GARFINKEL LAW - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- FOUNDING PARTNER
- President
Alan Garfinkel is President of Garfinkel Law. His Firm was voted the Top Community Association and Construction Defect Law Firm in a statewide vote conducted by the Florida Community Association Journal. Alan has practiced from the same historic building in Central Florida for nearly 30 years, while also serving his clients from offices in Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, and St. Augustine. Alan has numerous national recognitions, including the "AV Preeminent" rating from Martindale-Hubbell. The AV designation is awarded to the top 1% of lawyers selected for demonstrating and maintaining the "Highest level of Professional Excellence and Ethics."
For decades Alan volunteered thousands of hours protecting community associations and their Boards of Directors. As Chairman of the Community Association Network (CAN), Alan works with Senators, Representatives and statewide community association leaders making sure only common sense laws are passed in the state legislature. Alan is a nationally known property insurance recovery attorney, helping boards of directors collect over $500 Million Dollars in Construction Defect and Underpaid (Hurricane) Insurance Claims.
Alan was selected a "Super Lawyer" and was admitted into the prestigious "Million Dollar Advocates Forum" for winning multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. He was also named one of the "Best Attorneys in America." Florida Trend Magazine recognized Alan as "Florida's Legal Elite." His other accomplishments include being listed in the 2010-2019 Bar Register of "Preeminent Lawyers," earning a "Superb" rating from AVVO, and receiving the "Top Orlando Lawyer Award" between 2010-2016.
Alan was elected and served as President of the Community Association Institute (CAI) Central Florida. Currently, he is Chairman of the Community Association Network (CAN), representing millions living, serving, and working for community associations. Alan publishes scholarly articles and served on the HarrisMartin Publishing Insurance Faculty. LexisNexis appointed Alan as its National Property Damage Moderator and he hosted more than 100 national webinars on Property Damage Insurance and Construction Defect Claims. Alan is considered one of the leading Natural Disaster Insurance lawyers - concentrating his practice on helping his condominium, townhome, and homeowner association clients recover millions of dollars
National media outlets such as CNN, NBC, FOX News, ABC, Newsweek, Orlando Sentinel, Miami Herald, St. Pete Times, Houston Chronicle, El Sentinel, and Telemundo have all sought Alan's legal expertise. Alan continues to work with his community association clients, publish articles, conduct forums, lectures, and seminars on construction defect and property damage insurance recovery throughout the United States.
Job Titles:
- Attorney at Law
- of COUNSEL
Brandon joined the United States Army immediately after college. Brandon served two (2) tours of duty in Iraq, both times in the Baghdad area. Upon discharge from Active Duty, Mr. Ward continues to this day as a drilling Reservist with the United States Army. Brandon continues to serve is sent around the world in support of various missions.
Mr. Ward's unique perspective regarding the sacrifices and challenges military members, and those who support military members, face in active war zones adds to Mr. Ward's unique perspective regarding the sacrifices and challenges military members, and those who support military members, face in active war zones adds to the firm's staunch advocacy on behalf of those wrongfully denied proper compensation for their injuries suffered in connection to such service.
Job Titles:
- FIRM ADMINISTRATOR & SUPERVISING PARALEGAL
- OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR & SUPERVISING PARALEGAL
Dustin Denman has extensive experience in the legal field. He has established himself in our law firm's deep rooted tradition - working hard, being humble and incredibly responsive to our clients. As a result, Dustin has earned multiple promotions within Garfinkel Schwartz. He has risen to senior management and is now our Law Firm Administrator. Dustin has almost 10 years experience with Garfinkel Schwartz and is responsible for ensuring our clients cases move quickly and our client's needs are fully satisfied.
Dustin is an avid athlete and former college baseball player. He is also a scratch golf gold a 0.0 handicap.
Job Titles:
- ATTORNEY
- Alan Garfinkel in 2006 As a Paralegal
Giselle Garcia joined Alan Garfinkel in 2006 as a paralegal assigned to assisting our top attorneys with first party insurance claims. In 2010, Giselle transitioned to supporting community association attorneys and since then has enjoyed providing support for all aspects of community association law including collection, transaction, covenant enforcement and litigation.
During Giselle's career working with Alan Garfinkel, Giselle completed law school in 2016 and was admitted to The Florida Bar in 2017.
John Mallah is one of the most experienced Federal Trial lawyers in the United States. John has worked and consulted with Attorneys Alan Garfinkel & Giselle Garcia for nearly 20 years. John earned the prestigious "AV" Rating by Martindale Hubbell after an extensive peer review process. AV is the highest possible rating awarded to attorneys who have achieved & maintain the highest level of legal ability and integrity.
There is no one better in developing measurable firm goals and, communicating with people to meet those goals, while promoting an environment where our employees achieve their personal goals as well. John grew up in Miami Beach, Florida.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- SENIOR PARTNER
- Alan Garfinkel As an Associate
I am a no nonsense attorney and empower my clients by informing them about the good, the bad and the ugly regarding their legal concerns and provide them with legal recommendations, options and sometimes out of the box solutions. I graduated law school in 1994 and after all these years, I think, eat, breathe and sleep legal! By letting my clients know about their case and informing them, they now have the tools necessary to make decisions for the betterment of their community, their claim or their case. I may be the conductor of the orchestra, but my clients own the orchestra and they are the ones who make the decisions with full legal guidance on how to proceed.
While in law school, Ms. Marcell participated in several clinical programs where she represented claimants seeking Social Security disability; she also participated in a domestic violence clinic seeking Orders of Protection for battered spouses. Ms. Marcell was also the research assistant to the Clinical Programs Director at her law school. After sitting for the New York and New Jersey Bar Examinations in 1994, Ms. Marcell then relocated to Florida to be with family and sat for the Florida Bar Examination in February of 1995, and was admitted to Florida in June of 1995. While studying for the Florida Bar, Ms. Marcell worked as a research attorney for a personal injury firm.
Since being admitted to the Florida Bar, Ms. Marcell practiced law in Clearwater, Florida at a personal injury firm where she represented the interests of plaintiffs. In addition to personal injury claims, she represented the interests of injured workers and disabled claimaints.
Ms. Marcell then relocated to Orlando in 1996 and worked once again in a plaintiffs' firm in downtown Orlando practicing personal injury law and Social Security disability law.
In 1999, Ms. Marcell joined Alan Garfinkel as an associate focusing her practice on the plaintiff's side and has represented those in medical malpractice claims, personal injury, workers compensation, disability, property damage insurance claims, hurricane damage claims, and other first party insurance claims.
In recent years, Karen Marcell has enjoyed applying her vast knowledge and experience to the practice of community association law in our transaction and litigation department which includes helping our valued clients with their often complex and large-scale construction defect and property damage claims.
Lisa is originally from Los Angeles, CA. She and her twin sons moved to Florida in 2008. She brings over 15 years of experience in the legal field, including extensive trial experience. She has been a main team player on several cases that have resulted in multi-million dollar settlements or judgments. She is well-versed in the areas of personal injury, first-party insurance claims for both homeowners and associations, association law, and family law. Always happy to get her feet wet, Lisa also meets on-site with insurance inspectors and experts as needed and regularly attends board meetings. Additionally, she helps organize and attend various marketing events throughout the year.
Michael began his work in the legal profession almost 20 years ago working for Insurance Company lawyers in Detroit, Michigan. Michael excelled as an academic and served as a member of his law school's prestigious Law Review.
Michael worked for many years as a litigation attorney in Chicago, Illinois. During this time, he was responsible for hundreds of client cases from start to settlement. Michael has handled serious legal matters for clients and is experienced with personal injury, construction defect cases, and other complex matters in litigation. Michael is familiar with all aspects of trial preparation and interestingly, coordinated and led the development of mass tort litigation, working with then Senator Barack Obama.
Michael's respect and understanding of those who have served our country, and their families, is deep-rooted; having a Grandfather who served in World War II, a Brother-In-Law who served in Desert Storm a Father who served in the United States Peace Corp in Romania.
Michael's extensive experience as a litigation attorney and deep-rooted commitment to those who have served ensures that he will work on your case with the level of passion, empathy and vigor deserving of your service.
Nydia was raised in California. Her mother and father are Guatemalan immigrants. Her dad is a pastor who assists immigrants who migrated from South America to the United States. As a child, she developed a strong understanding of the challenges people faced when English was not their primary language. Nydia was inspired to become an attorney at a very young age. Her mother was going through an immigration proceeding and was hours away from being deported. Nydia was only 7 years old during this proceeding and felt incredibly distressed and helpless for her mother. Since this moment, Nydia developed an interest for amplifying the voice of the voiceless. During her youth, Nydia and her dad assisted the newly arriving immigrants find attorneys, shelter and food.
Nydia Wallace is now an attorney for the Law Firm of Garfinkel Schwartz. Prior to becoming a member of the Florida Bar in 2021, Nydia served as a civil litigation paralegal for 3 years. Nydia was also selected to intern with an Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Judge in the Juvenile Dependency Division, where she observed the judicial procedure of such cases. Subsequently, she represented clients in immigration proceedings at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and in Immigration Court. Nydia's personal journey and involvement in our community has inspired her to provide hope to our clients who many times feel defeated, forgotten or abandoned. Nydia is hard working, responsive, detail-oriented and passionate about helping our clients.
Rachel was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. She worked in the medical field for 8 years as an ophthalmic technician and receptionist. In 2017, Rachel earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Certificate in Criminal Profiling from the University of Central Florida. She wanted to further her education in legal studies and was awarded two Associate in Science degrees in Paralegal Studies in 2021; one specializing in Litigation and the other specializing in Transactional. In 2022, Rachel began working as a Paralegal at Garfinkel Law, primarily performing work in areas such as Association Law, Bankruptcy, and Violations.
Ms. Blechman was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, Ms. Blechman decided to try her hand at teaching in South Korea, in a city just south of Seoul. After spending an amazing year teaching children and adults English (and learning some Korean herself), she backpacked across Southeast Asia; in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. While backpacking, Ms. Blechman was able to see and experience amazing things, some of which led her to pursue a career in law, in order to combat human trafficking in Florida.
Ms. Blechman enrolled in Barry University's School of Law, where she created the Barry Law Human Trafficking Awareness Coalition while also volunteering for the Born2Fly Project, and the Greater Orlando Human Trafficking Task Force. During law school, Ms. Blechman also took part in a clinic for Collaborative Family Law - a "family-friendly" divorce process. Upon graduating and passing the Florida Bar Exam, Ms. Blechman began her legal career as an assistant state attorney for Orange County, prosecuting misdemeanor level offenses and juvenile delinquents. In 2017, Ms. Blechman began her practice in family law and dependency. From there, Ms. Blechman practiced Eminent Domain, representing landowners against government takings. Ms. Blechman joined Garfinkel Law in 2022, where she represents Condominium and Homeowner's Associations with a focus on collections matters.
Ronja is originally from Sweden. At the end of her education in international law, Ronja interned at an immigration law firm in Orlando. After observing how the attorneys positively impacted their clients' lives, Ronja decided to move and pursue law school in the United States.
During law school, Ronja graduated at the top of her class and was recognized for her exceptional legal research and writing skills when she served as an editor for the Homeland and National Security Law Review and Thomas M. Cooley Law Review.
Ronja's devotion to helping others was clearly shown when she became the President of a student organization that spread awareness about human trafficking and domestic violence. Ronja worked tirelessly to educate the public about the issues and volunteered to help survivors.
Ronja is incredibly compassionate, caring, and hard-working, and she will ensure that her clients feel comfortable and well-informed.
Job Titles:
- Bookkeeper - Facilities Manager
Sallie has worked in accounting for many years at some of the most prestigious law firms in the country. Sallie issues disbursements and works with our accounting team that has over 100 years of cumulative experience.