Michael S. "Mickey" Smith

JUAN C. DIAZ AVIL A has devoted his legal career to the litigation of personal injury, premises liability, wrongful death, negligent security and products liability claims, representing his clients in both state and federal courts from inception of the case through trial. As a native Spanish speaker, he is especially well equipped to understand and serve the needs of the Latino community. Before joining Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart, & Shipley, P.A. Mr. Diaz Avila worked with the larg...

T. HARDEE BASS III practices exclusively in the firm’s tobacco litigation unit, litigating cases against cigarette-making giants Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds, Lorillard Tobacco Company, and Liggett. He has tried numerous complex, multi-week tobacco cases in venues across the state of Florida, and has obtained multiple seven and eight figure verdicts, including: $21 million, Escambia County (2010) $21 million, Sarasota County (2018) $20 million, Palm Beach County (2014) $13.1 million, Pi...

Lisa Z. Hauser is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Lisa Z., who practices law in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lisa Z. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

THEODORE (TED) BABBITT is a former managing partner at Babbitt & Johnson, P.A. who for the past five decades has represented individuals in personal injury, wrongful death, and commercial cases. In 1970, he obtained the first verdict in Palm Beach County for a plaintiff in a medical malpractice case; in 1975, he obtained the first jury verdict in Palm Beach County in excess of one million dollars. When Mr. Babbitt was 17 years old he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and still managed to be sw...

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

Laurie L. Gildan's wide-ranging experience in real estate includes representing home builders in land acquisition and project development; office building owners in leasing and building operations; developers and lenders in loans and loan restructuring; analysis of default situations and entitlement reviews of residential, golf course, commercial, office and warehouse properties. She is experienced in the representation of land bankers. Laurie also has the unique distinction of being a regist...

With more than two decades of experience, Paul Quinn represents private equity funds and their portfolio companies in leveraged acquisitions and dispositions, corporate governance, and restructurings. Paul also represents management teams in employment and compensation arrangements, distressed-focused private equity funds in acquisitions in bankruptcy court and out-of-court processes; and private equity and venture capital funds in minority growth equity investments. Ranked by Chambers USA , ...

Phillip C. Gildan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law. Phillip C., who practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Phillip C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Nicholas C. Maniotis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Nicholas C., who practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicholas C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Katherine W. Harris is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Katherine W., who practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Katherine W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.