Tampa

Partner

Karl Forrest

Mr. Forrest is a Partner in the Tampa office of Groelle & Salmon, P.A., focusing his practice primarily on first party property and insurance coverage matters. During his legal career, Mr. Forrest has represented dozens of insurance companies and multiple governmental entities in a variety of insurance-related matters throughout the State of Florida. He has also successfully represented several clients in a number of complex litigation cases in both state and federal court. Aside from his extensive civil litigation background, Mr. Forrest has further represented clients in appeals before the Florida Supreme Court, Second District Court of Appeal, Fourth District Court of Appeal, Fifth District Court of Appeal, and various Florida Circuit Court Appellate Divisions. Mr. Forrest is licensed to practice in all state courts in Florida, as well as the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Partner

Andrew A. Labbe

Mr. Labbe concentrates his practice on first and third party insurance defense. He has experience handling various property claims including windstorm, water damage, fire and sinkhole. Mr. Labbe also has experience defending third-party liability claims, coverage disputes, subrogation and construction defect. Prior to joining Groelle & Salmon, Mr. Labbe worked as an associate attorney at an insurance defense firm specializing in first/third party liability defense. Mr. Labbe is licensed to practice in all state courts of Florida, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Professional Background:

Groelle and Salmon, P.A.
-Tampa, Florida

Walton, Lantaff, Schroeder & Carson, L.L.P.
-Tampa, Florida

Education:

University of Florida J.D., cum laude

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts B.A.

Bar Admissions:

Florida Bar

Massachusetts Bar

New York

New Jersey

Pennsylvania

Associate Attorney

Trenton Leigh

Trenton Leigh graduated from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in May of 2011. While in law school, Mr. Leigh worked as a law clerk at the Law Offices of Robert W. Bauer, P.A., assisting in the preparation of personal injury demand packages and reviewing medical records. Mr. Leigh also volunteered at the Three Rivers Legal Clinic helping indigent pro se litigants prepare and file necessary pleadings in landlord/tenant disputes.

After law school, Mr. Leigh returned to his hometown of Tampa, Florida where he began working at a small boutique real estate and bankruptcy law firm as an associate attorney. Mr. Leigh primarily focused on bankruptcy practice while also assisting in real estate cases. In February of 2013, Mr. Leigh started work in the Tampa office of a large Orlando-based law firm. Mr. Leigh began as an associate attorney in the foreclosure defense department, assisting distressed homeowners. Quickly he moved on to complex litigation, and was eventually promoted to managing attorney of the Tampa office. While practicing in the complex litigation department, Mr. Leigh gained invaluable experience in litigating cases from beginning to end, primarily focusing on contract disputes, collections, real estate, and homeowners and condominium association disputes.

Mr. Leigh has now joined Groelle and Salmon, applying the skills and knowledge gained over almost five years of litigation practice to benefit our clients, and achieve optimal results.

Professional Background:

Kaufman Englett & Lynd, PLLC. Tampa, Florida

Perry G. Gruman, P.A. Tampa, Florida

The Law Offices of Robert W. Bauer, P.A. Gainesville, Florida

Three Rivers Legal Services Gainesville, Florida

Education:

Levin College of Law, University of Florida, J.D.
-University of Florida, B.A.

Bar Admissions:

Florida Bar
-Middle District of Florida

Associate

Joseph Matera

Before joining Groelle & Salmon, Mr. Matera worked for a plaintiff’s insurance firm and also as an Assistant State Attorney. As a plaintiff’s attorney, Mr. Matera, among other things, researched various insurance legal issues and drafted “bad-faith” civil remedy notices. While an Assistant State Attorney, Mr. Matera litigated thousands of cases from the initial inception of the case through a jury trial if necessary. As lead Prosecutor, he litigated eighteen (18) jury trials. He also defended against various Motions including Motions to Suppress Evidence; Motions to Dismiss Charge; Motions in Limine; and Motions for Judgment of Acquittal.

Mr. Matera was raised in the Tampa Bay area where he attended high school in New Port Richey and earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida. Subsequently, he graduated with honors from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in May of 2012. For a semester in law school, Mr. Matera was a legal extern at the Gainesville State Attorney’s Office. During a summer semester in law school, he volunteered at the Gainesville State Attorney’s Office where he earned a pro bono certificate for his work as a volunteer. Additionally, Mr. Matera was also a Senior Research Editor for the Florida Journal of International Law and a Research Editor for the Florida Journal of Technology Law and Policy.

Mr. Matera is a member of the Florida Bar Association and is eligible to practice in all Florida state courts.

Education:

University of Florida Levin College of Law, J.D.

University of South Florida, B.A.

Bar Admissions:

Florida Bar
-United States District Court Northern District of Florida
-United States District Court Middle District of Florida
-United States District Court Southern District of Florida
-United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Partner

Robert G. May

Mr. May is a partner focusing his practice primarily on subrogation. Robert May graduated from the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama in May of 2006. He was a member of the American Journal of Trial Advocacy Law Review as well as a Caruther’s Fellow. Mr. May worked as a Westlaw student representative, where he received extensive training on electronic legal research. He is Westlaw Certified in Advanced Case Law Research, Advanced Statutes Research, and Advanced Secondary Sources Research. While in law school, Mr. May clerked for Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton and also worked for the Honorable Judge Virginia E. Hopkins, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Southern Division. Mr. May also worked at the Bessemer, Alabama District Attorney’s office, learning about trial techniques and getting an opportunity to try cases.

After law school, Mr. May moved to Florida and spent his first year practicing with a regional insurance defense litigation Firm, focusing primarily on auto negligence, premises liability, slip/trip & fall, subrogation, homeowner’s insurance contract disputes, products liability, and collections. After one year , he decided to begin his own practice, focusing exclusively on subrogation and collections. Now Robert G. May III has joined with Groelle & Salmon P.A. to bring his extensive knowledge of subrogation into practice at our Firm.

Professional Background:

Groelle & Salmon, P.A.
-Tampa, Florida

Robert G. May, III, P.A.
-Tampa, Florida

Allen, Kopet & Associates
-Tampa, Florida

Judicial Intern, Honorable Virginia E. Hopkins
-Northern District of Alabama

Caruthers Fellow
-Birmingham, Alabama

Hare, Wynn, Newell, & Newton
-Birmingham, Alabama

Education:

Cumberland School of Law, J.D.
-University of Georgia, B.A. Political Science

Bar Admissions:

Florida Bar

Texas Bar

Northern District of Florida

Middle District of Florida

Professional Associations:

American Bar Association
-Florida State Bar Association
-Member, National Association of Subrogation Professionals

Associate Attorney

David B. McClelland

Mr. McClelland is an associate attorney focusing his practice primarily on subrogation, representing insurers in matters related to products liability, premises liability, negligence, construction defects, and contract disputes.

Mr. McClelland graduated from Stetson University College of Law in May of 2011. While in law school, Mr. McClelland interned for the Honorable Alexander L. Paskay in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Florida. Prior to joining the Tampa office of Groelle & Salmon, P.A., Mr. McClelland practiced corporate bankruptcy, business litigation, and represented businesses making claims under the BP oil spill settlement agreement. Mr. McClelland is licensed to practice in all state courts of Florida and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Professional Background:

Groelle and Salmon, P.A.
Tampa, Florida

Education:

Stetson University College of Law, J.D.

University of Florida:

B.A. Criminology and B.S. Public Relations

Bar Admissions:

Florida Bar

Partner

S. Scott Ross

Mr. Ross’ practice is devoted to third-party liability defense issues, the defense of businesses and professionals. He has substantive trial and mediation experience throughout Florida. Additionally, Mr. Ross has extensive experience in large-loss liability defense including, construction defect; wrongful death; catastrophic personal injury; premises liability; restaurant; theme park; hospital; and physician liability. He has defended clients in complex business matters, as well as professionals in licensure investigations and disciplinary proceedings before Florida Administrative Agencies. Mr. Ross is active in writing and presenting on cutting-edge legal topics, having been published by The Florida Bar Health Law Section; Florida Hospital Association; American Health Lawyers Association; and Florida Society for Risk Management & Patient Safety. He previously practiced with the Tampa office of a national law firm representing healthcare clients in complex business, medical malpractice and licensure matters.

Bar Admissions:

Florida Bar

Education:

St. Thomas University School of Law, Cum Laude

University of Louisville, Cum Laude

Professional Associate:

Hillsborough County Bar Association
-United States District Courts for the Northern, Middle and Southern

Districts of Florida

Associate Attorney

Jayson Serrano

Jayson Serrano graduated from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois in 2011. Since then he’s been practicing civil law and has successfully litigated numerous jury and bench trials. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in May 2018 and joined our firm soon thereafter. He practices in our Tampa office and focuses on first party property insurance defense and contract disputes.

Bar Admissions:

Florida Bar

Education:

University of Central Florida, B.A.

John Marshall Law School, J.D.

Partner

Keith Shevenell

Mr. Shevenell is a Partner in the Tampa office of Groelle & Salmon, P.A., focusing his practice primarily on first party property and insurance coverage matters. During his legal career, Mr. Shevenell has represented insurance companies and corporations in a variety of insurance-related matters throughout the State of Florida and New Jersey. He has also successfully represented condominium and homeowners’ association clients as both litigation and in-house counsel. Mr. Shevenell oversaw his prior firm’s expansion into New Jersey following Superstorm Sandy. Aside from his extensive civil litigation background, Mr. Shevenell has further represented clients in appeals before the Second District Court of Appeal. Mr. Shevenell is licensed to practice in all state courts in Florida, as well as Maine and New Jersey.

Partner

Michel, Chioma H.

Ms. Michel is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. She received her commission in 1996 and served five years as a Surface Warfare Officer onboard the guided missile destroyer, USS Ross (DD-71) and the strike destroyer, USS John Hancock (DD-981). She obtained her juris doctor from University of Miami School of Law in 2004. In 2004 she became licensed to practice in Florida as well as the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts Courts of Florida and in 2005 she became licensed to practice in Illinois.

Ms. Michel started her legal career as a prosecutor in Charlotte County and was quickly promoted to Drug Court Prosecutor and Domestic Violence Liaison Officer and given the responsibility of a felony docket.

In 2007 she joined the Tampa office of Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP where she handled matters in the areas of professional liability claims, Fair Debt Collection Practices litigation, Employment Law, Workers Compensation, and other insurance defense litigation.

In 2011, Ms. Michel opened her own practice where she focused on complex commercial litigation matters, the defense of insurance claim disputes, foreclosure defense, and administrative law matters with the Department of Professional Business Regulation. As a sole practitioner, Ms. Michel became Of Counsel to Alliance Legal Group, heading their contested foreclosure defense department and, subsequently, Of Counsel to the firm of Moriarty & Chiofalo, P.A. to introduce the foreclosure defense practice area to their firm as her specialty, and handle all trust and estate litigation and complex business litigation for the firm.

In 2016, Ms. Michel joined HD Law Partners, PA where she was tasked with opening their Sarasota Bradenton office and continuing a general civil litigation practice, where she focused on complex business litigation, personal injury, family law, and insurance claim disputes.

Ms. Michel is a co-founder and sits on the Board of Directors of Open Door Mission, a non-profit organization located in Cameroon, Africa, which offers free medical services to the local communities and schools young men and women to become physician assistants with the hope that they will provide medical services to their communities

Meyers, Dennis M.

Dennis Meyers focuses his practice primarily on insurance defense, commercial litigation, first and third-party property, and insurance coverage matters. Prior to practicing law, Mr. Meyers was a licensed insurance adjuster for nearly five years with both Progressive Insurance in Rhode Island, and The Hartford Insurance in Tampa, Florida.

Mr. Meyers began his legal career at a state-wide insurance defense firm in Tampa, concentrating in general liability cases and workers’ compensation. In 2006, he formed his own law practice continuing his concentration in insurance defense, while also progressively increasing his concentration in commercial litigation and intellectual property, handling litigation matters at both the state and federal level. Prior to joining Groelle & Salmon, Mr. Meyers was General Counsel for a national medical company and worked at a boutique litigation firm in Tampa.

Mr. Meyers is also a proud veteran, having served in the U.S. Naval Reserves as a Hospital Corpsman from 1987-1995. While attending Penn State, Mr. Meyers’ unit was activated to serve in a combat zone in northern Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm. For his service during that conflict, he was awarded a Letter of Appreciation from his commanding officer.

Associate

Hunt, G. William

William Hunt is an associate in the Tampa office where he primarily defends insurance carriers in first-party property claims. Prior to joining Groelle & Salmon, P.A., Mr. Hunt worked for a Fortune 500 title insurance company handling real property claims and litigation.

Mr. Hunt attended the University of Central Florida for his undergraduate degree before attending the Florida State University College of Law.

Mr. Hunt is licensed to practice law in the state of Florida.