LIESER SKAFF ALEXANDER - Key Persons
Former LSA attorney Alissa Kranz spoke with AM Tampa Bay regarding the use of waivers to protect businesses from lawsuits by patrons and employees. Waivers offer no protection if businesses there is intentional or negligent conduct. Waivers may be beneficial in some circumstances but nothing can protect you from being sued.
The initial Payroll Protection Program (PPP) was not well designed and funds were quickly depleted. The second round of PPP funding allows more businesses to qualify for loan forgiveness. Attorney Jeff Leiser discussed the challenges of the loan forgiveness process and strategies for a successful outcome.
Former LSA Attorney Alissa Kranz joined AM Tampa Bay to discuss how Florida - and other states - are beginning to allow various businesses to reopen. But what happens if your employer is legally allowed to reopen for business, but you don't feel it's safe to return to the workplace? Can your boss force you to go to the office? Can you be fired for refusing to do so?
Former Tampa LSA Attorney Dan Drake joined AM Tampa Bay to discuss what you need to know about the government's economic impact payments.
When AM Tampa Bay discussed the controversial job description posted on LinkedIn that listed "Preferably Caucasian" as a requirement, they turned to former LSA employment attorney Laura Coleman for an expert legal opinion. Laura explained that this type of discrimination is not allowed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the state of Florida unless there is a bonafide occupational qualification for limiting applicants.
AM Tampa Bay recently asked former LSA Attorney Alissa Kranz to give her legal opinions regarding the class-action lawsuit filed by Florida employees against Facebook. The employees claim that they experienced severe trauma from watching intense and disturbing videos, which was a job requirement. Alissa explained that a key issue could be whether or not the company disclosed the extreme nature of these videos to the employees prior to the start of their work. She also discussed the challenges of filing the case as a class-action lawsuit since each employee would have had a different level of trauma from watching the videos.
Job Titles:
- School, Alumni Executive Committee
Carla Markowitz is of-counsel at Lieser Skaff Alexander. She received her undergraduate degree from Stetson University in 1989 and received her Juris Doctorate degree from Stetson University College of Law in 1992. Carla's law practice is concentrated in litigation and pre-suit disputes involving commercial leases, including evictions, and is limited exclusively to representing commercial landlords. Carla's clients include many regional and national property owners and management firms of office, retail and industrial space in the Tampa Bay area and throughout Florida. Carla is General Counsel for BOMA Greater Tampa Bay, Co-Chair of the Government Affairs Committee of BOMA Greater Tampa Bay, and Vice Chair of the State and Local Affairs Subcommittee for BOMA International.
Lieser Skaff Alexander's attorney Jeff Lieser, and Ghada Skaff are honored in 2022 as part of Florida Trend's "Florida Legal Elite". Votes were cast by fellow attorneys as members of the Florida Bar to choose less than 2% of members with this designation. Florida Legal Elite presents the state's top licensed and practicing attorneys selected by their peers.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Counsel to Some of Tampa Bay
- General Counsel to a Tampa
Ghada has served as corporate counsel to some of Tampa Bay's finest businesses, entrepreneurs, and start-ups. A substantial part of her practice involves the sale or assignment of various types of businesses including restaurants, retailers, tech and digital media companies. Ghada also advises the firm's business clients on the advantages and disadvantages of different business forms, including sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs), and corporations. As part of that process, Ghada prepares, reviews, and analyzes documents required to establish and maintain a business in good-standing under Florida law, including articles of incorporation and organization, partnership agreements, bylaws, corporate resolutions, and annual filings. She is also well-versed in the international export of goods, including the drafting and review of Bills of Lading, Certificates of Origin, and Legalized Documents. She is fluent in Arabic dialect and proficient in Modern Standard Arabic.
Ghada Skaff is a Tampa native and business law attorney. Ghada has served as general counsel to a Tampa-based manufacturing company and has advised countless companies on a full spectrum of legal matters. She is also fluent in the Arabic dialect.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Co - Founder
- Member of the C. H. Ferguson M. E. White American Inn of Court
- Member of the HCBA 's Military & Veterans Affairs Committee
Jeff Lieser is a litigator who represents clients in state and federal court. He is also a Circuit Civil Mediator and a Reserve Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army J.A.G. Corps.
Jeff Lieser is a member of the C. H. Ferguson M. E. White American Inn of Court. The Inn of court is a nation-wide organization whose purpose is to promote legal excellence, civility, professionalism, and ethics in the practice of law.
Attorney Jeffrey Lieser recently discussed the need for early legal intervention in business transactions on the SharkPreneur podcast with Seth Greene. Jeff explained how consulting with an experienced business attorney at the front end of a business deal is like purchasing insurance for your business.
LSA solicitor media: Authored by Jeffrey Lieser and recently published in Solicitors Journal, the article "Rental Assistance Programs for Landlords and Tenants", covers the complex nature of COVID-19 related eviction moratoriums in the United States as well as the practical and legal status of the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program that was intended to help both tenants and landlords. Established in 1856, Solicitors Journal is published monthly and covers practical issues affecting the legal profession.
Jeff Lieser was selected as one of six delegates by the America Council of Young Political leaders (ACYPL), a bipartisan organization funded in part by the Department of State, to represent the United State on a delegation to Australia. Afterwards, The Tampa Bay Times
Jeff Lieser of Lieser Skaff Alexander in Tampa and an Army reservist spoke at Lake County's Annual Law Day luncheon about his recent deployment to Iraq, where he prosecuted terrorist defendants.
Jeff Lieser joined AM Tampa bay on NewsRadio WFLA as a guest to discuss property law issues regarding a Florida man whose home was taken over by squatters. Listen to the podcast of his visit With Jack Harris, Tedd Webb and Corey Dylan.
In addition to his work at Lieser Skaff Alexander, Jeff is a Reserve Judge Advocate in the United States Army J.A.G. Corps and an Iraq War Veteran. He deployed with the First Heavy Brigade Combat Team, First Infantry Division. While deployed, Jeff served as the Brigade's Legal Representative in Iraqi courts where he prosecuted terrorism cases involving attacks against U.S. Forces.
Job Titles:
- Counsel at LSA
- Real Estate Agent in Florida
Joe is Of Counsel at LSA. His practice areas include business and commercial litigation, real property disputes, landlord representation, title insurance claims, trust and probate litigation, and corporate and business disputes, including shareholder derivative and dissolution actions. In addition, Joe has extensive experience representing community associations, such as homeowners' associations and condominium associations. Joe's diverse experience also includes general probate administration, drafting of wills and trusts, and transactional matters.
Joe has been very involved in service to the legal community and the Bar. He previously served as the President of the Lake County Bar Association and is currently a member of the Florida Bar's Real Property Probate and Trust Law Division, the Landlord/Tenant Committee of the Florida Bar. In addition, Joe has served as a lecturer for the Civil Courts lecture at the Justice Teaching Institute for the Fifth Judicial Circuit.
Joe Alexander was a member and is a Former President of the Lake County Bar Association. Jeff Lieser, an Army reservist, previously spoke at Lake County's Annual Law Day luncheon about his recent deployment to Iraq, where he prosecuted terrorist defendants in Iraqi Courts.
Joe Alexander has been elected President of the Tampa Film Institute, Inc., doing business as, Gasparilla International Film Festival ("GIFF"). GIFF is a Tampa Bay area non-profit organization, which, in addition to organizing and operating the acclaimed annual film festival, has grown into an entertaining and educational year-round entity. It is the mission of GIFF to provide continuing support for film screening, production, and education.
Joe Alexander is a licensed real estate agent in Florida. This perspective gives Lieser Skaff Alexander more unique and in-depth perspective when dealing with legal matters of real property.
Lawyer Karen J. Prevatt is Of Counsel at Lieser Skaff Alexander. Ms. Prevatt has 42 years of experience in estate planning, probate litigation and real estate matters. She has served as legal counsel for many, including the Southshore Coalition for Mental Health & Aging and Mental Health Care, Inc.
is Of Counsel at Lieser Skaff Alexander. Ms. Prevatt has 42 years of experience in estate planning, probate litigation and real estate matters. She has served as legal counsel for many, including the Southshore Coalition for Mental Health & Aging and Mental Health Care, Inc.
Ms. Prevatt graduated with high honors from the University of Florida in 1968 and continued her education at the University of Alabama where she earned a Masters of Public Administration in 1970. She returned to Florida to attend Stetson University, where she obtained her J.D. in 1975, and later received her L.L.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida in 1984.
Ms. Prevatt worked at several prestigious law firms, including the full-service law firms of Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson and Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, before opening her own successful practice. She merged her law firm with LSA in December, 2017.
Ms. Prevatt has been active in local, state and national legal organizations, including the Hillsborough County Bar Association, the Florida Bar and the National Association of Estate Planners Councils.
She currently serves on the Community Foundation of Greater Tampa Bay, Inc.'s South Shore Council and its Professional Advisory Committee.
Probate attorney Karen Prevatt oversaw a $200,000 bequest from her client Brenda Peichart Peash that now funds mental health services for Sun City residents in need. The funds were bequeathed specifically to Mental Health Care Inc., which is now known as Gracepoint in Tampa. The program will use Ms. Peichart Peash's gift to provide weekly mental health services to this community on an ongoing basis over the next five years. Transportation severely limits residents in this community from accessing this type of care, and Gracepoint's mobile van is now able to bridge that gap to serve high-risk individuals in their homes.
Michael F. Singer is an Associate based in the Tampa office of Lieser Skaff Alexander. He focuses his practice on real estate litigation and the representation of residential and commercial landlords and property managers. Prior to joining LSA, Michael operated a successful law practice in St. Petersburg, Florida, primarily practicing in areas of real estate litigation and probate.
In 2013, Michael was honored to receive the Young Lawyers Pro Bono Award from the Community Law Program to recognize the pro bono legal services he provided. Michael obtained his J.D. from the University of Florida, cum laude, attending as a recipient of the John W. Donahoo Scholarship. During his time as a student, Michael served as the Articles Editor for the Journal of Technology Law and Policy.
Prior to attending law school, Michael graduated with his Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida, cum laude, graduating after only three years. As a "Double Gator," Michael is an avid supporter of the University of Florida's athletic teams.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of This Elite Group
Stephanie Martin is a Partner at Lieser Skaff Alexander. She focuses her practice on assisting real estate and business clients with their legal needs. Stephanie is board certified in real estate law and began practicing law in 2006. After spending the bulk of her career with large "AmLaw 200" national law firms-specifically, Adams and Reese LLP, Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell P.A., and Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur LLP- she joined LSA in May 2018. Her practice consists of both litigation and transactional matters; and she has extensive experience in real estate litigation, commercial and business litigation, and financial services litigation. The following is a representative sample of the matters she has handled:
Strafford CLE live webinar, "Litigation Privilege, Attorney Immunity and Ethics", 2023