ATTORNEYS
John R. Hargrove, Senior Shareholder, President and CEO | E-mail Attorney | 561.300.3901
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Practice Areas Appeals Annuity Litigation Class Actions Commercial Litigation Fiduciary Litigation Media and Telecommunications Law Best Lawyers in America recognizes John Hargrove in three categories – appeals, business litigation and First Amendment law. He is board certified in appellate law by the Florida Bar and represents both individual and corporate clients in complex disputes. Mr. Hargrove routinely appears as counsel of record in state and federal trial and appellate courts, including Florida’s five intermediary appellate courts, the Florida Supreme Court, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. He has achieved national prominence as a First Amendment lawyer and as an advocate for the elderly regarding the sale of unsuitable annuities to seniors. He also represented the Estate of Doctor Sam Sheppard — which inspired “The Fugitive” — regarding cutting-edge DNA litigation. Florida Super Lawyers has listed Mr. Hargrove among Florida’s best since that publication’s inception. He is a Fellow in the Florida Academy of Trust and Probate Litigation, and carries a Martindale-Hubbell professional rating of “AV”. Mr. Hargrove is actively involved in charitable endeavors, as well. He is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is past Board Chair of the United Way of Broward County, where he now serves as director emeritus and general counsel. He has been recognized by the Urban League of Fort Lauderdale for his philanthropy. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he attended Culver Military Academy, where he was a member of the famed Black Horse Troop. He received his undergraduate degree from Butler University and his law degree from the Indiana University School of Law where he graduated magna cum laude in 1972, and was voted by the faculty as the most outstanding member of his graduating class. While in law school he was an editor of the Indiana Law Review. After graduation from law school, Mr. Hargrove spent two years as law clerk to the Honorable Roy L. Stephenson, Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. He has practiced continuously in Florida since 1974. |
Cristina M. Pierson, Shareholder | E-mail Attorney | 561.300.3902
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Practice Areas Commercial Litigation Annuity Litigation Construction Litigation Media and Telecommunications Law Ms. Pierson’s litigation practice has been primarily focused on representing individual and corporate clients in commercial and construction related disputes. Consequently, Ms. Pierson has litigated cases for media clients involving First Amendment issues, privacy concerns, intellectual property, and contractual disputes. She has also represented clients in matters involving professional liability, including directors and officers, accountants, and attorneys. Lastly, Ms. Pierson has substantial experience handling construction liens and bonds, delay and defect claims, and other construction related litigation for contractors, subcontractors, developers, owners, and material suppliers. In addition to her litigation experience, she has represented clients in complex commercial and construction arbitrations and mediations in order to assist clients in accomplishing cost efficient yet fair solutions to business disputes. Putting this all together, Ms. Pierson provides her clients with litigation experience, courtroom “know how,” professional client service, and value-oriented representation. Ms. Pierson is a Cuban-American native of Florida and is fluent in Spanish. She graduated from Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, and completed her undergraduate work in criminal justice at the University of Florida in 1987. After spending time working in the insurance industry, Cristina went on to law school and received her law degree from Nova Southeastern University in 1993. She graduated magna cum laude and received honors for her work on law review and moot court. Ms. Pierson is a member of the Florida Bar, the Federal Bar Association and the Broward County Bar Association. She is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida, and the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. |
W. Kent Brown, Shareholder | E-mail Attorney | 561.300.3903
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Practice Areas Appeals Business Torts Commercial Litigation Media and Telecommunications Law Mr. Brown is an appellate specialist with over sixteen years of experience representing hundreds of clients including many Fortune 500 companies. During that time, he has appeared in proceedings in all Florida intermediate appellate courts, the Florida Supreme Court, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. In light of his strong research, writing and analytical abilities, he also handles a significant amount of briefing at the trial court level on complex legal issues. Through his years of practice following an appellate clerkship, he has become well-versed in many areas of the law, including federal and state constitutional law, media and telecommunications, class actions, consumer protection laws, business torts and commercial litigation generally. In addition to his practice, for the past twelve years Mr. Brown has served as an arbitrator for FINRA (formerly NASD) in consumer securities disputes and industry employment cases. In that capacity, he has participated in dozens of arbitration panels, oftentimes as the Chairperson. A native of South Florida, Mr. Brown graduated from Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale and graduated four years later from Duke University. He began his career in the real estate business, but after a few years returned to school to pursue law. He graduated with honors in 1990 from the Florida State University College of Law. |