Attorney Susan L. Stockham has been an Adoption and Reproductive Law attorney in Florida since 1982. Her practice specializes in adoption and surrogacy related legal matters. In her 30 years of practice she has assisted over 2,000 couples in domestic, international, independent and agency related adoptions; as well as surrogacy related family matters. Susan is a Florida Bar Board Certified Adoption Law Attorney and a member of the prestigious Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys. Susan is also the mother of four by adoption - two adopted as young children and two adopted as adults. Susan proudly represents parties in LGTBQ (same-sex), relative, stepparent and grandparent adoptions. In addition to adoptions, Ms. Stockham has represented gestational carriers, surrogates and intended parents in building families. Susan is the recipient the of the Angel Adoption Award from The Congressional Coalition of Adoption Institute; and the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient from The Florida Adoption Council. Susan L. Stockham also serves on the Florida Bar Adoption Law Board Certification Committee.

Gary R. Jodat is the founding and managing attorney of Jodat Law Group, P.A. He received his Juris Doctorate Degree from Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida. He received his undergraduate degree from Roger Williams University. He got his feet wet while fresh out of law school by taking a job with the Public Defender’s Office trying criminal, Juvenile and Dependency cases prior to transferring into civil litigation. He now handles primarily personal injury cases. He has been a member of The American Bar Association, The Manatee County Bar Association, The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce, The Manatee County Chamber of Commerce, American Inns of Court and Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

Mr. Coyne started his career as a prosecutor for the State of Florida in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. While acting as a prosecutor, he individually handled thousands of cases. He specialized in DUI and domestic violence. After leaving the State Attorney's Office, Mr. Coyne accepted a position representing the City of Sarasota and specifically the Sarasota Police Department. Mr. Coyne acted as the chief litigator for the City of Sarasota, representing the City in asset forfeitures, personal injury cases, contract disputes and civil rights violations. Mr. Coyne also advised several civilian volunteer boards, including but not limited to the Nuisance Abatement Board, the Police Advisory Board, the Board of Rules and Appeals (Building Department) and other temporary boards.

Finishing his undergraduate degree at The State University of New York at Oswego, William Galarza went on to St. John’s University to earn his Juris Doctor degree. Admitted in the State of New York in 1986, he’s been practicing law for nearly 30 years, helping hundreds of clients and winning countless cases. In 2001, he was admitted in the State of New Jersey, going on to earn his Master’s Degree in Taxation from Fairleigh Dickenson University. In 2004 he went on to the State of Florida. Along with bankruptcy, Mr. Galarza also specializes in foreclosure defense, DWI and DUI law, criminal law, family and divorce law, trust and estate law, and personal injury law. Our lawyers have extensive knowledge, experience, and versatility. The Sarasota lawyers at Galarza Law Firm are dedicated to bettering the lives of our clients. Open, understanding and willing to do whatever it takes to help, our greatest success is seeing our clients succeed. Whether that means helping them plan for their financial future, giving them a clean start, or helping them get what they deserve, we are always in your corner, ready to serve. We employ some of the most professional and experienced bankruptcy lawyers in the Sarasota, FL area. To give you your best chance, we will discuss your case and your options at no cost to you, so you have the paths laid out in front of you and a law firm ready to walk any of them with you. Contact us today and get a free consultation, and get Sarasota’s leading bankruptcy attorney on your side.

Mr. Nelson’s experience includes over thirty (30) years of practice in Circuit and County Courts in Florida. Mr. Nelson’s experience also includes representing clients in arbitration and mediation. Mr. Nelson is a member in good standing of The Florida Bar Association, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the Manatee County Bar Association. Mr. Nelson is a past President and a past Director of the Manatee County Bar Association. Mr. Nelson is also a Florida Supreme Court certified Circuit Court Mediator. Mr. Nelson attended the University of Florida from 1979 – 1981 before transferring to the University of Notre Dame where he majored in Government and International Relations and obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1984. Mr. Nelson obtained a Juris Doctorate Degree from Stetson University College of Law in 1987. In 1987 Mr. Nelson moved to Bradenton, Florida from St. Petersburg, Florida with his wife, Margie and he joined the law firm of Harllee, Porges, Hamlin & Brownell, P.A. (n/k/a Porges, Hamlin, Knowles & Hawk, P.A. ) where he was a shareholder from 1993 – 2002. Mr. Nelson was a shareholder in the law firm of Ozark, Perron & Nelson, P.A. from 2002 to 2014, until he formed his own law firm in July of 2014. Mr. Nelson has previously served as President of South Manatee Sertoma Club, Chairman of the Board of Gulf Coast Marine Institute, Director and Chairman of the Agency Relations and Allocations Committee of the United Way of Manatee County, Governmental Affairs Chair and Director of the HomeBuilders Association of Manatee County, Chairman of the Young Children Priority One Committee and Vice President of the Bradenton Kiwanis Club. Mr. Nelson was a Manatee High School Mock Trial Team Coach for eight years from 2004 through 2012.Mr. Nelson’s experience includes over thirty (30) years of practice in Circuit and County Courts in Florida. Mr. Nelson’s experience also includes representing clients in arbitration and mediation. Mr. Nelson is a member in good standing of The Florida Bar Association, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the Manatee County Bar Association. Mr. Nelson is a past President and a past Director of the Manatee County Bar Association. Mr. Nelson is also a Florida Supreme Court certified Circuit Court Mediator. Mr. Nelson attended the University of Florida from 1979 – 1981 before transferring to the University of Notre Dame where he majored in Government and International Relations and obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1984. Mr. Nelson obtained a Juris Doctorate Degree from Stetson University College of Law in 1987. In 1987 Mr. Nelson moved to Bradenton, Florida from St. Petersburg, Florida with his wife, Margie and he joined the law firm of Harllee, Porges, Hamlin & Brownell, P.A. (n/k/a Porges, Hamlin, Knowles & Hawk, P.A. ) where he was a shareholder from 1993 – 2002. Mr. Nelson was a shareholder in the law firm of Ozark, Perron & Nelson, P.A. from 2002 to 2014, until he formed his own law firm in July of 2014. Mr. Nelson has previously served as President of South Manatee Sertoma Club, Chairman of the Board of Gulf Coast Marine Institute, Director and Chairman of the Agency Relations and Allocations Committee of the United Way of Manatee County, Governmental Affairs Chair and Director of the HomeBuilders Association of Manatee County, Chairman of the Young Children Priority One Committee and Vice President of the Bradenton Kiwanis Club. Mr. Nelson was a Manatee High School Mock Trial Team Coach for eight years from 2004 through 2012.

Richard Ruhl (Rick) grew up in Charlotte County and was admitted to practice in Florida in 2002, and has been in private practice in southwest Florida since 2003. He attended elementary, junior high, and high school in Englewood and college in Fort Myers, graduating from International College, with a Bachelor's degree, summa cum laude. After this, he finished his Juris Doctorate at St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami in 2001. After admission to the bar, Rick accepted a job with the Public Defender's Office, and from there, accepted a job offer from the Law Office of Robert Distefano in Fort Lauderdale. After spending a year with Robert Distefano, he moved back to Charlotte County to open his own practice. In 2011, Rick joined the firm of Ruhl Law. Contact Rick at Rick@ruhllaw.com or by phone at (855) RUHL-LAW.

I am a veteran of the United States Air Force and served as an Assistant State Attorney for over three years in both Lee and Charlotte County. During these years, I handled thousands of criminal cases ranging from DUIs and other misdemeanors to complex felony economic crimes and sex crimes. This afforded me invaluable trial experience as well as allowing me the ability to learn the inner workings of the Judicial System. I have since decided to refocus my efforts on serving the community by protecting the rights of those accused of criminal offenses. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems from City University of Seattle and an M.B.A. from the University of Colorado. After years of work as a software engineer, I chose to pursue a degree in law and graduated with Honors from Ave Maria School of Law in 2017. While in law school, I gained experience in Criminal Law through an internship with the US Attorney’s Office in Fort Myers and worked with a firm in Naples, focusing on litigation involving real-estate and investment disputes. I look forward to using my knowledge, experience, and determination to help you get past whatever legal hurdle happens to be in your way.

Michael was born and raised in Florida. He spent much of his youth working in orange groves and watermelon fields in Central Florida. Michael knows the roots of this community and works hard to help people in all circumstances. After obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Utah State University in 2008, Michael pursued a law degree from the Florida Coastal School of Law. He graduated in 2011 and was admitted to the Florida Bar. Michael is also licensed to practice law in Georgia. While in school, Michael interned with the State Attorney's Office and went on to work as an Assistant State Attorney. He learned the criminal justice system first hand and found his passion for criminal defense. In addition to his background working on criminal cases, Michael also has experience in resolving family law and civil litigation.