Hon. Elizabeth D. Laporte (Ret.) joined JAMS after more than two decades as a United States magistrate judge for the Northern District of California. Judge Laporte was the chief United States magistrate judge for the Northern District of California from 2013 to 2015. As a magistrate judge, she presided over numerous civil cases with the […]

Richard Birke is the Executive Director of the JAMS Institute—the teaching and training arm of JAMS. In that capacity, Birke leads a team of educators and professionals committed to providing JAMS with exceptional internal training, starting with new panelists and continuing with the nation’s most experienced neutrals. In addition, the Institute’s role as an external […]

Hon. Gail A. Andler (Ret.) joined JAMS as a full-time neutral after more than 21 years on the Orange County Superior Court where she served from 2007-2017 on the Complex Civil Litigation Panel. Judge Andler has experience across the legal spectrum including complex business, trade secret, employment, product liability, catastrophic personal injury and real estate […]

Casey Sobhani focuses on real estate transactions, and is the head of the firm's leasing practice in the United States. Casey also serves as a co-location head of the firm's real estate group in Los Angeles. With his expertise in commercial leases, Casey is directly responsible for managing and handling the legal work for millions […]

Angela Castro focuses her practice on commercial acquisitions and dispositions, commercial leasing, asset management, and real estate financing and helps clients solve complex problems with practical solutions. EXPERIENCE Representing a REIT in the disposition of a multi-state portfolio of retail shopping centers located throughout the United States to multiple purchasers Representing a private real estate […]

Melissa Rodriguez focuses her practice on structuring and implementing methods for clients’ wealth and business succession. She works with high net worth individuals to achieve their objectives while minimizing income and transfer tax exposure. In addition, Melissa represents clients before the Internal Revenue Service in matters concerning gift, estate, and fiduciary income tax. She also […]

Jonathan Gopman is a partner in Akerman’s Naples office and also spends substantial time in the Fort Lauderdale office. Jonathan’s practice focuses on sophisticated wealth accumulation and preservation planning strategies for entrepreneurs. He assists entrepreneurs with their personal and business planning needs at all phases of the wealth accumulation and preservation cycle. In his practice […]

With an emphasis on wealth preservation, Anna Els’ practice is focused on trusts and estates planning. She works primarily with high net worth individuals. Her area of expertise are tax, trusts and estates. Honors and Distinctions: The Best Lawyers of America 2021, Listed in Florida for Tax Law, Trusts and Estates Law as “Ones to […]

Jonathan Robbins represents public and private companies and individuals in complex regulatory and litigation matters in the financial services and regulated substances sectors. His experience encompasses investigations and administrative and enforcement proceedings brought by federal, state, and self-regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Florida Attorney General’s Office, Florida Department of Financial […]

Ari H. Gerstin concentrates his practice on complex litigation, class actions, and regulatory matters. He prosecutes and defends litigation in state, federal, and administrative courts on behalf of large retail operators, insurance companies and other regulated entities, companies involved in the cannabis and hemp industries, as well as other national and local companies and individuals. […]