Brian S. McHugh

Jeffrey A. Baskies is a graduate of Trinity College (B.A., with highest honors, 1988) and Harvard Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1991). He is admitted to practice in Florida and Massachusetts. A seasoned trusts and estates lawyer, Jeff routinely advises wealthy families, entrepreneurs, athletes, celebrities and other clients regarding wealth transfer planning and asset protection planning. As part of his diverse practice, Jeff counsels clients on charitable planning (including the creation of p...

Zascha Blanco Abbott is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Zascha Blanco, who practices law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Zascha Blanco is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jennifer Kramer is a partner in the Real Estate Practice Group and a member of the firm’s Hospitality Sector Team. Jennifer works with clients in all facets of commercial real estate transactions, with a strong concentration in the representation of clients in the hospitality sector, including owners, operators, lenders, and developers of hotels, resorts, condominiums, fractional ownership regimes, and mixed-use community developments throughout the United States and abroad. She handles...

Caran Rothchild focuses her practice on employment and commercial litigation matters. Her representations include corporations, municipalities, and individuals in a variety of employment, complex commercial, and civil related issues. As an employment advisor and litigator, Caran has represented local and national clients in numerous jury and non-jury trials and administrative proceedings involving discrimination, harassment, restrictive covenants, and wage and hour issues. Concentrations Comm...

Jurate Schwartz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Jurate, who practices law in Boca Raton, Florida, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jurate is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Phil Schwartz’s areas of practice include securities disclosure, private and public debt and equity financings, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate matters. He also represents clients in enforcement matters before the Securities and Exchange Commission. Phil is an active participant in the activities of The Florida Bar Business Law Section and was Chair of the section in 1996-97. During the past 20 years, he has chaired or participated on many of the section committees that h...

Trisha Widowfield is a partner in the Fort Lauderdale office of Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm. Trish handles complex civil litigation matters, focusing her practice in the areas of medical malpractice and catastrophic personal injury. She has extensive experience across the State of Florida representing individuals, families, and corporations. In September 2021, Trish served as trial co-counsel, winning a $6.46M verdict for a HPS client, the largest wrongful death medical malpractice jury ver...

Janine Kalagher-McGuire is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Janine, who practices law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Janine is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Clint Gage is the managing member of the firm’s Ft. Lauderdale office. Clint has over twenty-five years of experience representing public and private companies in mergers and acquisitions, securities law compliance, capital markets, and general corporate matters. Clint also has extensive experience representing financial institutions in commercial loan transactions. Clint’s clients range in size from start-up enterprises to middle market publicly listed companies that conduct busi...

Charles Caulkins is a partner in the Fort Lauderdale office and a member of the firm's Management Committee. Since 1977, he has represented employers nationally in labor and employment law matters. He advises employers on the development and implementation of preventive labor relations programs, including management education and training, to avoid charges and lawsuits, protect trade secrets, and resolve disputes. He regularly counsels employers on union-related matters. He also handles emplo...