Top-Ranked Health Care Lawyers in Florida

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked health care lawyers in Florida are Michael John Bittman “Mike” (LexRank 84.00), Jeffrey Louis Cohen (84.00) and Steven Joel Resnick (84.00).

This ranking lists the top 25 of the 77 health care 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 Health Law by The Florida Bar, a credential held by 4.9% of Florida lawyers in any field. They practice in 14 cities, led by Altamonte Springs.

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

No change
MM
Michael John Bittman “Mike”
Independent practice · Orlando, FL
Verified
- 43 years experience
- Health Care
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #1?
Ranks #1 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
JC
Jeffrey Louis Cohen
Independent practice · Delray Beach, FL
Verified
- 39 years experience
- Health Care
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #2?
Ranks #2 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
SR
Steven Joel Resnick
Independent practice · Gainesville, FL
Verified
- 25 years experience
- Health Care
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #3?
Ranks #3 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
MT
Mark Stephen Thomas
Independent practice · Gainesville, FL
Verified
- 32 years experience
- Health Care
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #4?
Ranks #4 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
GB
Gregory Scott Baity
Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL
Verified
- 29 years experience
- Health Care
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #5?
Ranks #5 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
ML
Michael Philip Levinson
Independent practice · Miami, FL
Verified
- 33 years experience
- Health Care
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #6?
Ranks #6 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
CS
Craig Hamilton Smith
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader US LLP · Miami, FL
Verified
- 29 years experience
- Health Care
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #7?
Ranks #7 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
MB
Mildred Beam
Independent practice · Orlando, FL
Verified
- 33 years experience
- Health Care
- 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).
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
DE
David Leonard Evans
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP · Orlando, FL
Verified
- 47 years experience
- Health Care
- 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
WD
William Paul Dillon
Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL
Verified
- 28 years experience
- Health Care
- 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
MD
Martin Robert Dix
Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL
Verified
- 40 years experience
- Health Care
- 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
SH
Shannon Britton Hartsfield
Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL
Verified
- 31 years experience
- Health Care
- 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
PI
Philip M Sprinkle II
Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL
Verified
- 38 years experience
- Health Care
- 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
RC
Ronald Anthony Christaldi
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 30 years experience
- Health Care
- 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
JI
James J Kennedy III
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 41 years experience
- Health Care
- 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
SS
Steven Edward Stark
Independent practice · Miami Beach, FL
Verified
- 40 years experience
- Health Care
- 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
ML
Michael Robert Lowe
Independent practice · Sanford, FL
Verified
- 29 years experience
- Health Care
- 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
RB
Richard Jay Brooderson
Independent practice · Altamonte Springs, FL
Verified
- 29 years experience
- Health Care
- 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
GC
Gregory Allen Chaires
Independent practice · Altamonte Springs, FL
Verified
- 33 years experience
- Health Care
- 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
GI
George F Indest III
Independent practice · Altamonte Springs, FL
Verified
- 42 years experience
- Health Care
- 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
TK
Troy A Kishbaugh
Independent practice · Altamonte Springs, FL
Verified
- 28 years experience
- Health Care
- 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
KT
Kathy Jacobs Tayon
Independent practice · DeLand, FL
Verified
- 35 years experience
- Health Care
- 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
EL
Elizabeth Daley Shaw “Liz”
Independent practice · Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Verified
- 26 years experience
- Health Care
- 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
JK
John Robert Kancilia
Independent practice · Melbourne, FL
Verified
- 42 years experience
- Health Care
- 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
No change
DM
Daniel Gerard Musca
Independent practice · Palm Harbor, FL
Verified
- 30 years experience
- Health Care
- 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 27.4)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

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 pages277 facts for 25 lawyers

Health Care market in Florida

LexRanked tracks 77 lawyers and 5 law firms in health care law in Florida. 77 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers: 77
Law firms: 5
Verified professional data: 77 of 77
Average rating: Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count: Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience: 30 years77 lawyers

Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on November 1, 2026; data verified October 30, 2026. 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 health care lawyers apart

All 25 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Health Law 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 Health Law	25 of 25
Years in practice	25 to 47 (median 33)
License status with The Florida Bar	Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer

Where do Florida's top health care lawyers practice?

4 of the 25 practice in Altamonte Springs; the table shows every city.

City	Lawyers in this ranking
Altamonte Springs	4
Tallahassee	4
Orlando	3
Gainesville	2
Miami	2
Tampa	2
DeLand	1
Delray Beach	1
Jacksonville	1
Melbourne	1
Miami Beach	1
Palm Harbor	1
Ponte Vedra Beach	1
Sanford	1

Who is included in this ranking?

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

Find a health care lawyer in your city

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

Florida rules to know

Florida health law regulates how providers are licensed, paid and referred patients: kickbacks and patient brokering are prohibited, and every clinic location needs its own state license.

Rule	What it means
Kickbacks	Health care providers may not offer, pay, solicit or receive kickbacks for referring patients (Fla. Stat. § 456.054)
Patient brokering	Paying or receiving anything to induce patient referrals is a third-degree felony with a $50,000 fine (§ 817.505)
Clinic licensing	Each clinic location must be licensed separately by the Agency for Health Care Administration (§ 400.991)
Patient records	Practitioners must furnish copies of a patient's reports and records on request, in a timely manner (§ 456.057)
Hospital records	Licensed facilities furnish copies of patient records on written request after discharge (§ 395.3025)

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.

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

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to pay for patient referrals in Florida?

No. Section 456.054 bars kickbacks for referrals, and under section 817.505 paying or receiving anything to induce a referral is patient brokering, a third-degree felony with a $50,000 fine, subject to the exceptions listed in the statute.

Does a medical clinic need a license in Florida?

Yes, unless it falls under an exemption: each clinic location needs its own license from the Agency for Health Care Administration.

How do I get copies of my medical records in Florida?

Ask the practitioner, who must furnish copies in a timely manner under section 456.057; a hospital furnishes copies on written request after discharge under section 395.3025.

Who certifies health lawyers in Florida?

The Florida Bar certifies lawyers in Health Law after at least five years of practice, peer review and a written exam.

What does Board Certified in Health Law 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 health care lawyers in Florida?

Of the 25 lawyers in this ranking, 4 practice in Altamonte Springs, 4 practice in Tallahassee, 3 practice in Orlando. Each city also has its own ranking.

Do I need a health care 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: Michael John Bittman “Mike”, Jeffrey Louis Cohen, Steven Joel Resnick, Mark Stephen Thomas and Gregory Scott Baity and others.

About this ranking

Last updated: November 1, 2026
Methodology: LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review: LexRanked editorial team, November 1, 2026
Independence: Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.

Explore

Summary

The ranking

Data sources behind the scores

Health Care market in Florida

What sets these Florida health care lawyers apart

Where do Florida's top health care lawyers practice?

Who is included in this ranking?

Find a health care lawyer in your city

Florida rules to know

How to choose among these lawyers

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

About this ranking

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