MANDELL LAW - Key Persons
Asad Ali is a criminal defense attorney who represents clients in state and federal courts. Mr. Ali relies on his extensive criminal law experience at the trial and appellate level to zealously advocate for his clients.
Mr. Ali began his career at the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Public Defender's Office in Tampa, Florida. There, he discovered his passion for defending people against an often unfair criminal justice system. As an Assistant Public Defender, Mr. Ali successfully represented adults and juveniles charged with offenses ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies during pretrial proceedings and at trial. After his tenure with the Public Defender's Office, Mr. Ali continued practicing criminal defense as a private attorney in Miami, Florida.
Before joining Mandell Law, Mr. Ali served as an Assistant Attorney General with the Florida Office of Attorney General. In that role, he represented the State of Florida in various criminal appellate proceedings and litigated a wide array of sophisticated and novel issues on appeal. Mr. Ali gained significant appellate experience during his tenure with the Attorney General's Office, including filing briefs in over 70 appeals. Mr. Ali also presented several oral arguments in the Third District Court of Appeal and argued multiple cases before the Florida Supreme Court.
Mr. Ali earned his B.S. in Political Science from Florida State University in 2010, and his J.D. from the Florida State University College of Law in 2014. During law school, Mr. Ali served as the Executive Editor of the Journal of Land Use and Environmental Law. He also investigated violations of the Fair Housing Act while externing at the Florida Commission on Human Relations and represented clients in family law matters as a Certified Legal Intern with the FSU Public Interest Law Center. Mr. Ali is originally from Homestead, Florida.
Education
Florida State University College of Law, Tallahassee, Florida
J.D. - 2014
Brent Lightfoot is an iconoclast by nature, and a committed defender of the Constitution. He speaks truth to power every day. What does it mean to speak truth to power? It means expressing unpopular opinions in the pursuit of confronting authority, calling out injustice, and demanding change. Having grown up in Memphis, Tennessee, Brent was led to the law by a concern for what he saw in society that wasn't right. Brent is articulate, knowledgeable, and humanistic. He finds purpose in using his voice to advocate for those who cannot defend themselves, to speak the words that need to be spoken to truly express the legal best interest of his clients. He listens to his clients and tirelessly labors to vindicate their rights.
After excelling as an AP student in his high school program as a National Merit Scholar, Brent obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Reed College in Portland, OR. At Reed, he was appointed by the Student Senate to the Judicial Board as a student member, adjudicating violations of the Reed College Honor Code. After college, Brent took a couple years off, digging into the salt of the earth by working every blue-collar job he could find. From refueling jet boats, to selling life insurance, to working as a unit secretary in an outpatient nursing lab, to parking cars, to delivering pizza, just to name a few, Brent met people of all different creeds, colors, and classes. He learned to see the fundamental humanity that unites every one of us. Brent carries that sense of empathy and moral rightness to each of his cases, and he has dedicated his working life to fighting for the underdog against the proverbial Goliath.
Brent chose to attend Emory University's School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia. Emory awarded him a merit scholarship in exchange for his enrollment. While at Emory, Brent won a scholarship as an outstanding member of the Black Law Student Association, he wrote a Comment and served as a Comment Editor on the Emory Law Journal, and he held elected office in student government all three years. In his third year, Brent worked as the Public Defender of Emory Law's Honor Court. In his second year, Brent clerked for Drew Findling, famed criminal defense attorney in Atlanta, GA, whose celebrity clientele includes the likes of Lil Baby, Gucci Mane, Waka Flaka Flame, and Donald Trump. Drew is also a former President of the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys. Brent finished his law school career as an intern at the Dekalb County Public Defender.
After law school, Brent accepted an offer from Bob Wesley to work as an Associate Public Defender in Orlando, Florida. After years of fighting for indigent clients day in and day out in the never-ending war of "Criminal Justice," Brent accepted an offer from Rob to join the team and expand his practice. It's the best decision Brent has made in his professional career. From simple DUI to first degree murder and everything in between, Brent has thrived under Rob's guidance and oversight. Zealously advocating for the rights of his clients compels him out of bed and into court every day.
In addition to criminal defense, Brent has developed a robust civil practice. He's taken on contract disputes, custody battles, divorces, victim cases, and employment lawsuits. He recently settled a sexual harassment case for a full year's salary less than two months after his client was forced to resign from a hostile work environment.
Brent is a stalwart defender of truth and the Constitution. Whether a criminal defendant or a civil plaintiff, you can rest assured with the confidence that Brent will give everything he has to see that your voice and your best interest are recognized and protected by the Court of Law.
Practice Areas
Criminal Matters
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Our Trial Team
Joseph Zwick is a valuable member of our trial team. Mr. Zwick has extensive criminal defense experience in both the public and private sectors and represents clients facing criminal charges in State and Federal Court. Mr. Zwick is also experienced in civil litigation and family law. Mr. Zwick is passionate about helping clients through their most difficult times and will fight to make sure his clients receive the best results possible. Mr. Zwick has extensive trial experience and has litigated over 25 jury trials in his career.
Education
University of Georgia School of Law, Athens, Georgia
J.D. - 2013