Robert “Rob” Eckard is the founding partner in this litigation firm. He established the firm in 2000 after leaving the State Attorney’s Office, 6th Judicial Circuit, Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida, where he prosecuted both felony and misdemeanor criminal cases. Rob is Board Certified in Business Litigation by the Florida Bar (less than 300 lawyers in the State of Florida are Board Certified in Business Litigation), specializes in white-collar criminal investigations and defense, all areas of commercial/business litigation, professional licensing, and administrative proceedings for physicians, health-care professionals, attorneys, accountants, securities dealer/brokers, insurance agents etc. Rob’s background, training, and experience in both business litigation, government investigations, and criminal defense make him uniquely qualified to handle business crimes.

Drew is a business litigation attorney with his focus on complex business & commercial litigation. He is well-versed in matters involving contract disputes, business torts, partnership agreements, shareholder disputes and derivative actions, securities fraud matters, noncompete agreements, trade secret litigation, and unfair and deceptive trade practices cases. Drew has also handled several high-profile matters in pre-suit and active suit to help clients attack claims against them to receive a favorable result. In addition to his complex business & commercial litigation practice, Drew represents employers in a variety of cases involving employment and labor disputes. Drew’s experience in these matters includes representing employers in cases involving Florida’s Whistleblower Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) collective action cases, and cases alleging discrimination and retaliation against the employer for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA). Drew has litigated these cases in state and federal court. He also routinely handles Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) claims. Drew also has experience representing clients Administrative Cases and Government Investigations brought by agencies including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and in forfeiture proceedings brought by Customers and Border Protection, and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Licensing in concealed weapon license revocations. Drew serves as outside general counsel to a leading prepaid card company in the area of clinical research and study related payments. This representation focuses on convenience and inactivity fee issues, federal and state consumer credit regulatory impacts, consumer-facing disclosures, affiliate marketing, third-party contracts, bank regulatory applications, and prepaid card bank program agreements. Drew has experience in all phases of litigation, from inception through trial. Drew’s approach is pragmatic and effective, taking into account economic realities and offering practical solutions to clients. He is experienced representing a variety of businesses and individuals, from small businesses to large regional corporations.

For over three decades, medical malpractice lawyer Richard M. Shapiro has been working to defend the rights of injured individuals, children and families due to medical malpractice. Throughout his career, Richard has become a formidable adversary in the field of medical negligence. He takes pride in focusing a large portion of his legal practice to representing children injured by negligent healthcare. These children make up more than 90 percent of his client base.

Estefania Laurita, a partner at the Immigration Advocates, is a licensed attorney in Florida, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Florida Atlantic University and a Juris Doctor from Barry University-Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law. Throughout her academic journey, Estefania demonstrated strong leadership in organizations such as the American Constitution Society and the Hispanic American Law Student Association. Her active involvement in the Immigration Clinic resulted in the successful prevention of a client’s deportation. Beyond her legal pursuits, Mrs. Laurita is deeply dedicated to community service. She dedicated her time to teaching Citizenship classes and assisting low-income immigrants with Temporary Protected Status and Naturalization. Estefania is determined to channel this commitment into serving clients at The Immigration Advocates, where she brings both her expertise and firsthand understanding to make a meaningful impact.

Haneen Kutub is a Partner at Petrovitch and Kutub and an accomplished attorney with over 13 years of legal experience. She dedicates her practice to the areas of estate planning, probate, elder law, business planning, trust administration, and guardianship. “I’m 100% committed to providing personalized services to our clients and premium legal representation infused with kindness. Many of the issues we help clients with are emotionally difficult and we are here for them at the hardest moments in their lives.” shares Haneen.

Jennifer Petrovitch is the Managing Partner and Founder of The Law Office of Petrovitch & Kutub, PA. Jennifer was born in Maryland, but was raised in Palm Beach County, Florida. Jennifer values the importance of client contact and is committed to giving each and every client the attention needed to their individual case. “My why is my dad.” reflects Jennifer. I changed my career because of dad’s passing from cancer. Our Family went through a lot of strife around the estate. I saw what goes on first hand when someone dies.” Jennifer has been on both sides. She brings compassion to her work as she works from experience. “I know how vulnerable a family is after a loss.” Jennifer is fluent in Portuguese, as both her parents were born and raised in Brazil.

Gerrard is a trusted business and tax advisor to entrepreneurs, closely held family businesses, and startups. He is a Florida Bar Board Certified Tax Attorney and serves clients across various industries including finance, hospitality, technology, real estate, healthcare, manufacturing, and entertainment. His experience as both a business-tax attorney and CPA is the best of both worlds for many clients and the skillsets he mastered in both areas stand out among his peers. Gerrard understands the financial implications of tax matters while navigating the legal aspects of complex tax law and business law matters for his clients and their advisors. His law practice includes representing early-stage startups to mid-size businesses and advising on capital raising, M&A, debt-refinancing, structuring complex transactions, and estate planning and asset protection. Gerrard serves as outside general counsel to for-profit organizations which include a registered investment advisory firm with $300 million in AUM and multiple non-profit organizations. In that capacity, he advises management on issues ranging from minimizing legal exposure and contract drafting and review, to daily operational matters. Having over a decade of experience representing taxpayers against the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Internal Revenue Service, and state and local taxing authorities, Gerrard devotes a significant part of his practice to helping taxpayers both domestically and internationally navigate all aspects of federal and state tax controversy matters. These matters include but are not limited to IRS liens and levies, employment and payroll tax, IRS appeals, CDP hearings, IRS audits, and examinations, IRS installment agreements, offer in compromise, and when needed, litigation in the U.S. Tax Court. Gerrard serves in various leadership roles within the Florida Bar and in his community. He is the 2023 – 2024 Chair of the Florida Bar Tax Certification Committee and serves on the Executive Council of the Tax Section where he is a Co-Chair of the IRS Collection Activities Subcommittee. He is a member of the Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section. He is also a proud board member of the UCF Alumni Board and sits on the Advisory Board of the Orlando Sports Foundation, Inc. As an attorney, Gerrard received the esteemed AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating for attorneys who are ranked by their peers for exhibiting the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards. He has been recognized in publications such as Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers, Florida Trend Legal Elite, and Orlando Family Magazine as an Awesome Attorney in Tax Law. In his spare time, Gerrard enjoys spending time with his family and is an avid sports fan of the Toronto Raptors NBA basketball team and enjoys rooting for the UCF Knights and Florida Gators sports teams. He is a supporter of Orlando City SC and Chelsea FC football clubs.

Ashley N. Naylor received her Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Florida State University and her Juris Doctor from Florida State University College of Law. She joined the firm after graduating from law school in 2013. Her primary practice areas are estate planning, probate, and trust administration. She is a member of Volusia County Bar Association and Florida Bar Association. She is also a member of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar.

Trisha Dellinger received her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law. She was admitted to the bar in 1997 and joined the firm in that same year. During her 25 plus years with Pyle, Dellinger & Naylor, PLLC, she has continuously concentrated in the areas of real estate and business transactions, elder law, estate planning, probate and trust administration. She is a member of the Volusia County Bar Association and Florida Bar Association. She is also a member of the Real Property Council of Volusia County, Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar.

Craig R. Woodward practices law in Woodward, Pires & Lombardo’s Marco Island location. He joined his father, Arthur V. Woodward, Esq., in 1980. With decades of knowledge of the history and development of the local area, Craig brings a wealth of experience and insight to his clients in solving their legal matters. He handles real estate law, zoning issues, estate planning, probate, business law, and local government law. He represents hotels, restaurants, time-share projects, contractors, marinas, land developers, homeowner associations, real estate companies, banks, and private individuals. Craig held Board Certified in Real Estate Law by The Florida Bar from 1993 – 2023, having been the first Collier County attorney to receive this certification. He is rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™, the rating standard given only to attorneys who rank at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers. Active in the community, Craig was the keynote speaker for Marco’s 50th Anniversary in 2015 and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Marco Island Chamber of Commerce and “Keys to the City” by the City of Marco Island, Marco City Council. He regularly writes historical articles and delivers lectures on Marco Island’s history, including to Leadership Marco classes each year. Craig is also Vice President of First Title & Abstract, Inc. and President of North Marco Utility Co., Inc. He was previously attorney for the Marco Island Independent Fire District (1991-1995).