Corporate

Born in New York, New York, Neale was raised on Miami Beach and as of November, 2009 Neale will have practiced law in the state of Florida continuously for forty (40) years.  He is AU rate by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating.He specializes in complex commercial litigation and appeals both Federal and State, primarily for financial institutions.  He has represented banks, thrifts, real estate entities, private and public companies, investors and REIT's for years (once having served as General Counsel for Diversified Mortgage Investors, an REIT whose shares were traded on the New York Stock Exchange in the 1970's and 80's.)  He also handles the defense of professional malpractice matters.  He is likewise skilled in loan documentation and corporate commercial and real estate work outs.In 1987, Neale achieved what was then regarded as the fourth or fifth largest jury verdict in the history of Knox County Tennessee in a legal malpractice case where he represented a plaintiff who was a principle of a coal brokerage company.  The verdict was rendered by a twelve (12) person jury in Knoxville, Tennessee, and was for $2.8 million dollars.Neale is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Civil Mediator, is on the panel of Arbitrators for the American Arbitration Association, and has served on several arbitration panels of the National Association of Security Dealers (now known as "FINRA") as a NASD arbitrator.Before joining this firm as a partner, Neale was a name partner in a law firm which was general counsel for BankUnited FSB, the largest Florida based bank.

A native of Angleton, Texas in Brazoria County, Jeff Gilbert is a 6th generation Texan with deep roots to his community. Graduating from Angleton High School in 1978, Mr. Gilbert attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas where he was involved in the leadership of many campus service and social organizations. Upon completion of his business degree (BBA) in 1982, Mr. Gilbert returned to Brazoria County going to work for the First Freeport National Bank in Freeport, Texas. Mr. Gilbert later returned to Baylor where he enrolled in the graduate school of business obtaining his degree (MBA) while working as the night manager of the Baylor Student Union. Upon graduation, Mr. Gilbert began a career in banking and corporate investments before entering South Texas College of Law at the age of 27. While in law school, Jeff participated in many intramural moot court and mock trial competitions. Interestingly and of note, Jeff tried and won his first jury trial while in law school serving as an intern with the Harris County District Attorney's office before receiving his J.D. from South Texas College of Law in December 1989. Mr. Gilbert then accepted a position in the Trial Bureau of the Harris County District Attorney's office in Houston, Texas where he tried multiple jury and non-jury cases as a juvenile, misdemeanor and then felony prosecutor. In 1993, Mr. Gilbert left the District Attorney's office to join a prestigious Houston based civil litigation firm. Since that time, his practice has concentrated on litigation, including medical malpractice, pharmaceutical and toxic tort litigation with firms in Houston, Angleton and Dallas, Texas. In January 2006, Mr. Gilbert began a Brazoria County based practice and formed Jeffrey R. Gilbert, P.C. Mr. Gilbert is a member of The State Bar of Texas (Section Memberships include: Criminal Law, Family Law, Juvenile Law), The Brazoria County Bar Association (Past President 2008-2009), The Houston Bar Association, and is a Fellow of the Houston Bar Foundation. He is also a member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, The College of the State Bar of Texas and is a Fellow of the Trial Advocacy Institute of the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company. He is admitted to practice before all courts of the State of Texas and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Mr. Gilbert remains a Trial Attorney. His practice focuses on criminal, family and general litigation. Mr. Gilbert was honored to serve two terms (1996 through 1998) as a special judge of the Harris County Criminal Courts at Law. This appointment was made by the 15 county criminal court at law judges of Harris County. Mr. Gilbert presided over hundreds of case dispositions and numerous trials in this position. Active in his community, Mr. Gilbert currently serves on the City of Lake Jackson Planning Commission, as a Board Member and Preseident-elect of the Brazosport Symphony Orchestra Council, as a three-term President of the Brazoswood Buccaneer Band Booster Club (2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011), he is a past president and former board member of the Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club, and has been a delegate to every Senate District (1996 and 1998, SD #7; 2000, SD #8; and 2002, 2004 , 2006 and 2008, and 2010, SD #17) and State Republican convention since 1996. Mr. Gilbert and his family are proud to trace their Texas roots to John Bradbury Follett who settled in Texas on Follett Island near San Luis Pass in Brazoria County. Accordingly, Mr. Gilbert is a proud member of the Stephen F. Austin Chapter of the Sons of the Republic of Texas. Mr. Gilbert attends BrazosPointe Fellowship in Lake Jackson, where he serves as an usher, greeter, has previously led an adult "Home Team" and has been active in its children's ministries. Mr. Gilbert is the father of two children: Will, a student at Texas A&M University and Morgan, a student at Brazoswood High School. Mr. Gilbert is the son of the late Ralph W. Gilbert, a long-time Angleton attorney, and Fannie Mae Follett Gilbert a life-long resident of Brazoria County. Special Training and experience - Trained Mediator - AA White Dispute Resolution Institute; University of Houston Law Center; Certified for Approval of Court-Ordered Mediations; Trained Family Law Mediator Travis County Dispute Resolution Center; Credentialed and Qualified Family Law Mediator; Trained Ad Litem - Harris County Civil Court Ad Litem Training Course, 1998, 2005; Trained Guardianship Attorney Ad Litem - Completed Training Required by Texas Probate Code for service as Attorney Ad Litem in State Courts Areas of Practice Mediation Business & Commercial Law Contracts Business Organizations Sexual Harassment Construction Law Criminal Law DUI/DWI Guardianships & Conservatorships Wills Family Law Adoption Custody & Visitation Divorce Litigation & Appeals Personal Injury -- Plaintiff Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff Probate & Estate Administration Products Liability Law Medical Malpractice Real Estate Law

Named an Indiana SuperLawyer in personal injury in 2016 and 2017, Steve Crell has for the last 28 years aggressively represented clients in all areas of litigation, including personal injuries and wrongful death involving auto and truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and nursing home negligence/abuse, and litigation involving real estate and business and labor disputes. His website devoted solely to his personal injury services, including a summary of some of the verdicts and settlements he has achieved for his clients, is here: www.stevecrelllaw.com. Mr. Crell is a Life Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Membership in this exclusive group is limited to attorneys who have won at least one verdict or settlement of $1 Million or more. Less than 1% of attorneys in the United States are members. The forum recognizes attorneys with the ability to accomplish superior results in complex cases. Mr. Crell has been an innovator in the use of pre-trial and even pre-lawsuit mediation to assist clients in achieving settlements and avoiding controversies and the associated expense and stress that often accompany the protracted litigation of such disputes. When a settlement is not possible, Steve has the jury trial, court trial and arbitration experience in Federal and state courts to competently, professionally and aggressively assert, protect and defend the claims of his clients. Steve has the requisite training and has met the qualifications to mediate disputes. He is now registered with the Indiana courts as a Registered Civil Mediator. Mr. Crell also assists clients in forming businesses and creating, drafting and managing sophisticated business and corporate and real estate transactions. Mr. Crell received his B.S. degree in Accounting from Ball State University in 1985 and his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis in 1988, where he was a recipient of the Francis J. Feeney, Jr. tax award for academic excellence in taxation. Mr. Crell was a charter member and Barrister of the Indianapolis Chapter of the American Inn of Court, an invitation-only group of judges and trial lawyers. He has been admitted to and argued before the United States Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit, the United States Tax Court, and the Indiana Supreme and Appellate courts. He is a member of the Torts and Litigation sections of the American Bar Association, The Indiana Bar Association, and the Indianapolis Bar Association, where he served on the pro-bono committee that oversees and recognizes lawyers who provide free legal services to those in need. Mr. Crell has lectured and taught classes on navigating the superior and small claims courts, and on managed health care and other business-related topics. He is the Past-President and member of the board of directors of Congregation Beth-El Zedeck and Past-President and a member of the Board of Directors of Hooverwood Nursing Home, a non-profit, state of the art comprehensive nursing and rehabilitation center that specializes in the care of Alzheimer's residents. He formerly served on the board of directors of the Indiana Cancer Research Foundation.

Legal challenges require top-level experience and skill. That’s why individuals and businesses in West Virginia (WV) turn to attorney William C. Brewer at William C. Brewer & Associates, PLLC. Serving clients throughout the state, William C. (Bill) Brewer provides reliable advice, decades of experience, and guidance grounded in common sense, capably lifting the legal burden from your shoulders. When someone remarks that “you’re going to need a good lawyer,” then they mean retaining the services of someone like WV trial lawyer Bill Brewer. The reason is quite simple: Brewer is one of the leading trial attorneys in West Virginia, but his background as a business owner makes him an asset to those in the corporate world as well. Brewer has represented an impressive roster of clients in an equally remarkable number of industries, so it’s safe to say that the Morgantown trial attorney can ably handle nearly any type of case. Individuals and businesses have relied on this depth of experience for nearly four decades and continue to do so with the legal team at William C. Brewer & Associates, PLLC. Brewer received his education at West Virginia University, earning a bachelor of arts degree in biology (1976). A year later, he earned a bachelor of science in accounting, also from WVU. From there, he attended George Mason University School of Law (now Antonin Scalia Law School) in Arlington, Virginia, where, in 1980, he earned a juris doctor. Since Brewer’s admission to practice law in West Virginia (1981) and before the US District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (1981), the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (1981), the US District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (1982), and the US Bankruptcy Court (1989), he has been integral to protecting individuals and businesses in asserting their legal rights or defending against claims or charges against them.

James A. Fisher is a shareholder and President of the Vandervoort, Christ & Fisher, P.C. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and his law degree from Wayne State University. Jim's practice is now focused on providing the highest level of client services and legal representation in the areas of Family Law (Divorce, Custody, Alimony, and related tax issues, Post-Judgment Modification issues, complex Property Division cases and Pre/Post Nuptial Agreements) and Estate and Tax Planning. Jim practices in Calhoun, Branch, Kalamazoo, Barry, and Eaton counties. Jim has been recognized as a Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation, a distinguished group of attorneys chosen for their professional excellence and service to the community. He was also selected and named one of Michigan's "Super Lawyers" in the area of Family Law. Super Lawyers identifies the top 5 percent of attorneys in each state, as chosen by their peers through the independent research of law. Jim has an "AV" rating by Martindale-Hubbell, the facilitator of a peer review process. The legal ability rating of "A" indicates a very high to preeminent legal rating. A General Ethical Standards rating of "V" indicates a very high ethical standard. Based upon a survey of his peers, Leader Lawyers.com and the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys have recognized Jim for his excellence in the field of Family Law. In addition to being a member of the State Bar of Michigan, wherein he is a member of the Family Law section, he is also involved in several professional associations including the American Bar Association, the Calhoun County Bar Association of which he is a past president and member of the Friend of the Court/Family Law Committee, and the Branch County Bar Association. Jim has been an active member of many community organizations and nonprofit corporations. He is past Chairman of the Board of the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce and also a past President of the Rotary Club of Battle Creek, where he has been recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.

Louis F. Pignatelli currently practices law in several areas, focusing primarily on trial practice in cases concerning serious personal injury, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse and neglect, and wrongful death. Soon after being sworn-in, Attorney Pignatelli began to practice with his father, then Mayor Louis J. Pignatelli. He maintained the family practice while simultaneously serving as the youngest State’s Attorney in the history of Whiteside County. He rededicated exclusively to private practice in the late-1970s. Over the years, his practice has focused on obtaining compensation for injured people and their families. He has selected a handful of cases to follow this biography for your consideration. In addition to obtaining justice for injured people, Attorney Pignatelli has extensive experience in finance and financial litigation in competitive market sectors. Pignatelli secured the financing for his first residential development project with the title to his late-model Datsun. To date, he continues development of residential properties — both single-family and multi-unit — as well as commercial and industrial real estate in northwestern Illinois. Pignatelli worked with the Chicago-based Gamel Broadcasting Group. Over time he acquired a minority stake and later purchased a controlling interest in the group’s five-tower, 1,000-watt Fox Valley-area station under the call letters WFXW, serving news, talk and nightly music to Geneva, St. Charles and Batavia. Pignatelli served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Skolniks, a publicly-traded company on the NASDAQ. Then a director, Pignatelli stepped-up to captain the corporation — which produced the baked goods including the Olive Garden’s beloved breadsticks, as well as bagels and other bakery products — following the ousting of several members of management who were found to be complicit in corporate scandal. Under Pignatelli’s leadership, the national brand, franchise and wholesale divisions navigated toward an outcome in the best interests of its shareholders. Pignatelli serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Community State Bank of Illinois.

During his career, Mr. Sonn has litigated numerous cases to successful resolution, recovering many millions of dollars for defrauded investors. He recently won a $50 million final judgment in Katz v. MRT Holdings, one of the few cases in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act passed in 1995 to yield a final judgment on the merits. Frequently, Mr. Sonn serves as a television commentator on securities fraud and ponzi scheme cases for CNBC, The CBS Sunday Morning Show, BBC Radio, ABC and MSNBC. Mr. Sonn was the CNBC contributing expert on the Bernard Madoff Ponzi Scheme for the CNBC shows “On the Money” and “Scam of the Century, Bernie Madoff and the $50 Billion Dollar Heist.” Mr. Sonn recently appeared in the CNBC show “American Greed.”

Attorney Cramer has more than 30 years of practice. Michael developed a statewide practice focused on litigation. His cases range from breach of contract to construction delay claims against the State of Texas. He also works with Family Law and Divorce cases. His business litigation practice includes the representation of corporations of all sizes. Michael has considerable experience in assisting corporations to avoid litigation through consultancy and risk avoidance. He counsels business owners on the best type of entity for their corporate structure and then assists the business in every step of the process from formation to contracts, collections to dissolution, and everything in between. Michael’s business law clients include construction companies, contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers, franchisors, owners, architects, business partners and many other entities in litigation matters. His family law clients include parents, grandparents, couples, and conservators in all areas of family law.

Our attorneys at Bornstein Oppenheimer, PLLC are highly experienced and reputable litigators, negotiators, advocates, and counselors. Together with a support staff of several full-time paralegals and legal secretaries, we are committed to serving each and every client with the highest levels of respect, courtesy, and professionalism. We represent persons injured, and families of persons killed, by accidents and the negligence of others, including motor vehicle drivers, building owners, doctors, hospitals, municipalities, owners of vicious animals, and landlords in Louisville and across Kentucky and Southern Indiana. The partners at Bornstein Oppenheimer, PLLC are William Bornstein.

Lisle W. Blackbourn is the President and Managing Partner of Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth, S.C., and chairs the firm's litigation division. Lisle earned his law degree from Marquette University Law School in 1982, where he was a member of the Marquette Law Review. Lisle has developed a comprehensive civil trial practice, concentrating in complex business, corporate, and land use litigation, along with extensive experience in plaintiffs' personal injury matters. Lisle has achieved successful results for many clients, large and small, commercial and individual, and has appeared in state and federal courts throughout the United States. Lisle has received board certification from the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) as a Civil Trial Specialist. NBTA is accredited by the American Bar Association to provide board certification through a rigorous application process and an exacting set of standards and examinations on a nationwide scale. Board certified trial attorneys engage in litigation of civil controversies before state and federal courts. To become board certified, Lisle was required to pass the NBTA written examination, which covers trial law, civil procedure, evidence, and ethics. The exam is written and graded by attorneys and law professors. The NBTA requested submission of confidential performance reviews from judges before whom Blackbourn had appeared, and from attorneys with whom he had worked. NBTA reviewed samples of legal briefs Blackbourn had written for scholarly content. Blackbourn was further required to submit proof of participation in at least 100 jury trials and other contested matters as lead counsel, to demonstrate a concentration of his practice in trial law. The NBTA board certification process is designed to identify lawyers who possess an enhanced level of skill and expertise in trial advocacy, and who have demonstrated superior professional competence. Nationally, only about 2200 attorneys have received civil trial board certification to date. Lisle has been named a Wisconsin Super Lawyer in 2010, by the Wisconsin Super Lawyers magazine. The Super Lawyers listing is based upon 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement - things like experience, verdicts, clients, honors and awards. The Wisconsin Super Lawyers listing represents the top 5 percent of the lawyers in the state. Lisle is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, a national trial lawyer honorary society whose membership is limited to less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. Fellowship in the LCA is highly selective and by invitation only. Wisconsin’s LCA Fellow delegation includes only 58 lawyers and judges. Fellows are selected based upon excellence and accomplishment in trial law, both at the trial and appellate levels, and superior ethical reputation.