93 minute read
HIGH SEAS
HIGH SEAS Pardo goes BIG
The Italian builder best known for sleek and slender day boats adds a stunning new FLAGSHIP CRUISER to its lineup
By Howard Walker
For our French lesson of the day, consider the phrase “en plein air.” Translated, it means “out of doors.” But it was also a term used to describe the practice adopted by Impressionist artists of painting from start to finish outside.
Of course, there are always those who take en plein air to the extreme—like nineteenthcentury British painter Stanhope Forbes, who was reportedly photographed painting during a gale, his easel tethered down by ropes.
Strange, then, that Italian boat builder Pardo Yachts should use a French phrase to describe the feeling you get stepping aboard their stunning new flagship cruiser, the Pardo Endurance 60; all’aria aperta sounds just as good. Either way, both phrases describe the way this sleek, ax-bowed 60-footer can transform its main salon into a magical open-air solarium at the mere touch of a few buttons.
Press one to power down the huge, darktinted salon side windows. Press two to open the full-width concertina-style doors to the aft deck. Press three to power down the vast side sections of the hull to almost double the width of the rear teak-decked cockpit. With everything open, it creates the coolest beach club this side of Saint-Tropez. En plein air, indeed.
Founded in 1973, Cantiere del Pardo—based in the town of Forlì near Italy’s Adriatic coast— has been building a lineup of Grand Soleil performance sailboats. They’ve built more than 4,500 to date. But it was in 2017 that the yard really got into its stride with a switch to turning out walk-around, center-console, go-fast day boats. The Pardo 43 was followed by the Pardo 50 in 2018 and the Pardo 38 last year.
But it seems existing Pardo owners wanted something bigger to spend more time aboard with friends and families. The result is the spectacular Endurance 60, which makes its debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival this month.
The hull is from the drawing board of Swiss naval architect Davide Leone with an interior by Milan-based Nauta Design. As with Pardo’s day boats, the 60 sticks with that trademark reverse bow, the pop-out anchor cradle, and high bulwarks capped with teak. Add to that a pair of huge hull windows on each side and that distinctive big-windowed cabin with fullwidth, angled-back forward window and curvy roof design. On top of it all, there’s a spacious, low-profile flybridge with loungers galore.
Just gazing at the deck, it feels like every inch has been maximized to provide the most usable space—from big foredeck sun pads to massive side decks to the vast cockpit with room for a table for six. As for those fold-down
POWER FILE
PRICE: $2.5 MILLION LENGTH: 60 FEET BEAM: 16.5 FEET DRY WEIGHT: APPROXIMATELY 30 TONS POWER: 2 X VOLVO IPS 700 OR 800-HP DIESELS TOP SPEED: 25 KNOTS WHY WE LOVE IT: BECAUSE IT BUILDS ON THE REMARKABLE SUCCESS OF PARDO’S STUNNING DAY BOATS.
side terraces, they add more than 440 square feet, including the rear swim platform, to put everyone closer to the sea.
Inside, the salon layout is equally bright, breezy, and open. Placing the galley right by the cockpit with all those opening windows makes entertaining (and keeping the frosty rosé flowing) a literal breeze. Forward in the salon is a big comfy sofa and high-low table, along with the indoor helm to starboard.
Below deck there are three en suite staterooms with a full-width master midship, a forward VIP that can be a double or V-berth, and a third cabin with two singles. They’ve even managed to squeeze in generous crew quarters. P a r t o f t h i s s p a c i o u s n e s s i s d o w n t o e q u i p p i n g t h e 6 0 w i t h t w i n V o l v o I P S d r i v e s w a y b a c k a t t h e s t e r n . T a k e y o u r p i c k f r o m 5 5 0 - h o r s e p o w e r I P S 7 0 0 s o r 6 2 5 - h o r s e p o w e r I P S 8 0 0 s , b u t a c c o r d i n g t o P a r d o , t h e 8 0 0 s s h o u l d g i v e a t o p s p e e d o f 2 5 k n o t s a n d a n e a s y 2 0 - k n o t c r u i s i n g s p e e d . T h r o t t l e b a c k t o 1 0 k n o t s a n d i t s h o u l d a v e r a g e 1 0 . 5 g a l l o n s a n h o u r w i t h a r a n g e o f a r o u n d 7 0 0 m i l e s .
Z a c h G e r m a i n , o f N a p l e s - b a s e d P a r d o d i s t r i b u t o r G e r m a i n Y a c h t s ( t h a t ’ s N a p l e s , F l o r i d a , n o t t h e I t a l i a n o n e ) , s a y s t h e f i r s t E n d u r a n c e 6 0 s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s s h o u l d a r r i v e b e f o r e t h e e n d o f t h e y e a r , w i t h a n i c e l y l o a d e d v e r s i o n p r i c e d a r o u n d $ 2 . 5 m i l l i o n .
There’s another French phrase, in addition to en plein air, that I think perfectly describes «this exquisite new Pardo—magnifique!
TOP OF THE
If you’ve been lucky enough to have a truly great teacher in your life, then you know they have the ability to make the kind of impact that can’t be erased. These six finalists for Palm Beach Illustrated’s 2021 Teacher of the Year are curious and kind. They’re passionate and patient. They reach students who seem unreachable and teach concepts that seem unteachable. And they do it all to make a genuine difference in the lives of their students.
Ariana Murphy
Accelerated Math Teacher, Belle Glade Elementary School
Ariana Murphy is a teacher moving the needle: Her students have tested so well over the last several years that their scores were instrumental in Belle Glade Elementary School’s overall letter grade increasing from a D to a C in 2019. Murphy believes helping students achieve new levels of success comes down to fostering relationships. “You’ve got to give them the knowledge and the tool set,” she says. “But you’ve also got to work to gain their trust so they have the confidence to use what you’ve taught them—in life or on a test.”
Murphy is known for thinking outside the classroom. For five years, she has worked to foster open lines of communication with her students’ parents and adult caregivers. It’s a strategy that paid off when the COVID-19 pandemic forced Murphy’s classes online: She was the first teacher at her school to have a 100 percent online participation rate among her students. “I messaged the parents every day leading up to that first day online,” she says. “I wanted them to know what to expect.”
But keeping her students engaged virtually took creativity. “I made it fun,” she adds. “I went out and bought funny glasses and other things just to make them think, ‘Okay, what is she going to come up with next?’ I wanted to keep them coming back each day without fail.”
Favorite teacher gift: Handmade notes from my students Actor who would play her in a biopic: Anne Hathaway Secret identity: A superhero Advice to new teachers: Don’t compare yourself to other teachers; learn from them instead! The greatest professional development is the teacher down the hall.
Photography crew: Carrie Bradburn, Julia Duresky, Capehart Photography Makeup: Deborah Koepper, Deborah Koepper Beauty, Palm Beach
CLASS BY KRISTEN DESMOND LEFEVRE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARRIE BRADBURN Shot on location at the Loxahatchee Schoolhouse in Yesteryear Village, West Palm Beach From lesson plans to life choices, these six Palm Beach County educators take teaching to the next level
Kim Rolston
Early Education Teacher, The Greene School
Things look different from a child’s level. And as a teacher of 3- to 5-yearolds, Kim Rolston admits that means a lot of squatting and kneeling. But, she says, it’s worth the physical workout to build a solid foundation for The Greene School’s youngest students. “Even when they’re on the playground, they’re learning about their world,” she says. “Their play is their work.”
A veteran teacher of 18 years, Rolston says challenges are opportunities for growth. “There are years when you have a challenging age group or a challenging classroom,” she admits. “You start to think: ‘Okay, am I getting too old for this? Do I need to move on?’” In those moments, Rolston reminds herself that it’s all a journey—for teachers and students alike. “I’m not here just to teach these kids how to learn. I’m also teaching them how to handle difficult times or change. It’s important to model that.”
Rolston knows what it takes to work with young children, including those who struggle with prenatal addiction, poverty, and trauma. Before joining the faculty at The Greene School, she directed two local school centers for mothers battling substance abuse. It’s the kind of work that has made a permanent impact on Rolston’s heart. That’s why she continues to advocate for kids in need—as a board member of local nonprofit Back to Basics and as an ambassador for Take Stock in Children.
Whether she’s working with young children as a teacher or as a volunteer, Rolston says that watching them learn is its own kind of magic. “They’re growing daily. They’re learning their letters, learning to count, but they’re also learning to be citizens in the world. It’s an amazing process to be a part of.”
Something students would be surprised to know about her: I love art and I express it with tattoos. Actor who would play her in a biopic: Sandra Bullock Secret identity: A yoga instructor Advice to new teachers: Put your love and heart into it. Love what you do.
Denise Ponchock
Middle School English Teacher, The Benjamin School
“Rigor” is not a word that rattles Denise Ponchock—or her students. Ponchock believes middle schoolers are uniquely willing to take academic risks. “They’re curious, driven, creative, and open to new ideas,” she says.
The material that Ponchock presents— including works like Homer’s The Odyssey and Shakespeare’s The Tempest—are not without rigor or risk. “The classics are hard work, but they’re worth it,” Ponchock says. “My job is to bring in the scaffolding to help them resonate.” From poetry to movies to class debates and role-playing, there’s never a dull moment in Ponchock’s classroom at The Benjamin School. “I’m known to jump on tables,” she says. “You have to bring it alive. I’m always doing silly things to try to make sure that it’s all connecting.”
Ponchock’s students are often surprised that the themes in the books she teaches are relevant to their own lives. Case in point: She introduces the Holocaust to her sixth-graders during their study of the drama The Diary of Anne Frank by Goodrich and Hackett. While some might fret over the themes of bigotry and cruelty, Ponchock says her students are singularly primed for the story’s message. “Middle schoolers are at a crossroads,” she explains. “They’re defining themselves and figuring out where they stand. That can sometimes lead to some pretty cruel behavior.”
She adds that the cautionary tale is not lost on her students. “They see the magnitude of what happens when we don’t speak up for others or for ourselves,” she says. “It really resonates with them.”
Something students would be surprised
to know about her: I have had a motorcycle since I graduated from college. I now ride a Harley-Davidson. Actor who would play her in a biopic: Emma Watson (with, unfortunately, an American accent) Secret identity: A novelist Advice to new teachers: Remember that a student will never forget criticism. Choose your words carefully.
About the Loxahatchee Schoolhouse
at Yesteryear Village: Opening its doors in 1936 with one teacher and 13 children across six grade levels, this wood-frame, one-room schoolhouse is one of the longest-used schoolhouses in Palm Beach County. Younger students were taught on one side of the room, while older students worked independently on the other side. In 1990, the schoolhouse was moved to its current location at West Palm Beach’s Yesteryear Village, an open-air living history museum comprised of buildings that represent early life in rural Florida. (southfloridafair.com/p/yesteryearvillage)
Juliany Denis
Fifth-Grade Teacher, Greenacres Elementary School
For Juliany Denis (or “Mr. J,” as he’s known to his students), curiosity is key. It’s the reason, he says, that he got into teaching in the first place. “[As a kid,] I was always asking things like, ‘Why do we have five fingers?’ Why not go into a profession where you’re constantly asking and answering questions?”
As a so-called “self-contained” teacher, Denis teaches a spectrum of subjects to his fifth-grade students at Greenacres Elementary School. From math and science to reading and writing, he believes his curiosity keeps things interesting. “I like to think of it not so much as a jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none situation,” he says. “I like to think of myself as more of a Renaissance man. No matter the subject, I’m always asking more questions and finding out more answers.”
To inspire a love of creativity in his students, Denis makes sure his classroom is a place where students are free to offer up their own ideas and thoughts. “I love to debate with them,” he says. “I love to pose a question to the kids and have them hash out their perspectives and opinions. I love to challenge them to use evidence to back up their thinking, whether they’re considering a math question or the plot in a story. It’s so incredible to see them make a case and then prove it one way or the other.”
But sometimes it’s the stuff Denis teaches outside of the classroom that makes the greatest impact. As a sponsor of the school’s safety patrol program, he mentors students who have been identified as school leaders—and those who are struggling to find their leadership potential. Denis works to guide both types of students; he recalls a particularly combative child who was able to pivot. “I remember asking him to take a walk with me to the playground,” he says. “We spent 30 minutes just talking about our personal lives and dreams. After that, he never got in trouble ever again. He actually became a role-model student and joined us on safety patrol.”
Favorite teacher gift: A t-shirt with a picture of my class on it and the words, “Best Teacher Ever” Something students would be surprised to know about him: I have four tattoos; they can only see that I have one. Actor who would play him in a biopic: Lin-Manuel Miranda or Dwayne Johnson Advice to new teachers: Be flexible with your time, your schedule, and your expectations.
Sandra Algarin
Middle and Upper School Teacher, Grandview Preparatory School
Sandra Algarin’s math students at Grandview Preparatory School don’t wonder how the concepts she teaches apply to the real world; they see it firsthand in her inquiry-based classroom.
For Algarin, math’s lessons go beyond the sum line. In her thirty-second year of teaching, she aims to help students master math and build the “soft skills” they’ll need as problem-solvers—in the classroom and beyond. “I’m teaching them how to solve a math problem,” she says, “but I’m also teaching them about communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and character.”
Students in Algarin’s class harness those skills—both hard and soft—when they start their own business for her capstone class project. “They pick a business they want to create and learn all about what goes into it, including a financial plan,” she explains. “They start to see how math is central to everything.”
The project is eye-opening to many of Algarin’s students. “They’re always like, ‘Wow, this is expensive,’” she says, recalling a student whose initial business plan included opening a warehouse. “When he started working on the math, he realized the money didn’t add up. He said to me, ‘Maybe I need to start in my garage.’ When they have those moments where they see how numbers matter, that is really special for me.”
She knows she’s made a difference
when: A student mentions some advice I gave them, and they still remember it years later. Something students would be surprised to know about her: I played the clarinet in the school band for seven years. Actor who would play her in a biopic: Rita Moreno Advice to new teachers: Find a mentor. Veteran teachers are always willing to share their experiences.
Shaundrika Taylor
Assistant Principal, Congress Middle School
What motivates students to achieve? It could be anything from pride to pressure. But Shaundrika Taylor will tell you that the chance to score a gift card will turn students’ heads. The balances are small—$10 at Chick-fil-A, $5 at McDonald’s—but Taylor knows their impact can be huge. Take Taylor’s work to keep Congress Middle School’s students engaged when schools turned to virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: She started a weekly online read-along. The literacy program was so popular that she repeated it over the summer.
“Every student received copies of the three books we read, and they got to keep those books to develop a little at-home library,” she says. Every Wednesday evening, nearly 100 students logged on to hear teachers, administrators, and other guests read aloud. But the big to-do was the weekly gift card drawing: one entry for participation (“The fact that a student shows up is a world within itself,” Taylor says), and another for tackling some follow-up comprehension questions. The even bigger prize at the end of the program was a drawing for a $300 shopping spree at Target.
But gift cards and shopping sprees aren’t the only go-to strategies in Taylor’s arsenal. Sometimes, she says, it takes reaching students on a human level. She recalls a student who was referred to her after butting heads with her homeroom teacher. “Our first encounter was not great,” Taylor admits. “But I told her, ‘You’re going to get to know me. You’re going to love Ms. Taylor before this is over.’” Taylor says that investment was all it took. “I kid you not,” she explains, “after that encounter, she would not leave my side.”
For Taylor, moments like those are the biggest payoff of all. “It just tells you that they’re listening, that what you’re doing is making an impression.”
Favorite teacher gift: A parent donated 25 iPads for my classroom so students would have access to technology. Something students would be surprised to know about her: I’m a veteran of the U.S. Army. Actor who would play her in a biopic: Halle Berry Advice to new teachers: Get organized! «
READING Revolution SOCIAL JUSTICE IS MORE THAN A BUZZWORD AT ROHI’S READERY
By Abigail Duffy | Photography by Van Richardson
If a space could welcome you with open arms, Rohi’s Readery would do just that. At this children’s bookstore in West Palm Beach’s Rosemary Square, a “Revolutionary Readers” sign blazes in orange neon over shelves lined with books like Ho’onani Hula Warrior, I Am Enough, Curls, Sakamoto’s Swim Club, Chocolate Me!, and Rainbow: A First Book of Pride. Children gaze up at the titles, pull tomes to their chests, and plunk down on stuffed animal–laden nooks or a kid-sized stage. For those who need help sounding out the words, Pranati “Pranoo” Kumar Skomra is there in her signature pinclad bucket hat. She punctuates the stories with hand gestures as she reads, a tendency inherited from her Konkani ancestors. She’s spent the last decade honing her voices, perfecting her dances, and cementing her passion for educating—and captivating— young readers. Their eyes never leave her.
A teacher, “edupreneur,” and advocate for diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility in children’s education, Kumar Skomra has built a space for children that’s a celebration of humanity in its purest form.
Hailing from Hyderabad, India, Kumar
Skomra and her parents immigrated to the U.S., her father leading the way to establish a home base for his wife and young daughter in Dallas, Texas. Kumar Skomra’s own time in the American education system was not easy.
“We encountered experiences of oppression and racism, both in professional and educational spaces,” she says. As a student, Kumar Skomra dealt with microaggressions from teachers about the way she spoke as she learned English, encountered difficulties with reading comprehension, and struggled with her sense of belonging as she balanced assimilating into the community and holding onto her culture. “It came at the cost of me feeling unempowered in who I was.”
At home, though, Kumar Skomra witnessed how education could empower children. Her mother taught students from 6 months to 3 years of age, instructing them with a patience, warmth, and love that moved Kumar Skomra. She recalls her mother’s vibrant classrooms, filled with markers, banners, stencils, and other decorations—some of which have even made their way to the Readery. Her mother’s passion inspired her to work with children too. “They possess a never-ending amount of joy,” she says. “They are a true north.”
At the University of Florida, Kumar Skomra earned a bachelor’s degree in integrative biology and a master’s in medical sciences. In her spare time, she volunteered as a counselor at Camp Boggy Creek and the Florida Diabetes Camp, and as a mentor for Take Stock in Children. Motivated by expectation and her childhood dream of becoming a pediatrician, Kumar Skomra started medical school at Ross University, but she quickly realized she wasn’t where she wanted to be. Negative experiences with instructors alienated her from her “ WE ENCOUNTERED EXPERIENCES OF OPPRESSION AND RACISM, BOTH IN PROFESSIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SPACES. MY PARENTS REALLY FOUGHT FOR THIS ‘AMERICAN DREAM’ FOR ALL OF US, BUT WE WERE OFTEN KEPT OUT OF IT.”
Pranati “Pranoo” Kumar Skomra, pictured with her daughter, Rohini Ray, husband, Dr. Paul Skomra, and Pumpernickel the Labradoodle, opened Rohi’s Readery in June.
classmates. She was criticized for writing as if English was her second language and admonished for her approach to memorizing anatomy flashcards. She was publicly told she “wasn’t smart, but was a hard worker.” Kumar Skomra hit a breaking point.
“The aha moment literally happened when I got my white coat,” she recalls. “I didn’t want to be a doctor. I wanted to commit myself to a space that brought me joy and allowed me to learn in ways that felt authentic to me.”
Her true north was calling: She wanted to work with children. She moved to New York, landing at Success Academy Charter Schools in the South Bronx and Harlem, where she coached teachers, wrote pre-K curriculum, and taught students in pre-K through fourth grade. “What started out as a two-month fellowship turned into the rest of my life,” she says. Eventually, Kumar Skomra helped found Impact Public Schools in Seattle, the region’s first elementary charter school serving immigrant and refugee populations. She built what she calls an “identity-driven school experience” that embeds socialemotional learning into a student’s day—encouraging them to know that their name, language, learning style, clothes, and culture have power, and fostering the kind of acceptance Kumar Skomra longed for as a child.
“Witnessing children and their families be so empowered in their identities made me think about my own experiences,” she says. “Education saved me and gave me the opportunity to learn about myself.”
The pillars of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) informed Kumar Skomra’s curricula—finding ways to use the classroom to bring attention to righting societal wrongs. “DEIA work is so intentional,” she notes. “It became clear that it was the space of education I was the most passionate about.”
Kumar Skomra’s pursuits led her to West Palm Beach, where she founded divHERse Education
THIS IS ABOUT KIDS BEING SEEN
AND BEING LOVED.”
Consulting to advocate for representation for women of color in educational leadership. After connecting with Path to College founder Christine Sylvain over the “De-colonize Curriculum” shirt Kumar Skomra was sporting at an event, they teamed up to build an organizational system for the fellowship’s curriculum. She also worked with Ricky Aiken’s Inner City Innovators to develop socialemotional messages to fight gun violence.
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced school closures, Kumar Skomra took to social media and YouTube for “Shades of Brown Read Alouds,” sharing books that depict the everyday experiences of minority communities. An idea that had been brewing for years began to take shape.
“I wanted to have a space in which I could unapologetically speak the truths that I wanted to share in my classroom,” she says. “A bookstore is a combination of my favorite things in the world: diverse, inclusive children’s books and a space where children can learn.”
On June 18, Kumar Skomra opened the doors to Rohi’s Readery, South Florida’s first stand-alone social justice–oriented children’s bookstore—offering books that celebrate the stories of Black families, immigrant children, LGBTQIA+ identities, indigenous cultures, Asian and Pacific Islander heritage, Latinx traditions, people with disabilities, and more. Children are free to read and learn about the beauty of their cultures and identities without the lens of oppression. As one visitor pointed out: “This place isn’t political. This is about kids being seen and being loved.”
Rohi’s Readery is named for two important people in Kumar Skomra’s life: her daughter, 11-month-old Rohini Ray Skomra, who oversaw the store’s beginnings from her tummy time mat, and her grandmother, or annama in Hindi. Kumar Skomra’s annama Rohini was a steadfast advocate for children’s education and literacy in India, inspired by the work of freedom fighter and poet Sarojini Naidu, known as the “Nightingale of India.”
Kumar Skomra witnesses this legacy daily at Rohi’s Readery. Families form communities within the store’s walls: Children sit and read together, parents forge friendships. There’s the bustle of children exploring, performing puppet shows, and laughing. But the Readery’s mission goes deeper—ensuring that each child is seen, appreciated, and loved for who they are. A photo of annama Rohini sits behind the register to watch over it all, anchoring Kumar Skomra to this purpose, and reminding her that she belongs here, too.
The Readery isn’t just for kids. Adults have been known to browse the books that line the shelves. They settle into child-sized chairs, their elbows perched on their knees as they flip through the pages. For some, it’s the first time they’ve seen their own narratives in a children’s book. “Hopefully there’s a story here that connects with everyone, whether it’s about them, someone they care about, or someone they’ve been wanting to learn more about,” Kumar Skomra says. What she’s created is a sacred space where everyone belongs and where children of all creeds (and all ages) can sit down with a book and find a face like theirs looking back at them. «
l SCAN EACH
QR CODE TO SEE MORE FROM EACH ARTWORK
This digital collage was created over the course of 5,000 days by the artist Beeple. To make it, he posted a new artwork online every day for more than 13 years. Everydays: The First 5000 Days was the first purely digital artwork ever offered at Christie’s; it sold for $69,346,250.
HOW NFTS ARE TAKING THE ART WORLD BY STORM— AND HOW TO WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND IT
Left: The Pandora Variations (2021) by Brendan Dawes in collaboration with Logan Nelson and Charlotte Edmonds consists of five 4K MP4 files. Right: CryptoPunk #7523 by Larva Labs was minted on June 23, 2017, and is one of nine alien punks. It sold for more than $11 million.
Perennial Links (2021) by Ikaro Cavalcante is a one-minute
MP4 video at 30 frames per second. It sold for more than $8,000 and is currently owned by Ikaro Cavalcante. NFTs contain proof of ownership and exist on a blockchain—even if a piece of digital art can be downloaded and copied, only the owner of the NFT has the true original.
ntil recently, asking someone to define an NFT probably would have resulted in a blank expression (and maybe a quick Google search). Then, in March, Christie’s auction house shocked the art world with one spectacular sale of an NFT and suddenly the acronym was on everyone’s lips. With a starting bid of just $100, the virtual collage Everydays: The First 5000 Days by the artist Beeple (real name Mike Winkelmann) sold for more than $69 million. (By the way: that’s $15 million more than Monet’s Nymphéas painting sold for in 2014.)
Since then, NFTs—short for non-fungible tokens— have catapulted into the collective awareness, even if few understand their complexities.
“The results of our sales at Christie’s over recent months have demonstrated huge enthusiasm within the market and, to a larger extent, the limitless potential for this artistic medium,” says Noah Davis, senior specialist in post-war and contemporary art. “At Christie’s, we have seen interest in NFTs from collectors of multiple generations and on a global scale.”
So what are they? NFTs are digital assets representing a particular work. They are bought and sold on the internet, almost exclusively with cryptocurrency. Most importantly, they contain proof of ownership— “provenance,” in art-speak—that is essential to the value of the work. NFTs exist on a blockchain, basically a digital database, so even if a piece of digital art (also called crypto art) can be downloaded and copied from the internet, only the owner of the NFT has the true original. Nor are NFTs exclusive to art; “digital
Visor (2021) by Mad Dog Jones is an MP4 video that contains audio by La+ch. Because digital art is typically bought and sold with cryptocurrency, by its very nature it will be volatile, but sales have seen a boom thanks in part to historically low interest rates and the recent rise of cryptocurrency.
moments” from NBA games are hot properties, and even an NFT of the first tweet, by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, sold for $2.9 million.
In the art arena, the question among collectors is whether NFT buyers are rushing to stay ahead of a digital art boom, or are in danger of becoming victims of a potential investment bust.
“They’re extremely hard to comprehend, but NFTs are here to stay,” says Ronald Harrar, a New York and South Florida collector and dealer who owns V. Contemporary Space in New York City and, through his Instagram account, @ronaldharrar, educates followers and displays the art he buys. “In South Florida, 90 percent of collectors are still trying to figure out what an NFT is,” he adds. “They’re sort of watching from behind the fence, but then there are the other 10 percent who want to get in and say they need to get in.”
David Rothschild, vice president and sales director of Sotheby’s Private Sales, says collecting and selling digital art is not so different from traditional art. “Like tangible art, some buy digital art for passion, some for resale, and some buy as an investment,” he explains. Investors, however, need to be aware that because digital art is typically bought and sold with cryptocurrency, by its very nature it will be volatile. “Historically low interest rates coupled with the injection of capital into the
SHIFT// (2021) by Fvckrender is an MP4 that was minted on May 18, 2021. Unlike traditional works of art, NFTs provide solid provenance because they exist on the Ethereum blockchain.
DRAGON! (2021) by OseanWorld is an MP4 that sold for more than $100,000. The question among art collectors is whether NFT buyers are rushing to stay ahead of a digital art boom, or are in danger of becoming victims of a potential investment bust—but NFTs are here to stay.
markets and the resulting equity performance have led to a rise in cryptocurrency and, in turn, put a spotlight on NFTs,” he adds, so we are seeing something of a digital art boom. The same stock market performance and low interest rates have also helped lead to a boom in sales of traditional art as well, he points out.
“As with any medium, it comes down to the quality of the work and the demand for the artist,” notes Davis. “Masterworks command significant prices regardless of the medium.”
But unlike traditional works of art, NFTs provide rock-solid provenance because they exist on the Ethereum blockchain, says Rothschild. Blockchain’s security is the result of decentralized technology spread across millions of computers that record transactions. “There is never a doubt about authenticity if ownership can be traced all the way back to the artist, which is what the blockchain provides,” he adds.
INFINITE FUTURE (2021) by Don Diablo is an MP4. This NFT is accompanied by its hologram cabinet and a cartridge. David Rothschild, vice president and sales director of Sotheby’s Private Sales, says collecting and selling digital art is not so different from traditional art.
Two Degrees (2021) by Terra0 contains contracts that are linked to an online temperature server that updates on an annual basis.
The token is designed to be destroyed if Earth’s temperature reaches at least 2 degrees Celsius above average global temperatures.
GUD MORNING (2021) by Greg Mike x NGHT-
MRE. “Greg Mike” Mensching’s childhood trips to New York City in the mid-1980s as well as his love for skate culture and American mid-century cartoons inform the Surrealist Pop Art vibes of his work. GUD MORNING comes with a crystal ball and custom stand. Still from Eroding and Reforming Bust of Rome (One Year) (2021) by Daniel Arsham. Arsham’s NFT depicts a digital version of a sculpture from his recent exhibition at the Perrotin art gallery in New York. The sculpture will decay, disintegrate, and reform every month over the course of a year.
Sotheby’s began its foray into the digital NFT art space this past year with “The Fungible” collection from the anonymous and increasingly popular creator known as Pak. Following the successful sale totaling $17 million, a second auction, “Natively Digital: A Curated NFT Sale,” was held over the summer. Rothschild says they expect to increase their presence in NFTs, but so far, Palm Beach collectors for the most part remain cautious. “I think there’s a general curiosity about them, but a large number of our clients are still hesitant to get involved,” he says, adding that the small percentage who are involved are well informed in the space and are actively engaged in buying.
Like Harrar, Rothschild believes that not only is digital art here to stay, it will continue to gain prominence among artists and collectors. “Art is always a creative way to capture history, and NFTs are capturing a generation,” he says. “Young artists of today are thinking of new ways to push boundaries and how museums, curators, and dealers interpret it.”
Displaying digital art in a physical space can, in fact, be a challenge. The Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, with support from the Knight Foundation, responded to the closing of the museum due to the pandemic lockdown last year by launching eight digital commissions on its website and social platforms, highlighting the work of Miami artists. “The response from the community, and the measurable impact on working artists, was immediately remarkable,” says artistic director Alex Gartenfeld. This summer they launched four more digital artists on
Above: Still from German-born artist and filmmaker Dara
Friedman’s The Crowning (2021), a digital project commissioned by the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami. Far right: Backdated NFT/Ethereum Stamp (2016-2018-2021) by Simon
Denny is a JPEG of an offset print on adhesive-backed postagestamp paper and rubber stamp, and is accompanied by a blockchain company postage stamp and a custom-designed postage stamp.
A version of the first NFT ever created, Quantum (2014-21), by Kevin McCoy is a 9-mb TIF and file archive. The lot sold for more than $1.4 million at the close of Sotheby’s auction “Natively Digital: A Curated NFT Sale” in June 2021.
the site and will add physical exhibits of the digital art this year. “Come this fall, we will be exhibiting the digital commissions in two physical locations,” shares Gartenfeld. “First, in collaboration with the Design District in public sites in our neighborhood. Second, we will be showing the full suite of commissions in a media gallery at ICA Miami this winter.”
Harrar, who is building his own digital art collection alongside his traditional art, shows his NFT purchases on his website, his phone, and, when he’s entertaining at home, on his television. “I had people over for dinner the other night and showed them my latest acquisitions,” he says. He’s excited about how the digital medium will continue to advance, saying he’s “blown away” by the way a work can change before a viewer’s eyes because of the nature of the medium. “Think about three or four years ago: We had sculpture, paintings, some video installations— but technology has evolved so much since then. Now we’re in a whole new universe.” «
HERE ARE ALL THE QUESTIONS YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE NFT GAME (BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK)
ONE MORE TIME. WHAT’S AN NFT? NFT is the acronym for “non-fungible token.” Non-fungible means something is unique and can’t be replaced with something else. For example, a dollar is fungible. Trade one for another and you’ll have exactly the same thing. A rare Babe Ruth trading card or a Rothko painting, however, is non-fungible. If you traded it for a different card or a different painting, you’d have something completely different.
WHAT’S ETHEREUM BLOCKCHAIN? Ethereum is a cryptocurrency (think bitcoin or dogecoin). But Ethereum is unique in that it was the first blockchain to support NFTs by storing extra information about them—and that information is what makes them non-fungible.
WHAT CAN BE SOLD AS AN NFT? NFTs can be anything digital, including drawings, music, videos, and social media posts, among other things.
WHERE ARE NFTS STORED AND DISPLAYED? NFTs are stored in password-protected digital wallets but can be displayed on any digital screen.
CAN I STILL VIEW (OR COPY) AN NFT AFTER IT HAS BEEN PURCHASED? Yes. But when someone buys an NFT, they receive something that can’t be copied: recorded ownership of the work. Think of it this way: Anyone can buy a van Gogh print, but only one person can own the original (and the associated bragging rights).
IS EVERY NFT UNIQUE? Yes, in the sense that every NFT is a unique token on the blockchain. But while it could be like the aforementioned Rothko or van Gogh painting (where there’s only one definitive actual version), it could also be like a Babe Ruth trading card, where a certain number of copies of the same card were issued.
WHO IS PURCHASING NFTS AND WHY? Some NFT buyers are treating them like they’re the future of fine-art collecting, at ultra-high prices. Others treat them like trading cards, sold at more accessible prices.
Education INEQUALITY
LOCAL INITIATIVES AIM TO GIVE ALL STUDENTS AN EQUAL SHOT
By Eric Barton
In the summer of 2020, Seth Cohen got a call that would challenge him to again live up to the things he had been saying for years.
Cohen was at the time the newly installed president of Jupiter Christian School. With more than 900 students on two campuses, it’s the kind of place where families send their kids in the hopes they’ll end up in the Ivy League.
On the other end of Cohen’s call were the folks from Urban Youth Impact, a program that helps underserved kids in West Palm Beach. Jupiter Christian had been working with the program for years, offering volunteers here and there to help with projects. This time, though, Urban Youth Impact needed something big. They had started a new school of their own, and they hoped Jupiter Christian might help run it.
Cohen thought about his favorite biblical story, the one about the good Samaritan who stops to help a man beaten and left for dead. So many other travelers had passed the man, but the Samaritan treated his wounds and bought a room for him at an inn. It’s a story Cohen had been telling for years, and he knew this was his chance to be like the Samaritan.
“So I said, ‘What if we just do the school? What if we do the school, and you could continue to do the things you’re really good at?’” he recalls.
And that’s just what Cohen did: This fall, Jupiter Christian School will open its third campus, this one in West Palm Beach’s traditionally Black neighborhood of Tamarind, and it will provide a subsidized education for local kids.
While it might seem like those new students will be the beneficiaries, Cohen says it’s actually the other way around. “The opportunity isn’t for Urban Youth Impact. It’s for Jupiter Christian, and so we can try to live what we believe.”
Jupiter Christian’s program is one of several education initiatives that have begun in Palm Beach County in recent years to help traditionally underserved students. Some are smaller programs to target just a few kids challenged simply by the neighborhood where they were born, and others are wide-reaching, like attempting to keep kids from graduating college with massive debt.
These actions are possible in part because of the vast wealth here in Palm Beach County, a place where we’ve developed a culture of giving, says Alice M. L. Eger, executive director, Opportunity Early Childhood Education and Family Center in West Palm Beach.
Eger runs a multimillion-dollar early childhood center in a low-income neighborhood, made possible in part by
At right: FAU spring 2021 graduate Megan Togno; West Palm Beach firefighters visit Urban Youth Impact; The Foundations School students Lassane and Jakaya with teacher John Edouassaint; class field trip to Sandoway Discovery Center in Delray Beach.
SCHNEIDER PHOTOGRAPHY & FILM
JONATHON ORTIZ-SMYKLA
Above, left to right: FAU spring 2021 graduates Odjeenie Jean- Louis, Angie Joseph, and Ta’Shyra Johnson. below, left to right: Ta’Shyra Johnson, Megan Togno, Aubrey Strul, Odjeenie Jean-Louis, and Angie Joseph.
the generosity of Palm Beachers and philanthropists David and Jill Gilmour. “We are leaps and bounds in front of other counties in the state and other regions in the support of early childhood,” Eger says.
And while there’s still a lot of work to be done to give kids from poorer neighborhoods the same opportunities as others, Eger says the resources available to them now have made the difference for many.
Similarly, the Center for Creative Education’s latest venture, The Foundations School at Northwood Village, launched in January 2021 to address the clear need for students to improve literacy skills and proficiency as a result of pandemic-era distance learning. The model demonstration school—with its kindergarten through third-grade curriculum, low student-to-teacher ratio, maximum class size of 15, and no tuition for qualifying children—currently provides up to 60 underserved local students an entry point to a top-tier education via creativity and the arts. “With the inception of our not-for-profit private school that is available to everyone, we are making an even greater educational investment in the surrounding 33407 zip code,” says Kevin Kovacs, the director of schools.
Perhaps the most ambitious of the efforts to help local students began at a dinner party in 2016, when entrepreneur and philanthropist Aubrey Strul was seated next to Carolyn Kelly, wife of Florida Atlantic University President John Kelly. At some point during the night, Strul asked Carolyn Kelly what students these days need the most. “They really need a full scholarship,” she told him. “To be successful, they really need to not be doing three jobs.”
Afterward, Strul met with John Kelly, and the two of them shared something in common. Strul was the son of a South African shopkeeper and was the first in his family to go to college. Kelly had grown up in a rural South Carolina town where few could afford college and nearly had to drop out in his senior year when his family ran out of money for tuition. At FAU, a full third of students qualify for financial help. By the end of the meeting, they concocted an idea for a scholarship for first-generation college students from low-income families. The students would also get mentoring and career planning help along the way to get them started on life after college. Strul and his wife, Sally, donated $1 million to get the program started and then recruited friends to help. “It became this thing with a tremendous energy around it,” John Kelly says.
Last year the program graduated seven scholars and now has 57 current students. Strul says he’s gotten to know each one of the students. “To watch these students mature into confident young men and women is something very special,” Strul says. “Watching [them] graduate was a total joy and delight for us. They all gave impressive speeches without notes. It was from the bottom of their heart.”
Another initiative in Palm Beach County began in 2007
SCHNEIDER PHOTOGRAPHY & FILM
Top left: Seth Cohen in front of Jupiter Christian School; left: Children playing outside; Above and right: the Responsible Angling Education Program field trip to the Bahamas included visiting Atlantis Aquarium in Nassau, deep-sea fishing in Bimini, casting lessons, a stingray encounter, and more.
with the idea that learning to fish could help kids better understand and respect Florida’s environment. The Marine Education Initiative’s executive director, Nick Metropulos says he first learned the importance of conservation after his family’s home was destroyed by a hurricane in 2005. They moved into the home of a family friend in the Bahamas, who taught Metropulos and his brother to fish only for what you need to eat. When they came back to Florida, Metropulos’ brother started the initiative, which now offers an 18-week program that uses fishing to teach kids about conservation. Just 10 percent of the kids have fished before and only 5 percent of them have been on a boat. Being out on the water is often a first step for them to understand the importance of taking care of the environment, Metropulos says. The program teaches the kids about jobs they can get in the marine industry, and they also work on a project to dream up new solutions to clean the oceans.
After starting in Boca Raton, the program now works with kids in Palm Beach County, Miami-Dade, the Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas. Metropulos, 22, has aspirations to duplicate the program nationwide. “In South Florida in general there’s a huge need for knowledge of marine conservation. Growing up here, I didn’t have any idea of wrong and right on how to properly fish and conserve our environment,”Metropulos says. “We go into different centers and teach these kids about something they often had no idea was an issue.”
Jupiter Christian School’s new campus off North Australian Avenue in West Palm Beach will open this fall, Cohen says. It’ll begin with 24 kids—with students in first grade and kindergarten only at first—with plans to expand each year, adding more classes and more grade levels as they go. Eventually, they hope to grow to serve 210 students. But to do that, they’ll need to raise $5,000 in donations for each student to fund their yearly education.
For Cohen, the effort is the culmination of a career he’s spent working to help traditionally underserved students. He worked for 20 years in Philadelphia in urban education before spending another nine years as an educator in the Dominican Republic. His job at Jupiter Christian was his first at a suburban school with ample resources. When he first brought the idea of the Tamarind campus to the school’s board, pitching them on an idea he knew would be a major challenge, he says the school’s leadership embraced the notion of practicing the lessons they strived to teach the students.
“It’s not just about getting the kids ready for college. What I’m more concerned about is making sure someone’s daughter or son is going to grow up to be a good parent, how they’re going to handle their job,” Cohen says. “We’re not just trying to educate these students but [also] trying to teach them the character they need to be good people.” «
Shot by Palm Beach Illustrated on location at 143 East Inlet Drive, Palm Beach
Max Mara scarf, bomber jacket, cashmere skirt, shoes; Alexander McQueen sunglasses.
Opposite page: Gucci geometric GG cardigan, chevron vest, chevron midi skirt; Tory Burch scarf.
For buying information, turn to page 162.
Fashion editor: Katherine Lande
OUT EAST
This fall, embrace a MODERN TAKE on East Coast prep
PhotograPhy by gabor Jurina
Gucci GG canvas coat, midi skirt, sequined bonnet; Tory Burch square sunglasses.
Opposite page: Oscar de la Renta flower gown; Dior necklace.
For buying information, turn to page 162.
Alexander McQueen sunglasses, denim dress, leather belt.
Opposite page: Tory Burch chambray blouse, skirt, wool vest, gloves, handbag, loafers.
For buying information, turn to page 162.
Tommy Hilfiger checked blazer, tailored pants; Tory Burch turtleneck; Dior scarf; Versace hair pin; Gucci horsebit loafers; Chanel handbag.
Opposite page: Prada dress with knit detail, leather gloves; Chanel earrings.
For buying information, turn to page 162.
Dior head scarf, chambray belted top, plaid skirt, handbag, flat slingbacks.
Opposite page: Versace dress with belt, heels, handbag, hair pin; Tory Burch scarf.
For buying information, turn to page 162.
Model: Lilly Reilly, The Industry, New York Hair & Makeup: Colleen Stone using Face Atelier, Creative Management, Miami Digital Tech: Javier Sanchez
PBI extends a special thanks to Kevin Condon, Sotheby’s International Realty Palm Beach, for providing the location.
Palm Beach Illustrated’s
ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES FIND 540 OF THE TOP LAWYERS AS CHOSEN BY THEIR PEERS. WE PROFILE SOME OF THE BEST LEGAL MINDS PRACTICING IN PALM BEACH COUNTY.
ADMINISTRATIVE/ REGULATORY LAW
Alex D. Barker
Terry E. Lewis
Amy Taylor Petrick
Jennifer Y. Rosenblum
ADMIRALTY & MARITIME LAW
Robert Bamdas
Catherine Kent
Alley, Maass, Rogers & Lindsay, P.A. Palm Beach 561-659-1770 amrl.com
Eric J. Stockel
Jason D. Weisser
Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller & Overbeck P.A. West Palm Beach 561-689-8180 shw-law.com
ALTERNATE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Bruce G. Alexander
Peter Blanc
Andy Bucher
Andrew M. Bucher, P.A. Boca Raton 561-531-5566
Marc S. Dobin
Dobin Law Group, P.A. Jupiter 561-575-5880 dobinlaw.com
Robyn S. Hankins
Law Office of Robyn S. Hankins Jupiter 561-721-3890 hankins-law.com
Theodore S. Kypreos
Alfred A. LaSorte Jr.
John B Marion
Upchurch Watson White & Max West Palm Beach 386-253-1560 uww-adr.com
Patrick C. Massa
The Law Offices of Patrick C. Massa, P.A. North Palm Beach 561-309-2422 pmassalaw.com
Steven A. Mayans
Mayans Mediation & Arbitration West Palm Beach 561-832-9128 mayanslaw.com
Kathryn L. McHale
Kathryn L. McHale, LLC Palm Beach 561-379-5030 kmchalelaw.com
Marina D. Petillo
The Law Office of Marina D. Petillo Palm Beach Gardens 561-656-2015 marinapetilloesq.com
Rodney Romano
Erika Deutsch Rotbart
Deutsch Rotbart & Associates, P.A. Boca Raton 561-361-8010 dralawfirm.com
ANTITRUST LAW
Manuel J. “John” Dominguez
APPELLATE PRACTICE
Jack J. Aiello
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0716 gunster.com
Mary F. April
William J. Berger
Weiss, Handler & Cornwell, PA Boca Raton 561-997-9995 weisshandler.com
Robin I. Bresky
Philip M. Burlington
Edna L. Caruso
Edna L. Caruso P.A. Palm Beach 561-371-1431
Scott J. Edwards
Scott J. Edwards, P.A. Boca Raton 561-609-0760 edwardsappeals.com
Marjorie Gadarian Graham
Andrew A. Harris
Robert Hauser
Pankauski Hauser Lazarus PLLC West Palm Beach 561-514-0900 ext. 102 pankauskilawfirm.com
Christopher B. Hopkins
Jane Kreusler-Walsh
Julie H. Littky-Rubin
Clark, Fountain, La Vista, Prather & Littky-Rubin West Palm Beach 561-922-0258 clarkfountain.com
Jeffrey V. Mansell
Diana L. Martin
Rebecca Mercier Vargas
Bard D. Rockenbach
Kara Rockenbach Link
Nichole J. Segal
Stephanie L. Serafin
Siobhan Helene Shea
D. Culver “Skip” Smith
Culver Smith III, P.A. West Palm Beach 561-598-6800 culversmithlaw.com
BANKING AND FINANCE LAW
James W. Beasley
James W. Beasley, P.A. West Palm Beach 561-835-0900 beasleylaw.net
Patrick G. Broderick
Tina El Fadel
Michael V. Mitrione
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0553 gunster.com
Carl V. Romano
BANKRUPTCY AND CREDITOR DEBTOR RIGHTS/INSOLVENCY AND REORGANIZATION LAW
Michael R. Bakst
Marc P. Barmat
Jeffrey H. Beck
J Beck & Associates, Inc. Boca Raton 561-288-0648 becktrustee.com
Alan R. Crane
C. Craig Eller
Robert C. Furr
Philip J. Landau
Heather L. Ries
Bradley S. Shraiberg
Nadine V. White-Boyd
BET-THE-COMPANY LITIGATIONS
Scott W. Atherton
Atherton Galardi Mullen & Reeder PA West Palm Beach 561-293-2530 athertonlg.com
Mark F. Bideau
Alan M. Burger
Robert I. Chaskes
Eric C Christu
Scott G. Hawkins
L. Louis Mrachek
BUSINESS LITIGATION
Mark F. Bideau
Matthew R. Chait
ABOUT THE LIST
Palm Beach Illustrated partnered with the firm Professional Research Services, which asked licensed Palm Beach County attorneys who they would recommend, other than themselves, in the area. Attorneys were allowed to name up to three colleagues in each specialty. Nominees were then evaluated on the basis of the survey results, the status of their licenses, and their standing with The Florida Bar. Qualifying attorneys who received the highest number of votes are reflected on the following list.
BURLINGTON & ROCKENBACH, P.A.
Burlington & Rockenbach, PA, is a boutique civil appellate law firm handling Florida state and federal court cases. The attorneys at Burlington & Rockenbach bring a thorough understanding of the law and strategy to cases in both the trial and appellate courts. Philip M. Burlington has more than 40 years of experience, while Bard D. Rockenbach has over 30 years of experience. The firm’s newest shareholders, Nichole J. Segal, Adam J. Richardson, and Jeff V. Mansell, have decades of combined experience along with fresh insight to assist the firm’s clients. When trial attorneys associate with Burlington & Rockenbach, they receive the benefit of having the knowledge and experience of this whole team at their disposal.
While appeals are the majority of the firm’s work, Burlington & Rockenbach also provides litigation support. From trial court strategy, to motions, to attendance at trial, the members of the firm are an integral part of the trial team. The firm works with trial attorneys to tailor a partnership that best fits the needs of the case. In some cases, the firm is retained to handle discrete pre-trial matters only, while in others the firm works closely with the trial attorneys from the initial client conference through final resolution.
The role of the firm’s attorneys in the trial court is important to the trial team’s success. By handling issues concerning the strategy and legal arguments before the court, the attorneys at Burlington & Rockenbach give trial attorneys the freedom to concentrate on discovery, evidence, and their presentation to the jury.
In the past five years, the firm’s attorneys have worked in trials resulting in a total of $201 million in final judgments, and a similar amount in settlements. This, combined with many successes in appellate courts, is why trial firms retain Burlington & Rockenbach to assist with their most significant cases.
Jonathan Chane
Gregory W. Coleman
Evan H. Frederick
Jake D. Huxtable
Hank Jackson
Kenneth N. Johnson
Lauren E. Johnson
Raymond E. Kramer III
Eric Allan Lee
Lee & Amtzis, P.L Boca Raton 561-981-9988
Patricia A. Leonard
William B. Lewis
Joanne M. O’Connor
Mark R. Osherow
Michael J. Pike
David Steinfeld
BUSINESS/CORPORATE
David G. Bates
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0793 gunster.com
Scott M. Coffey
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0656 gunster.com
Tina El Fadel
David J. Gellen
Nason, Yeager, Gerson, Harris & Fumero, P.A. Palm Beach Gardens 561-686-3307 nasonyeager.com
Adam Marshall
Lorium PLLC Boca Raton 561-361-1000 rprslaw.com
Kristin Vivo
CLASS ACTION/MASS TORTS
Brenda S. Fulmer
Leslie M. Kroeger
Theodore J. Leopold
Jeffrey Liggio
Olivia Liggio
Jill Miller
Joseph Osborne
Osborne & Francis Law Firm, PLLC Boca Raton 561-678-0156 realtoughlawyers.com
Peter M. Bernhardt
Bridget A. Berry
Mark F. Bideau
Denise J. Bleau
Ward, Damon, Posner, Pheterson and Bleau, PL West Palm Beach 561-842-3000 warddamon.com
Alan M. Burger
Matthew R. Chait
Jonathan Chane
Robert A. Cohen
Gregory W. Coleman
Manuel Farach
Andrea Shwayri Ferraro
Roy E. Fitzgerald III
Phillip H. Hutchinson
Robert C. Johnson
Robert R. Kane III
Patricia A. Leonard
John W. Little III
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0701 gunster.com
Megan A. McNamara
L. Louis Mrachek
Joanne M. O’Connor
John Scarola
Gregor J. Schwinghammer Jr.
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0595 gunster.com
Sean M. Smith
David Steinfeld
Daniel A. Thomas
David P. Vitale Jr.
Robert W. Wilkins
CONSTRUCTION LAW
Joseph L. Ackerman Jr.
Fowler White Burnett, P.A. West Palm Beach 561-472-6394 fowler-white.com
Bruce G. Alexander
Peter M Bernhardt
Bridget A. Berry
Roger C. Brown
Rich Cartlidge
Richard R. Chaves
John A. Chiocca
Dina M. Contri
Sellars, Marion & Bachi, P.A. West Palm Beach 561-655-8111 smb-law.com
Craig Distel
Jason E. Handin
Kaufman Lynn Construction, Inc. Delray Beach 561-361-6700 warddamon.com
Lee A. Kantor
Hightower, Stratton, Novigrod & Kantor West Palm Beach 561-833-2022 hightowerlaw.net
Daniel Levin
Ronald S. Nisonson
Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, P.L. Boca Raton 561-835-2111 wsh-law.com
Michael G. St. Jacques
MGS Law, P.A. Jupiter 561-623-5460
Daniel A. Thomas
Jill G. Weiss
Jill G. Weiss PA Palm Beach Gardens 561-623-5359
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND COMPLAINTS LAW
Joseph C. Coates III
Kevin T. Lamb
Michael V. Mitrione
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0553 gunster.com
Dianne M. Pitre
Bruce C. Rosetto
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND
COMPLAINTS LAW (cont.)
David Steinfeld
Kristin Vivo
CORPORATE LAW
Rikki Lober Bagatell
Phillip C. Gildan
Laura M. Holm
John G. Igoe
Kevin T. Lamb
Michael V. Mitrione
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0553 gunster.com
Bruce C. Rosetto
CRIMINAL DEFENSE NON WHITE-COLLAR
Flynn P. Bertisch
Law Offices of Flynn P. Bertisch P.A. West Palm Beach 561-619-7346 bertischlaw.com
Luis Cartaya
Law Office of Luis Cartaya, PA Boca Raton 561-362-7355 cartayalegal.com
Jacqueline D. Crowley
Douglas Duncan
Roth & Duncan West Palm Beach 561-655-5529
Adam R. Farkas
Leonard S. Feuer
The Feuer Law Firm West Palm Beach 561-659-1360 feuerlawfirm.com
Guy Fronstin
Jack Goldberger
Ron D. Herman
Scott H. Holtz
John M. Howe
Nellie L. King
Law Offices of Nellie L. King West Palm Beach 561-220-2377 criminaldefensefla.com
Tama Beth Kudman
Richard G. Lubin
Patrick R. McKamey
Law Office of Patrick R. McKamey, P.A. West Palm Beach 561-220-6708 mckameydefenselaw.com
Rob Melchiorre
Keller Melchiorre & Walsh, PLLC Jupiter 561-295-5825 kmwlegal.com
Michelle Merson
Brian Pakett
The Pakett Law Group, PA West Palm Beach 561-318-0531 pakettlaw.com
Scott N. Richardson
The Law Office of Scott N. Richardson, P.A. West Palm Beach 561-471-9600 scottnrichardsonlaw.com
David Roth
Roth & Duncan West Palm Beach 561-655-5529
Douglas J. Rudman
The Rudman Law Group Boca Raton 561-367-2542 flatriallaw.com
Michael Salnick
Michelle R. Suskauer
CRIMINAL DEFENSE WHITE COLLAR
Ralph S. Behr
Law Offices of Ralph Behr Boca Raton 561-717-3000 ralphbehr.net
Jeffrey L. Cox
Sallah Astarita & Cox, LLC Boca Raton 561-989-9080 sallahcox.com
Guy Fronstin
Ron D. Herman
John M. Howe
Tama Beth Kudman
Richard G. Lubin
DANIEL C. TIGHE
Having recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in insurance proceeds for clients following property damage losses, attorney Daniel Tighe and his firm know that successfully navigating insurance disputes requires the right combination of knowledge, skills, and experience.
Recent hurricanes and other severe storms have left many homeowners, commercial property owners, and community associations dealing with disputes with their insurance companies after making claims for their property damage. Tighe, who is licensed in both New York and Florida, has emerged as not only an effective advocate but also a thought leader in restoration and insurance law. When looking for a professional to solve a problem, it is prudent to seek out someone who has specific experience and demonstrable success solving that problem.
When it comes to prevailing in insurance disputes, Tighe has that kind of specific experience and demonstrable success in spades, which can be seen on his firm’s website “results page.” “Our firm continues to grow based on word of mouth from satisfied clients who hired us to help guide them through the recovery process and who want to see their neighbors get these same results,” he says, “especially in many of the exclusive communities that we work in.” A fast-growing part of the firm’s practice is helping community associations, property management companies, and other commercial property owners obtain multimillion-dollar recoveries. Many of these clients hire Tighe’s firm immediately after suffering roof or other damage to ensure a smooth recovery for their entire loss. “While we are great at handling any type of disputed insurance claim, we truly excel with large loss and complex claims,” Tighe explains. “We not only get great results but also eliminate a lot of the stress and uncertainty throughout the process.” Tighe has cultivated a tremendous network of attorneys, insurance professionals, and contractors that can be counted on to assist with almost any need a property owner can encounter, from managing risks with insurance advice through the process of recovery and rebuilding. “My goal is to help people, and I am privileged to have the opportunity to do that each and every day.”
CRIMINAL DEFENSE WHITE COLLAR (cont.)
David Roth
Roth & Duncan West Palm Beach 561-655-5529
Michael Salnick
William N. Shepherd
Michelle R. Suskauer
ELDER LAW
Genny Bernstein
Martin H. Cohen
Martin H. Cohen, P.A. Boynton Beach 561-880-8223 boyntonbeachelderlaw.com
Marissa DeBellis
Gina Grandinette
Melva Harris-Rozier
Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County West Palm Beach 561-655-8944
Joseph S. Karp
Aaron D. Millman
Ellen S. Morris
Elder Law Associates PA Boca Raton 561-750-3850 elderlawassociates.com
Holly M. O’Neill
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP West Palm Beach 561-366-5364 nelsonmullins.com
Heather Boyer Samuels
Will Sarubbi
G. Mark Shalloway
Tara Wood
EMINENT DOMAIN AND CONDEMNATION LAW
Barry S. Balmuth
Barry S. Balmuth, P.A. Palm Beach Gardens 561-242-9400 flboardcertifiedlawyer.com
James C. Gavigan Jr.
John W. Little III
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0701 gunster.com
Brian M. Seymour
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0621 gunster.com
Roberto M. Vargas
H. Adams Weaver
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS LAW
Bridget A. Berry
Christine D. Hanley
Christine D. Hanley & Associates, P.A. West Palm Beach 561-659-5646 cdhanley.com
ENERGY LAW
Michelle Diffenderfer
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
Scott Backman
Christina Bilenki
Michelle Diffenderfer
Robert P. Diffenderfer
Tara W. Duhy
John J. Fumero
Nason, Yeager, Gerson, Harris & Fumero, P.A. Boca Raton 561-314-3999 nasonyeager.com
Scott G. Hawkins
Terry E. Lewis
Alfred J. Malefatto
Elizabeth Ross
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0554 gunster.com
Stephen A. Walker
SASSER, CESTERO & ROY
Sasser, Cestero & Roy, located in West Palm Beach, is poised to meet all your family law needs. Personal family law matters, such as divorce and prenuptial agreements, require a certain touch, especially with clients whose privacy is important to them. In the wrong hands, the details of a divorce or agreement could have a negative impact. The attorneys at Sasser, Cestero & Roy believe privacy and decorum are of utmost importance in addressing family law matters. All three partners, Thomas J. Sasser, Jorge M. Cestero, and Elisha D. Roy, are board certified by the Florida Bar in Marital and Family Law and all three are also Fellows of both the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL). All three partners are past chairs of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar and have served as president of the Florida Chapter of the AAML. In addition, Cestero is the past president of the U.S. Chapter of the IAFL and Sasser will become president of the global IAFL in 2022. The firm has been active in the drafting of the laws that govern the day-to-day practice of family law lawyers and prides itself on being current in knowledge on case law and trends in family law across the country. An accomplished family law firm with more than 30 years of experience helping clients navigate complex legal disputes, the seven (7) lawyer firm prides itself on a no-nonsense approach to family law, providing sage, competent, expert advice, and a unique perspective on the resolution of issues. The firm believes preparation is the key to success and that the more prepared the case is, the more likely resolution without litigation is possible. However, this preparedness and attention to detail place the firm in an excellent position when litigation is necessary. With active cases across Florida and involvement in international cases, Sasser, Cestero & Roy is uniquely qualified to address complex divorce and family law legal issues effectively and efficiently.
MICHAEL K. GRIFE
Michael K. Grife is the president and founding attorney of The Grife Law Firm, a preeminent Boca Raton boutique specializing in personal injury and medical malpractice. Throughout his highly successful career, Grife has participated in numerous million-dollar and multi-milliondollar recoveries on behalf of his clients. As a result of his unrelenting efforts for the injured, Grife has received tremendous recognition from his peers and the legal community. He is a life member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, AV-Preeminent Rated by MartindaleHubbell, and a Florida “Super Lawyer” and “Distinguished Lawyer” per Lawyers of Distinction. Grife is routinely engaged by clients who are seriously injured and the loved ones of those who are killed due to car/truck/motorcycle crashes, catastrophic falls due to dangerous conditions, medical malpractice events such as misdiagnosis and surgical error, and nursing home neglect. Grife is a resident of Boca Raton, where he is passionate about supporting animal rescue and ocean conservation efforts.
6111 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300 • Boca Raton 561-998-0770 • thegrifelawfirm.com
Heather L. Apicella
Abigail Beebe
The Law Office of Abigail Beebe, P.A. West Palm Beach 561-370-3691 abeebelaw.com
Jason A. Brodie
Christopher R. Bruce
Bruce Law Firm, P.A. West Palm Beach 561-286-8275 brucepa.com
Kristina M. Candido
Jorge M. Cestero
Cindy A. Crawford
Jeffrey D. Fisher
Joshua K. Friedman
Melinda P. Gamot
Holly Gayle Gershon
David L. Hirschberg
Law Offices of David L. Hirschberg, P.A. Boca Raton 561-288-8620 dhirschberglaw.com
Benjamin T. Hodas
Louise A.D. Jones
Louise A.D. Jones P.A. West Palm Beach 561-253-0210 louisejoneslaw.com
William N. Lazarchick Jr.
William N. Lazarchick, Jr., P.A. Juno Beach 561-727-3625 lazarchicklaw.com
Andrew S. Lieberman
Mark T. Luttier
Critton Luttier Coleman, LLP West Palm Beach 561-515-3138 lawclc.com
Anastasia Mahone
K/S Attorneys At Law Boca Raton 561-939-8042 ks-law.com
Stacey D. Mullins
Matthew S. Nugent
Danielle M. Ostrovsky
Joshua L. Plager
Cynthia M. Pyfrom
Cynthia M. Pyfrom, P.A. Boynton Beach 561-354-0403 pyfrompa.com
Andrea Oyola Reid
The REID Law Group Boca Raton 561-448-4922 thereidlawgroup.com
Elisha D. Roy
Thomas J. Sasser
Denise L. Schneider
John F. Schutz
John F. Schutz, P.L. Palm Beach Gardens 561-228-7100 palmbeachdivorcelawyer.com
Dominique Sciullo-Craig
Taryn G. Sinatra
Law Office of Taryn G. Sinatra, P.A. Boynton Beach 561-430-4121 sinatralegal.com
Eddie E. Stephens III
Caryn A. Stevens
Michael P. Walsh
Michael P. Walsh, P.A. West Palm Beach 561-659-3989 mpwalshlaw.com
Jeffrey A. Weissman
C. Debra Welch
The Law Firm of C. Debra Welch, P.A. Palm Beach Gardens 561-687-7900 thewelchlawfirm.com
Ralph “R.T.” White
The Law Office of R.T. White Palm Beach Gardens 561-623-5310 rtwhitelaw.com
Todd A. Wise
Julia Wyda
Adam M. Zborowski
MICHAEL J. PIKE
Michael J. Pike, Esq., is an attorney at Pike & Lustig, LLP, located in West Palm Beach. His practice focuses on commercial, insurance, and business litigation, automobile and highway accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, sexual battery and assault, and RICO.
Pike earned both his bachelor’s degree and his JD with honors from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Pike has won many awards, including being named “Top Up and Comer” by the South Florida Legal Guide, “Up & Comers” by the South Florida Business Journal, “Legal Elite” by Florida Trend magazine, and a “Rising Star” and “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers magazine. He is a member of the Palm Beach County Bar Association, Florida Justice Association, and Florida Bar, and is past president of the Palm Beach County Justice Association. In his free time, Pike is an avid fisherman and a member of Florida’s CrossFit community.
1209 N. Olive Ave. • West Palm Beach 561-855-7585 • pikelustig.com
BILL BONE
Bill Bone is a Palm Beach County native. He has successfully represented hundreds of clients over the years as a Florida Bar board-certified specialist in civil trial law obtaining settlements and jury awards of more than a $100 million. He has a well-deserved reputation as a powerful advocate in litigated matters, especially automobile and bicycle crashes. Super Lawyers named him one of the nation’s best in his field and Martindale-Hubbell, the independent rating service, gives him its highest accolades for legal ability and ethics. He is listed in Best Lawyers in America and Law and Leading Attorneys: A Florida Consumers Guidebook named him an outstanding practitioner in the top 5 percent of Florida attorneys. He is a member of the University of Florida Hall of Fame and a Palm Beach County Public School Distinguished Alumnus. He is chairman of the Palm Beach Centennial Commission, which planned the town’s 100th-anniversary celebration in 2011 and helped to raise more than $1 million to renovate Palm Beach Town Square.
L. Martin Reeder Jr.
Deanna K. Shullman
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS PRACTICE
Harvey E. Oyer III
HEALTH CARE LAW
Jeffrey L. Cohen
David J. Davidson
James A. Farrell
Jamie Gelfman
Marcy Hahn-Saperstein
Akerman LLP Boca Raton 561-862-4044 akerman.com
Richard H. Levenstein
Nason, Yeager, Gerson, Harris & Fumero, P.A. Palm Beach Gardens 561-686-3307 nasonyeager.com
Timothy E. Monaghan
Courtney G. Tito
IMMIGRATION LAW
Rosemary E. Dailey
Jeffrey A. Devore
Scott D. Devore
Scott D. Devore, P.A. Palm Beach Gardens 561-623-5344 devore-legal.com
Lauren A. Levy
INSURANCE LAW
Richard M. Benrubi
Fred A. Cunningham
Domnick Cunningham & Whalen Palm Beach Gardens 877-373-8842 dcwlaw.com
Alan C. Espy
Alan C. Espy, P.A. Palm Beach Gardens 561-627-4775 alanespylaw.com
Rina Feld
Law Offices of Rina Feld Boca Raton 561-600-8843 rinafeldpa.com
Jake D. Huxtable
Jeffrey Liggio
Olivia Liggio
Gina Clausen Lozier
Mario M. Ruiz
David Shaheen
Daniel C. Tighe
Daniel C. Tighe, PA West Palm Beach 855-567-7776 danielctighe.com
Herb L. Uzzi
Hightower, Stratton, Novigrod & Kantor West Palm Beach 561-833-2022 hightowerlaw.net
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW
Joseph W. Bain
Joelle H. Dvir
Steven M. Greenberg
Sean L. Ingram
Ingram IP Law, P.A. Jupiter 561-571-2529 ingramiplaw.com
Spensyr Ann Krebsbach
Lorri Lomnitzer
Gregory A. Nelson
Robert Pershes
Carol E. Thorstad-Forsyth
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW
Kristin Ahr
Bridget A. Berry
CHRISTOPHER M. LARMOYEUX
Chris Larmoyeux is considered one of the top medical malpractice trial lawyers in the state. As a board-certified trial lawyer, with 40 years of experience, he has distinguished himself by achieving more than 85 verdicts and settlements of more than $1 million. Larmoyeux is listed in Woodward & White’s Best Lawyers in America Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury and Wrongful Death, which is widely regarded as the preeminent guide to the legal profession in the United States. He has been recognized by Florida Trend magazine as one of Florida’s “Legal Elite” and consistently listed among Florida’s “Super Lawyers.” Larmoyeux has also been ranked among the top 100 litigators by the professional organization, The National Trial Lawyers. Martindale-Hubbell, the independent lawyers-rating service, has consistently awarded Larmoyeux its highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards.
SCOTT N. RICHARDSON
Scott N. Richardson has practiced law in Palm Beach County for more than 42 years. He is Florida Bar boardcertified in criminal trial law. Richardson is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, recognized as the preeminent organization of trial lawyers in North America. He also has been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers and the peer-reviewed Best Lawyers in America.
1401 Forum Way, Suite 720 • West Palm Beach 561-471-9600 • scottnrichardsonlaw.com
ARE YOU IN THE KNOW?
Discover Palm Beach’s hottest events and hidden gems.
Sign up now to receive “INSIDER,” Palm Beach Illustrated’s weekly eNewsletter
palmbeachillustrated.com
LABOR AND
EMPLOYMENT LAW (cont.)
Dion J. Cassata
Cassata Law, PLLC Boca Raton 954-364-7803
Christopher S. Duke
Tracy L. Gerber
Bari L. Goldstein
Eric A. Gordon
Holly Griffin Goodman
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0697 gunster.com
Robyn S. Hankins
Law Office of Robyn S. Hankins Jupiter 561-721-3890 hankins-law.com
Allison Oasis Kahn
Arlene K. Kline
Ellen M. Leibovitch
Elizabeth E. Moum
I. Jeffrey Pheterson
Kenneth Rehns
Joseph G. Santoro
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0605 gunster.com
Brett J. Schneider
Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, P.L. Boca Raton 561-835-2111 wsh-law.com
Cathleen Scott
Scott Wagner & Associates, P.A. Jupiter 561-653-0008 floridalaborlawyer.com
Frank Scruggs
Gregg I. Shavitz
LAND USE AND ZONING LAW
Christopher P. Benvenuto
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0541 gunster.com
Hope Calhoun
Alan J. Ciklin
James M. Crowley
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0652 gunster.com
Dwayne L. Dickerson
Robert P. Diffenderfer
Tara W. Duhy
Clifford I. Hertz
Alfred J. Malefatto
Harvey E. Oyer III
Brian M. Seymour
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0621 gunster.com
Ele Zachariades
LEGAL MALPRACTICE LAW
David P. Ackerman
Scott W. Atherton
Nicole K. Atkinson
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0561 gunster.com
Amy S. L. Terwilleger
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0695 gunster.com
MASS TORT LITIGATION/ CLASS ACTIONS
Mark F. Bideau
Steven G. Calamusa
Brenda S. Fulmer
Brandon Grzandziel
TINA EL FADEL AND ANASTASIA J. MAHONE
Tina El Fadel, Esq., junior partner of K/S Attorneys at Law, graduated from Nova Southeastern University with high honors in 2011. El Fadel is admitted to the Florida and New Jersey Bars and is also licensed to practice in front of the Middle and Southern Federal District Courts in Florida. El Fadel has devoted her practice to complex commercial litigation, real estate closings and litigation, and business transactions, providing emphatic, diligent, and thorough representation to clients throughout South Florida.
Anastasia J. Mahone, Esq., graduated from Nova Southeastern University, was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2015, and immediately joined K/S Attorneys at Law. Mahone spearheaded the firm’s thriving family law division, offering a variety of family law services including litigation, Guardian Ad Litem services, family mediation, parenting coordinator, and collaborative family law services. Mahone’s unbridled passion for assisting her clients in navigating the legal process, armed with assertive representation to protect her clients, is of fundamental importance to Mahone.
K/S ATTORNEYS AT LAW
2424 N. Federal Highway, Suite 200 • Boca Raton 561-939-8042 • ks-law.com
MASS TORT LITIGATION/
CLASS ACTIONS (cont.)
Scott Guarcello
Leslie M. Kroeger
Joseph Osborne
Osborne & Francis Law Firm, PLLC Boca Raton 561-678-0156 realtoughlawyers.com
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAW
Theodore (Ted) Babbitt
Rosalyn “Sia” Baker-Barnes
F. Gregory Barnhart
Michael V. Baxter
Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller & Overbeck P.A. West Palm Beach 561-689-8180 shw-law.com
Robert T. Bergin Jr.
Robert T. Bergin Jr., P.A. West Palm Beach 561-659-6500 robertbergin.com
Michelle DeLong
Brian R. Denney
Sean C. Domnick
Jordan A. Dulcie
Tiffany M. Fanelli
Chelsea Furman
Michael K. Grife
Jack P. Hill
Nicholas C. Johnson
Darla L. Keen
Nancy La Vista
Stephan A. LeClainche
Andrea A. Lewis
Bruce M. Ramsey
Billing, Cochran, Lyles, Mauro & Ramsey, P.A. West Palm Beach 561-659-5970 bchlm.com
John Scarola
Matthew K. Schwencke
Christian D. Searcy
Kevin C. Smith
Karen E. Terry
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS LAW
David G. Bates
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0793 gunster.com
David J. Gellen
Nason, Yeager, Gerson, Harris & Fumero, P.A. Palm Beach Gardens 561-686-3307 nasonyeager.com
Michael V. Mitrione
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0553 gunster.com
Adam Warden
MORTGAGE BANKING FORECLOSURE LAW
Patrick G. Broderick
Lindsay K. Demmery
Prestige Land & Law, PLLC West Palm Beach 561-833-8773 prestigelandlaw.com
Steven D. Rubin
Law Offices of Steven D. Rubin Boca Raton 561-391-7992 rubinlawflorida.com
Andrew S. Wein
NATURAL RESOURCES LAW
Michelle Diffenderfer
Rachael B. Santana
NON-PROFIT/CHARITIES LAW
Robert Bertisch
Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County West Palm Beach 561-655-8944 legalaidpbc.org
PERSONAL INJURY LITIGATION
Daniel M. Bachi
Rosalyn “Sia” Baker-Barnes
Carlos Bodden
Bodden & Bennett Law Group Boynton Beach 561-806-5229 boddenbennettlaw.com
Bill Bone
Mark W. Clark
David B. Datny
Brian R. Denney
Michael Dolce
Preston J. Fields Sr.
Fields Law Firm, PLLC Palm Beach Gardens 561-799-9910 fields-law.com
Donald R. Fountain Jr.
Jeffrey F. Gordon
Michael K. Grife
Jason J. Guari
Michael S. Herman
Britto & Herman, P.A. Jupiter 561-835-5555 brittoherman.com
Peter Hunt
Robert C. Johnson
Robert L. Johnson
Lee A. Kantor
Joseph B. Landy
Chris Larmoyeux
Gary S. Lesser
Andrea A. Lewis
Jennifer Lipinski
Scott C. Murray
Chase M. Nugent
Michael J. Pike
David C. Prather
Edward V. Ricci
Matthew K. Schwencke
Christian D. Searcy
Christopher S. Stratton
Karen E. Terry
Herb L. Uzzi
Jeanmarie Whalen
Dean T. Xenick
Reid Burman Lebedeker Xenick Pepin West Palm Beach 561-659-7700 reidburmanlaw.com
PERSONAL INJURY
LITIGATION (cont.)
Daniel A. Zuniga
Personal Injury of Florida Palm Beach Gardens 561-507-5700 personalinjuryofflorida.com
PRODUCT LIABILITY LITIGATION
F. Gregory Barnhart
Mark W. Clark
Donald R. Fountain Jr.
Mariano Garcia
Lance C. Ivey
Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath West Palm Beach 561-820-2240 foryourrights.com
Hampton Keen
Leslie M. Kroeger
Theodore J. Leopold
Shana Nogues
Jason H. Okleshen
David C. Prather
Poorad Razavi
Karen E. Terry
C Calvin Warriner III
Ben J. Whitman
PUBLIC FINANCE LAW
Phillip C. Gildan
Stephen D. Sanford
Charles J. Abrams
L. Benton Alexander Jr.
Larry B. Alexander
Jerry E. Aron
Jerry E. Aron, P.A. West Palm Beach 561-478-0511
Rikki Lober Bagatell
Melissa Alexis Chluski
Melissa Alexis Chluski, P.A. Boca Raton 561-500-8583 chluskipa.com
Gregory R. Cohen
Cohen Norris Wolmer Ray Telepman Berkowitz & Cohen North Palm Beach 561-844-3600 cohennorris.com
Lindsay K. Demmery
Prestige Land & Law, PLLC West Palm Beach 561-833-8773 prestigelandlaw.com
Jeffrey A. Deutch
Kenneth W. Dodge
Carla Erskine
Manuel Farach
Mrachek, Fitzgerald, Rose, Konopka, Thomas & Weiss, P.A. West Palm Beach 561-721-1343 mrachek-law.com
Kyle Felty
Law Office of Kyle Felty, P.A. Palm Beach Gardens 561-507-0352 kylefelty.com
Michael J. Gelfand
Laurie L. Gildan
Adam G. Gutin
Stacey Halpern
Clifford I. Hertz
Brian C. Hickey
Julia L. Jennison
Marcia H. Langley
David M. Layman
Arthur J. Menor
John T. Metzger
Steven R. Parson
Michael J. Posner
J. Cater Randolph II
Carl V. Romano
Marvin S. Rosen
Rosen Law Group P.A. West Palm Beach 561-352-6244
Adam R. Seligman
SECURITIES REGULATION
Mario Alvite
Joseph C. Coates III
Tracy L. Gerber
Joshua A. Katz
Bradford D. Kaufman
James D. Sallah
SECURITIES/CAPITAL MARKETS LAW
Brian S. Bernstein
Tracy L. Gerber
Michael D. Harris
Lester R. Hooker
Bradford D. Kaufman
Bruce C. Rosetto
Congratulations to DAVID SHAHEEN
for being named 2019-2021 Top Lawyer.
Property Damage • Disaster Recovery Personal Injury • Personal Injury Protection Estate Planning • Business Interruption Asset Protection • Real Estate Product Liability • Governmental Affairs Mortuary Law • Wrongful death
CELEBRATING 25+ YEARS IN BOCA RATON
Headquartered at 7171 North Federal Highway // Boca Raton, FL Satellite Offices throughout Florida 561.995.1966 // gedlawyers.com
SECURITIES/CAPITAL MARKETS LAW (cont.)
Maya Saxena
Joseph E. White III
TAX LAW
Alan H. Baseman
David E. Bowers
Robert A. Chaves
Andrew R. Comiter
Richard B. Comiter
David M. Halpen
George E. Harding
Richard A. Josepher
Thomas O. Katz
Katz Baskies & Wolf PLLC Boca Raton 561-910-5700 katzbaskies.com
Daniel D. Mielnicki
David Pratt
Adi Rappoport
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0551 gunster.com
Charles (Chuck) Rubin
Angela K. Santos
TRANSPORTATION LAW
Robert P. Diffenderfer
Kathryn B. Rossmell
TRUSTS AND ESTATES
James W. Beasley
James W. Beasley, P.A. West Palm Beach 561-835-0900 beasleylaw.net
Amy B. Beller
Peter M. Bernhardt
David E. Bowers
Elizabeth A. Bowers
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0692 gunster.com
Elaine Bucher
Gunster Boca Raton 561-961-8126 gunster.com
Alyse Reiser Comiter
Nicklaus J. Curley
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0609 gunster.com
Tasha K. Dickinson
Randell C. Doane
Rebecca G. Doane
Edward Downey
Elizabeth Fernandez
EPGD Attorneys at Law, P.A. West Palm Beach 561-461-0700 epgdlaw.com
George R. Freund
David A. Gart
Ronda D. Gluck
Law Offices of Ronda D. Gluck, PLLC Boca Raton 561-705-5065 rdglegal.net
David M. Halpen
Brett E. Halperin
Halperin Law Group Delray Beach 561-324-2420 halperinlawgroup.com
Lisa Z. Hauser
EXCELLENCE IN CRIMINAL DEFENSE
BECAUSE YOUR FREEDOM AND REPUTATION MEAN EVERYTHING
Tama Beth Kudman represents individuals and companies confronting the vast power of the government and law enforcement in state and federal criminal defense matters. She dedicates herself to the extraordinary investigation and preparation that each and every matter requires.
Kudman believes that it is only by meeting the government head-to-head through the thorough investigation and preparation of each case that individuals and companies can truly receive a fair trial or even avoid trial. Such a thorough approach enables her to develop creative, cutting-edge defenses that yield winning strategies.
An alumnus of Barnard College (‘88) and Cardozo School of Law (‘95), Kudman has offices in New York, New Jersey, and Florida. She handles all complex state and federal criminal matters, including, but not limited, to: health care, bank, and wire fraud; telemarketing schemes; mortgage fraud; conspiracy cases; drug trafficking; money laundering; and racketeering. She is a Florida Superlawyer in the area of White-collar criminal defense and has been recognized in Best Lawyers for her work in the areas of criminal defense and white-collar criminal defense, and honored as the Best Lawyers, “Lawyer of the Year” in the area of criminal defense for West Palm Beach. Kudman actively supports the work of the Innocence Project of Florida and other projects and organizations that promote fairness and due process in the criminal justice system.
561-472-0811 TKUDMANLAW.COM
319 Clematis Street, Suite 107 West Palm Beach, FL 33401
William T. Hennessey
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0663 gunster.com
Seth R. Kaplan
Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone, LLP Boca Raton 561-989-1605 ext. 2222 meltzerlippe.com
Jonathan D. Karp
The Karp Law Firm Palm Beach Gardens 561-625-1100 karplaw.com
Sasha A. Klein
Theodore S. Kypreos
Steven A. Lessne
Gunster Boca Raton 561-961-8085 gunster.com
R. Lee McElroy IV
Brad H. Milhauser
Huth, Pratt & Milhauser Boca Raton 561-475-1198 hpmlawyers.com
Jacqueline S. Miller
John C. Moran
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0515 gunster.com
Stuart R. Morris
Andrew M. Nerney
David Pratt
J. Grier Pressly III
Pressly, Pressly, Randolph & Pressly, P.A. Palm Beach 561-659-4040 pprplaw.com
J. Cater Randolph II
Peter A. Sachs
NAPLES
Collier Place II 3001 Tamiami Trail North Suite 400 Naples, FL 34103 Phone: 239.262.8311 Fax: 239.263.0703
BONITA SPRINGS
The Brooks Grand Plaza 8000 Health Center Boulevard Suite 300 Bonita Springs, FL 34135 Phone: 239.947.8811 Fax: 239.947.8025
Since 1909, Cummings & Lockwood has provided sophisticated legal representation to individuals, families, family offices, closely held businesses, other commercial enterprises and charitable entities. Our core services include:
Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning Wealth Protection Planning Philanthropic Giving Probate and Estate Administration Fiduciary and Trustee Services International Estate and Tax Planning Business Succession Planning Corporate and Finance Litigation and Arbitration Commercial and Residential Real Estate
PALM BEACH GARDENS
Seacoast Banking Centre 3001 PGA Boulevard Suite 104 Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 Phone: 561.214.8500
www.cl-law.com
NAPLES | BONITA SPRINGS | PALM BEACH GARDENS | STAMFORD | GREENWICH | WEST HARTFORD
Daniel A. Seigel
Law Offices of Daniel A. Seigel, P.A. Boca Raton 561-264-8931 seigel-law.com
Ronald L. Siegel
Michael D. Simon
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0677 gunster.com
Michael S. Singer
David G. Bates
Gunster West Palm Beach 561-650-0793 gunster.com
John G. Igoe
Kevin T. Lamb
WORKERS COMPENSATION LAW
Robert Bamdas
Schouest, Bamdas, Soshea & BenMaier PLLC Boca Raton 561-990-1699 ext. 504 sbsblaw.com
Chris M. Calihan
Hightower, Stratton, Novigrod & Kantor West Palm Beach 561-833-2022 hightowerlaw.net
Michael J. Celeste Jr.
Kenneth E. Ehrlich
Felice, Ehrlich & Naparstek West Palm Beach 561-444-8822 injurytrialattorneys.com
Eli A. Franks
Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt Palm Beach 561-616-3800 franksandkoenig.com
Neal L. Ganon
Nicole V. Hessen
H. George Kagan
H. George Kagan, P.A. Gulf Stream 786-280-6577 georgekagan.com
Stanley J. Narkier
Stanley J. Narkier, P.A. West Palm Beach 561-689-5208 narkier.com
Louis P. Pfeffer
Pfeffer & Associates Jupiter 561-745-8011 pfefferlaw.com
