Independent lawyer rankingsEvery fact traceable to a sourcePayment never changes a ranking
LexRanked
Menu

Bankruptcy

Top-Ranked Bankruptcy Lawyers in Florida

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

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked bankruptcy lawyers in Florida are Jennifer S Haley-Gleason (LexRank 84.00), James Daryl Gassenheimer (82.60) and Kenneth Martin Hesser (82.60).

This ranking lists the top 25 of the 856 bankruptcy lawyers LexRanked tracks across Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. They practice in 4 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

    Jennifer S Haley-Gleason

    Carr Allison · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 30 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 0.0)
  2. No change

    James Daryl Gassenheimer

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Reputation (4/20). 1.40 points behind #1, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 0.0)

    1.40 points behind #1 (Jennifer S Haley-Gleason): Data quality −1.4.

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

  3. No change

    Kenneth Martin Hesser

    Independent practice · Gainesville, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 0.0)

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

  4. No change

    Richard Lincoln Richards “Rich”

    Barakat + Bossa · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 80.25: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Reputation (4/20). 2.35 points behind #3, mostly professional credentials.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 0.0)

    2.35 points behind #3 (Kenneth Martin Hesser): Professional credentials −3.8.

  5. No change

    Magda Abdo-Gomez

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 43 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20). 0.25 points behind #4, mostly reputation.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)

    0.25 points behind #4 (Richard Lincoln Richards “Rich”): Reputation −4.

  6. No change

    John Arrastia Jr.

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 30 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)
  7. No change

    Eric Nissim Assouline “Eric”

    Assouline & Berlowe, P.A. · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)
  8. No change

    Manuel Avila “Manny”

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 36 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)
  9. No change

    Lisbet Campo

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)
  10. No change

    Frank Carrillo

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 37 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)
  11. No change

    Jose Angel Casal

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 38 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)
  12. No change

    Carlos A Cespedes

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 27 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)
  13. No change

    Scott Michael Dimond “Scott”

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)
  14. No change

    Pelayo M Duran

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

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

    Ranks #14 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)
  15. No change

    Robert Farouk Elgidely

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)
  16. No change

    Mariaelena Gayo-Guitian

    Venable LLP · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 37 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)
  17. No change

    Julia Kefalinos

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 35 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #17?

    Ranks #17 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)
  18. No change

    Timothy S Kingcade

    Kingcade & Garcia PA · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 30 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #18?

    Ranks #18 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)
  19. No change

    John Wesley Kozyak

    Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton, PA · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 50 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #19?

    Ranks #19 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)
  20. No change

    Gary Michael Murphree

    AM Law, LLC · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #20?

    Ranks #20 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)
  21. No change

    Sandra C. Navarro-Garcia

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #21?

    Ranks #21 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)
  22. No change

    Roberto Ramirez “Robert”

    Ramirez & Ramirez, P.A. · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #22?

    Ranks #22 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)
  23. No change

    Richard R Robles

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 30 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #23?

    Ranks #23 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)
  24. No change

    Iris Sara Rogatinsky “Iris”

    Assouline & Berlowe, P.A. · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 27 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #24?

    Ranks #24 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)
  25. No change

    Heather Ann Rutecki “Heather Rutecki-Guggenthaler”

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #25?

    Ranks #25 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.0)

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 pages272 facts for 25 lawyers

Bankruptcy market in Florida

LexRanked tracks 856 lawyers and 80 law firms in bankruptcy law in Florida. 856 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
856
Law firms
80
Verified professional data
856 of 856
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
21 years856 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 bankruptcy lawyers apart

Every lawyer in this ranking has a The Florida Bar license verified as eligible to practice, and every fact shown links to its source. The figures come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile, checked in November 2026.

Fact about the 25 ranked lawyers Figure
Years in practice 26 to 50 (median 30)
Languages besides English Spanish (17), French (2), Arabic (1), Greek (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer

Where do Florida's top bankruptcy lawyers practice?

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

City Lawyers in this ranking
Miami 21
Coral Gables 2
Gainesville 1
Tallahassee 1

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with an office in a Florida city we cover and bankruptcy as a practice area on record. It ranks every bankruptcy lawyer LexRanked tracks in Florida by the same score and shows the top 25. The Florida Bar does not board-certify lawyers in bankruptcy, so the practice area is the one each lawyer lists on their Florida Bar profile, which The Florida Bar does not review. How we rank.

Find a bankruptcy lawyer in your city

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

Florida rules to know

Bankruptcy is federal law, but Florida decides what property a debtor keeps: filing stops most collection at once, and Florida protects a homestead and a vehicle worth up to $5,000.

Rule What it means
Automatic stay Filing a bankruptcy petition stops most collection actions and lawsuits against the debtor (11 U.S.C. § 362(a))
Credit counseling An individual must take a budget and credit counseling briefing from an approved agency within the 180 days before filing (11 U.S.C. § 109(h))
Repeat Chapter 7 No Chapter 7 discharge if the debtor received one in a case filed within the previous 8 years (11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(8))
Chapter 13 plan A repayment plan runs for at most 5 years (11 U.S.C. § 1322(d))
Meeting of creditors The U.S. trustee holds a meeting of creditors in every case (11 U.S.C. § 341)
Florida homestead A home is protected up to one-half acre inside a city or 160 acres outside one (Fla. Const. art. X, § 4)
Florida vehicle and property A vehicle up to $5,000, and other personal property up to $4,000 if no homestead exemption is claimed (Fla. Stat. § 222.25)

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

Does filing bankruptcy stop collection calls and lawsuits?

Yes, in most cases. Under 11 U.S.C. § 362(a), filing the petition stops most collection actions and lawsuits against the debtor at once, with the exceptions the statute lists.

Do I need credit counseling before filing bankruptcy?

Yes. An individual must receive a budget and credit counseling briefing from an approved nonprofit agency within the 180 days before filing, under 11 U.S.C. § 109(h), unless an exception applies.

Can I keep my house if I file bankruptcy in Florida?

Florida protects a homestead from forced sale up to one-half acre inside a city or 160 acres outside one (Fla. Const. art. X, § 4). In bankruptcy, federal law caps the protection for home equity acquired in the 1,215 days before filing (11 U.S.C. § 522(p)), so ask a lawyer about your dates.

How often can I file Chapter 7?

A Chapter 7 discharge is denied if you received one in a case filed within the previous 8 years (11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(8)).

How long does a Chapter 13 plan last?

At most 5 years. A debtor whose income is below the Florida median usually has a 3-year plan, which the court may extend to 5 years for cause (11 U.S.C. § 1322(d)).

Where are the best bankruptcy lawyers in Florida?

Of the 25 lawyers in this ranking, 21 practice in Miami, 2 practice in Coral Gables, 1 practices in Gainesville. Each city also has its own ranking.

Do I need a bankruptcy 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: Jennifer S Haley-Gleason, James Daryl Gassenheimer, Kenneth Martin Hesser, Richard Lincoln Richards “Rich” and Magda Abdo-Gomez and others.

What is the difference between the top two lawyers?

Jennifer S Haley-Gleason scores 84.00 and James Daryl Gassenheimer 82.60, a gap of 1.40 points, mostly in data quality. Compare them side by side

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.

Explore