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Top-Ranked Securities Lawyers in Winter Park, Florida

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

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked securities lawyers in Winter Park, Florida are Melissa Faith Laskey Villaveces (LexRank 77.40), Michael Scott Dawkins (65.60) and Robert William Borr (61.85).

This ranking lists 5 securities lawyers in Winter Park, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 5 to 24 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

    Melissa Faith Laskey Villaveces

    Independent practice · Winter Park, FL

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

    Ranks #1 with 77.40: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 14.4)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.3)

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

  2. No change

    Michael Scott Dawkins

    Independent practice · Winter Park, FL

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

    Ranks #2 with 65.60: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (15.6/30). 11.80 points behind #1, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.3)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19)

    Held back by

    • Experience 15.6/30 (ranking avg 14.4)

    11.80 points behind #1 (Melissa Faith Laskey Villaveces): Experience −13.2.

  3. No change

    Robert William Borr

    Independent practice · Winter Park, FL

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

    Ranks #3 with 61.85: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Experience (15.6/30). 3.75 points behind #2, mostly professional credentials.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19)
    • Experience 15.6/30 (ranking avg 14.4)

    3.75 points behind #2 (Michael Scott Dawkins): Professional credentials −3.8.

  4. No change

    Richard Adam Stawara “Adam”

    Independent practice · Winter Park, FL

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

    Ranks #4 with 56.00: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (6/30). 5.85 points behind #3, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.3)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19)

    Held back by

    • Experience 6/30 (ranking avg 14.4)

    5.85 points behind #3 (Robert William Borr): Experience −9.6.

  5. No change

    Christopher William Lamb “Chris Lamb”

    Independent practice · Winter Park, FL

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

    Ranks #5 with 51.00: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (6/30). 5.00 points behind #4, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 6/30 (ranking avg 14.4)

    5.00 points behind #4 (Richard Adam Stawara “Adam”): Practice-area relevance −5.

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 Winter Park

LexRanked tracks 5 lawyers in securities law in Winter Park, Florida. 5 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 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
13 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 Winter Park

What sets these Winter Park 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 5 to 24 (median 13)
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 (2 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Winter Park 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 Orange County is in Florida's Ninth 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.

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 Winter Park?

State court cases in Orange County are heard in Florida's Ninth 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: Melissa Faith Laskey Villaveces, Michael Scott Dawkins, Robert William Borr, Richard Adam Stawara “Adam” and Christopher William Lamb “Chris Lamb”.

What is the difference between the top two lawyers?

Melissa Faith Laskey Villaveces scores 77.40 and Michael Scott Dawkins 65.60, a gap of 11.80 points, mostly in experience. 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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