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.

I am multi-lingual with a business background, I have worked in the financial industry for over five years, I bring this experience with me to Yennes Law.

Attorney Davis is a partner at Boone and Davis and focuses his practice on helping the injured recover compensation and attain justice through personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits and settlements. Mr. Davis first began his legal career as a law clerk for David Boone while attending law school. Two years later, he and attorney Boone began their partnership, and they have since helped thousands of clients recover the compensation they need after suffering serious personal injuries. Attorney Davis’ practice ranges from offering support and guidance to those injured in auto accidents to counseling patients injured by doctor negligence and representing victims injured by defective products. Mr. Davis is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum®, an organization whose membership is limited to trial attorneys who have demonstrated exceptional skills, experience and excellence in advocacy and trial strategies through their achievement of a trial verdict or settlement in the amount of $1 million or more. Attorney Davis is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated from Martindale-Hubbell®, which signifies a high level of legal ability and ethical standards as judged by his peers. His clients have also rated him five out of five on Lawyers.com based on his communication ability, responsiveness, quality of service and value. Mr. Davis is proud of his accessibility to clients and is devoted to being available to answer questions at any time. He even provides clients with his cell phone number to facilitate open communication. In addition to his reputation among clients and peers, Mr. Davis is involved in improving the practice of personal injury law. He belongs to a discussion group and travels to conferences for the National Crime Victim Bar Association, an organization that focuses on helping victims of crime receive the proper medical and emotional care they need and the compensation they deserve. He regularly attends the association’s annual national convention. Attorney Davis also belongs to a discussion list that enables lawyers from state to state to share legal information, obtain opinions and further their legal knowledge.

Phil Calandrino is a practicing lawyer in the state of Florida.

Garrett P. LaBorde is the Founder and Managing Attorney of LABORDE LEGAL GROUP, a multi-state hybrid law firm with attorneys/staff serving Corporate, Business, Contracts, Trademark, Intellectual PermIP, Trusts & Estate Planning Clients across Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Colorado, California, New York, New Jersey & D.C. Mr. LaBorde is admitted to practice in the State of Florida, the State of Louisiana and before various Federal Courts and Agencies. Originally from Lafayette, Louisiana, Mr. LaBorde manages Laborde Legal from the firm’s offices in Pensacola, Florida and New Orleans, Louisiana. For his undergraduate studies, Mr. LaBorde attended the University of Louisiana where he studied Electrical & Computer Engineering, English & in Political Science and obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in 1998. Mr. LaBorde then attended the Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson, Mississippi, where he earned his Juris Doctorate degree. His post-graduate honors include serving as distinguished intern to U.S. District Judge John M. Shaw, then Chief Judge of the Western District of Louisiana, and as legal intern to the Mississippi Attorney General, where he was granted Admission to the Mississippi Bar. Upon his admission in Louisiana, Mr. LaBorde established and maintained a robust statewide litigation practice, based in Shreveport & later in Lafayette. In 2007, Mr. LaBorde transferred to Florida with the firm of Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr & Smith and in 2010 joined the consulting firm, “Idea Launch Partners, LLC” as General Counsel and Principal. In 2014, Mr. LaBorde returned to private practice by founding the regional firm, LaBorde Legal Group, LLC, where he and other tech-centric practitioners collaboratively focus on the areas of Business, Technology, Intellectual Property & Entertainment Law. Additionally, Mr. LaBorde has served as a Law Practice Management & Technology advisor to solo and small firms around the country and has been a frequent lecturer on Law Practice Management & Technology for State/Local Bars, Law Schools and National Organizations. Throughout his career, Mr. LaBorde has served as a proud member and officer of the American Bar Association, its House of Delegates, the Law Practice Division and the Young Lawyers Division. Currently, he serves the Law Practice Division as a member of the “E-Lawyering Task Force”, the Education Board and the Member Development Committee. Within the Louisiana State Bar Association, Mr. LaBorde has served as in LSBA House of Delegates, Bar Journal Editorial Staff and the on the Practice Assistance Committee. Mr. LaBorde has presented various seminars and CLE’s for the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board and the Escambia-Santa Rosa (Florida) Bar Association. His community and professional affiliations have also included participation in: The Gulf Coast Intellectual Property Association (Advisory Board); Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida (Board of Directors); the Information Technology Association of the Gulf Coast (Board Member & Officer) and Leadership Pensacola, Class of 2012. Mr. LaBorde is married to a Doctor of Audiology, Jennifer R. LaBorde. They, their two sons and one daughter are active in St. Paul Catholic Church and School.

Zachary (“Zach”) W. Lombardo is a partner at Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P.A. He is a Board Certified Specialist in City, County & Local Government Law by The Florida Bar and is the City Attorney for Everglades City. Zach’s primary focus is helping public and private clients in a wide variety of land use and local government matters, including strategizing both advocacy for as well as opposition to: comprehensive plan amendments, re-zoning, and planned unit development (PUD) zoning and amendments, conditional uses and comparable use determinations, variances and non-conforming uses, land development code amendments, official interpretations and zoning verification letters, building code appeals, floodplain determinations, code enforcement, utility conveyance, right-of-way permits and vacations, easement use agreements and vacations, and litigation related to the above. He frequently appears before the Marco Island Planning Board, the Marco Island City Council, the Collier County Planning Commission, the Collier County Hearing Examiner, and the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County. Beyond land use, Zach helps public and private clients navigate various local government and environmental matters such as: public records, property tax appeals, agricultural tax exemptions, bid protests and public contracts, interlocal agreements, environmental resource permits, sovereignty land leases, and litigation related to the above He is an experienced litigator in state and federal court both at a trial court level and on appeal. In his business matters and contract drafting, Zach focuses on practical solutions. Active in the community, Zach is a lifelong environmentalist and an Eagle Scout. He is committed to doing what he can to improve the quality of the environment in the Western Everglades. A Southwest Florida native, he enjoys canoeing the waterways of Collier and Lee Counties with his family and playing the harmonica.

Founded in 2008, Gerben Perrott PLLC is a trademark and copyright law firm. The firm currently serves clients in all 50 states and from over 30 countries around the world. Founder Josh Gerben opened the firm with the goal of providing big-firm quality legal services to businesses and individuals at affordable prices. In furtherance of this goal, the firm has obtained more than 6,500 trademark registrations for its clients since opening, and has been involved in over 500 trademark enforcement and defense matters.

James Claus is a practicing lawyer in the state of Florida. Attorney Claus received his J.D. from Stanford University Law School.

The Hilton Law Group, PLLC is a Central Florida-based law firm offering services in business law.