TRIAL LAWYER - Key Persons

Christian Van Riper, is a skilled trial attorney. For years, Christian was a Prosecutor where he litigated countless criminal cases for the State of Florida. He was promoted from the misdemeanor division to a felony division within seven months of beginning his career as a Prosecutor. He has argued motions and appeals on a great variety of issues, and he has also conducted numerous jury and non-jury trials. Christian is a trial-savvy criminal defense and family law attorney. Christian has handled a variety of misdemeanor and felony cases from DUI's, driving with a suspended license cases (DWLS), and drug cases to more serious felony cases such as complicated first degree grand theft cases, arson cases, robbery and burglary cases, sexual battery cases and many others. He has also litigated various cases involving violent criminal charges including misdemeanor assault and battery, domestic violence, aggravated felony assault and battery, and first degree attempted murder. Prior to being selected to serve the citizens of Florida as a Prosecutor, Christian was a law clerk for the Supreme Court of Florida. Christian worked directly for the justices of the Supreme Court where he analyzed petitions and advised the Court on various legal and factual issues in both civil and criminal law matters. Prior to law school, Christian was an investigator with the Department of Children & Families (DCF). During his time as a DCF investigator, where his primary focus was the investigation of child abuse reports, he honed his investigative skills, which assist him today in the investigation of complex personal injury claims.

Tim Nies, a Boca Raton resident and veteran of The U.S. Army's elite 75th Airborne Ranger Regiment, has over 17 years trial experience. Tim tries cases of family law, personal injury, maritime injury law and Defense Base Act injury claims. Tim was injured in the line of duty on a parachute mission with the Third Ranger Battalion. His experience as a Ranger developed and tested his leadership skills, and taught him to react smartly and quickly under pressure. During law school Tim clerked for one of the most renowned Family Law Appellate attorneys, where he worked on complex family law cases. Following law school, Tim worked for a well-known insurance defense firm. Tim's unique and valuable experience in insurance defense litigation, where he represented insurance companies and Fortune 500 companies, puts him in an excellent position to take on the complex trial cases, including family law, personal injury, maritime injury law and civil trial law. Tim is a past recipient of the "Best of the Bar" award from the South Florida Business Journal.