Darryl Gavin Named “Lawyer of the Year;” Three Named “Ones to Watch”

FLORIDA, ALABAMA, August 20, 2026 — Best Lawyers has selected 29 RumbergerKirk attorneys for inclusion in the 2027 listing of The Best Lawyers in America.  Partner Darryl Gavin has been awarded “Lawyer of the Year,” an honor received by only one attorney for each specialty and location. For the second year in a row, three RumbergerKirk attorneys, Jeffrey Grosholz, Kayla Platt Rady, and Seth Roebuck have been named “Ones to Watch,” recognizing outstanding professional excellence for lawyers who have been in private practice for less than 10 years.

Darryl Gavin has been honored as 2027 Lawyer of the Year in Orlando for “Insurance Law.” Gavin represents insurance companies against coverage claims involving homeowners, property disputes, automobile, life and commercial general liability policies. In conjunction with his insurance coverage and bad faith practice, he is routinely called upon to handle appeals on behalf of his clients.

The Best Lawyers list is based on a peer-review process in which thousands of leading attorneys confidentially evaluate the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical and legal practice area. Individuals honored as a “Lawyer of the Year” have received particularly high ratings for their abilities, professionalism and integrity.

The RumbergerKirk attorneys selected for inclusion highlight the firm’s broad range of experience defending clients in a variety of civil litigation matters. 

Birmingham

  • Robert H. Adams: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Craig A. Alexander:  Litigation-Labor and Employment; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Meredith Jowers Lees: Commercial Litigation
  • J. Michael Rediker:  Commercial Litigation; Litigation –Securities; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Securities Regulation
  • E. Berton Spence: Banking and Finance Law; Commercial Transactions/UCC Law

Miami

  • Nicole Kwapisz: Litigation-Construction
  • Scott Sarason: Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants

Orlando

  • Lori J. Caldwell: Insurance Law
  • Brett Carey: Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law
  • Patrick M. Delaney: Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • Ernest (Skip) H. Eubanks:  Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • Darryl L. Gavin:  Insurance Law
  • Daniel J. Gerber:  Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions-Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • Suzanne Barto Hill: Commercial Litigation
  • W.L. (Bud) Kirk: Insurance Law; Litigation – Insurance; Personal Injury Litigation –Defendants
  • David B. Shelton:  Insurance Law
  • Francis H. Sheppard:  Professional Malpractice Law- Defendants
  • Larry D. Smith: Product Liability Litigation-Defendants
  • Jennifer Smith Thomas: Commercial Litigation
  • David Willis: Commercial Litigation; Construction Law

Tallahassee

  • Leonard J. Dietzen III: Employment Law-Management; Labor Law-Management; Litigation-Labor and Employment
  • Richard A. Greenberg: Criminal Defense: General Practice

Tampa

  • Robert L. Blank: Litigation – Insurance; Personal Injury Litigation –  Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants;
  • Michael L. Forte: Litigation-Insurance
  • Joe Metzger: Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants; Product Liability Litigation-Defendants
  • Kari Metzger: Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants

Ones to Watch

  • Jeffrey Grosholz: Labor and Employment Law -Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
  • Kayla E. Platt Rady: Labor and Employment Law – Management; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Seth Roebuck: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs

For more information about The Best Lawyers in America methodology and results, visit www.bestlawyers.com.