Professional Experience:

Lee is a partner and shareholder of the firm. He is a legal chameleon whose litigation skills are often utilized in many distinct practice areas. Lee has refined his adaptable legal skills through years of experience in litigating complex cases, first beginning practice in his native home of New Orleans in 2000, and then expanding his practice in 2006 when he moved his family to Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, and joined our law firm and the Florida Bar. This area has been a sentimental second home to Lee since childhood. Lee and his wife Cameron have chosen to raise their children in Santa Rosa Beach and they have focused their energy on being an integral part of the local community.

Lee has the respect of his peers which is essential to effective representation of our clients. This fact is evidenced not only by achieving the highest rating by his peers as an AV rated lawyer in Martindale Hubbell, but also by being elected and serving as both a past President and Vice-President of the Walton County Bar Association.

Lee’s practice primarily focuses on commercial and real estate litigation. He is experienced in handling a wide variety of matters including personal injury litigation, representing financial institutions in loan enforcement matters and litigation, as well as litigating real estate, business and other commercial matters that involve complex multi-party litigation. Lee also has significant experience handling appellate litigation, successfully briefing and/or arguing appeals in state and federal court.

Professional Experience:

• AV rating from the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
• Florida SuperLawyers “Florida Rising Stars,” 2009, 2010, 2011
• Florida Trend’s Legal Elite “Up and Comers,” 2010

• United States District Courts, Northern District of Florida
• United State District Courts, Eastern, Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana
• United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Alabama Bar Association
• Florida Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Federal Bar Association
• New Orleans Bar Association
• Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute
• Okaloosa County Bar Association
• Walton County Bar Association

• In re: Jonathan P. Roberts & Venus A. Roberts, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Proceeding in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division; hired as Special Counsel by the Chapter 7 Trustee to pursue collection of the Debtors’ assets for the bankruptcy estate. Filed the Trustee’s Objection to Debtors’ Claimed Homestead Exemption pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 522(o)(4) of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Act of 2005. Conducted a two-day bench trial on the Trustee’s Objection as the sole trial attorney on behalf of Trustee. The Court issued a judgment in favor of the bankruptcy estate in the amount of $394,875.28 and the reported decision is cited as In re: Roberts, 527 B.R. 461 (Bankr. N.D. Fla. 2015).
• In re: Mary Louise Kalinowski, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Proceeding in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division; hired as Special Counsel by the Chapter 7 Trustee in the Debtors’ Bankruptcy matter to pursue collection of the Debtors’ assets for the bankruptcy estate. Filed the Trustee’s Objection to Debtors’ Claimed Homestead Exemption pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 522(o)(4) and secured a favorable settlement for the bankruptcy estate.
• In re: Gail Silvers, Karrie & Company (Complainant) v. Karen Smith, Beachy Beach 30A, LLC, et al. (Respondents); successfully defended an arbitration and secured award in favor of the defense, saving a real estate brokerage and agent approximately $50,000 in a commission dispute over a competing claim from another broker and realtor under the doctrine of procuring cause.
• In re: David W. Hill, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Proceeding in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Florida, Panama City Division. In the lead bankruptcy proceeding, conducted detailed investigation and discovery of financial records and conducted an extensive 2004 Examination of Debtor over several days which culminated in the filing of an adversary proceeding on behalf of a creditor client to pursue claims of fraudulent transfers and providing false statements under oath. As a result of this work, we were also engaged by the Chapter 7 Trustee to pursue similar claims against the Debtor and a favorable settlement for the bankruptcy estate was successfully secured in favor of creditors.
• Condominiums at Waterside Village, LLC, Developer of Condominiums at Waterside Village, a Florida Condominium, successfully represented condominium developer by resolving twenty-one (21) separate disputes between the developer and purchasers involving the enforcement of purchase and sale contracts for condominium units, including two (2) separate lawsuits, one of which proceeded to trial, as noted immediately below.
• Furnish, et. al v. Condominiums at Waterside Village, LLC, Circuit Court of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Bay County, State of Florida; sole trial attorney at bench trial, successfully defending claims brought against developer of condominium and prosecuted counterclaims on behalf of the developer in a case involving multiple purchasers and contracts for the purchase and sale of four (4) separate condominiums. Plaintiffs filed Complaint for damages and attorney’s fees arguing that Plaintiffs rightfully voided certain Purchase and Sale Agreements under Section 718.503 of the Florida Statutes on the grounds that the Amended Condominium Documents materially alter or modify the offering in a manner adverse to Plaintiffs. Following trial and extensive post-trial briefing, secured a judgment in favor of the developer entitling developer to retain significant earnest money deposits as liquidated damages, as well as an award for attorneys’ fees and costs.
• Sterling Breeze, LLC, Developer of Sterling Breeze, a Florida Condominium, successfully represented a condominium developer by resolving numerous disputes between the developer and purchasers involving the enforcement of purchase and sale contracts for condominium units. The claims included both state and federal laws related to condominium development and real estate, including, but not limited to, the Interstate Lands Sales Act, the Florida Condominium Act, and the Florida Administrative Code. The issues included, but were not limited to, the construction completion obligation of the developer was a material modification to the Condominium Documents and adverse to the purchaser. This representation included the successful resolution of seven (7) lawsuits in Florida state courts, involving competing claims for breach of contractual and statutory obligations between the developer and purchasers.
• Reflections Spa & Resort, LLC, Developer of Reflections Spa & Resort, a Florida Condominium; successfully represented the condominium developer by resolving numerous disputes between the developer and purchasers involving the enforcement of purchase and sale contracts for condominium units. This representation included the successful resolution of a lawsuit in Florida state court involving competing claims for breach of obligations between the developer and purchaser under the contract.
• Hammond v. Santoro, et al., Circuit Court of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Bay County, State of Florida; successfully co-defended a maritime personal injury case along with partner, Jeremy Branning, before a jury trial which resulted in a zero verdict by the jury in favor of the defense.
• McInnis v. Parker Drilling Company, Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana; successfully defended oil drilling company from a personal injury lawsuit involving disabling permanent injuries to Plaintiff for which he had undergone multiple level fusion surgeries to the cervical and lumbar spine. We successfully secured a zero verdict at trial in favor of the defense of an oil drilling company from damages under the Jones Act.
• Peoples First Community Bank v. Long Beach Assembly of God, et al.; Circuit Court of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Bay County, State of Florida. I served as first chair in a bench trial on behalf of Bethel Community Holiness Church, Inc., defending and prosecuting claims against The West Florida District Council Assemblies of God, Inc. involving a church property dispute.
• Coto, et al. v. McDermott, Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana; I served second chair in prolonged personal injury trial (several months) involving barge sinking during hurricane.
• Joseph Harrison v. Supreme Sugar et al., 23rd Judicial District Court for the Parish of Assumption, State of Louisiana; served as second chair in trial in defense of employer from a suit brought by employee for fraudulent inducement into employment and/or detrimental reliance on permanent employment position.
• Bianchini v. New Orleans Rugby Football Club, et al., 24th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana; successfully secured a judgment dismissing a premises liability action which resulted in dismissal of all personal injury claims against client, which included claim for damages for a surgically repaired knee to a high school student. This judgment also resulted in securing the City of Kenner’s agreement to dismiss its claim for defense and indemnity against the client for damages associated with the claimant’s personal injury.
• Cancienne v. N&N Properties, 17th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana; successfully secured a judgment in favor of client dismissing all claims against client arising out of a premises liability lawsuit for damages associated with a serious personal injury claim, including a heart attack, sustained by an A/C repairman as a result of electrical shock.
• Darryl Matt v. ANR Pipeline, et al., 16th Judicial District Court for the Parish of St. Mary, State of Louisiana; successfully secured a judgment in favor of client dismissing a personal injury action.
• James Mouton v. Parker Drilling Company, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana; successfully secured a judgment in favor of client dismissing a serious personal injury action based upon worker status.
• Walter Daniels v. Boland Marine, et al., 24th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana; successfully secured a judgment in favor of client dismissing all claims of liability against client/insurer on the basis of insurance coverage for a personal injury action.

• Venture Capital, LLC, et al. v. Synovus Bank, Florida First District Court of Appeal; successfully represented Synovus Bank in defending the appeal of a $2,169,485.82 judgment we secured in clients favor. Drafted and filed appellate briefing and conducted oral argument before the Court of Appeal, securing a per curium opinion in favor of Synovus Bank upholding the trial court judgment.
• Hammond v. Santoro, et al., Florida First District Court of Appeal; successfully defended appeal in a maritime personal injury case. Drafted appellate reply brief, while partner, Jeremy Branning, handled oral argument. We secured order by the appellate court affirming the zero verdict in favor of the defense rendered by the trial court jury.
• McInnis v. Parker Drilling Company, Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal; successfully briefed and argued opposition to appeal in 2005 before the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, which resulted in affirming the trial court’s judgment in favor of client drilling company.
• Noel Robinson v. Wood Resources Corporation, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit; briefed and argued appeal before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in a serious personal injury matter.
• Coto, et al. v. McDermott, assisted in extensive briefing for multiple appeals during prolonged litigation on all levels of state court and the United States Supreme Court.
• Rebecca J. Labat v. Mallard Bay Drilling, Inc., Louisiana Supreme Court; drafted Appeal to the Louisiana Supreme Court in a wrongful death case.
• Creel v. Southern Natural Gas Co., et al., Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal; provided extensive assistance in drafting appellate brief involving complex easement rights.
• Joseph Harrison v. Supreme Sugar et al., Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal; provided extensive assistance in drafting appellate brief to and received relief in favor of client through a complete reversal of the trial court judgment.