Top-Ranked Civil Rights Lawyers in Tampa, Florida

As of October 31, 2026, the top-ranked civil rights lawyers in Tampa, Florida are Matthew Patrick Farmer “Matt” (LexRank 80.00), Rachel Elise Fugate (80.00) and Darren Douglas McClain (80.00).

This ranking lists 25 civil rights lawyers in Tampa, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 5 to 46 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

No change
MM
Matthew Patrick Farmer “Matt”
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 37 years experience
- Civil Rights
- 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 20.5)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
No change
RF
Rachel Elise Fugate
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 28 years experience
- Civil Rights
- 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 20.5)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
No change
DM
Darren Douglas McClain
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 26 years experience
- Civil Rights
- 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 20.5)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
No change
JM
Jennifer Monrose Moore
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 31 years experience
- Civil Rights
- 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 20.5)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
No change
RP
Ralph Alan Peterson
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 46 years experience
- Civil Rights
- 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 20.5)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
No change
DS
David Smolker “David Smolker”
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 43 years experience
- Civil Rights
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #6?
Ranks #6 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20). 1.40 points behind #5, mostly data quality.
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.5)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)
1.40 points behind #5 (Ralph Alan Peterson): Data quality −1.4.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
GS
Gerald Douglas Siebens
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 30 years experience
- Civil Rights
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #7?
Ranks #7 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.5)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
GG
Gilberto E. Sanchez “Gil”
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 22 years experience
- Civil Rights
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #8?
Ranks #8 with 76.40: strongest in Experience (26.4/30) and Data quality (10/10). 2.20 points behind #7, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 20.5)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
2.20 points behind #7 (Gerald Douglas Siebens): Experience −3.6.
No change
DR
Dale Mark Rodriguez
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 22 years experience
- Civil Rights
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #9?
Ranks #9 with 76.40: strongest in Experience (26.4/30) and Data quality (10/10).
Strongest
- Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 20.5)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
No change
PR
Paul William Rebein
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 25 years experience
- Civil Rights · Product Liability
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #10?
Ranks #10 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10). 1.40 points behind #9, mostly practice-area relevance.
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.5)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
1.40 points behind #9 (Dale Mark Rodriguez): Practice-area relevance −5.
No change
JJ
Jeffrey Dale Jensen
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 20 years experience
- Civil Rights
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #11?
Ranks #11 with 74.00: strongest in Experience (24/30) and Data quality (10/10). 1.00 points behind #10, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Experience 24/30 (ranking avg 20.5)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
1.00 points behind #10 (Paul William Rebein): Experience −6.
No change
LL
Layla Kristi McDonald “Layla”
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 21 years experience
- Civil Rights
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #12?
Ranks #12 with 73.80: strongest in Experience (25.2/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20). 0.20 points behind #11, mostly data quality.
Strongest
- Experience 25.2/30 (ranking avg 20.5)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)
0.20 points behind #11 (Jeffrey Dale Jensen): Data quality −1.4.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
TD
Thomas M Danahy “Tom Danahy”
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 20 years experience
- Civil Rights
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #13?
Ranks #13 with 72.60: strongest in Experience (24/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20). 1.20 points behind #12, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Experience 24/30 (ranking avg 20.5)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)
1.20 points behind #12 (Layla Kristi McDonald “Layla”): Experience −1.2.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
NZ
Nivine Kamal Zakhari
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 18 years experience
- Civil Rights
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #14?
Ranks #14 with 71.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Experience (21.6/30). 1.00 points behind #13, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
- Experience 21.6/30 (ranking avg 20.5)
1.00 points behind #13 (Thomas M Danahy “Tom Danahy”): Experience −2.4.
No change
DI
Dennis Aloysius Creed III
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 19 years experience
- Civil Rights
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #15?
Ranks #15 with 71.40: strongest in Experience (22.8/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20). 0.20 points behind #14, mostly data quality.
Strongest
- Experience 22.8/30 (ranking avg 20.5)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)
0.20 points behind #14 (Nivine Kamal Zakhari): Data quality −1.4.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
RM
Ryan McGee
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 17 years experience
- Civil Rights
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #16?
Ranks #16 with 70.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (20.4/30). 1.00 points behind #15, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)
Held back by
- Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 20.5)
1.00 points behind #15 (Dennis Aloysius Creed III): Experience −2.4.
No change
LK
LaKisha Michelle Kinsey-Sallis
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 16 years experience
- Civil Rights
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #17?
Ranks #17 with 69.20: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (19.2/30). 1.20 points behind #16, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)
Held back by
- Experience 19.2/30 (ranking avg 20.5)
1.20 points behind #16 (Ryan McGee): Experience −1.2.
No change
JS
Jennifer Marie Szymczak
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 16 years experience
- Civil Rights
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #18?
Ranks #18 with 69.20: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (19.2/30).
Strongest
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)
Held back by
- Experience 19.2/30 (ranking avg 20.5)
No change
JM
Jennifer Marie Meksraitis
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 19 years experience
- Civil Rights · Product Liability
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #19?
Ranks #19 with 67.80: strongest in Experience (22.8/30) and Data quality (10/10). 1.40 points behind #18, mostly practice-area relevance.
Strongest
- Experience 22.8/30 (ranking avg 20.5)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
1.40 points behind #18 (Jennifer Marie Szymczak): Practice-area relevance −5.
No change
VW
Verhonda Williams-Darrell “Verhonda Williams”
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 15 years experience
- Civil Rights
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #20?
Ranks #20 with 66.60: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (18/30). 1.20 points behind #19, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.9)
Held back by
- Experience 18/30 (ranking avg 20.5)
1.20 points behind #19 (Jennifer Marie Meksraitis): Experience −4.8, Data quality −1.4.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
JR
Joshua Robert Rich
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 14 years experience
- Civil Rights
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #21?
Ranks #21 with 65.40: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (16.8/30). 1.20 points behind #20, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.9)
Held back by
- Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 20.5)
1.20 points behind #20 (Verhonda Williams-Darrell “Verhonda Williams”): Experience −1.2.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
DF
David Charles Fulleborn
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 8 years experience
- Civil Rights
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #22?
Ranks #22 with 59.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (9.6/30). 5.80 points behind #21, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)
Held back by
- Experience 9.6/30 (ranking avg 20.5)
5.80 points behind #21 (Joshua Robert Rich): Experience −7.2.
No change
CD
Carolina Melinda Robles Diaz
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 9 years experience
- Civil Rights
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #23?
Ranks #23 with 59.40: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (10.8/30). 0.20 points behind #22, mostly data quality.
Strongest
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.9)
Held back by
- Experience 10.8/30 (ranking avg 20.5)
0.20 points behind #22 (David Charles Fulleborn): Data quality −1.4.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
MM
Michael John Petro “MJ”
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 6 years experience
- Civil Rights
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #24?
Ranks #24 with 57.20: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (7.2/30). 2.20 points behind #23, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)
Held back by
- Experience 7.2/30 (ranking avg 20.5)
2.20 points behind #23 (Carolina Melinda Robles Diaz): Experience −3.6.
No change
LM
Life Malcolm
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 5 years experience
- Civil Rights
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #25?
Ranks #25 with 54.60: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (6/30). 2.60 points behind #24, mostly data quality.
Strongest
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.6)
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.9)
Held back by
- Experience 6/30 (ranking avg 20.5)
2.60 points behind #24 (Michael John Petro “MJ”): Data quality −1.4, Experience −1.2.
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 · 25 profile pages249 facts for 25 lawyers

Civil Rights market in Tampa

LexRanked tracks 28 lawyers in civil rights law in Tampa, Florida. 28 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers: 28
Law firms: 0
Verified professional data: 28 of 28
Average rating: Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count: Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience: 19 years28 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 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	5 to 46 (median 20)
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 (10 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Tampa office address and civil rights as a practice area on record. It compares 25 civil rights lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. The Florida Bar does not board-certify lawyers in civil rights, 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

Civil rights claims in Florida run on short deadlines: a discrimination complaint to the Florida Commission on Human Relations is due within 365 days, and a federal EEOC charge within 180 or 300 days.

Rule	What it means
Federal civil rights claims	Anyone acting under color of state law who deprives a person of constitutional or federal rights is liable to that person (42 U.S.C. § 1983)
Attorney fees	A court may award a reasonable attorney's fee to the prevailing party in a civil rights case (42 U.S.C. § 1988(b))
Florida complaint deadline	A discrimination complaint must be filed with the Florida Commission on Human Relations within 365 days (Fla. Stat. § 760.11(1))
Commission review	The commission decides within 180 days whether there is reasonable cause (§ 760.11(3))
Lawsuit after a cause finding	A civil action must be filed within 1 year after the commission finds reasonable cause (§ 760.11)
Federal EEOC charge	An employment discrimination charge is due within 180 days, or 300 days where a state or local agency also handles it (42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(e)(1))

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.

Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.
If you prefer to work in another language, check the languages listed on each profile.

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a discrimination complaint in Florida?

Within 365 days of the discrimination, with the Florida Commission on Human Relations (section 760.11(1)). A federal EEOC charge is due within 180 days, or 300 days where a state or local agency also handles it.

Can I sue a police officer or government official for violating my rights?

Yes. Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a person acting under color of state law who deprives you of constitutional or federal rights is liable to you, subject to defenses such as immunity.

Who pays the lawyer in a civil rights case?

The court may award a reasonable attorney's fee to the prevailing party (42 U.S.C. § 1988(b)), so many civil rights lawyers take cases on contingency.

How long do I have to sue after the commission finds reasonable cause?

1 year after the date of the commission's reasonable-cause determination (section 760.11).

Which court handles cases in Tampa?

State court cases in Hillsborough County are heard in Florida's Thirteenth Judicial Circuit.

Are there Spanish-speaking civil rights 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: Matthew Patrick Farmer “Matt”, Rachel Elise Fugate, Darren Douglas McClain, Jennifer Monrose Moore and Ralph Alan Peterson and others.

About this ranking

Last updated: October 31, 2026
Methodology: LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review: LexRanked editorial team, October 19, 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

Civil Rights market in Tampa

What sets these Tampa lawyers apart

Who is included in this ranking?

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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