THE FIRM

Mills Paskert Divers opened its Tampa office in March 2002, Florida's third most populous city. The Firm's reputation in the state has allowed it to experience healthy growth in personnel and clients. The Firm's location in central Florida makes much of the state easily accessible
by car. The Firm's proximity to Tampa
International Airport, which
consistently ranks as the top business
airport in the country,
allows easy travel to and from
the area. From our Tampa
office, our attorneys serve
clients statewide from Pensacola
to Miami and all points in
between.







TAMPA OFFICE

100 North Tampa Street, Suite 3700
Tampa, FL 33602

Office: 813.229.3500
Facsimile: 813.229.3502

Directions

ABOUT US

Mills Paskert Divers is a multi-faceted litigation firm serving its clients throughout the Southeast, including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. With offices in Tampa and Atlanta, the Firm's attorneys provide efficient legal services to its diverse clientele, including Fortune 500 companies, insurers, architectural and engineering firms, contractors, agricultural concerns, governmental entities and many diverse business entities and individuals. Since its inception, the Firm has experienced significant growth due to its reputation for tenacious, but fair, advocacy and a client-centered approach applying the skills of resourceful attorneys with the necessary technologies to provide our clients with the flexibility and responsiveness they demand without sacrificing personal attention to detail. Our long-standing client relationships are the product of our attention to their legal concerns and our commitment to keeping them well-informed and involved.

Simply put, Mills Paskert Divers is committed to providing the highest quality legal representation to our valued clients.

OUR MISSION

Mills Paskert Divers' mission is to build a client-centered practice where our attorneys can maximize their potential so they may provide effective, yet highly ethical, representation with the highest degree of professionalism. We design our client engagements to achieve the best results in the most efficient manner possible by using innovative approaches and leveraging our technological resources to achieve those results. Consistent with our commitment to excellence, we seek to hire only the "best and the brightest" attorneys and staff.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Mills Paskert Divers has gained recognition and respect from its clients and peer attorneys for providing legal representation in all forms of business and commercial disputes including:

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

Our administrative law practice involves traditional advice and representation on all forms of administrative disputes. We regularly represent clients and governmental entities in proceedings related to environmental regulations, business and professional regulations, bid protests, certificate of need proceedings and related disputes.

Florida especially has been in the nation's forefront in growth matters and our attorneys have been involved in some of the most complex administrative disputes and environmental litigation associated with this growth.

APPELLATE

The appellate attorneys at Mills Paskert Divers are experienced in handling all types of civil and administrative appeals. Our attorneys have been involved in appeals to the United States Supreme Court, the Florida Supreme Court and various other appellate courts.

Mills Paskert Divers believes that its clients’ needs are best satisfied by appellate attorneys who have participated in and fully understand all phases of litigation, including civil trial work. Accordingly, in addition to performing the traditional roles of brief preparation and oral argument, our appellate attorneys work directly with the firm’s litigation attorneys on various trial matters. As a result, it is common for the firm’s appellate attorneys to actively assist in preparation of substantive legal memoranda and, when necessary, at trial. In addition, the firm’s appellate attorneys assist the litigation attorneys in the presentation of issues and preservation of error during the trial process.

COMPLEX COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

Our clients have varied financial business interests throughout the southeastern United States. They have found that one of our strengths is the ability to handle the entire spectrum of disputes presented. These complex commercial disputes involve all aspects of commercial and business transactions, ranging from small amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars where the company’s financial future will be determined by the outcome of the case. Our attorneys regularly handle complex commercial cases ranging from basic breach of contract to extremely intricate financial fraud cases. These representations also include cases involving disputes arising from mergers and acquisitions, construction, banking, intellectual property, insurance, professional liability, director and officer liability and business torts including breach of fiduciary duty.

CONSTRUCTION

Our attorneys are regularly engaged in the construction processes throughout the southeastern United States. Our firm and its attorneys have been at the forefront of the resolution of construction disputes for both governmental and private interests. We regularly represent contractors, governmental entities, owners, developers, manufacturers and designers in all phases of the construction process, from document preparation through project close out and any resulting litigation. Simply put, there are no finer construction attorneys with more well-rounded experience in all phases of the process. Our attorneys are regularly engaged by both governmental and private interests to prepare construction documents, assist and advise in the procurement process, handle bid protests, provide advice and consultation during the construction of the project and provide any necessary arbitration or litigation services required to effect the project close out.

CREDITORS' RIGHTS AND BANKRUPTCY

At Mills Paskert Divers, we have fully integrated our creditors' rights and bankruptcy practice into our litigation group. Our bankruptcy and creditors' rights attorneys understand both the complexities of the bankruptcy code and our client’s financial interests. They are often involved not only with the actual bankruptcy proceedings, but also in those steps taken on behalf of our creditor clients, prior to bankruptcy to pursue their rights. In short, our creditors' rights and bankruptcy practice attorneys are regularly engaged in the collection of outstanding obligations and the pursuit of those obligations, if necessary, into the bankruptcy courts of the United States. Our attorneys regularly speak and publish on creditors' rights and related bankruptcy topics. We represent out creditor clients in all phases of litigation and bankruptcy proceedings leading to payment of debtor obligations.

FIDELITY

Mills Paskert Divers regularly represents its clients in actions arising from fidelity losses. Our fidelity clients call on us to assist them in Financial Institution Bond, Commercial Crime Policy and Employee Dishonesty claims. Our attorneys have handled claims involving tens of millions of dollars and some of the most complex and sophisticated fraud schemes imaginable. We also assist our fidelity clients in recovering assets that have been fraudulently misappropriated by dishonest employees. Our attorneys are members of the American Bar Association’s Fidelity & Surety Law Committee, the National Bond Claims Association, the Surety Claims Institute, and the Gulfcoast Fidelity & Surety Institute. They are recognized national speakers on virtually all fidelity topics.

GOVERMENTAL

The attorneys at Mills Paskert Divers are experienced in representation of governmental interests. Our attorneys have a long history in representing local governmental interests throughout Florida. We have assisted many cities, counties, school districts and other independent governmental districts in their procurement, construction, commercial and regulatory disputes. These disputes include not only those that commonly arise with the public at large, but also include complex intra-governmental relations. Our attorneys have skillfully protected our governmental clients' interests in a wide variety of actions throughout Florida.

SURETYSHIP

The attorneys at Mills Paskert Divers are some of the most experienced surety attorneys in the nation. With a total of more than 80 years of combined suretyship representation, they offer a full range of services to the industry. The Firm represents most of the premier sureties in the country and has engaged in international representation when requested. The services provided range from simple advice on payment and performance bond claims to the most complex financing, takeover and tender problems on large projects. We regularly assist our surety clients with pursuit of their indemnity rights and pride ourselves on useful, efficient and practical advice in these situations.

Kevin M. Combest


V-card   
Email   
Direct   813.418.3824

  • University of Florida, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
  • Juris Doctor, University of Florida Levin College of Law

Admitted to practice:

    Florida 2010

Matthew G. Davis


V-card   
Email   
Direct   813.769.4803

  • University of Florida, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
  • Juris Doctor, Florida State University

Admitted to practice:

    Florida 2008

Richard J. Storrs


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Email   
Direct   404.870.8200

  • B.A., University of Georgia, cum laude, 1981
  • J.D., University of Georgia School of Law, cum laude, 1984

Admitted to practice:

    Georgia 1984 *

* Mr. Storrs is not a licensed Florida attorney, and his practice is limited to Georgia matters unless otherwise permitted by law.

Ryan E. Baya


V-card   
Email   
Direct   813-769-4807

  • Auburn University, B.S. in Fisheries and Allied Aquaculture
  • University of Florida, J.D.

Admitted to practice:

    Alabama 2007
    Florida 2008

Jeff Kuykendall


V-card   
Email   
Direct   813.418.3821

  • Davidson College, Bachelor's of Arts Degree, Religion
  • Wake Forest University School of Law, J.D.

Admitted to practice:

    Florida 2009

Kevin M. Mekler


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Email   
Direct   813.418.3821

  • Park University, Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Management
  • Stetson University University of Law, J.D. cum laude

Admitted to practice:

    Florida 2004

E.A. "Seth" Mills, Jr.


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Email   
Direct   813.769.4805

  • The Citadel, B.A. with high honors
  • University of Florida, J.D. with honors
  • Judge Advocate General's School, Honor Graduate

Admitted to practice:

    Florida 1982
    Georgia 2007

Jeffrey M. Paskert


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Email   
Direct   813.769.4800

  • University of Florida, B.S., with high honors
  • University of Florida, College of Law, J.D., with high honors

Admitted to practice:

    Florida 1990

Brett D. Divers


V-card   
Email   
Direct   813.769.4810

  • Dartmouth College, B.A.
  • University of Florida, J.D. with honors

Admitted to practice:

    Florida 1993

James A. Black Jr.


V-card   
Email   
Direct   813.769.4813

  • McMicken College of Arts & Sciences of the University of Cincinnati, B.A.
  • University of Cincinnati College of Law, J.D.

Admitted to practice:

    Ohio 1967
    Florida 1972
    Georgia 2007

Ty G. Thompson


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Email   
Direct   813.769.4802

  • University of Florida, B.S., Building Construction
  • Stetson University, Master of Business Administration
  • Stetson University College of Law, J.D.

Admitted to practice:

    Florida 2002

Alberta L. "Ali" Adams


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Email   
Direct   813.769.4808

  • Florida State University, B.S., cum laude
  • Tulane University of Louisiana, J.D., Order of the Coif, magna cum laude

Admitted to practice:

    Florida 1993

P. Keith Lichtman


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Email   
Direct   404.870.8200

  • University of Alabama, B.A., History & Political Science
  • University of Alabama School of Law, J.D.

Admitted to practice:

    Alabama 2001
    Florida 2003
    Georgia 2007

Adam C. King


V-card   
Email   
Direct   813.769.4809

  • Florida State University, B.S., Finance, with honors
  • Wake Forest University School of Law, J.D.

Admitted to practice:

    Florida 1998

Ryan M. Scully


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Email   

  • The Florida State University, B.S. in Management and Human Resource Mgmt., summa cum laude
  • The Florida State University College of Law, J.D., cum laude

Admitted to practice:

    Florida 2006

Lila K. Ross


V-card   
Email   
Direct   813.418.3822

  • University of Notre Dame, B.A. in History and Government
  • University of Florida, J.D.

Admitted to practice:

    Florida 2007

Brandon J. Held


V-card   
Email   
Direct   813.418.3823

  • University of Florida, Bachelor's Degree Business Administration, cum laude
  • University of Florida, Masters Degree in Decision and Information Sciences
  • Stetson University, Master of Business Administration
  • Stetson University College of Law, J.D. cum laude

Admitted to practice:

    Florida 2007

SYSTEMS / TECHNOLOGIES

Mills Paskert Divers maintains state-of-the-art computer systems and technologies. Our word processing, litigation support and computer-assisted legal research systems are fully integrated into the e-world. Our attorneys have access to the Firm's resources from anyplace at anytime by laptop computer or other portable device.

We are firmly committed to the use of emerging technologies as advocacy tools on behalf of our clients wherever necessary, including in the courtroom, at arbitration, or mediation. Mills Paskert Divers invests in these technologies to give our Firm an edge in the competitive legal marketplace. Our attorneys are conversant in the use and impact of these technologies, and we maintain in-house staff to assist us in preparing complex presentations which are both visually appealing and result in dramatic and positive outcomes for our clients.