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

Intellectual Property

Top-Ranked Intellectual Property Lawyers in Tampa, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.219 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked intellectual property lawyers in Tampa, Florida are Michael J Colitz III (LexRank 84.00), Richard Edson Fee (84.00) and Robert Frank Frijouf (84.00).

This ranking lists 19 intellectual property lawyers in Tampa, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. All 19 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Intellectual Property Law by The Florida Bar, a credential held by 4.9% of Florida lawyers in any field. Their experience ranges from 9 to 52 years in practice. 1 of the 19 lists Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

Lawyers ranked
19
Fully verified
19 of 19

The ranking

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

  1. No change

    Michael J Colitz III

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 27 years experience
    • Intellectual Property
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  2. No change

    Richard Edson Fee

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #2 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  3. No change

    Robert Frank Frijouf

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 52 years experience
    • Intellectual Property
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  4. No change

    Anton John Hopen

    Trenam Law · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Intellectual Property
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  5. No change

    Frank Robert Jakes

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 42 years experience
    • Intellectual Property
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  6. No change

    James Michael Matulis “Jim”

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 30 years experience
    • Intellectual Property
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  7. No change

    Jarett Stephen Rieger

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 25 years experience
    • Intellectual Property
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  8. No change

    John Todd Timmerman

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Intellectual Property
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  9. No change

    Joseph J Weissman “Joe”

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Intellectual Property
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  10. No change

    Debra Deardourff Larsen “Debra”

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 23 years experience
    • Intellectual Property
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 with 80.20: strongest in Experience (27.6/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 3.80 points behind #9, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 27.6/30 (ranking avg 25.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    3.80 points behind #9 (Joseph J Weissman “Joe”): Experience −2.4, Data quality −1.4.

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

  11. No change

    John Coy Stull “Coy”

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 21 years experience
    • Intellectual Property
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 79.20: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.00 points behind #10, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.00 points behind #10 (Debra Deardourff Larsen “Debra”): Experience −2.4.

  12. No change

    William G Giltinan “Ty”

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 20 years experience
    • Intellectual Property
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 78.00: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.20 points behind #11, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.20 points behind #11 (John Coy Stull “Coy”): Experience −1.2.

  13. No change

    Woodrow Heath Pollack

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 20 years experience
    • Intellectual Property
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 78.00: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  14. No change

    Alejandro J Fernandez “Alex”

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 19 years experience
    • Intellectual Property
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 76.80: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.20 points behind #13, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.20 points behind #13 (Woodrow Heath Pollack): Experience −1.2.

  15. No change

    Jeffrey B Fabian “Jeffrey”

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 16 years experience
    • Intellectual Property
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 73.20: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (19.2/30). 3.60 points behind #14, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
    • Experience 19.2/30 (ranking avg 25.0)

    3.60 points behind #14 (Alejandro J Fernandez “Alex”): Experience −3.6.

  16. No change

    Andriy Lytvyn

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 14 years experience
    • Intellectual Property
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 70.80: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (16.8/30). 2.40 points behind #15, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 25.0)

    2.40 points behind #15 (Jeffrey B Fabian “Jeffrey”): Experience −2.4.

  17. No change

    Mindi Marie Richter

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 18 years experience
    • Intellectual Property
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #17?

    Ranks #17 with 70.45: strongest in Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (21.6/30). 0.35 points behind #16, mostly professional credentials.

    Strongest

    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
    • Experience 21.6/30 (ranking avg 25.0)

    0.35 points behind #16 (Andriy Lytvyn): Professional credentials −3.8, Data quality −1.4.

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

  18. No change

    Luca Lee Hickman

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 11 years experience
    • Intellectual Property
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #18?

    Ranks #18 with 67.20: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (13.2/30). 3.25 points behind #17, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
    • Experience 13.2/30 (ranking avg 25.0)

    3.25 points behind #17 (Mindi Marie Richter): Experience −8.4.

  19. No change

    Eleanor Martha Yost

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 9 years experience
    • Intellectual Property
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #19?

    Ranks #19 with 61.05: strongest in Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (10.8/30). 6.15 points behind #18, mostly professional credentials.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
    • Experience 10.8/30 (ranking avg 25.0)

    6.15 points behind #18 (Luca Lee Hickman): Professional credentials −3.8, Experience −2.4.

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 · 19 profile pages207 facts for 19 lawyers

Intellectual Property market in Tampa

LexRanked tracks 19 lawyers and 1 law firm in intellectual property law in Tampa, Florida. 19 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 10, 2026.

Lawyers
19
Law firms
1
Verified professional data
19 of 19
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
23 years19 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

All 19 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Intellectual Property Law by The Florida Bar, which only about one in twenty Florida lawyers achieves in any field. Florida Bar board certification requires at least five years of practice, substantial involvement in the field, peer review by other lawyers and judges, continuing legal education and a written exam, and it must be renewed every five years. The figures below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.

Fact about the 19 ranked lawyers Figure
Board Certified in Intellectual Property Law 19 of 19
Years in practice 9 to 52 (median 23)
Languages besides English Russian (1), Spanish (1), Ukrainian (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law (5 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Tampa office address and intellectual property as a practice area on record. It compares 19 intellectual property lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. How we rank.

Florida rules to know

Patents and copyrights are governed by federal law, while Florida law protects trade secrets and offers its own trademark registration; the filing deadlines run from 3 to 6 years.

Rule What it means
Copyright lawsuits Within 3 years after the claim accrued (17 U.S.C. § 507(b))
Patent term 20 years from the filing date of the application, subject to maintenance fees (35 U.S.C. § 154(a)(2))
Patent damages No recovery for infringement committed more than 6 years before the lawsuit (35 U.S.C. § 286)
Trade secrets Within 3 years after the misappropriation is discovered or should have been discovered (Fla. Stat. § 688.007)
Florida trademark registration Lasts 5 years and can be renewed within the 6 months before it expires (Fla. Stat. § 495.071)
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

How long does a patent last?

A utility patent runs for 20 years from the date the application was filed in the United States, as long as the maintenance fees are paid.

How long do I have to sue for copyright infringement?

Three years after the claim accrued, under 17 U.S.C. § 507(b).

How long do I have to sue over a stolen trade secret in Florida?

Three years after the misappropriation was discovered, or should have been discovered with reasonable diligence, under section 688.007. A continuing misappropriation counts as a single claim.

Who certifies intellectual property lawyers in Florida?

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

What does Board Certified in Intellectual Property 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. 19 of the 19 lawyers in this ranking hold it; 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

Which court handles cases in Tampa?

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

Are there Spanish-speaking intellectual property lawyers in Tampa?

Yes. 1 of the 19 ranked lawyers lists 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?

19 of the 19 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Michael J Colitz III, Richard Edson Fee, Robert Frank Frijouf, Anton John Hopen and Frank Robert Jakes and others.

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