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Top-Ranked Securities Lawyers in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.28 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked securities lawyers in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida are David Michael Bovi (LexRank 80.00), David H Brodie (78.60) and Laura Jane Starr (78.60).

This ranking lists 8 securities lawyers in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 19 to 40 years in practice.

Lawyers ranked
8
Fully verified
8 of 8

The ranking

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

  1. No change

    David Michael Bovi

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Securities
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 80.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 8.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.5)
  2. No change

    David H Brodie

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 37 years experience
    • Securities
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 78.60: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Experience (30/30). 1.40 points behind #1, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.5)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)

    1.40 points behind #1 (David Michael Bovi): Data quality −1.4.

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

  3. No change

    Laura Jane Starr

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 25 years experience
    • Securities
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 78.60: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Experience (30/30).

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.5)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)

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

  4. No change

    Justin Kam

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 28 years experience
    • Securities
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 74.85: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Experience (30/30). 3.75 points behind #3, mostly professional credentials.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.5)
    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)

    3.75 points behind #3 (Laura Jane Starr): Professional credentials −3.8.

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

  5. No change

    Joseph G Sconzo

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 40 years experience
    • Civil Rights · Securities
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 73.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 1.25 points behind #4, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.5)

    1.25 points behind #4 (Justin Kam): Practice-area relevance −5.

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

  6. No change

    Brian Scott Bernstein

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 19 years experience
    • Securities
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 72.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Practice-area relevance (20/20). 0.80 points behind #5, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 8.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.5)

    0.80 points behind #5 (Joseph G Sconzo): Experience −7.2.

  7. No change

    Douglas A Kahle

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 28 years experience
    • Insurance · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 71.93: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Practice-area relevance (13.3/20). 0.87 points behind #6, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 28.2)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.5)

    Held back by

    • Practice-area relevance 13.3/20 (ranking avg 18.5)

    0.87 points behind #6 (Brian Scott Bernstein): Practice-area relevance −6.7, Data quality −1.4.

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

  8. No change

    Melissa Ann Plotsky

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 19 years experience
    • Securities
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 71.40: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Professional credentials (15/15). 0.53 points behind #7, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.5)

    0.53 points behind #7 (Douglas A Kahle): Experience −7.2.

    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 · 8 profile pages73 facts for 8 lawyers

Securities market in Palm Beach Gardens

LexRanked tracks 8 lawyers in securities law in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. 8 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
8
Law firms
0
Verified professional data
8 of 8
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
28 years8 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 Palm Beach Gardens

What sets these Palm Beach Gardens 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 below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.

Fact about the 8 ranked lawyers Figure
Years in practice 19 to 40 (median 28)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school Nova Southeastern University - Shepard Broad College of Law (2 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Palm Beach Gardens office address and securities as a practice area on record. It compares 8 securities lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. The Florida Bar does not board-certify lawyers in securities, 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.

Florida rules to know

A Florida securities claim must be filed within 2 years after the investor discovered, or should have discovered, the facts, and never more than 5 years after the violation (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(f)).

Rule What it means
Fraud in securities sales Fraud, untrue statements or misleading omissions in connection with the offer, sale or purchase of a security or investment are unlawful (Fla. Stat. § 517.301(1))
Unregistered securities and sellers A sale of an unregistered, non-exempt security, or by an unregistered dealer or associated person, may be rescinded by the buyer (§§ 517.07, 517.12, 517.211(1))
Rescission or damages The buyer recovers the price plus interest at the legal rate if they still own the security, or the loss if they have sold it (§ 517.211(4) and (5))
Attorney fees The court shall award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party unless that would be unjust (§ 517.211(7))
Florida deadline 2 years from discovery of the facts, but not more than 5 years from the violation (§ 95.11(5)(f))
Federal fraud deadline A federal securities fraud claim must be brought by the earlier of 2 years after discovery or 5 years after the violation (28 U.S.C. § 1658(b))
FINRA arbitration A claim against a brokerage firm is not eligible for FINRA arbitration once 6 years have passed since the event (FINRA Rule 12206(a))
Court Where cases are heard
State court circuit Palm Beach County is in Florida's Fifteenth Judicial Circuit

How to choose among these lawyers

Confirm the license, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing before you sign.

  1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
  2. Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled 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 bring a securities claim in Florida?

Within 2 years after you discovered, or with due diligence should have discovered, the facts, and no later than 5 years after the violation (section 95.11(5)(f)). Federal securities fraud claims follow the same 2-year and 5-year limits (28 U.S.C. § 1658(b)).

Can I get my money back if a broker sold me an unregistered investment?

Often yes. A sale of an unregistered, non-exempt security, or by an unregistered dealer, may be rescinded: you recover what you paid plus interest, less income received, if you still own it (section 517.211). The right is lost if you refuse a written repurchase offer for 30 days.

Do I have to go to court or arbitration against my brokerage firm?

Most brokerage account agreements require FINRA arbitration. A claim is not eligible for FINRA arbitration after 6 years from the event (FINRA Rule 12206), and a dismissal on that ground does not stop you from going to court.

Who pays the lawyer in a Florida securities case?

In an action under section 517.211, the court shall award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party unless that would be unjust. Investor lawyers often work on contingency.

Which court handles cases in Palm Beach Gardens?

State court cases in Palm Beach County are heard in Florida's Fifteenth Judicial Circuit.

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?

8 of the 8 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: David Michael Bovi, David H Brodie, Laura Jane Starr, Justin Kam and Joseph G Sconzo and others.

What is the difference between the top two lawyers?

David Michael Bovi scores 80.00 and David H Brodie 78.60, 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.

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