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Top-Ranked Appellate Lawyers in Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.225 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked appellate lawyers in Florida are Paul Morris (LexRank 88.00), William Harris Rogner “Bill” (88.00) and Thomasina Moore (88.00).

This ranking lists the top 25 of the 158 appellate lawyers LexRanked tracks across Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. All 25 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Appellate Practice by The Florida Bar, a credential held by 4.9% of Florida lawyers in any field. They practice in 9 cities, led by Miami.

Lawyers ranked
25
Fully verified
25 of 25

The ranking

Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank

  1. No change

    Paul Morris

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 51 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
  2. No change

    William Harris Rogner “Bill”

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 36 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
  3. No change

    Thomasina Moore

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
  4. No change

    Thomas Warren Sculco “Tom”

    Independent practice · Winter Park, FL

    Verified
    • 33 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
  5. No change

    John Anthony Greco

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 86.60: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30). 1.40 points behind #4, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)

    1.40 points behind #4 (Thomas Warren Sculco “Tom”): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  6. No change

    Thomas John Butler

    Independent practice · Miami Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 24 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 85.40: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (28.8/30). 1.20 points behind #5, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 25.4)

    1.20 points behind #5 (John Anthony Greco): Experience −1.2.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  7. No change

    John Andrew Crawford “Andrew”

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

    Verified
    • 22 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 84.40: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Data quality (10/10). 1.00 points behind #6, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    1.00 points behind #6 (Thomas John Butler): Experience −2.4.

  8. No change

    Dorothy Frances Easley

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20). 0.40 points behind #7, mostly reputation.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.3)

    0.40 points behind #7 (John Andrew Crawford “Andrew”): Reputation −4.

  9. No change

    Elliot Burt Kula

    Kula & Associates, P.A. · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
  10. No change

    Nicholas Ari Shannin “Nick”

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
  11. No change

    Robert Jeffrey Hauser “Rob”

    Independent practice · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
  12. No change

    Cristina Alonso

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
  13. No change

    Edward George Guedes

    Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 38 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
  14. No change

    Stephen F Rosenthal

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 28 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
  15. No change

    Andrew Scott Berman

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 42 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
  16. No change

    Jeffrey B Crockett “Jeff”

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 43 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
  17. No change

    Jack Roy Reiter

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #17?

    Ranks #17 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
  18. No change

    Julissa Rodriguez “Julie Rodriguez”

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 27 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #18?

    Ranks #18 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
  19. No change

    Daniel B Rogers

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #19?

    Ranks #19 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
  20. No change

    Elizabeth Koebel Russo

    Russo Lima Appellate Firm, P.A. · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 47 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #20?

    Ranks #20 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
  21. No change

    Dinah Stein

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #21?

    Ranks #21 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
  22. No change

    Roy D Wasson

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 44 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #22?

    Ranks #22 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
  23. No change

    Ceci Culpepper Berman

    Brannock Berman & Seider · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #23?

    Ranks #23 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
  24. No change

    Steven L Brannock “Steve”

    Brannock Berman & Seider · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 45 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #24?

    Ranks #24 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.3)
  25. No change

    David Michael Caldevilla

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 39 years experience
    • Appellate
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #25?

    Ranks #25 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4.3)

Data sources behind the scores

Every score on this page is calculated from facts backed by these sources. Each profile shows which source supports which fact and when it was last checked.

  • floridabar.org · Official / regulatory · 25 profile pages280 facts for 25 lawyers

Appellate market in Florida

LexRanked tracks 158 lawyers and 32 law firms in appellate law in Florida. 158 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
158
Law firms
32
Verified professional data
158 of 158
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
26.5 years158 lawyers

Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld. All lawyers in Florida

What sets these Florida appellate lawyers apart

All 25 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Appellate Practice by The Florida Bar, which only about one in twenty Florida lawyers achieves in any field. The figures come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile, checked in November 2026.

Fact about the 25 ranked lawyers Figure
Board Certified in Appellate Practice 25 of 25
Years in practice 22 to 51 (median 32)
Languages besides English Spanish (5), French (1), Hebrew (1), Italian (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer

Where do Florida's top appellate lawyers practice?

11 of the 25 practice in Miami; the table shows every city.

City Lawyers in this ranking
Miami 11
Coral Gables 4
Tampa 3
Orlando 2
Miami Beach 1
St. Petersburg 1
Tallahassee 1
West Palm Beach 1
Winter Park 1

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with an office in a Florida city we cover and appellate as a practice area on record. It ranks every appellate lawyer LexRanked tracks in Florida by the same score and shows the top 25. How we rank.

Find a appellate lawyer in your city

A lawyer near you knows the local courts; each city has its own ranking of appellate lawyers.

Florida rules to know

A notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days of the order being appealed, and Florida's six district courts of appeal hear most appeals from the trial courts.

Rule What it means
Notice of appeal Filed with the clerk of the lower tribunal within 30 days of rendition of the order (Fla. R. App. P. 9.110(b))
Initial brief Served within 70 days of filing the notice of appeal (Rule 9.110(f))
Answer and reply briefs Answer brief 30 days after the initial brief; reply brief 30 days after the answer brief (Rule 9.210(g))
Rehearing Motion for rehearing or clarification within 15 days of the court's decision (Rule 9.330(a))
Florida Supreme Court Discretionary review is invoked by a notice filed within 30 days of the district court's decision (Rule 9.120(b))
Appellate courts Six district courts of appeal, each covering contiguous judicial circuits (Fla. Stat. § 35.01)

Cases are heard in the county where they arise; see which judicial circuit covers each county.

How to choose among these lawyers

Confirm the license, prefer a lawyer who regularly works in your county, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing.

  1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
  2. Ask how many matters like yours the lawyer has handled in your county recently.
  3. Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to appeal a judgment in Florida?

30 days from rendition of the final order. The notice of appeal is filed with the clerk of the court that entered the order, under Rule 9.110(b) of the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure. The deadline is jurisdictional, so a late notice usually ends the appeal.

Can I appeal an order before the case is over?

Only certain nonfinal orders can be appealed right away, such as orders on venue, injunctions and personal jurisdiction, listed in Rule 9.130. Other orders are usually reviewed after the final judgment.

Which court hears my appeal?

Most appeals from the circuit courts go to one of Florida's six district courts of appeal, determined by the circuit where the case was heard. The Florida Supreme Court reviews only certain cases.

Why hire a separate appellate lawyer?

An appeal is decided on the written record and the briefs, not on new evidence. Appellate lawyers focus on legal research, brief writing and oral argument, and The Florida Bar certifies lawyers in Appellate Practice after peer review and an exam.

What does Board Certified in Appellate Practice mean?

It is a credential from The Florida Bar for lawyers with substantial experience in the field who have passed peer review and a written exam. 25 of the 25 lawyers in this ranking hold it; 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

Where are the best appellate lawyers in Florida?

Of the 25 lawyers in this ranking, 11 practice in Miami, 4 practice in Coral Gables, 3 practice in Tampa. Each city also has its own ranking.

Do I need a appellate lawyer in my own city?

Any lawyer licensed by The Florida Bar may practice anywhere in Florida, but a lawyer who regularly appears in your county knows its judges and procedures.

How is this ranking ordered?

By the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Payment never changes a position.

Do client reviews affect the LexRank score?

Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Reviews are shown on profiles for information only, and Reputation counts only awards on record, such as board certification. How we rank

Which lawyers are verified?

25 of the 25 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Paul Morris, William Harris Rogner “Bill”, Thomasina Moore, Thomas Warren Sculco “Tom” and John Anthony Greco and others.

About this ranking

Last updated
Methodology
LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review
LexRanked editorial team,
Independence
Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.

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