Category: Firm Updates

Jeffrey P. Lieser, Esq., a founding partner at the Tampa Bay area law firm of Lieser Skaff Alexander, has been chosen to serve a three-year term on a Florida Bar Grievance Committee.

Attorney Lieser focuses his practice of law on complex business and real estate litigation. Jeffrey was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers® magazine from 2013-2017, a Super Lawyer in 2021, and has been named to the Florida Legal Elite roster for the last four years in a row.  He also remains active as a Reserve Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army J.A.G. Corps, where he holds the rank of Major and serves with the Trial Defense Service (TDS) whose motto is “Defending Those Who Defend America.”

The Florida Bar grievance committees are composed of lawyers and non-lawyers who are responsible for continuing the investigation of possible lawyer misconduct. Florida is divided into 20 districts with each district having at least one grievance committee. Attorney Lieser will serve on the District 13C Grievance Committee. In that capacity, he will be responsible for reviewing complaints, similar to the function of a grand jury, and also investigating complaints. The committee determines if there is probable cause to believe a lawyer violated the professional conduct rules imposed by the Supreme Court of Florida. If so, the committee considers what disciplinary action, if any, should be taken against the lawyer.

We are delighted to announce that once again, our namesakes have been recognized as Super Lawyers and/or Legal Elite by a panel of peers and experts.

Super Lawyers

The Super Lawyer designation is awarded to a select few attorneys who excel in their chosen fields. Fewer than 3% of attorneys are recognized each year. This year, Super Lawyers magazine has selected Jeff Lieser, Ghada Skaff, and Joe Alexander as recipients of this prestigious designation.

Florida Trend’s Legal Elite

In addition to being recognized as SuperLawyers, Jeff Lieser and Ghada Skaff have been named Legal Elite members.  This distinction is provided to just 1.3% of Florida lawyers.   Legal Elite by Florida Trend Magazine recognizes the top Florida attorneys. Florida Trend’s Legal Elite attorneys are chosen by peers for their knowledge, expertise and experience in various areas of Florida law.

Both the Super Lawyers and the Legal Elite awards are given after careful consideration and peer voting. Lawyers who are awarded these designations have been chosen as leaders in their fields by attorneys throughout the state of Florida.

We are proud to announce that Jeff Lieser and Ghada Skaff were recognized as 2020 Florida Legal Elite and Joseph Alexander was named Super Lawyer for 2020. In addition, Associate Alissa Kranz was named both a Super Lawyers Rising Star and Florida Legal Elite Up & Comer for 2020.

Florida Legal Elite is an honor bestowed to the top 1.4% of Florida attorneys. 

Florida Legal Elite has recognized Jeff each year since 2017, making this his fourth year to receive this honor. Jeff was also named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine from 2013 to 2017. A co-founder of Lieser Skaff Alexander, Jeff’s practice focuses on complex business and real estate litigation. He also serves as class action counsel, Circuit Civil Mediator, and Reserve Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army J.A.G. Corps.

This is the third year in a row that Ghada Skaff has been recognized by Florida Legal Elite. She has also been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star from 2015 through 2017. She is a member of Leadership Tampa class of 2020, a program designed to enhance the skills and opportunities of local business leaders. Serving as counsel for many of Tampa Bay’s finest businesses and entrepreneurs, Ghada’s practice is focused on transactional and business law. 

Joe has been named a Super Lawyer every year since 2016. He is known for excellent representation as well as his extensive service to the community. 

For Alissa, this is her third consecutive year to be named a Super Lawyer Rising Star, which is an honor reserved for the top 2.5 percent of attorneys under the age of 40. This is the second year she was named Florida Legal Elite Up and Comer. Alissa specializes in complex commercial and real estate litigation and represents clients in both federal and state courts. Her client base ranges from individuals to Fortune 500 companies.

The ten attorneys at Lieser Skaff Alexander are all dedicated to providing the highest legal representation to our clients while adhering to The Florida Bar’s ethical standards. This year, each of our partners and two of our associates were recognized by Florida’s Legal Elite and/or SuperLawyers® Magazine for their exemplary service.

Partner Ghada Skaff was selected as Legal Elite for 2019.  The 1,126 lawyers listed for 2019 represent fewer than 1.3% of the active Florida Bar members who practice in Florida.   This peer-review recognition is for attorneys who “exemplify a standard of excellence in their profession and, by so doing, have garnered the respect and esteem of their colleagues.” Last year she earned a place in the Legal Elite category “Up and Comer,” which is reserved for attorneys under the age of 40 who have “exhibited leadership in law and in their community.” Ghada has also been recognized by SuperLawyers® as a Rising Star from 2015 through 2017.

Partner Jeff Lieser also earned recognition as Legal Elite for 2019, an honor he also earned in 2017 and 2018.  Jeff was also a SuperLawyers® Rising Star from 2013 to 2017.

This year, Joe Alexander was recognized by SuperLawyers® as among the best Florida attorneys for 2019. Joe was also recognized by SuperLawyers® in 2016, 2017 and 2018. He was also a “Rising Star” in 2014 and 2015. In 2014, Legal Elite also recognized Joe as an “Up and Comer.”

We are also proud to announce that two of our associates, Alissa Kranz and Laura Coleman have received recognition from these organizations. Alissa has been selected as a “Rising Star” by SuperLawyers®, an honor she also earned last year. In addition, Alissa was recognized as a Legal Elite “Up and Comer.” Laura was also named a Legal Elite “Up and Comer” for 2019. We are not surprised, but nonetheless grateful that the hard work, dedication and professional growth of our associates has been recognized by their peers and these groups.

The attorneys of Lieser Skaff Alexander are honored to again be recognized by their peers for their exceptional legal expertise and high ethical standards in service to their clients. Jeff Lieser was selected as a Legal Elite by Florida Trend, Florida’s premier business publication. This peer-review recognition is for attorneys who “exemplify a standard of excellence in their profession and, by so doing, have garnered the respect and esteem of their colleagues.” This year, only 1,012 attorneys were selected for this honor, representing less than 1.5% of active Florida Bar members. Jeff also earned this recognition in 2017 and was a SuperLawyers® Rising Star from 2013 to 2017.

Ghada Skaff also earned recognition from Florida Trend as a Legal Elite “Up and Comer.” This special category is for attorneys under the age of 40 who have “exhibited leadership in law and in their community.” Only 128 attorneys received this honor in 2018. Ghada has also been recognized by SuperLawyers® as a Rising Star from 2015 through 2017.

Joseph Alexander has been recognized by SuperLawyers® as among the best Florida attorneys for 2018 and is categorized as “Top Rated Business Litigation” by this organization. To receive this honor, Joe was “measured against 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement.” Less than 5% of Florida attorneys earn the distinction of Super Lawyers® and Joe received it in 2016, and was a Super Lawyers® Rising Star in 2014 and 2015. In addition, Joe was named a Legal Elite Up and Comer in 2014 by Florida Trends.

Lieser Skaff Alexander announced today that it has opened offices in Sun City Center and DeLand.

LSA recently acquired veteran attorney Karen Prevatt’s practice in Sun City Center, FL.  Ms. Prevatt is a fixture in the Southshore area legal community and has more than four decades of experience in estate planning, probate litigation and real estate matters.  She worked at Stearns Weaver and Shumaker Loop before opening her own successful practice.

Ms. Prevatt now heads LSA’s office in Sun City Center.

LSA attorney Dan Drake now divides his time between the firm’s South Tampa and Sun City Center offices. Formerly a detective with the St. Petersburg Police Department, Mr. Drake has been practicing law for 22 years and concentrates his practice on the representation of commercial landlords, real estate management companies and developers.  Prior to joining LSA, Mr. Drake worked at Wicker Smith and ran his own successful law practice and title company.

A growing client base in Central Florida, including the Orlando and Daytona Beach areas, inspired the firm to next open its Deland office. Attorney Laura Mauldin has moved and is now managing the firm’s Central Florida location.  Her practice includes employment law and complex commercial litigation. After receiving her law degree from the University of Virginia, Ms. Mauldin clerked for Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington of the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida.

As part of its expansion and growth, the firm also recently hired attorney, Stephanie Martin. After spending the bulk of her career with large “AmLaw 200” national law firms, Stephanie Martin joined LSA in May 2018. Ms. Martin has extensive experience in real estate, business and financial services litigation. She is board certified in real estate law and began practicing in 2006 after graduating from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

“Karen and Stephanie bring a breadth of legal experience to the firm that is very valuable to our clients,” said firm co-founder Jeff Lieser. “We’re delighted they’ve joined us. And we’re so glad Laura is running our new Central Florida office.”

The firm’s Sun City office is located at 137 South Pebble Beach Boulevard, Suite, 102, Sun City Center. The DeLand office is located at 100 West Indiana Avenue, DeLand.

The partners of Lieser Skaff Alexander have once again received recognition from Super Lawyers® for their outstanding legal expertise and high ethical standards. Both Jeff Lieser and Ghada Skaff were selected as Rising Stars, an honor based upon peer review reserved for the top 2.5% of attorneys under age 40. Jeff has earned this distinction of Rising Star each year since 2013, and Ghada has earned it each year since 2015.

Joseph Alexander was a Rising Star in 2014 and 2015, and recognized as a Super Lawyer in 2016, and again this year. This distinction is also based on peer review, and is reserved for the top 5% of attorneys.

In addition to the Super Lawyers honor, Jeff was named one of Florida’s Legal Elite by Florida Trend, Florida’s premier business publication. Attorneys selected for this honor exemplify a standard of excellence in their profession. The peer-review selection process recognizes less than 1,100 active Florida Bar members (1.5%).

These honors demonstrate our commitment to providing the highest quality legal representation to our clients. If you are seeking legal counsel to meet your professional or personal needs, please contact us today.

Lieser Skaff Alexander is proud to announce that Super Lawyers has again recognized our partners as outstanding attorneys within our community. The recognition process begins with a peer nomination and lawyers are not allowed to nominate others within their firms. The nominees are then subjected to rigorous independent research across 12 key categories:

• Position in their Law Firm
• Verdicts/Settlements
• Transactions
• Experience
• Honors/Awards
• Representative Clients
• Scholarly Lectures/Writing
• Special Licenses/Certifications
• Pro Bono and Community Service
• Education/Employment Background
• Bar and/or Professional Activities
• Other Outstanding Achievements

This research process includes peer evaluations from judges and other non-firm attorneys. The final evaluation is reviewed by a highly credentialed panel of attorneys.

Of those nominated, only 5% are awarded the status of “Super Lawyer” and 2.5% are designated “Rising Stars.” Both awards recognize outstanding attorneys who are respected by clients, peers and judges. Rising Stars are those lawyers who are 40 years old or younger, or have been practicing for 10 years or less.

Founding partner Jeffrey Lieser is a 2016 Rising Star, an award he has received each year since 2013. His practice concentration includes complex business and property litigation, with an emphasis on representing commercial landlords. He is also a Circuit Civil Mediator.

Founding partner Ghada Skaff is 2016 Rising star, her second award in two years. Utilizing her expertise in business law, Ms. Skaff assists her Tampa businesses with a wide range of complex transactions.

Partner Joseph Alexander was a Rising Star in 2014 and 2015, but this year joined the ranks of Super Lawyers. His practice focuses on business and commercial and representation of community associations. His expertise also includes general probate administration, wills, trusts, and estates.

The recognitions as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars reflect our firm’s commitment to quality representation and client service. We are proud of our partners and their exceptional standing within the legal community.