal experience, both as a trial attorney and a judge, gives him the Legal Knowledge and Practical Wisdom to give Trusted Advice on a wide range of legal issues.

During his tenure on the bench, Mr. Harris presided over a docket that consisted of both criminal and civil cases....

Vivien is a partner in Watson Sloane’s Finance, Government Relations, Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate groups. Her real estate practice focuses on serving clients in areas related to land use, zoning, growth management law, environmental and local government issues. This focus includes assisting clients with matters relating to development permitting and other approvals, impact fees, entitlement issues, bid protests, and alcoholic beverage licensing. In matters related to public finance, Vivien’s practice includes representation of issuers, financial institutions, underwriters, and investors in connection with the public and private offering of municipal and corporate securities.

Vivien is Board-Certified by the Florida...

Mr. Nicholson is former federal and state prosecutor with more than 20 years experience handling complex criminal and civil cases. Mr. Nicholson concentrates his practice on matters related to health care regulatory law; food, drug and medical device law; representing medical providers and other licensed professionals in licensure matters; Drug Enforcement Administration and FDA regulatory matters; False Claims Act cases; and white collar criminal defense. Mr. Nicholson also assists clients in complex civil matters related to health care and government regulatory issues. Mr. Nicholson is a regular lecturer and author on a variety of topics relating to health...

I am an AV-rated former assistant state attorney, former bar counsel and former assistant attorney general with over 24 years experience. I represent people who are being prosecuted by the government. If you are in Florida and have been accused of a crime or your licensing board is trying to discipline you, call me. I can help.

Anthony “Jay” Molluso, a “retired” Pennsylvania lawyer, passed the Pennsylvania bar in 1969. As Chief Deputy Attorney General of Pennsylvania, he was in charge of delinquent tax collection for the Keystone state. After retiring from the Attorney General’s Office after 26 years, he became General Counsel to CENTAX, a private Pennsylvania corporation with 25 offices that collected local taxes for over 300 municipalities and school districts.

Upon moving to Florida in 2010, he joined Van Horn Law Group as a paralegal (has not taken the Florida bar) and is an integral part of the Van Horn Law Group support team, assisting...

Sasha Sampaio is the managing attorney of The Sampaio Law Firm, PLLC. She represents individuals and small businesses in South Florida and beyond. Sasha earned her law degree from Loyola University in New Orleans and Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies from the University of New Mexico (Cum Laude). Before forming The Sampaio Law Firm, Sasha was the lead associate at Kieran P. Fallon, PA, a general practice firm in Miami. She continues to work with the firm on select cases as of counsel. Sasha's legal experience includes complex matters such as...

Mike Underwood was a key official at the predecessor of the Florida Department of Financial Services and authored many provisions of Florida securities and banking laws. Since leaving government, he has become recognized as a national leader in financial services regulation, especially in Florida. He represents securities broker-dealers, investment advisers, mortgage brokers, financial institutions and affiliated individuals in civil litigation, arbitration, regulatory investigations and enforcement actions. His experience includes defense of class actions, multi-district litigation and regular appearances before self-regulatory organizations as well as state and federal financial regulators.

Before moving to Orlando last summer, I worked as an assistant county attorney in southwest Florida for 4 years. I was the primary drafter of Lee County’s comprehensive plan, land development code, and administrative codes while representing a number of county departments including planning and zoning, transportation, utilities, natural resources, and parks and recreation. Prior to working for Lee County, I worked at a private law firm practicing Real Estate, Local Government, Environmental Law, Land Use, HOA Law, and Condominium Law for nearly 10 years.

Senior Partner at Guy Yudin & Foster, LLP. 20 years legal experience in the areas of real estate law, riparian rights, business law; business litigation, environmental law, marinas, boatyards, yacht brokers, boat builders, and other maritime matters. Routinely prosecutes administrative actions before the Division of Administrative Hearings. Also experienced with civil appeals, property damage claims, insurance coverage, small claims, collections, construction law and mechanics liens. Admitted to practice in 1994 in the State of Florida and the District of Columbia. Practicing in Stuart, Florida since 1995. J.D. Quinnipiac College School...

I graduated from the University of Miami School of Law in December 2013. I then took the Florida Bar Exam in February 2014, and I have been practicing law ever since my April 2014 admission to the Florida Bar.

I have learned how to use my legal knowledge in order to generate a fair result in my cases. Immigration law is one of the most pressing civil rights concerns of our time period. Frequently, fair results do require fights.

I am not afraid of fighting hard for my clients before Government...

Rob focuses his career on representing local municipalities and political subdivisions. He also represents private businesses and individuals with a wide array of legal matters that require an intimate understanding of government regulation, financing, procurement and administration. These clients include both large and small landowners, private businesses and prospective businesses in Clay County and Northeast Florida.

Randy Narkir, a South Florida native, practices Elder Law (including Medicaid Planning and Special Needs Trusts), special needs planning, estate Planning, Guardianship, and probte law. I provide legal advice to my clients in person, over the telephone, by FaceTime or Skype; or I will come to you. Mr. Narkir was ranked number six in his law school graduating class, received three CALI Excellence [Book] Awards, and was on the Dean’s List six times. His legal research on eminent domain earned him a nomination from FIU’s faculty for a university-wide award that recognizes student-employees for their contributions to the...

Graduate of Dartmouth College and Boston University Law School. Practice Medicaid planning, asset protection, elder law, probate.