<< Areas of Practice
Commercial Litigation Department The litigation department consists of the following attorneys: Jim Shuler, Neil Spector, Ron Trybus, Scott Frick, John Bianco, and Elizabeth Ryan. All of the attorneys are supported by Sylvia Butson, a certified legal assistant who has over 20 years of complex litigation support experience. All of the attorneys in the litigation department have extensive experience in State, Federal, and Appellate Courts. The attorneys have handled a great variety of commercial disputes, including the following: construction contract disputes, prosecution of construction liens and claims against payment bonds, defense of performance and payment bonds, business valuation disputes, all types of commercial contract disputes, business tort claims including libel and slander, claims of unfair competition, antitrust, securities laws, trademark and copyright disputes, real estate disputes, injunctive relief for claims of theft of business secrets, violation of employment contracts, replevin of floor plan merchandise, enforcement of foreign judgments, proceedings supplementary to set aside fraudulent conveyances, lender liability issues, claims and defenses under the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act and the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Truth in Lending and numerous issues affecting banks, credit unions, as well as commercial lenders and lessors. The department has broad knowledge and expertise in trials, arbitration proceedings, mediation and defense of class actions. This wealth of experience can be utilized by any client who may be contemplating or defending litigation. Members of the Kass, Shuler, Solomon, Spector, Foyle & Singer, P.A. Commercial Litigation Group:
	Mark J Bernet
	Born Baraboo, Wisconsin, August 24, 1961; admitted to Florida Bar, 1986, United States District Court, Middle, Southern and Northern Districts of Florida and United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: University of Wisconsin (B.A. Journalism and Political Science, 1983); Notre Dame Law School (J.D. 1986), member of Notre Dame Law Review. Member: The Florida Bar, Hillsborough County Bar Association, American Bankruptcy Institute, Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association.
	Scott A Frick
	Born Cleveland, Ohio, November 20, 1963; admitted to Florida Bar, 1991, Colorado Bar, 1997, Special City Attorney for the City of Ocala Construction Industry Licensing Board and the City of Ocala Municipal Code Enforcement Board, 1991, United States District Court (Middle District), 1991, United States Bankruptcy Court (Middle District of Florida), 1991, United States Circuit Court of Appeals (11th Circuit), 1991, State Courts of Florida and Colorado, 1991. Education: University of Florida (B.S. , 1986); Stetson University College of Law (J.D. 1990). Member: The Florida Bar, Colorado Bar, American Bar Association, Hillsborough County Bar Association, D.R. Smith American Inn of Court. Mr. Frick is a member of the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Ocala (Class VIII, 1995), The Tampa Connection (1999), the Judicature Society of America, and Who’s Who In American Law Schools (10th Edition 1990). He is a former member of the Board of Directors of Childhood Development Services, Inc. and His Way Christian Fellowship. Mr. Frick has authored a number of published legal articles.
	Michael Kass
	Born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 20, 1942; admitted to Florida Bar, 1972, United States District Court, Middle District of Florida. Education: Pennsylvania State University (B.A., 1966); Loyola University (J.D., 1972). Member: The Florida Bar, Commercial Law League of America. AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Kass is the founding partner of the firm. He takes particular interest in using technology and other innovations to improve the firm's processes and business productivity. He is an active and longstanding member of TEC (The Executive Committee), an organization focusing on business best practices in small businesses across all industries.
	Ed Pritchard
	Born Haddonfield, New Jersey, November 11, 1958; admitted to Florida Bar, 1987, District of Columbia, U.S. District Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit and U.S. District Court, Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, 1988. Education: Allegheny College (B.A., 1981), George Mason University (M.A., 1984), Whittier College School of Law (J.D., 1987). Member: Florida and District of Columbia Bar Associations, Hillsborough County Bar Association, American Bar Association and Phi Alpha Delta.
	Elizabeth M Ryan
	Born Syracuse, New York, July 15, 1967; admitted to Massachusetts Bar, 1995, Florida Bar, 1996. Education: Northeastern University (B.A., 1991, cum laude), Boston University School of Law (J.D., 1994). Member: The Florida Bar, Guardian ad Litem Program. Ms. Ryan's focus at the firm is in commercial litigation. Prior to joining the firm, she worked for two years as an attorney for Guardian Ad Litem. She lived in the Dominican Republic for two years, and has studied Russian, Spanish, and French. She also enjoys cooking, traveling, yoga and meditation, classical music, and Greek and Roman history and mythology. Ms. Ryan is a member of the Academy of Arts & Sciences Honor Society, a recipient of the Presidential Sholarship, a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. She is team mom for the Forest Hills Baseball Bronco Yankees and a member of Carrollwood Elementary PTA.
	James M Shuler
	Born Nashville, Tennessee, February 23, 1952; admitted to Florida Bar, 1977, United States District Court, Middle District of Florida and United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: Emory University (B. A., 1973); Duke University (J. D., 1977). Phi Beta Kappa Member, Duke Law Journal, 1976-1977. Member: Hillsborough County Bar, American Bar Associations; The Florida Bar. AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Shuler is a member of the Business Law, Trial and Appellate Practice sections of the Florida Bar. He has concentrated his practice in the area of business litigation, including the areas of construction law, shareholder and partnership disputes, contract and commercial law, business torts, and intellectual property.
	Gilbert M Singer
	Born New York, New York, October 8, 1955; admitted to Florida Bar, 1979. Education: Emory University (B.A. 1976); University of Miami School of Law (J.D., 1979). Member: The Florida Bar; Hillsborough County Bar Association; Commercial Law League of America. AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Singer is a 24 year member and past President of the Kiwanis Club of Tampa and a recent Kiwanian of the Year (Doyle Carlton Memorial Award - 2002). He is on the Board of Directors for the Hillsborough County Republican Executive Committee, serves as the attorney for that organization, and led the Hillsborough County legal response team for the reelection of Governor Jeb Bush in 2002. He was also a member of President George W. Bush's Legal Team for the 2000 Florida recount. Mr. Singer is a founding member and former president of the Grand Krewe de Libertalia, and a volunteer attorney for the Guardian Ad Litem program. In 1996, he was honored by the Florida Bar and the Florida Supreme Court for his pro bono service. He has also been very active as a board member for the Tampa Bay Chamber Orchestra, the Joshua House, and For The Family, and has served on the Citizens Advisory Commission to the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. In October, 2002, Governor Jeb Bush appointed him to the Florida Commission on Human Relations, where he is currently serving a 4 year term as a Commissioner. He has been and continues to be active as a volunteer in local and statewide political campaigns. Mr. Singer is a member of the Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club and is a frequent book reviewer for the Tampa Tribune. He is married to Betsy Sundheim Singer and has two children, Daniel, age 20, and Zachary, age 15.
	Neil C Spector
	Born Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 23, 1949; admitted to Pennsylvania Bar, 1975, Florida Bar, 1979, Colorado Bar, 1992, United States District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, 1975, Middle District of Florida 1979, U. S. Supreme Court; 1982. Education: New York University, Duquesne University (B. S., Cum Laude, 1972); Duquesne University (J. D., 1975). Member: Hillsborough County Bar Association; The Florida Bar; Commercial Law League of America. National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys. AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Spector frequently lectures on credit matters for several organizations in the community. He is a volunteer attorney for the Guardian Ad Litem program, and has volunteered at Shriner's Hospital for Children. He is a former board member of the Jewish Community Center.
	Ronald H Trybus
	Born Buffalo, New York, October 30, 1957; admitted to Florida Bar, New York Bar, United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, 1983 and United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 1984. Education: State University of New York at Buffalo (B.A. Magna Cum Laude, 1979); (J.D. Magna Cum Laude, 1982). Member: Hillsborough County Bar Association; the Florida Bar (Business Law Section, Labor Law Section). He is rated (AV) by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, its highest rating. Mr. Trybus is a member, past president, and current Director of International Service of the Rotary Club of Tampa Town and Country. He is a member of the Westchase Elementary School PTA and a Cub Scout Den Leader. Mr. Trybus is assistant coach for the NFL Youth Flag 4 Kids Football League
For further information regarding commercial litigation, contact Michael Kass at (813) 229-0900, Ext. 1301.

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