WhiteBird, PLLC

The Firm is pleased to announce that two of its lawyers have received recognition as the 2025 Best Lawyers in America and two have received recognition for 2025 Ones to Watch in America. Congratulations to the following four WhiteBird Attorneys:

-Amanda Smith ~ Recognized for Best Lawyer in Litigation - Trust & Estates
-Ted Shinkle ~ Recognized for Best Lawyer in Admiralty & Maritime Law
-Lesley-Anne Marks ~ Recognized for "Ones to Watch" in Commercial Litigation
-Ryan O'Connor ~ Recognized for "Ones to Watch" in Appellate Practice & Commercial Litigation

In observance of Independence Day, WhiteBird, PLLC will be closed on Thursday, July 4th and Friday, July 5th. We will reopen for normal business hours on Monday, July 8th.

The Firm is pleased to announce that five of its lawyers have been selected to the 2024 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected as Super Lawyers, and no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected as Rising Stars. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area.

Congratulations to the following WhiteBird Attorneys:

Ryan O’Connor, Rising Star, Civil Litigation: Defense
Amanda Smith, Rising Star, Estate Planning and Probate
Paul Berg, Super Lawyer, Business Litigation
John Kancilia, Super Lawyer, Health Care
Sean Mickley, Super Lawyer, Construction Litigation

In observance of Memorial Day, WhiteBird, PLLC will be closed on Monday, May 27th. We will reopen on Tuesday, May 28th and look forward to assisting you then.

WhiteBird, PLLC’s Attorney Grant Haas provided an informative presentation on the Corporate Transparency Act during a dinner meeting held at CuiZine in Satellite Beach for the Brevard County Estate Planning Council yesterday. Alexandria H., Engagement Lead of the Community Foundation for Brevard, commented, “Grant did an amazing job – and that [it] was the best turnout the Brevard County Estate Planning Council has seen in a long time!” Attorneys Jorge Alfonso, Jr. and Amanda Smith were also in attendance and showed their support.

The Corporate Transparency Act requires entities to disclose information about the entity and who owns it to the federal government. To learn more about the Corporate Transparency Act and schedule a consultation, please contact our firm.

WhiteBird, PLLC is honored to be named a Partner in Education for the 2023-2024 year by Brevard Public Schools. The firm received this recognition due to its support for Tropical Elementary. Pictured are attorneys, Ryan O’Connor and Grant Haas, who attended the awards ceremony at the Kennedy Space Center on the firm’s behalf.

WhiteBird, PLLC sponsored the "Detour" event for Teacher Appreciation Week at Manatee Elementary School and it was a great success! We are proud to sponsor an event that benefits Brevard County schools.

WhiteBird, PLLC will be closed for the Holidays on December 25th & 26th, and January 1st. We will resume normal business hours on January 2nd. Happy Holidays!

We are thrilled to partner with Space Coast Basket Brigade this holiday season!

🌟 THANK YOU! 🌟

We're feeling the holiday magic, all thanks to the generosity of WhiteBird, PLLC! 🎅🎄 Their heartwarming support has made it possible for us to bring smiles to the faces of kids this Christmas. 🤗✨

Best Lawyers, a peer review guide to the legal profession, announced the release of the 14th edition of the United States Best Law Firms® rankings on November 2, 2023. WhiteBird, PLLC is proud to announce that the firm has been ranked in the Metropolitan Tier 1 category for Admiralty and Maritime Law in the Orlando area!

Best Law Firms is the most credible ranking of exceptional law firms, rooted in a rigorous, peer-to-peer, industry-driven evaluation. Achieving a tiered ranking in Best Law Firms signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise. Ranked firms, presented in three tiers, are recognized on a national and metro-based scale. The Best Law Firms research methodology includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process.

The Firm is pleased to announce that three of its lawyers have received recognition as the 2023 Best Lawyers. Congratulations to the following WhiteBird Attorneys:

-Ryan O’Connor ~ "Ones to Watch in America", Recognized for Appellate Practice & Commercial Litigation
-Theodore Shinkle ~ Recognized for Admiralty and Maritime Law
-Amanda Smith ~ Recognized for Litigation - Trust & Estates

WhiteBird, PLLC WhiteBird provides legal representation in the areas of corporate transactions, mergers and acquisit

The Firm is pleased to announce that six of its lawyers have been selected to the 2023 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected as Super Lawyers, and no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected as Rising Stars. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area.

Congratulations to the following WhiteBird attorneys:

-Ryan O’Connor, Rising Star, Civil Litigation
-Amanda Smith, Rising Star, Estate Planning and Probate
-Paul Berg, Super Lawyer, Business Litigation
-Dale Dettmer, Super Lawyer, Estate Planning and Probate
-John Kancilia, Super Lawyer, Health Care
-Sean Mickley, Super Lawyer, Construction Litigation

WhiteBird | Attorneys At Law WhiteBird, PLLC is a boutique business law firm that provides sophisticated legal representation to businesses, insurance companies and their insureds, investors, and high net-worth individuals in the areas of corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, real estate (including real estate trans...

WhiteBird is pleased to announce that three of our attorneys have been selected to the 2022 edition of Florida Super Lawyers as Super Lawyers or Rising Stars. Florida Super Lawyers recognizes lawyers each year who are among the leading lawyers in the state.

-Partner John Kancilia (Melbourne) was selected as a Super Lawyer in the area of Health Care Law
-Partner Sean Mickley (Vero Beach) was selected as a Rising Star in the area of Construction Law
-Partner Amanda Smith (Melbourne) was selected as a Rising Star in the area of Estate Planning and Probate

Only the top 5% of lawyers in Florida are named Super Lawyers. No more than 2.5% of lawyers in the state are selected as Rising Stars, who must be 40 years old or younger or have been in practice for 10 or fewer years. Published by Thomson Reuters, Super Lawyers uses independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations to determine the honorees.

WhiteBird | Attorneys At Law WhiteBird, PLLC is a boutique business law firm that provides sophisticated legal representation to businesses, insurance companies and their insureds, investors, and high net-worth individuals in the areas of corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, real estate (including real estate trans...

WhiteBird offices will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29 due to Hurricane Ian. We will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so. Please stay safe!

WhiteBird, PLLC is proud to announce that Best Lawyers, a peer review guide to the legal profession, has named attorney Ryan O’Connor to the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America. Best Lawyers has recognized Ryan for his high caliber work in both Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation.

For more than 40 years, the Best Lawyers guide has highlighted top legal talent across a variety of practice areas, as selected by the attorneys’ peers. The “Ones to Watch” list recognizes attorneys who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice throughout the United States.

Happy Holidays from WhiteBird, PLLC!

Our office will close at noon on Friday, December 17 for our team celebration, returning to normal business hours on Monday, December 20.

Our office will be closed on December 24, 27, and 31.

However you're celebrating, we wish you a wonderful holiday season!

Check out the November 15 issue of Brevard Business News featuring WhiteBird's growth in Melbourne and expansion into the Vero Beach market. Thank you, BBN!

http://www.brevardbusinessnews.com/ArchiveDocs/2021/2021-11-01/BBN-111521.pdf?pdf=current-edition

WhiteBird, PLLC updated their phone number.

We have moved! We look forward to seeing you in our new Downtown Melbourne office located at 2101 Waverly Place. Our phone number remains (321) 327.5580. We're excited to bring new life to the space locals may recognize as the original location of FPL in Melbourne.

WhiteBird is pleased to announce that three of our attorneys have been selected to the 2021 edition of Florida Super Lawyers as Super Lawyers or Rising Stars. Florida Super Lawyers recognizes lawyers each year who are among the leading lawyers in the state.

-Partner John Kancilia (Melbourne) was selected as a Super Lawyer in the area of Health Care Law
-Partner Amanda Smith (Melbourne) was selected as a Rising Star in the area of Estate Planning and Probate
-Partner Sean Mickley (Vero) was selected as a Rising Star in the area of Construction Law

Only the top 5% of lawyers in Florida are named Super Lawyers. No more than 2.5% of lawyers in the state are selected as Rising Stars, who must be 40 years old or younger or have been in practice for 10 or fewer years. Published by Thomson Reuters, Super Lawyers uses independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations to determine the honorees.

We are pleased to announce both the opening of our Vero Beach office and the addition of Partner Sean Mickley and Attorney Román Ortega-Cowan to WhiteBird!

Sean Mickley is Board Certified in Construction Law with a specialization in complex commercial and construction litigation matters throughout the state of Florida. Sean is also highly experienced in the negotiation and preparation of construction contracts in both the public and private sectors.

Román Ortega-Cowan is a Martindale-Hubbell AV-Preeminent rated attorney, who concentrates his practice on complex Trust & Estates Litigation. A member of the Florida Bar since 2003, he is also admitted to practice in New York and the District of Columbia. A graduate of Saint Edward’s School, he grew up in Vero Beach and his family has resided in the region since 1979. He demonstrates his commitment to the community by proudly serving on the Board of Trustees of Saint Edward’s School and as General Counsel to Vero Beach Opera.

Please help us welcome Sean and Román! Sean may be reached at [email protected] and Román at [email protected]. Our Vero Beach office is located in the Transocean Building at 1701 Highway A1A, Suite 102. To contact the office, please call (772) 610-5580.

Happy Administrative Professionals Day! We may be biased, but we think the WhiteBird team is the best! Thank you to Kathleen, Cathie, Phyllis, Jeanette, Karen W., Jodi, Karen G., Athena, Larissa, Yvonne and Patricia for all you do to help provide top-notch service to our clients.

And thank you to two great local businesses for helping us celebrate our team today! Cora's Island Cafe and Sarah's Flower Truck

Our team is growing! Please submit resumes and inquiries of interest to [email protected].

We are proud to announce that John Kancilia has joined the firm as a partner.

John is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Health Law and Tax Law, and he brings more than 33 years of experience in the areas of health law, tax law, corporate law (including mergers and acquisitions), and wealth transfer.

Please help us welcome John! John can be reached at [email protected] or 321-327-5580.

As we close out our first year in business, we are so grateful to our clients, colleagues, and friends for your continued support of WhiteBird. Our success and growth this year surpassed our expectations, and we appreciate the trust and confidence you have placed in us by allowing us to service your legal needs. We look forward to continuing to serve Brevard and beyond in 2021!

And in an exciting end to 2020, we closed on our new building this morning! We are excited to remain a part of the Downtown Melbourne community and look forward to welcoming you into our new office when renovations are complete this spring!

Happy New Year!

#2021

We are pleased to announce that Ted Shinkle and Gregory P. Durham, Sr. have joined WhiteBird as partners.

Ted and Greg are both skilled trial attorneys, each bringing more than 34 years of experience to the firm including extensive jury trial experience in both state and federal courts.

Ted practices in the areas of maritime law, employment discrimination defense, and personal injury. He is Board Certified in Admiralty & Maritime Law by the Florida Bar, a Proctor member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, and conversational in Spanish.

Greg concentrates his practice in insurance defense litigation, malpractice defense, and maritime claims. He has represented clients in claims involving automobiles, uninsured motorists and commercial and general liability policies. He has also represented hospitals and physicians in medical malpractice cases.

Please help us welcome Ted and Greg! Ted may be reached at [email protected] and Greg at [email protected].

Partner Adam Bird has been elected chair of the Board of Directors of the Space Coast Health Foundation - one of the many ways he gives back to the Brevard community!