With nearly a decade of experience in high-stakes litigation and public service, Mary E. Castillo brings a powerful blend of trial acumen, leadership, and strategic legal insight to Gilbert Garcia Group, P.A. As a former Assistant State Attorney for Hillsborough County, she has prosecuted some of the most serious felony offenses—including homicides, gang-related violence, and sex crimes—developing a reputation for integrity, meticulous preparation, and courtroom excellence. During her tenure at the State Attorney’s Office, Mary litigated more than 35 felony jury trials to verdict and led a felony division as Deputy Chief, supervising a team of attorneys and support staff while managing a demanding felony caseload. She has also handled juvenile, misdemeanor and traffic, domestic violence and violation of probation (VOP) dockets, making her an exceptionally well-rounded advocate with deep knowledge of Florida’s criminal justice system from intake to adjudication. A graduate of Notre Dame Law School, Mary served as Executive Articles Editor for the Notre Dame Journal of Legislation and published a scholarly note on Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. She earned the Dean’s Award for Professional Responsibility and was active in leadership roles with the Hispanic Law Students Association and the Future Prosecuting Attorney’s Council. She also studied abroad at Notre Dame’s prestigious London Law Centre. In addition to her legal expertise, Mary is pursuing an MBA from the University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business, with a concentration in Compliance, Risk, and Anti-Money Laundering—bringing valuable and practical business knowledge to her legal practice. Mary is passionate about justice, client advocacy, and delivering exceptional legal outcomes, making her an invaluable asset to our firm and the clients we serve. We are thrilled to have her join Gilbert Garcia Group as a Litigation Attorney and Commercial Collections Supervisor.”

Ydelmis Cutino is admitted to the Florida Bar (2024). She matriculated at the W.M.U. Cooley Law School (J.D., 2021), and the University of South Florida (B.A., Business Science Management, 2018) and is certified as a Florida Notary Signing Agent, Remote Online Notary Agent, and Microsoft Office Specialist. Ydelmis joined the firm in 2021, serving Gilbert Garcia Group as a law clerk and Sapphire Title & Escrow Company as a title processor. With a strong commitment to the field, Ydelmis actively contributes to the legal and real estate communities through her writing, regularly crafting insightful articles and blogs that educate, inform, and engage readers. Ydelmis credits her interest in real property law for leading to her involvement in real estate transactions, including that of title and escrow practices. Ydelmis is bilingual in Spanish and English. She was born and raised in Miami, Florida and is of Cuban descent. Ydelmis notes, “Faith, determination, and persistence are the three keys to my life.”

Ronnie D. Dykes, P.A., is the founder and principal attorney of the Law Office of Ronnie D. Dykes. He has over 16 years of experience practicing law and a broad knowledge of the law. He has litigated hundreds of cases and closed hundreds of real estate transactions. Attorney Dykes grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and moved to Florida in 1997, where he began and continues his career in law. Mr. Dykes has obtained and received recognition during his scholastic and professional career. He attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree and graduated on the Dean's List while serving on active duty in the United States Navy. At that same time, Mr. Dykes specialized in Flight Operations and Avionics and earned 4.0 Military Evaluations, the Navy Achievement Medal, the National Defense Medal, and the Expert Pistol Medal. Thereafter, Mr. Dykes attended law school at Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he earned his Juris Doctor degree while working in Engineering at B/E Aerospace Corporation. As a practicing attorney, Mr. Dykes worked for two law firms and a title company in Fort Lauderdale, Florida before opening his own private practice. Mr. Dykes is admitted to practice in Florida State Courts, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida. Attorney Dykes is also a member of the Palm Beach County Bar Association and the Florida Lawyers Network.

Duane A. Crooks, Esq. is a trusted attorney known for passionately advocating for his clients. After earning honors from the University of Miami School of Business, Mr. Crooks continued his academic journey at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, excelling in his studies and paving the way for a successful legal career. After graduating, Mr. Crooks gained valuable experience working at several law firms specializing in personal injury and worker’s compensation. In 2003, he took a bold step and founded his personal injury law firm where he dedicated himself to recovering millions for his clients. Recognized for outstanding achievements, Mr. Crooks is a proud member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. His commitment to justice and pursuit of excellence have solidified his stellar reputation. Outside of the courtroom, Mr. Crooks enjoys exploring game theory and testing his strategic skills at the poker table. Contact Mr. Duane Crooks if you’re looking for an attorney who will prioritize your needs and fight for the best possible outcome.

James has been a lawyer for over 20 years and has dedicated his practice to personal injury. He has worked in some of the highest recorded cases in the state.

Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death Barbra earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Maryland in 1995. Since graduating law school from the University of Miami in 1998, Barbra has practiced in the area of civil litigation. During her first five years of practice, she worked as a defense attorney focusing on products liability and insurance defense. She subsequently worked for 12 years primarily in medical malpractice where she was a partner for a boutique medical malpractice defense firm. Barbra currently is of counsel at Gordon & Partners where her main practice area is medical malpractice and wrongful death.

Derrick Eihausen is a practicing lawyer in the state of Florida.

Scott Willinger is a practicing lawyer in the state of Florida handling Estate matters.

Jeanmarie Whalen is an experienced civil trial lawyer and shareholder in the law firm of Domnick Cunningham & Whalen. She has a statewide and national practice devoted solely to representing the victims of catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death. Ms. Whalen has litigated complex cases and specializes in trucking, automobile, aviation, maritime, bicycle, as well as motorcycle and pedestrian accidents. She has obtained an excess of over 30 multi-million dollar recoveries for her clients and earned membership into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a nationwide forum limited to trial lawyers who have won multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. Ms. Whalen has achieved an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available from the nation’s oldest guide to the legal profession, for her legal ability and ethical standards. She has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America in the field of personal injury, Florida “Super Lawyers” and as a “Top Lawyer” by the South Florida Legal Guide multiple times.

Proudly taking Estate cases for the last 30 years in Palm Harbor, Florida.