Administrative Law

Administrative law governs the administration of city, county, state and federal government agencies’ rules, regulations, applications, licenses, permits, available information, hearings, appeals and decision-making. Examples of administrative agencies include the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Mother Vehicles and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The attorneys at BMAK are well versed in the state and federal aspects of regulation, licensing, and enforcement. We will aggressively defend your rights against unfair allegations and sanctions, or enforce your rights if they have been violated.

Appellate Practice

Our firm handles civil, criminal, and administrative hearing appeals, not only for our clients, but we are also referred many cases from other lawyers who have handled the original trial or administrative proceeding.  We are proud of our extensive experience in both state and federal appellate proceedings.  As of 2010, Mr. Blanchard is one of only six lawyers in the state to be Board Certified as both a civil trial lawyer and an appellate practitioner.

Civil Litigation

Civil litigation is a legal dispute between two or more parties that seeks money damages or specific performance rather than criminal sanctions. At BMAK, we have lawyers who specialize in civil litigation and represent parties, both plaintiffs and defendants, in trials, hearings, arbitrations and mediations before administrative agencies, foreign tribunals and all state, federal, and appellate courts.

Our civil litigation practice encompasses a broad range of legal disputes, including personal injury and wrongful death claims, product liability claims, actions against insurance companies, employment disputes, construction disputes, real estate transactions, commercial and residential landlord/tenant disputes, contract disputes, collections, banking, civil rights claims and defense, and class actions. 
 

Commercial Litigation

Commercial litigation encompasses any type of controversy related to business. Commercial litigation matters can range from relatively simple, uncomplicated contract disputes, to highly complex matters. Examples of some of the issues included under the general heading of commercial litigation are contract disputes, tortuous interference with contracts or business relationships, shareholder and partnership disputes, breach of fiduciary duty cases, disputes over corporate management and control, business dissolutions, disputes over non-compete agreements, unfair competition and collection issues.

Any litigation matter can have a serious impact on your business. It is vital that you have capable and experienced legal counsel on your side so that your interests will be protected. The attorneys at BMAK can provide the experience and strong legal representation your company needs.
 

Community Association Law

Community association law deals with legal issues related to homeowners and condominium associations. Our attorneys assist associations with a variety of issues including drafting, amending and interpreting association documents such as Declarations, Bylaws, and Rules and Regulations, filing and enforcing liens, enforcing of covenants and restrictions, interpreting relevant statutes governing associations, advising the board of directors or management company on day to day issues, and drafting or reviewing contracts for management and operation of the association. Our attorneys also represent homeowners and unit owners if they are sued by their association and assist them with issues they face such as election disputes, imposition of fines, and unfair treatment by the association board of directors.

Corporate and Business Law

Corporate and Business law deals with the formation, operation and sale and purchase of corporations and other types of businesses such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, and limited liability companies. Corporate and business law includes the creation of the business and the drafting of contracts and agreements such as partnership agreements, operating agreements, shareholder agreements, articles of incorporation, corporate bylaws, buy/sell agreements, non-compete agreements, and asset purchase agreements. Improper drafting of these documents can have serious ramifications for you and your company leading to legal disputes (see our Commercial Litigation section). The attorneys at BMAK are prepared and qualified to assist you in properly creating your business or selling or purchasing an existing business.

Criminal Defense

Criminal law differs from civil law in that, while only money or property is at stake in a civil case, your liberty or even your life can be at risk in a criminal case. The violation of a criminal statute can result in the assessment of fines and the imposition of probation and/or incarceration. This firm has represented people charged with offenses ranging from misdemeanors to first degree murder. With extensive experience in this area of the law, our attorneys are well-equipped to resolve your criminal matter through negotiations or jury trial. If arrested, it is imperative you speak with legal counsel immediately to protect your constitutional rights. Our attorneys stand ready and qualified to defend you in any criminal matter.

Employment Law

Employment law encompasses a variety of legal issues such as family medical leave, minimum wage violations, wrongful termination, harassment, wages and salaries and workplace discrimination. Many employment issues are covered by State and Federal law. Our lawyers have represented employers and employees in State and Federal court on employment claims. We are prepared to navigate your employment claims through and including trial.

Family Law

Family law is a practice area that encompasses the legal issues that families face. At BMAK, our family law clients work with lawyers who are experienced in both negotiation and litigation, which is essential to a client who is generally experiencing a very emotional period in his or her life.

Our family law practice provides our clients with skilled and competent legal services in the areas of divorce, custody, child support, spousal support (alimony), modifications, time-sharing, paternity, injunctions (including domestic violence, repeat violence and dating injunctions), prenuptial agreements, and other family law related matters. Our experience ranges from simple, uncontested divorces to more complex family law issues that require formal dispute resolution proceedings or trial.
 

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice, otherwise known as medical negligence, involves the failure of a health care provider to adhere to the governing standard of care when treating a patient, resulting in injury to the patient. Medical malpractice covers a wide range of conduct such as misdiagnosis of a medical condition, failure to diagnose a medical condition, failure to provide appropriate treatment for a medical condition, and unreasonable delay in treating a diagnosed medical condition. Our firm’s attorneys are well-versed in this area of the law and prepared to aggressively pursue or defend against such claims.

Personal Injury/Wrongful Death

If you or a loved one suffers a serious personal injury, it is important that you consult with an attorney before speaking with an insurance company representative. Our attorneys have extensive experience in representing the rights of injured parties. We do not represent insurance companies. We handle a wide range of personal injury claims including car accidents, slip and fall cases, and wrongful death claims. In a wrongful death claim, the surviving relatives or dependents are entitled to damages when a victim dies as a result of another’s negligence or misconduct. Whether negotiating with an insurance company or litigating the matter at trial, our attorneys are prepared to aggressively protect the interests of a personal injury victim or a victim’s loved ones.

Real Estate

Our attorneys handle real estate matters covering the entire range of possible transactions and issues, from contract formation and negotiation to closing, simple residential matters like landlord/tenant and neighbor disputes to complex tenant litigation and commercial transactions, and zoning and land use disputes.

Foreclosures are an unfortunate national dilemma. Our lawyers have extensive experience on both sides of the foreclosure process, representing lenders and borrowers. This unique perspective gives us the tools to help reduce the financial and emotional impact inherent in a mortgage foreclosure action. In today’s environment, many banks are just as interested as the owner is to come to a new agreement, which keeps the owner in the home and payments flowing to the bank. We can help facilitate this process for either side.

Wills & Trusts

The services provided by the lawyers of BMAK in the areas of Wills, Trusts and Estates include assisting the client with determining what type of estate plan best suits his or her needs through the preparation of everything from simple wills to complex estate plans. We can help individuals and families to establish guardianships, draft personalized wills and trusts, and prepare designations of healthcare surrogates and powers of attorney. At the same time we make sure the designated positions are not abused and later help families through the administration of the estate. Advance planning can aid in avoiding estate litigation, but we are also able to help if required due to will challenges or abuses by those placed in a fiduciary capacity.