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Top-Ranked Securities Lawyers in Sarasota, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.25 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked securities lawyers in Sarasota, Florida are Walter Andrew Clayton Jr. “Drew Clayton” (LexRank 80.00), John Kelly Forst (78.60) and Ivo Jan Travnicek “Ivo” (75.00).

This ranking lists 5 securities lawyers in Sarasota, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 8 to 38 years in practice.

Lawyers ranked
5
Fully verified
5 of 5

The ranking

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

  1. No change

    Walter Andrew Clayton Jr. “Drew Clayton”

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

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

    Ranks #1 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.8)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
  2. No change

    John Kelly Forst

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

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

    Ranks #2 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 1.40 points behind #1, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.8)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    1.40 points behind #1 (Walter Andrew Clayton Jr. “Drew Clayton”): Data quality −1.4.

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

  3. No change

    Ivo Jan Travnicek “Ivo”

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

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

    Ranks #3 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (26.4/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 3.60 points behind #2, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 22.8)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    3.60 points behind #2 (John Kelly Forst): Experience −3.6.

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

  4. No change

    Worth Selby Graham

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

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

    Ranks #4 with 68.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (18/30). 7.00 points behind #3, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Experience 18/30 (ranking avg 22.8)

    7.00 points behind #3 (Ivo Jan Travnicek “Ivo”): Experience −8.4.

  5. No change

    Amanda Kiersten Fantauzzo

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 8 years experience
    • Securities
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 59.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (9.6/30). 8.40 points behind #4, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Experience 9.6/30 (ranking avg 22.8)

    8.40 points behind #4 (Worth Selby Graham): Experience −8.4.

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 · 5 profile pages49 facts for 5 lawyers

Securities market in Sarasota

LexRanked tracks 5 lawyers in securities law in Sarasota, Florida. 5 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 19, 2026.

Lawyers
5
Law firms
0
Verified professional data
5 of 5
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
22 years5 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 Sarasota

What sets these Sarasota 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 5 ranked lawyers Figure
Years in practice 8 to 38 (median 22)
Languages besides English Czech (1), Polish (1), Russian (1), Slovak (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Sarasota office address and securities as a practice area on record. It compares 5 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 Sarasota County is in Florida's Twelfth 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.
  4. If you prefer to work in another language, check the languages listed on each profile.

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 Sarasota?

State court cases in Sarasota County are heard in Florida's Twelfth 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?

5 of the 5 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Walter Andrew Clayton Jr. “Drew Clayton”, John Kelly Forst, Ivo Jan Travnicek “Ivo”, Worth Selby Graham and Amanda Kiersten Fantauzzo.

What is the difference between the top two lawyers?

Walter Andrew Clayton Jr. “Drew Clayton” scores 80.00 and John Kelly Forst 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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