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Top-Ranked Securities Lawyers in Tampa, Florida

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

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked securities lawyers in Tampa, Florida are Julio Cesar Esquivel (LexRank 80.00), Gregory Charles Yadley (80.00) and Katherine C Donlon “Kacy” (80.00).

This ranking lists 25 securities lawyers in Tampa, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 19 to 53 years in practice. 1 of the 25 lists 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

    Julio Cesar Esquivel

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 34 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 21.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
  2. No change

    Gregory Charles Yadley

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 50 years experience
    • Securities
    • 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 21.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
  3. No change

    Katherine C Donlon “Kacy”

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Securities
    • 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 21.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
  4. No change

    Joel J. Ewusiak

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 25 years experience
    • Securities
    • 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 21.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
  5. No change

    Brian Joseph Fender

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Securities
    • 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 21.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
  6. No change

    David Michael Jeffries

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 38 years experience
    • Securities
    • 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 21.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
  7. No change

    Kelly Braun Lefferts

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Securities
    • 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 21.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
  8. No change

    Richard Michael Leisner

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 53 years experience
    • Securities
    • 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 21.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
  9. No change

    William R Paul “Bill Paul”

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 46 years experience
    • Securities
    • 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 21.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
  10. No change

    Darrell C Smith

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 44 years experience
    • Securities
    • 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 21.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
  11. No change

    The Florida Bar has been advised that attorney, Jonathan H. Stein, is the victim of identity theft. If you have been contacted on an unsolicited basis by someone claiming to be this attorney or by someone on this attorney’s behalf and have any reason to doubt such person’s identity, please contact Mr. Stein at (813) 833-6395. Thank you | Jonathan H. Stein “Jonathan”

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 25 years experience
    • Securities
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 1.40 points behind #10, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    1.40 points behind #10 (Darrell C Smith): Data quality −1.4.

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

  12. No change

    Susan Marie Allan

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 38 years experience
    • Securities
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

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

  13. No change

    Mindy Lee Carreja

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 30 years experience
    • Securities
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

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

  14. No change

    Sharon Docherty Danco

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 38 years experience
    • Securities
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

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

  15. No change

    Srinivas Rao Medi “Srini”

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #15 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

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

  16. No change

    Stanley Theodore Padgett

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 43 years experience
    • Securities
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

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

  17. No change

    Robert C Rasmussen “Bob”

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 51 years experience
    • Securities
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #17?

    Ranks #17 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

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

  18. No change

    Doreen S Young

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Securities
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #18?

    Ranks #18 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 21.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

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

  19. No change

    Alfred Villoch III

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #19 with 77.60: strongest in Experience (27.6/30) and Data quality (10/10). 1.00 points behind #18, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 27.6/30 (ranking avg 21.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    1.00 points behind #18 (Doreen S Young): Experience −2.4.

  20. No change

    Patrizia Salvaggio Delgado

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 24 years experience
    • Securities
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #20?

    Ranks #20 with 77.40: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 0.20 points behind #19, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 21.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    0.20 points behind #19 (Alfred Villoch III): Data quality −1.4.

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

  21. No change

    Daniel P. Dietrich

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 21 years experience
    • Securities
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #21?

    Ranks #21 with 75.20: strongest in Experience (25.2/30) and Data quality (10/10). 2.20 points behind #20, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 25.2/30 (ranking avg 21.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    2.20 points behind #20 (Patrizia Salvaggio Delgado): Experience −3.6.

  22. No change

    Brent Cabot James Britton

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #22 with 75.20: strongest in Experience (25.2/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 25.2/30 (ranking avg 21.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
  23. No change

    Jo Ann Palchak

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 20 years experience
    • Securities
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #23?

    Ranks #23 with 74.00: strongest in Experience (24/30) and Data quality (10/10). 1.20 points behind #22, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 24/30 (ranking avg 21.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    1.20 points behind #22 (Brent Cabot James Britton): Experience −1.2.

  24. No change

    Ryanne Kelli Altman “Kelli”

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

    Verified
    • 21 years experience
    • Securities
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #24?

    Ranks #24 with 73.80: strongest in Experience (25.2/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 0.20 points behind #23, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 25.2/30 (ranking avg 21.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    0.20 points behind #23 (Jo Ann Palchak): Data quality −1.4.

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

  25. No change

    Richard Alan Bruner Jr.

    Independent practice · Tampa, FL

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

    Ranks #25 with 72.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Experience (22.8/30). 1.00 points behind #24, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Experience 22.8/30 (ranking avg 21.5)

    1.00 points behind #24 (Ryanne Kelli Altman “Kelli”): 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 · 25 profile pages245 facts for 25 lawyers

Securities market in Tampa

LexRanked tracks 42 lawyers in securities law in Tampa, Florida. 42 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
42
Law firms
0
Verified professional data
42 of 42
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
21 years42 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 19 to 53 (median 31)
Languages besides English French (1), Italian (1), Spanish (1)
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 securities as a practice area on record. It compares 25 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 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 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 Tampa?

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

Are there Spanish-speaking securities lawyers in Tampa?

Yes. 1 of the 25 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?

25 of the 25 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Julio Cesar Esquivel, Gregory Charles Yadley, Katherine C Donlon “Kacy”, Joel J. Ewusiak and Brian Joseph Fender 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.

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