Record Number of Henderson Franklin Attorneys Selected As 2009 Florida Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars

Fourteen (14) attorneys at the law firm of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., were selected for inclusion in the 2009 Florida Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars lists appearing in Florida Super Lawyers® magazine. While only 5% of lawyers in the entire State are named to Florida Super Lawyers®, no more than 2.5% are named to the Rising Stars list. The multi-phase selection process includes a statewide survey, an independent evaluation, and a peer review of candidates. Rising Stars candidates must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for ten years or less.

Henderson Franklin's six (6) 2009 Florida Rising Stars attorneys include John Agnew, Amanda Brock, Erin Houck-Toll, Luis Rivera, Bruce Sands and Cody Vaughan-Birch:

  • John Agnew is a commercial litigator and handles disputes involving contracts, including bank litigation, construction and lien law, and commercial landlord-tenant matters.  He also handles employment law litigation, ranging from enforcement of non-compete agreements to defending employers against ADA accessibility and FLSA overtime claims. Agnew received his law degree from the University of Kentucky in 2005.
  • Amanda Brock concentrates her practice in land use and environmental law, including issues involving zoning and development approvals, hazardous waste site remediation, and environmental compliance and assessment.  She represents clients before local, state, and federal agencies. Brock serves on the Board of Trustees of the Calusa Nature Center. She is a 2005 graduate of the Florida State University College of Law.
  • Erin Houck-Toll handles many aspects of business and tax planning, including health care law and mergers and acquisitions. She received her law degree from Tulane University in 2004 and her L.L.M. (Taxation) from the University of Florida in 2005.
  • Luis Rivera represents creditors in bankruptcy, and also represents clients in real property disputes, landlord/tenant disputes, title insurance litigation and contract disputes. Rivera received his law degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law in 2005.
  • Bruce Sands' practice focuses primarily on developer related issues and other commercial real estate transactions, such as negotiating and closing various purchase and sale agreements and commercial leases. He also handles general matters of business law, condominium law and lender law. Sands is a fifth-generation native Floridian and received his law degree from the University of Houston in 1999.
  • Cody Vaughan-Birch's practice encompasses all areas of zoning and land use law, including administrative appeals, development agreements, real property tax appeals, planning, and negotiating infrastructure agreements related to large-scale commercial and residential developments. He is also LEED AP certified from the U.S. Green Building Council. He received his law degree in 2003 from Stetson University.

Henderson Franklin's eight (8) 2009 Florida Super Lawyers® include Michael Corso, Thomas Gunderson, John Noland, John Potanovic, Russell Schropp, L. David Sims, Bruce Stanley Sr., and Guy Whitesman:

  • Michael Corso is chair of the firm's Tort & Insurance Litigation division and has been a Board Certified Trial Lawyer for 25 years. He focuses his practice in litigation matters involving product liability and the defense of non-medical professionals such as lawyers, accountants, architects, engineers and surveyors. Corso is a member of the American Institute of Architects, Florida Engineering Society and past president of the Florida Defense Lawyers Association.
  • Thomas Gunderson is chair of the firm's Real Estate division and is Board Certified in Real Estate law. His primary practice areas include commercial real estate transactions, commercial and residential real estate development, banking law and property owners’ association law. Gunderson serves on the Harborside Event Center Advisory Board in Fort Myers.
  • John Noland is chair of the firm's Commercial Litigation division and has served as general counsel to several corporate clients. His representation of these corporate clients includes not only business litigation, but also transactional work such as financing, employment law and general corporate counseling. Noland is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Florida Bar and is President-Elect of the Florida Bar Foundation. He also serves as chairman of Lee Memorial Inc. d/b/a Lee Healthcare Resources, Cypress Cove at HealthPark Florida and Investors Security Trust Company.
  • John Potanovic is a member of the firm's Executive Committee, chair of the Employment Law practice area and was among the first attorneys to achieve Board Certification in Labor and Employment Law in Florida. Potanovic defends employers in discrimination and harassment lawsuits, including cases brought under Title VII, the ADA, the FLSA, as well as matters under the Fair Labor Standards Act, EEOC investigations and all aspects of employment law counseling.
  • Russell Schropp is chair of the firm's Land Use & Environmental Law division. He represents property owners and others before local, regional, state and federal agencies. Schropp is a member of the Real Estate Investment Society of Lee County, recently served on the City of Fort Myers Board of Zoning Adjustments, the Nuisance Abatement Board and is an advisor for YMCA’s Youth-in-Government Chapter.
  • L. David Sims is chair of the firm's Family Law division and is a Board Certified Marital and Family Lawyer and a Certified Family Mediator. He concentrates his practice solely in the area of divorce, marital and family law, and handles matters involving adoption, paternity, mediation, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements as well. Sims is a member of the U.S. Board of Directors for Bahamas Habitat for Humanity.
  • Bruce Stanley Sr., is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law. He practices civil litigation of all types, with an emphasis on medical malpractice, aviation cases, products liability defense, and eminent domain. He also has an agency practice dealing with licensing and disciplinary issues before the Florida Department of Health, primarily involving the Florida Boards of Medicine, Osteopathy, Podiatry and Nursing.
  • Guy Whitesman is chair of the firm's Business & Tax division. He is an active member, as well as Chair-Elect of the Tax Section of The Florida Bar. Whitesman is Board Certified in Tax Law and concentrates his practice in taxation, estate, and business planning (business creation, operations, acquisitions, mergers and health care law). He also serves as trustee of the Edison-Ford Winter Estates Foundation, as a director of the Community Cooperative Ministries, Inc. and as a director of the Edison Pageant of Light of Fort Myers, Inc.