ADRIAN PHILIP THOMAS, P.A - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Partner
- Founding Partner of Adrian Philip Thomas
Attorney Adrian Philip Thomas has lectured at continuing legal education seminars on various probate topics.
Adrian Thomas is the founding partner of Adrian Philip Thomas, P.A., which opened its doors on July 1, 2002. Mr. Thomas represents both plaintiffs and defendants and has successfully litigated cases involving claims of undue influence, lack of capacity, and tortious interference with an inheritance. Mr. Thomas's firm has recovered more than $125 million for its clients.
Some of Mr. Thomas's notable results include:
$15 Million Dollars - Trust Litigation. Case involving litigation related to a major change to estate plan orchestrated by a lawyer who installed himself as a fiduciary in order to be paid fees in perpetuity to the detriment of decedent's children. Changes were made to the trust by the lawyer at a time when the testator was dying of cancer and heavily medicated.
$8.3 Million Dollars - Will Contest, Trust Contest, and Tortious Interference. The case involving a challenge to a charitable trust created by decedent's CPA and estate planning attorney that diverted the decedent's entire gross estate to that trust and installed the CPA and attorney as the fiduciaries thereby securing a lifetime "annuity" of fees. The charitable trust also permitted the CPA and drafting attorney to name anyone - including their family members - to succeed them as fiduciaries.
$6,500,000 - Trust Litigation. Case involving major change to estate plan orchestrated by family member seeking to install himself as a fiduciary for ongoing fees.
$6,100,000 - Trust Litigation. Case involving challenge to the validity of several trust amendments procured by the decedent's son effectively disinheriting the decedent's other children. The initial challenge to these trust amendments was brought in the decedent's guardianship proceeding wherein the court found that the decedent lacked capacity. The litigation continued post death and resulted in Plaintiffs receiving all the assets to which they were entitled before the undue influence.
$6,000,000 - Trust Litigation. Case involving major change to estate plan orchestrated by lawyer seeking to benefit his own relationship with banking institution to the detriment of decedent's family members. Changes were made to a trust by the lawyer at a time when the settlor was suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.
Adrian Philip Thomas, P.A., is a boutique law firm that has been serving clients throughout Florida since 2002. Our talented team of compassionate attorneys specializes in probate, estate, trust, and guardianship litigation. We have a stellar reputation for providing ethical and efficient legal representation because our clients are always our primary focus. Our attorneys have represented thousands of clients in estate-related disputes and are capable of assisting you with both prosecuting and defending matters. Whether you need to contest a will or prepare for probate litigation, the legal team at Adrian Philip Thomas, P.A. has the knowledge and resources you need to pursue justice.
Job Titles:
- American Inn of Court ( past Member ) Board of Directors for United Cerebral Palsy for Schuylkill County ( past Member )
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Counsel at the Law Offices of Adrian Philip Thomas
Daniel A. McGowan is of Counsel at the Law Offices of Adrian Philip Thomas, P.A. Mr. McGowan is an AV-Rated Martindale Hubbell attorney who joined the firm's probate litigation team after working at law firms in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and in Cleveland, Ohio.
Mr. McGowan limits his practice to estate, probate, trust and guardianship litigation and serves on The Florida Bar's Florida Probate Rules Committee and on the Probate and Trust Litigation Committee of the Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar.
Education
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, Ohio
Juris Doctor, 1994
Clarion University, Clarion, Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, 1991
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner at the Law Offices of Adrian Philip Thomas
Mr. Bunin is a partner at the Law Offices of Adrian Philip Thomas, P.A. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Bunin spent eight years as a probation, parole and house-arrest officer in Broward County, Florida, where he supervised high-risk violent criminal and sexual offenders. He was one of the first law enforcement officers in Florida to utilize Global Positioning System (GPS) to supervise and track career criminals and violent sexual predators. He appeared on ABC World News Tonight with Ted Koppel to showcase this technology. During his tenure as a law enforcement officer, Mr. Bunin routinely interacted with attorneys, which ultimately inspired him to attend law school. While in law school, Mr. Bunin had the distinct opportunity to clerk for attorneys in both Broward and Palm Beach counties who focused their practices on estates, trusts, probate administration and probate litigation. Mr. Bunin began his career at Adrian Philip Thomas, P.A. in September, 2007 as a law clerk; and upon his admission to the Florida Bar in December, 2008, he accepted a position as a full-time associate attorney. Mr. Bunin concentrating his practice in estate, trust and guardianship litigation.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner at the Law Offices of Adrian Philip Thomas
Ms. Strochlic is a partner at the Law Offices of Adrian Philip Thomas, P.A. and concentrates her practice on probate and trust litigation. Ms. Strochlic received her A.B. in History from Brown University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Miami. During law school, Ms. Strochlic was a member of the Moot Court Board, the University of Miami Business Law Review, and the Professional Responsibility and Ethics Program. Ms. Strochlic also served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Barry S. Seltzer of the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. Prior to joining the Law Offices of Adrian Philip Thomas, P.A., Ms. Strochlic was a litigator at a boutique law firm in Fort Lauderdale for more than 9 years and gained extensive trial and appellate experience. Ms. Strochlic is an active member of the Broward County Bar Association and the Real Property, Probate, & Trust law Section of the Florida Bar.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Partner
- Managing Partner of the Law Office of Adrian Philip Thomas
Michele M. Thomas is the managing partner of the Law Office of Adrian Philip Thomas, P.A., a boutique nine-attorney estate litigation law firm located on Las Olas Boulevard in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Attorney Thomas is a South Florida native who has been practicing law in Broward County, Florida for 28 years. Attorney Thomas spent the early years of her career handling estate planning and administration, including uncontested probate and guardianship matters, administering trusts, and preparing Federal Estate Tax Returns. Attorney Thomas now concentrates her practice in estate and trust litigation and appeals.
Job Titles:
- Safe Surrender Task Force ( past Member )
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Lawyer
- Partner of the Law Offices of Adrian Philip Thomas
Robert M. Trinkler is a partner of the Law Offices of Adrian Philip Thomas, P.A. Robert has practiced law in South Florida for more than 20 years and has served as counsel of record in more than 2,000 guardianship, incapacity and probate proceedings throughout the State of Florida. Robert has successfully handled hundreds of adversarial guardianship and probate matters. Prior to joining the firm, Robert served as general counsel for the largest private corporate professional guardian in the State of Florida. In such capacity, he has been entrusted to manage and oversee more than $100 Million in combined investments, real property and related assets. Robert has extensive experience in all aspects of guardianship, incapacity, Baker Act, Marchman Act, Probate and Trust proceedings. Throughout his career, Robert has received numerous judicial appointments as counsel for guardianships, including several high profile and high net worth individuals. Robert has been a featured presenter to attorney, physician and guardianship associations on the topics of guardianship, end of life care and exploitation of the elderly.
Education
Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Juris Doctor, 1992 Honors:
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate at the Law Offices of Adrian Philip Thomas
Mr. Nagle is an associate at the Law Offices of Adrian Philip Thomas, P.A. He focuses his practice on trust, estate and probate litigation, as well as on uncontested probate matters. Mr. Nagle is from Winchester, Massachusetts. He attended Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida and then moved to South Florida where he attended law school at Nova Southeastern University while clerking at the firm.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner at the Law Offices of Adrian Philip Thomas
Mr. Orihuela is a partner at the Law Offices of Adrian Philip Thomas, P.A. He focuses his practice on issues involving estate, trust, and probate litigation as well as guardianship matters. Mr. Orihuela graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in mass communications, and he went on to earn a Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Orihuela worked as a special prosecutor and law clerk at the State Attorney's Office for the 15th Judicial Circuit, handling a variety of criminal cases including battery, assault, and DUI, as well as the prosecution of child abuse matters. Additionally, he was a legal consultant for Wicker Smith O'Hara McCoy & Ford, P.A., supporting the litigation defense of a major products liability matter. Mr. Orihuela is a member of the Florida Bar, is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, and is a member of the Broward County Bar Association. Mr. Orihuela is also an active member of the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar (RPPTL) and is a graduate of the prestigious Florida Fellows Institute of the American College of Trust and Estate Council (ACTEC), Class IV. Originally from the country of Peru, he is fluent in Spanish and handles cases all over the State of Florida.