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

Bankruptcy

Top-Ranked Bankruptcy Lawyers in Tampa, Florida

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

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked bankruptcy lawyers in Tampa, Florida are Jorge Octavio Acosta (LexRank 80.00), Raul Cabrera “Raul” (80.00) and Nathan Adam Carney “Nate” (80.00).

This ranking lists 25 bankruptcy lawyers in Tampa, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 25 to 56 years in practice. 4 of the 25 list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

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

    Jorge Octavio Acosta

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 37 years experience
    • Bankruptcy
    • 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 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  2. No change

    Raul Cabrera “Raul”

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #2 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  3. No change

    Nathan Adam Carney “Nate”

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #3 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  4. No change

    Russell Stanley Koss

    Buenaventura Koss PLLC · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #4 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  5. No change

    Scott Aaron Rosin

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 34 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  6. No change

    Scott David Stamatakis

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 27 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  7. No change

    Adam Lawton Alpert

    Bush Ross, P.A. · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 25 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  8. No change

    John Albert Anthony

    Anthony & Partners, LLC · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 38 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  9. No change

    Christie Dee Arkovich

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 33 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  10. No change

    Mark James Bernet

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 40 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  11. No change

    Chad Stanley Bowen

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 28 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  12. No change

    Gregory Pierce Brown

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 29 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  13. No change

    Kelli Ayers Edson

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 27 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  14. No change

    Lara Roeske Fernandez

    Trenam Law · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 30 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  15. No change

    Buddy Dwight Ford

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 39 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  16. No change

    Perry Gall Gruman

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 42 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  17. No change

    Barbara A. Hart

    Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Postler, P.A. · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 25 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  18. No change

    Roger James Haughey II “R.J.”

    Sivyer, Barlow, Watson, and Haughey · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 29 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  19. No change

    Sandra L Hibsch

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 35 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  20. No change

    Danielle Susan Kemp

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 25 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  21. No change

    Dennis Jay LeVine

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 42 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  22. No change

    Luis Martinez-Monfort

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 28 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  23. No change

    Angela C Mason-Reimer

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 27 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  24. No change

    Frank Thomas Papa

    Law Offices of Robert M. Geller, PA · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 28 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  25. No change

    Kelley Marie Petry

    Law Offices of Robert M. Geller, PA · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 26 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

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 pages256 facts for 25 lawyers

Bankruptcy market in Tampa

LexRanked tracks 106 lawyers and 16 law firms in bankruptcy law in Tampa, Florida. 106 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
106
Law firms
16
Verified professional data
106 of 106
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
19 years106 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 Tampa

What sets these Tampa 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 25 ranked lawyers Figure
Years in practice 25 to 56 (median 29)
Languages besides English Spanish (4)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school Stetson University College of Law (5 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Tampa office address and bankruptcy as a practice area on record. It compares 25 bankruptcy lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. 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.

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)
Court Where cases are heard
State court circuit Hillsborough County is in Florida's Thirteenth 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

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)).

Which court handles cases in Tampa?

State court cases in Hillsborough County are heard in Florida's Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. Bankruptcy cases are filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the federal district that includes the county instead.

Are there Spanish-speaking bankruptcy lawyers in Tampa?

Yes. 4 of the 25 ranked lawyers list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile. Each LexRanked profile shows the languages on record.

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: Jorge Octavio Acosta, Raul Cabrera “Raul”, Nathan Adam Carney “Nate”, Russell Stanley Koss and Scott Aaron Rosin and others.

Which lawyers speak Spanish?

16 of the 106 lawyers in this ranking have it on record, 16 confirmed by a verified fact or an official record. They are ranked separately by the same LexRank score. Top-Ranked Spanish-Speaking Bankruptcy Lawyers in Tampa, Florida

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