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Twenty Attorneys at Henderson Franklin are Selected to 2011 Florida Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars Magazine

October 27, 2011

Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., is pleased to announce that twenty lawyers were selected for inclusion in the 2011 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.

Henderson Franklin's nine (9) attorneys recognized in the 2011 Florida Rising Stars list include:

  • John D. Agnew is a civil litigator, focusing his practice in commercial and employment-related litigation. He handles a wide variety of business and contract disputes, many of which involve construction and lien law, commercial tenancies or bank-related matters. Agnew also represents employers in EEOC investigations, enforcing non-compete agreements, defending against ADA accessibility or FLSA wage and hour claims. This is Agnew’s third consecutive year as a “Rising Star” in the field of business litigation. He also holds an AV® Preeminent™ rating by Martindale-Hubbell. He is active in the local Bar and is a current member of the Lee County Bar Association Executive Council. Agnew received his law and undergraduate degrees from the University of Kentucky.
  • J. Matthew Belcastro concentrates his practice in business and construction litigation, construction contracts, real estate litigation and appellate law. He is a member of the Lee County Building Industry Association (Lee BIA) and is a former board member of the City of Fort Myers Imaginarium and Code Enforcement Board. Belcastro has been recognized by several publications, including Florida Trend Magazine's “Up and Comers” and Legal Elite lists for his work in the field of construction litigation. Belcastro received his law degree from the University of Florida and undergraduate degree from Haverford College.
  • Suzanne M. Boy concentrates her practice in employment law and assists clients with all aspects of employment-related litigation, claims, and client counseling. She also handles a variety of commercial litigation matters, including civil appeals. Boy is lead writer of Southwest Florida HR Law & Solutions, Henderson Franklin’s employment law blog. She is a member of the Human Resource Management Association of Southwest Florida. Boy received her law degree from Stetson University College of Law and her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida.
  • Amanda L. Brock concentrates her practice in the area of land use and environmental law and handles matters involving environmental compliance, zoning, development approvals, property tax appeals, and contaminated site remediation. She also handles immigration law matters, including immigrant and non-immigrant visas, as well as naturalization and citizenship issues. Brock is a regular contributor to Henderson Franklin’s blog, The Legal Scoop on Southwest Florida Real Estate. Brock serves on the Board of Governors for the Real Estate Investment Society(REIS), is on the Leadership Council for the Take Stock in Children program, and is on the Board of Trustees for the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium. She is also a member of the Florida Association of Environmental Professionals and American Immigration Lawyers Association. Brock received her law degree from Florida State University College of Law and her undergraduate degree from Indiana University.
  • Edward P. Canterbury concentrates his practice in the area of real estate law, including commercial and residential development, acquisitions, finance, survey matters, title insurance and commercial leases. He also writes for the firm’s blog, The Legal Scoop on Southwest Florida Real Estate. Canterbury is a graduate of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce 2009 Leadership program, serves as president of the Southwest Florida Real Estate Council and is a member of the Real Estate Investment Society. He received his law degree from Ohio Northern University, summa cum laude(Valedictorian) and his undergraduate degree from Ohio Wesleyan University.
  • Erin E. Houck-Toll is a Florida Bar Board Certified Tax lawyer and is a member of the Florida Bar Tax Section’s Executive Council. She concentrates her practice in the areas of federal and state taxation, health care law, intellectual property and many aspects of business planning including mergers and acquisitions. Houck-Toll is a graduate of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Leadership program and serves on the Chamber’s Women in Business Committee. She is also a member of the Board of the Empowerment of Alliance of Southwest Florida. Houck-Toll received her law degree from Tulane University, her Masters of Laws (LL.M. in Taxation) from the University of Florida and her undergraduate degree from Cornell University.
  • Traci T. McKee concentrates her litigation practice in the areas of personal injury and professional liability defense. She also regularly represents the firms’ clients in appeals related to torts and insurance litigation. McKee serves as chair of the editorial board of the Trial Advocate Quarterly, the flagship publication of the Florida Defense Lawyer’s Association. McKee received her law degree from Stetson University College of Law, summa cum laude(Valedictorian) and her undergraduate degree from the University of North Florida, summa cum laude.
  • John M. Miller focuses his practice in municipal and governmental liability defense and professional negligence defense. He serves as co-chair of the Social Networking Committee of the Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Treasurer of the Young Lawyers Division of the Lee County Bar Association and is a member of the Defense Research Institute. Miller also serves on the Child Care Center of Southwest Florida Board of Directors. He received his law degree from Stetson University College of Law, cum laudeand undergraduate degree from the University of Florida.
  • Luis E. Rivera, II focuses his practice in creditors' rights and insolvency counseling in bankruptcy, including representation of secured creditors in both consumer and reorganization cases. He also handles real property litigation, including mortgage foreclosure, landlord/tenant disputes, and title insurance litigation. Rivera is also aUnited States Bankruptcy Trustee for the Middle District of Florida (Fort Myers Division). He is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Rivera received his law degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Loyola University in New Orleans (magna cum laude).

Henderson Franklin's eleven (11) attorneys recognized in the 2011 Florida Super Lawyers® list include:

  • Thomas P. Clark is Florida Bar Board Certified in both Health law and Tax law and is a member of Florida Bar's Health Law Section Executive Council. He concentrates his practice areas in personal service organizations, health care law, acquisitions and mergers, corporate law, partnership law, limited liability company law, taxation, and business planning. For four consecutive years, he has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America®, highlighting his focus in health care law. He is also AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell. Clark received his law degree from Cumberland School of Law, his Master of Laws (LL.M. in Taxation) from New York University and his B.S.B.A. from the University of Florida, with honors.
  • David L. Cook is Florida Bar Board Certified in real estate law and he is certified as a circuit civil mediator by the Florida Supreme Court. His law practice involves matters concerning real estate and commercial transactions, land development, homeowner and condominium associations, the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act, title insurance, closings, and mediation of cases in all of these areas. Cook has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America®, highlighting his focus in real estate law and is AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell. He received his law degree from the University of Florida, with honors and his undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida, with honors.
  • Michael J. Corso is chair of the firm's Tort & Insurance Litigation division and has been a Florida Bar Board Certified Trial Lawyer for over 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. He is also AV rated by Martindale Hubbell. Corso was also a special prosecutor for the United States Air Force’s JAG program. He received his law degree from Villanova University and his undergraduate degree from Purdue University.
  • Thomas H. Gunderson is chair of the firm's Real Estatedivision and is Florida Bar Board Certified in Real Estate law. His primary practice areas include commercial and residential real estate transactions, commercial and residential real estate development, banking law and property owners’ association law. He is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell. Gunderson is a board member of Harborside Conference and Convention Council Advisory Board and Uncommon Friends Foundation. He is also a member of the Real Estate Investment Society. Gunderson received his law degree from the University of Florida and his undergraduate degree from Indiana University.
  • Denis H. Noah divides his time between the practice of law and serving as the firm's Managing Partner. He focuses his practice in the areas of commercial real estate transactions, commercial and residential real estate development, real estate finance and the resolution of title problems and title insurance claims. Noah is past Chairman of the Florida Law Network and currently serves on the board of Habit for Humanity and the Lee CountyHorizon Council. He is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell. Noah received his law degree from the University of Florida and his undergraduate degree from University of Central Florida.
  • John A. 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, serves as President of the Florida Bar Foundation and is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell. He received his law degree from Memphis State University and his undergraduate degree from East Kentucky University.
  • John F. Potanovic is chair of the Employment Lawpractice area and was among the first attorneys to achieve Board Certification in Labor and Employment Law in Florida. He defends employers in discrimination and harassment lawsuits, including cases brought under Title VII, the ADA, the FLSA, EEOC investigations and all aspects of employment law counseling. He is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell. Potanovic received his law degree from the University of Florida, with honors, and his undergraduate degree from University of South Florida.
  • Russell P. Schropp is chair of Henderson Franklin’s Land Use & Environmental Law division and a member of firm’s Executive Committee. He represents property owners and others before local, regional, state and federal agencies. Schropp is a regular contributor to the firm’s blog, The Legal Scoop on Southwest Florida Real Estate. In 2011, he was recognized by Best Lawyers in America® and by Florida Super Lawyers (for the last five consecutive years) for his work in the field of land use and zoning law. Schropp is also AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell. He is a member of the Real Estate Investment Society, serves on the Board of Directors for Southwest Florida Baseball, Inc. and is an advisor for YMCA’s Youth-in-Government Chapter. Schropp received his law degree from Florida State University and his undergraduate degree from Stetson University.
  • L. David Sims is chair of the firm's Divorce, Marital and 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. Sims is a member of the Florida Adoption Council, Association of Family Law Professionalsand the Florida Chapter of the Association of Family Law and Conciliation Courts. He is also AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell. Sims received his law degree from Cumberland School of Law of Samford University and his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, with honors.
  • Bruce M. Stanley Sr., is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law and 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. Stanley is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, has been named to Florida Super Lawyers® for five consecutive years and was named by Best Lawyers in America® as "Fort Myers Area Best Lawyers Personal Injury Litigator of the Year" in 2009. He is a member of Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Experimental Aircraft Association, International Association of Defense Counsel and Defense Research Institute. Stanley received his law degree from the University of Virginia and received his undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary, with high honors.
  • Guy E. Whitesman is chair of the Henderson Franklin’sBusiness & Tax division.  He is Board Certified in Tax Law and concentrates his practice in taxation, estate, and business planning (mergers and acquisitions, business creation, operations and planning, tax and health care law and intellectual property law). Whitesman is currently Chair of The Florida Bar Tax Section and is past chair of The Florida Bar Tax Certification Committee. He serves as trustee for the Southwest Florida Community Foundation and Edison-Ford Winter Estates Foundation. He also serves as a director of the Community Cooperative Ministries, Inc. and of the Edison Pageant of Light of Fort Myers, Inc. He has been named to Florida Super Lawyers® for five consecutive years and he is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Whitesman received his law and undergraduate degrees from the University of Michigan and his Masters of Laws (LL.M. in Taxation) from the University of Florida.