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Top-Ranked Business Lawyers in Florida

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

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked business lawyers in Florida are George Donovan Conwell Jr. (LexRank 92.00), Stefan Vaughn Stein (92.00) and David Andrew Byrne (88.00).

This ranking lists the top 25 of the 160 business 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 Business Litigation by The Florida Bar, a credential held by 4.9% of Florida lawyers in any field. They practice in 11 cities, led by Tampa.

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

    George Donovan Conwell Jr.

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 42 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 92.00: strongest in Reputation (12/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 12/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  2. No change

    Stefan Vaughn Stein

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 46 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 92.00: strongest in Reputation (12/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 12/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  3. No change

    David Andrew Byrne

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30). 4.00 points behind #2, mostly reputation.

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)

    4.00 points behind #2 (Stefan Vaughn Stein): Reputation −4.

  4. No change

    David Hollingsworth Simmons

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 48 years experience
    • Business
    • 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 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  5. No change

    Murray Bruce Silverstein

    STINSON LLP · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #5 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  6. No change

    Shane Brady Vogt

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  7. No change

    Jon Michael Lindell

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 47 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  8. No change

    William Renden Clayton

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 41 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

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

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  9. No change

    Douglas Hyde Reynolds

    Tripp Scott, P.A. · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 43 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  10. No change

    Donna Greenspan Solomon

    Independent practice · Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  11. No change

    Kenneth Louis Minerley

    Minerley Fein, P.A. · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 40 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  12. No change

    Peter Alan Sachs

    Jones Foster · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 43 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  13. No change

    Louis Marc Silber

    Independent practice · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 52 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  14. No change

    Stephen Joseph Padula

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 27 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  15. No change

    Robert A Sweetapple

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 46 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  16. No change

    Michael Joseph Corso

    Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, PA · Fort Myers, FL

    Verified
    • 49 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  17. No change

    Edward K Cheffy

    Cheffy Passidomo, P.A. · Naples, FL

    Verified
    • 42 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #17?

    Ranks #17 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  18. No change

    Kelley Geraghty Price

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

    Verified
    • 35 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #18?

    Ranks #18 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  19. No change

    Lewis Wilson Murphy Jr.

    Murphy & Walker, P.L. · Vero Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #19?

    Ranks #19 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  20. No change

    Louis B Vocelle Jr. “Buck”

    Independent practice · Vero Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 43 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #20?

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

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  21. No change

    Harold Gerard Melville Jr.

    Independent practice · Fort Pierce, FL

    Verified
    • 54 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #21?

    Ranks #21 with 88.00: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)
  22. No change

    William King Hill

    Independent practice · Miami, FL

    Verified
    • 38 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #22?

    Ranks #22 with 86.60: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30). 1.40 points behind #21, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)

    1.40 points behind #21 (Harold Gerard Melville Jr.): Data quality −1.4.

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

  23. No change

    Howard Scott Marks

    Independent practice · Orlando, FL

    Verified
    • 38 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #23?

    Ranks #23 with 86.60: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)

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

  24. No change

    Scott Alan McLaren

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 25 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #24?

    Ranks #24 with 86.60: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)

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

  25. No change

    Wiley Braxton Gillam IV

    Milam Howard Nicandri & Gillam, P.A. · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Business
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #25?

    Ranks #25 with 86.60: strongest in Reputation (8/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Reputation 8/20 (ranking avg 5.2)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.7)

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

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 · 17 profile pages197 facts for 17 lawyers

Business market in Florida

LexRanked tracks 160 lawyers and 26 law firms in business law in Florida. 160 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
160
Law firms
26
Verified professional data
160 of 160
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
35 years160 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 business lawyers apart

All 25 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Business Litigation 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 Business Litigation 25 of 25
Years in practice 25 to 54 (median 42)
Languages besides English French (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer

Where do Florida's top business lawyers practice?

5 of the 25 practice in Tampa; the table shows every city.

City Lawyers in this ranking
Tampa 5
Boca Raton 3
Fort Lauderdale 3
Jacksonville 2
Miami 2
Naples 2
Orlando 2
Vero Beach 2
West Palm Beach 2
Fort Myers 1
Fort Pierce 1

Who is included in this ranking?

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

Find a business lawyer in your city

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

Florida rules to know

Florida gives five years to sue on a written contract and four on an oral one.

Rule What it means
Written contract 5 years to sue (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(2)(b))
Oral contract 4 years to sue (§ 95.11(3))
Deceptive trade practices The Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (ch. 501, part II)

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 sue for breach of contract in Florida?

5 years for a written contract and 4 years for an oral one.

What does a business litigation lawyer do?

Represents companies and owners in disputes such as contract breaches, partnership and shareholder conflicts and unfair competition, in court or arbitration.

What does Board Certified in Business Litigation 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 business lawyers in Florida?

Of the 25 lawyers in this ranking, 5 practice in Tampa, 3 practice in Boca Raton, 3 practice in Fort Lauderdale. Each city also has its own ranking.

Do I need a business 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: George Donovan Conwell Jr., Stefan Vaughn Stein, David Andrew Byrne, David Hollingsworth Simmons and Murray Bruce Silverstein 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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