Rahysa Vargas is the founder and Managing Partner of Vargas Law , where she primarily represents clients in Personal Injury matters and with Commercial and Residential Real Estate needs including negotiations, closings and title. Prior to starting Vargas Law, Rahysa represented insurance carriers and corporate Defendants in Catastrophic Injury cases, Premise Liability cases, cases involving Ride Shares (i.e Uber/Lyft), Negligent Security cases, Property Claims, Class Actions, and Construction Defect cases in litigation. Prior to working on the Defense side, Rahysa worked as an Attorney representing clients in the areas of Personal Injury, Mass Torts, Medical Malpractice claims, Workers’ Compensation claims and Longshore and Harbor Act based claims. It is there where her passion to help others began, however she knew that working on the Defense side for corporate clients would ultimately lead to long term rewards and experience with litigation to ultimately fight for her clients today. Rahysa brings years of litigation experience and knowledge on both sides in order to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Rahysa is licensed to practice law in the state of Florida and is fluent in Spanish. Rahysa is also the founder of Ms. Esquire, a networking platform for women attorney’s with over 10,000 members that focuses on empowering women in the legal profession and giving back to the community. Ms. Esquire has paired up with organizations who cater to the nation’s homeless youth population and under-privileged families within our local communities. Rahysa has been a Guest speaker at Facebook Summit for founding Ms. Esquire, one of the largest Facebook communities of its kind. In addition, she has been a guest speaker at several different organizations and institutions including Nova Southeastern Law School, BCTLA, Broward Bar, and Miami Dade FAWL. Rahysa has also been invited to speak to the Miami Federal Bureau of investigation, in honor of women history month where she shared her career story. Rahysa is passionate about giving back and serving homeless youth. Annually she teams up with Broward and Miami Dade public schools and organizations to organize drives for homeless teens. Rahysa also serves at her church Vous Church. When she is not volunteering, or advocating for her clients she spends her time with her two boys and husband who are her constant motivation.

Hi, I’m Clifford Wells and thank you for taking the time to check out my attorney bio. For the last 2 decades, I’ve worked as a personal injury lawyer pursuing claims on behalf of my clients in Pinellas, FL. I’m highly experienced with automobile collisions, tractor trailer accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrians who have been hit by a car, workplace accidents, faulty or defective products, negligent maintenance or repairs of property (premises liability), and slip and fall claims. Out of approximately 118,784 attorneys in Florida, only 1,037 of us have been Certified as an expert by the Florida Bar for Civil Trial. These are the only attorneys that can use “B.C.S.” after their name, which stands for Board Certified Specialist. I have extensive experience fighting insurance companies for failing to adequately reimburse their insureds and refusing to pay injury claims for injured people in cases ranging from injury, wrongful death, uninsured/underinsured motorist, homeowners insurance, and other property damage claims. I attend ongoing training and education as well as spend countless hours studying and perfecting negotiation and trial strategies. I am genuinely interested in the intricacies of negotiations and trial presentation. Although people sometimes make fun of me for it, I actually read books about trial technique and strategy while I’m on vacation.

When people ask what type of law I practice, I tell them that I sue insurance companies. And much of my practice does involve suing insurance companies on behalf of individuals and businesses who have had their insurance claims denied, delayed, or underpaid. Another part of my job is helping clients understand their insurance policies, setting out their options for fighting the claim decision, and explaining what they can expect to happen during and at the end of the fight with the insurance company. This involves applying the insurance law to the unique facts and policy language for each policyholder. I also draw on the experiences I’ve had with similar cases I’ve encountered over my career as an insurance attorney. Since becoming a lawyer, I have always practiced in the area of insurance law. Throughout that time, I’ve provided clients with legal advice about insurance policy interpretation, decisions about insurance claims, and I’ve helped clients determine whether insurance claim decisions were right or wrong. Many of my cases are referred to me by other attorneys that have litigated against me or come to me with their own insurance questions. I represent clients during the claim process and during any litigation that arises from the insurance claim.

Melvin Bowen Wright was born and raised in rural South Georgia. After graduation from law school he moved to Central Florida and began practicing law in Orlando in 1985, where he, his wife, and their two children enjoy living. He has over forty years of real trial experience in all types of personal injury and wrongful death litigation, including automobile and trucking accidents, premises liability, product liability, and nursing home and other institutional abuse and neglect.

Luis R. Gracia is a partner and vice president at the Law Firm of Rue & Ziffra. Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Mr. Gracia attended the University of Puerto Rico’s main campus in Rio Piedras before transferring to Florida Southern College in Lakeland, where he graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. Mr. Gracia obtained his law degree in 1998 from Texas Southern University in Houston, and shortly thereafter joined Rue & Ziffra. Mr. Gracia focuses his practice on personal injury and wrongful death cases as well as social security disability and workers’ compensation claims. He handles numerous social security disability cases throughout the United States and is intimately familiar with the relevant regulations and procedures that play a critical role in obtaining benefits. Mr. Gracia has been recognized as an expert in Social Security Disability law and is board-certified in the area of Social Security Disability by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He has earned the highest rating (10.0) and “Top Attorney” classification from AAVO, one of the country’s most recognized online legal services. Mr. Garcia also holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is that publication’s highest rating for professional excellence in legal ability and ethical standards. He is a frequent lecturer at national Social Security Disability conferences. Fully fluent in Spanish, he is a frequent guest on Spanish radio shows dealing with legal matters. In addition to being admitted to the Florida Bar Association and all Florida Courts, Mr. Gracia presently holds admissions in the Volusia County Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Florida Justice Association, the American Association for Justice, the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives where he is a sustaining member, the National Board of Social Security Disability Advocacy and the National Trial Lawyers Association among others. He is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Mr. Goldman has over 20 years of business experience. He has been involved in starting and managing technology related companies involved in distribution, manufacturing, marketing, retail, direct marketing and ecommerce. With his broad business background, Mr. Goldman concentrates in the areas of business formations, business transactions, elder law, and estate planning, and asset protection. Mr. Goldman limits his practice to Florida and Federal law.

When Russell Spatz left the Office of the Dade County State Attorney, then State Attorney, Janet Reno wrote to her former Division Chief: "You have demonstrated the best in prosecution as an Assistant State Attorney and we will miss you. On behalf of all the people of Dade County I thank you for your very dedicated public service." Since that time, Mr. Spatz has tried to live up to those words by championing his clients' causes and defending and protecting them. Mr. Spatz endeavors not only to represent clients in court but also to give them the peace of mind that comes from knowing there is someone they can trust to assist them in dealing with the overwhelming difficulties we all face in life from time to time. Mr. Spatz is a trial attorney with over 50 years of experience, devoted to providing the highest-quality representation, and committed to finding answers, settling disputes, and assisting with all manner of legal issues. His personal service and professionalism enable him to offer his clients the highest level of legal representation.

I began my legal career in 1986 when I was a senior in High School. I started as a receptionist in a busy New York law firm. From there, I became a secretary and eventually a paralegal. I have personally worked on hundreds if not thousands of cases and even assisted in the courtroom during trials. But that wasn't enough--my passion for helping people became so overwhelming that I became an attorney. I worked full time as a paralegal in a local Brevard County law firm while obtaining my undergraduate degrees with top honors and Summa Cum Laude, and graduated from Barry University School of Law. Helping people through hard times, mistakes, unfortunate and stressful personal matters is what I am here for and devoted to.

Angie founded Taxsmith, LLC after having worked for several years in the tax industry. She originally grew up in a small, rural town in North Carolina where she learned the value of working hard to succeed in life. Angie's father has worked in the hog farm business for years and her mother has been a hospice nurse for over 30 years. Her first job was working for her uncle in their family dry cleaners after school and on the weekends. It was Angie's parents who taught her that having the drive and putting the hours into work creates successful goals. She prides her success in life in the support that her family has continuously provided throughout the years. Angie graduated magna cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she obtained her B.A. in Sociology and Psychology and minored in Gerontology. While at UNC she was an NCAA Cheerleader and member of the Alpha Kappa Delta National Honor Society. She attended Florida Coastal School of Law and is admitted to the Florida Bar, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Angie believes in treating people the way that she would be treated and that does not stop with how she treats her clients. She also promises to treat every client like family and always provide honest answers. Angie lives with her chocolate lab Miller Ann and silver lab Aria Skye who can frequently be found “working” at the office. Angie enjoys working out, spending time with friends and family, playing flag football and is a huge sports fan (football, basketball, golf, etc.), in particular the UNC Tarheels.

Mark R. Osherow is a Florida Bar Board Certified Specialist in Business Litigation with over 30 years of experience. He has practiced for most of those years in both state and federal courts throughout Florida. With significant trial and alternative dispute resolution experience, Osherow has taken countless depositions and served as first-chair in numerous trials, arbitrations and mediations. He serves as a legal advisor for his clients as they assess their business risks across a large segment of industry and service providers. Lawyer.com Member Questionnaire How did you build a successful practice? Throughout my early career, I was involved in class action litigation, complex litigation for major clients and product liability cases. I was fortunate to be involved in complex cases and, through that experience, to develop expertise in a variety of areas,” he says. Osherow learned early on that success as a litigator requires a very high level of commitment and tenacity. After 2006, my practice focused almost exclusively on business litigation and related areas such as real estate, construction and employment litigation. Osherow believes in leading by example, a philosophy he developed and has carried out through his over 30 years of practice. Osherow says he works to be a good listener. That skill, combined with his experience as a board-certified business litigator, allows him to respond quickly and effectively to client needs in diverse areas of the law. He believes in The Florida Bar board certification process. He says he is proud of his certification as a board-certified business litigation specialist, and frequently encourages his colleagues to apply. “I believe in team effort and in leading in a way that makes other people want to perform for you as a team. My philosophy has come down to this – the way I define a problem is whether somebody is going to remember in a day, a week, a month, six months, a year or five years from now. If they are not going to remember it in the long term, it is really not a problem; it is just a bump in the road. And 99.9 percent of things fall into that category, although at that moment they may seem like major issues. We work in a high pressure, stressful profession and it’s important that people know someone has his or her back,” he says. “I’d say the biggest challenge is getting a case to the point that the client fully realizes how cases are resolved. It is basically strategy. Most cases can ultimately be resolved. Finding those solutions that get the participants to a point where they are ready to resolve the case is for me one of the most interesting aspects of practicing law,” Osherow says. He helps clients to see that sometimes they are motivated more by hostility, anger, frustration or something else that interferes with their ability to focus on the practical business aspects of their situation. One of his primary goals is to motivate those clients to see their situation from a practical perspective rather than an emotional perspective, to see the situation as it really is – a purely business transaction. “Sometimes clients don’t think as rationally as they believe they are and sometimes when they think rationally they don’t necessarily weigh all the different aspects of the case. It is very important to help clients see the various motivations and causes that are influencing them to make a decision. Once we have done that analysis and we have gone through all of the specifics, then they can decide whether or not litigation is called for,” he says. Osherow sometimes faces a client who initially only wants to litigate, someone who doesn’t want or doesn’t realize that one of the key aspects of a case is an attorney’s ability to resolve or at least attempt to resolve the case before the client gets involved in expensive, time-consuming and often emotionally-draining litigation. He says it is crucial for a lawyer to help a client assess his or her willingness to take a case through the litigation process and trial. The client must also feel comfortable that their law firm is providing advice that is in their best interests, whether they go the distance through trial or seek alternative dispute resolution. “I always want our clients to understand the costs and risks of the decisions they’re making. For me, that is critical. I’m always advising clients about the next step, about what they need to know, what we should be doing, and advising them constantly on pre-litigation, litigation, settlement and trial issues,” he says. Osherow says that whether cases are rewarding or difficult, an attorney has to have an even keel as a litigator. He upholds a philosophy of trust when it comes to his clients’ interests. “My father taught me to never give up and my first boss taught me how to think like a lawyer, to be precise, and to be articulate in my writing. From those mentors and others, I have come to believe strongly in creating an environment where people can do their best.” What should clients look for in a lawyer? Do not rely on what is on a lawyer’s website alone. Speak to the lawyer and make sure your questions are fully answered and there is no run around or diversion in providing direct answers. That does not mean that every question is subject to an easy answer however. Make sure the lawyer has the competence to proceed with your case or its defense. Many inexperienced lawyers claim to be experts in matters that are really outside of their experience level or abilities. Many lawyers do not have the extensive training and experience to handle complex litigation but represent to the public that they have this experience. But they can be cost effective by charging lower rates. Sometimes you get what you pay for so be careful in selecting a lawyer who can at a minimum learn the issues and competently address your situation. Look for a lawyer who will represent you or your company vigorously and professionally and will take the time to learn all the critical issues involved in your particular matter. Check for prior cases handled by the lawyer and the actual experience the lawyer has in similar or related types of cases, recognizing that each case may well present distinct issues. Find out when the lawyer was admitted to the Bar and if they are Board Certified as a specialist in their particular area of practice, which can also help select a lawyer with the competency to handle a matter within their specialty. How important is local knowledge to the success of your cases? It is important to know the lawyers on the other side and the court rules and the reputations and differences in the way judges handle cases before them. This helps provide each client with valuable insight on how the case may progress in court. Where a case is in arbitration, where possible, it is critical to know the reputation of the arbitrators who may be chosen to hear the case.