Chartwell Law Launches New Florida Offices, Now Provides Services Statewide

June 17, 2015 (MMD Newswire) — The Chartwell Law Offices, LLP is pleased to announce the expansion of its offices in Miami and Ft. Myers and the addition of new offices in Orlando, Tallahassee, and Jupiter, FL. Chartwell now provides statewide coverage for the defense of general liability, marine, workers’ compensation and employment litigation.

In Ft. Myers, Chartwell acquired the former Kelley Kronenberg Fort Myers’ office, where partners Brian S. Bartley, Esq. and Amanda Mitteer Bartley, Esq. will continue to focus on workers’ compensation defense litigation. Joining them are associate attorney Rachelle Hellams, Esq. and all of their dedicated and experienced support staff. Chartwell’s casualty defense, property and construction defects lawyers in Ft. Myers, Jim Myers and Jessica Teitelbaum, have relocated to the new and expanded office at 12486 Brantley Commons Court, Ft Myers.

Chartwell, founded in Pennsylvania by four lawyers in 2002, now has 90 lawyers in offices strategically located in Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The firm provides strategic counsel and representation in a wide array of litigation, including insurance coverage, creditor’s rights, general and professional liability, marine/admiralty, workplace injury and other complex commercial litigation. Chartwell’s clients range from some of the world’s largest and most recognizable corporations to small and mid- sized businesses and municipalities.

Brian S. Bartley, Esq. is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Miami, earning his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1991. Brian then attended the University of Miami School of Law where he was an Editor for the University of Miami Inter-American Law Review and competed nationally as a member of the school’s Mock Trial Team. In addition to defending numerous insurance carriers, self-insured employers, and third party administrators at Final Hearings before various Judges of Compensation Claims, Brian has conducted hundreds of depositions of witnesses, physicians and vocational experts. .

Amanda Mitteer Bartley, Esq. focuses her practice on civil litigation, primarily Workers’ Compensation litigation defense on behalf of insurance companies and employers. Amanda received a B.S. in English Education from the University of Vermont in 1996. She was in the elite National Honor Society Kappa Delta Pi and was a biological researcher for the Smithsonian Institute. While at the University of New Hampshire School of Law, Amanda interned for the United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, as well as the Judicial Arbitration Mediation Services [JAMS] in Boston. An avid philanthropist, Amanda helped raise over $250,000,000 for medical research while working with the Trump Organization/Miss Universe Organization. She is extremely active within her legal community and volunteers for several associations

Rachelle Hellams, Esq. is an associate in the Fort Myers office of The Chartwell Law Offices, LLP, focusing her practice primarily on Workers’ Compensation litigation. Prior to joining Chartwell, Ms. Hellams was an associate with Kelley Kronenberg in Fort Myers, FL. Prior to that, Rachelle served as a Judicial Fellow for the District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings. She also served as a Judicial Intern for the Honorable Charlene E. Honeywell United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida. Rachelle obtained her undergraduate degree from Florida State University, where she was a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society. She earned her law degree, cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law, where she was a member of Phi Delta Phi, an international legal honor society.

In its Miami office, Chartwell added associates John Scarborough and Zak Colangelo. John is a graduate of Duke University and Tulane Law where he received a Certificate in Maritime Law. He is a fully licensed yacht caption with years of experience at sea, and recently won the ABA/SEALI Young Lawyer’s Writing Competition on Maritime Law. Zak is a graduate of Washington and Lee University and the University of Miami School of Law, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the U. of Miami Business Law Review. Zak also focuses his practice on maritime matters.

Chartwell will open its offices in Orlando, Tallahassee and Jupiter Florida on June 16, 2015. Heading the office in Jupiter, which will handle cases from Vero Beach to Miami along Florida’s eastern coast, is Chris Riggio. Chris is a graduate of Stetson University and its Law School. Before focusing his practice on workers ‘ compensation defense, Chris tried hundreds of cases and led complicated criminal investigations as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Palm Beach County. Chris regularly litigates cases at trial and on appeal and has assisted clients in the investigation of insurance fraud.

Leading the Tallahassee Florida office is Tom Marchese. Tom is a graduate of Florida State University and Oklahoma City University College of Law. Tom defends insurers and self-insured employers throughout northern Florida in workers’ compensation matters ranging from occupational disease claims to death claims. The northern part of Florida has its own distinct rhythm and culture, and Tom capitalizes on his local area connections and relationships to benefit his clients.

In Orlando, Sean Crosby joins Chartwell. Sean is an Orlando native and a graduate of Mercer Law School. After gaining bench and jury trial experience while serving as an Orange County public defender, Sean began focusing his practice on the defense of workers’ compensation cases across a 9-county swath of central Florida.

Chartwell now has 17 lawyers strategically located throughout the state to provide its clients with maximum efficiency and service. The firm provides statewide services to clients in:

Insurance coverage and property litigation
General casualty and premises liability litigation
Products liability litigation, including specialized marine products
Admiralty and Marine litigation
Yacht and other marine transactional representation and consultation
Construction defects litigation
Retail and hospitality liability
Workers' compensation defense litigation
Employment practices litigation
Commercial litigation
Consumer credit litigation

Please visit www.chartwelllaw.com for contact details and more information about our Florida practice groups.

The Chartwell Law Offices, LLP

FLORIDA – MASSACHUSETTS – NEW JERSEY – NEW YORK – PENNSYLVANIA