Archives: Team Members

Jackie Roys Clifton grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and received her Bachelor of Science from Florida State University. She then continued her studies at Florida Coastal School of Law, where she took the opportunity to study abroad at University of Oxford in Oxford, England. She is a seasoned litigator with over twenty years of experience. In addition to her admission to the Florida bar, she is also admitted into the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Jackie began her legal career as an assistant state attorney, successfully working her way through the ranks to become a homicide prosecutor. She has tried over a hundred criminal felony trials to verdict. In addition to the expansive criminal litigation, her prior legal experience includes cases in construction defects, ADA compliance, contract law, business law, and family law. Jackie continues to be a fierce advocate for her clients.

• Florida Coastal School of Law- Juris Doctor
• Florida State University- Criminology

• Construction litigation
• Civil litigation
• Insurance defense
• Premise liability
• Personal injury
• Commercial transactions

• Florida
• U.S. District Court (M.D.Fla)
• U.S. District Court (S.D. Fla)

• Former Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator
• Past President and Board Member of the Volusia/Flagler Association of Woman Lawyers
• Past Board Member Volusia County Bar Association
• Former member Dunn-Blount American Inn of Court
• Volusia County Bar Association

• https://www.staugustine.com/story/news/2014/02/25/prosecutor-jacquelyn-roys-makes-opening-statement-fries-trial/16125676007/
• https://www.staugustine.com/story/news/local/2014/03/01/fries-guilty-pub-shooting/16125249007/
• https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/crime/2011/03/03/couples-killer-convicted-flagler-county-trial/15912296007/
• https://www.observerlocalnews.com/news/2011/mar/09/jury-recommends-death-gregory/
• https://flaglerlive.com/paul-miller-trial-day-5/
• https://flaglerlive.com/boyls-massey-first-degree/
• https://flaglerlive.com/eric-niemi-sentencing/

Karina Acevedo is originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico. She moved to Miami, Florida with her family as a child and later resided in Gran Canaria, Spain. Ms. Acevedo studied Political Science and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida International University. She decided to continue her education and study law. She received her Juris Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Law Center in 2004. Ms. Acevedo began her legal career by advocating for the immigrant community by practicing Immigration and Naturalization Law. After many years of practicing immigration, she decided that she wanted to expand her horizons and explore other facets of law. Ms. Acevedo is excited to master First Party Property Litigation and become a productive member of the DSB&C Team.

When Karina is not practicing law, she enjoys bargain hunting, traveling, and reading.

• Nova Southeastern University – Juris Doctorate
• Florida International University – Bachelor’s in Arts, Magna Cum Laude

• First and Third-Party Coverage and Defense

• Florida

Katie Hinkle was born and raised in South Florida, and graduated from the University of Florida where she received a Bachelor of Arts in English. Following graduation, she attended law school at Nova Southeastern University on a full academic scholarship. Prior to joining the firm, Katie gained valuable civil trial experience assisting homeowners in commercial and residential insurance claims, including bad-faith litigation.

Katie was previously an Assistant State Attorney in Broward County, where she was a prosecutor in the Felony Trial Unit.  While at the State Attorney’s Office, Katie had the opportunity to litigate over thirty jury trials to verdict.

• University of Florida – Bachelor of Arts in English
• Nova Southeastern University – Juris Doctorate

• First Party Property
• Premise Liability

• Florida
• U.S. District Court (S.D. Florida)

Vicki A. Knapp began her career utilizing her political science background by working for a state senator in the West Virginia legislature. She decided to further her interest in law by attending Nova Southeastern University and obtained a Juris Doctor degree in 2008. While in law school, Ms. Knapp interned at the Everglades Law Center, where she found another passion in environmental and land use law. In recent years, Ms. Knapp has taught Business Law courses at Indian River State College. While her current focus is on subrogation recovery, she continues an interest in other areas of the law, such as public policy and estate planning.

• Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center – Juris Doctor
• West Virginia University  – Master of Arts in Political Science

• Insurance Subrogation

• Florida

Kristin Bianculli is an accomplished trial attorney who brings significant experience and unwavering dedication to the table. Her passion for justice has motivated her throughout her education and legal experience. Ms. Bianculli concentrates in complex litigation with an emphasis on products liability, catastrophic personal injury, and wrongful death. She has also handled class action cases and litigates in both State and Federal courts.

A native of New Jersey, Kristin attended the Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, where she graduated first in her class and Summa Cum Laude in 2004, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. She then moved to Fort Lauderdale and attended law school at Nova Southeastern University. While at Nova, Kristin was accepted to the distinguished Moot Court Honor Society, where she competed in national tournaments. She also received a number of book awards and was a dedicated member of Nova Law Review, where she served as Associate Technical Editor and taught the Summer Candidacy Program. She earned her Juris Doctorate degree, Cum Laude, from Nova’s Shephard Broad Law Center in 2008, and was admitted into the Florida Bar that same year. Prior to joining the firm in 2022 as Trial Counsel for plaintiff cases, Kristin was a Partner at one of the country’s top civil trial law firms, where she obtained numerous multimillion dollar settlements and verdicts for her clients.

• Nova Southeastern University – Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude
• Saint Joseph’s University – Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Summa Cum Laude

• Personal Injury
• Wrongful Death
• Products LiabilityPremises Liability
• Trucking and Aviation
• Medical Malpractice
• Professional Malpractice
• Plaintiff’s Subrogation

• Florida
• U.S. District Court (S.D. Fla.)
• U.S. District Court (M.D. Fla.)

• Recognized in Best Lawyers in America® 2011-2021 for work in Personal Injury Litigation and Product Liability Litigation (Plaintiff’s Categories), with additional Best Lawyers honored awards as published in Yahoo Finance:
• “Lawyer of the Year: Products Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs in Fort Lauderdale,” 2021
• “Best Lawyers: Women in the Law – Top Peer Nominated Lawyers” 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
• “Lawyers of the Year in America: Florida” 2017
• Best Lawyers in South Florida as published in The Wall Street Journal 2016-2019, with additional honored awards:
• “Lawyers of the Year in South Florida” 2017
• Lawyers of Distinction “5 Star Award: Civil Litigation,” 2021
• National Trial Lawyers “Top 100 Attorneys in America – Civil Plaintiff,” 2020
• Super Lawyers® “Top Rated Plaintiff Personal Injury Attorney – Florida,” 2019, 2020
• Fort Lauderdale Illustrated “Top Lawyers Award,” 2020
• Lawyer Monthly Magazine’s winner of “Women in the Law Award”, 2019
• Top Verdict™ “Top 20 Truck Accident Jury Verdicts,” 2017 (Federal)
• Florida Justice Association Research and Education Foundation’s “Cy Pres Award,” 2017
• Daily Business Review’s “Professional Excellence Award: Top Attorneys to Watch & Rising Star,” 2016
• Top Attorneys in the Miami Area, as published in The SL, 2015
• Florida Super Lawyers® Rising Star, 2015
• South Florida Business Journal’ “People on the Move” Award, 2014
• Daily Business Review’s award for “Most Effective Lawyers in Personal Injury,” 2013
• Best Lawyers Magazine, “One of the Best Attorneys in Florida – Young Lawyers,” 2012
• AVVO Rating: 10/10 Superb

• American Association for Justice
• Florida Justice Association
• Broward County Bar Association
• Membership Committee Chair 2019
• Broward County Trial Lawyers Association
• Executive Board: Secretary 2021-22, Treasurer 2020-21, Newsletter Editor 2019-20, Case Evaluator 2018
• Co-Chair of Women’s Caucus
• Florida Association of Women Lawyers
• Broward County Women Lawyers’ Association
• American Inns of Court, Stephen R. Booher Chapter
• Florida Bar Association; Trial Lawyers Section
• Dive Bar – The Underwater Bar Association

• Friends of Jack & Jill: Board Member, By-laws Committee Chair, Teacher and Administrative Appreciation Outreach Committee
• Legal Aid Service of Broward County
• Florida Justice Association Research and Education Foundation
• Cypress Run Education Center as part of KAPOW/Learning for Success (Kids and the Power of Work) MFIN (My Future is Now) Program
• POSSE Foundation, volunteer student counselor, writing coach and mentor

James “Jim” Gallagher, a litigation attorney with twenty (20) years of experience representing clients in the trial courts of New York, is a graduate of the St. John’s University School of Law and Villanova University. Jim has represented corporations and private individuals in all phases of the litigation process from pre-suit investigation through trial on low and high exposure casualty, subrogation, and contract matters in the areas of products liability, premises liability, motor vehicle accident liability, fire and water damage liability, construction worker accident liability, aviation liability, architect & engineer liability, indemnity and contribution liability, workers’ compensation liability, and commercial disputes (contracted for goods & services). Jim was part of a team that represented airline and airport operator clients in The September 11th Terrorist Attack Litigation.

Throughout his career, Jim has diligently represented his clients and counseled them, respectively, on all matters of conflict resolution, including, alternative dispute resolution through negotiation, arbitration, and mediation. Jim is a graduate of the ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Group Trial Academy and is also admitted to practice law in the State of North Carolina.

Personally, Jim is married with two children, regularly performs as an acoustic musician at local venues, is a member of F3 – – a fitness, fellowship, and faith-based national men’s group, and is an avid Villanova University Men’s Basketball fan.

• St. John’s University School of Law – Juris Doctorate
• Villanova University – B.A., Political Science

• Subrogation & Recovery

• State of New York
• State of North Carolina
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. District Court, New York (Southern & Eastern Districts)

• Mecklenburg County Bar Association (North Carolina)
• Defense Research Institute (2002 – 2009; 2021 – 2022): Young Lawyer’s Steering Committee Member 2008-2009; Young Lawyer’s Substantive Liaison Law Committe
• Chair 2007-2008; Construction Law Committee Liaison 2005-2006 ; Aerospace Committee Liaison 2004-2005.
• Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (2015, 2021)

• Co-authored Products Liability Case Law Update (Defense Research Institute Products Liability Annual Meeting Materials, 2011).
• Co-authored “Current Observations of the Fair Use Doctrine” (Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel Annual Meeting Materials, 2006).
• Co-authored “Grokster v. MGM: Why Is My Teenager Being Sued?” (Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel Annual Meeting Materials, 2005).
• “Hand and Power Tools: Selected Cases” (DRI Products Liability Annual Meeting Materials, 2004).

Michelle Smith Lambert is a graduate of Florida State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 2008. Michelle obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from Nova Southeastern University in 2011. Prior to joining the firm, Michelle was an attorney at a prominent insurance defense firm wherein she specialized in insurance coverage analysis, determination and defense; first and third-party insurance defense, bad faith, and commercial general liability.

Michelle was previously in-house counsel at a large Florida homeowners insurance carrier wherein she handled the litigation of first and third-party insurance claims and bad faith.

Michelle currently concentrates her practice on first and third-party insurance defense.

In her free time, Michelle enjoys traveling with her husband throughout the United States and abroad.

• Nova Southeastern University – Juris Doctorate
• Florida State University – Bachelor of Arts in English

• First-Party Property Defense
• Third-Party Property Defense

• Florida
• U.S. District Court (S.D. Fla.)

Richard T. Freilich received his juris doctorate from New York Law School. He has more than 20 years of experience representing individuals and small businesses in cases ranging from simple small claim matters to complex product liability, construction liability, and insurance disputes.

Richard has extensive experience with personal injury litigation, commercial litigation, commercial transactions, and commercial leasing. Richard has taken cases from initial investigation through discovery, motions, trial, and appeal. Primarily a plaintiff’s attorney for much of his career, Richard is a strong negotiator, always looking for a strategy to bring about a settlement that is advantageous to his client.

• New York Law School – Juris Doctorate
• New York State University, Buffalo – Dual B.A. English and Philosophy

• Subrogation
• Product Liability
• Construction Liability
• Personal Injury
• Commercial Litigation
• Commercial Transactions
• Commercial Leasing

• New York State
• United States Southern District of New York
• United States Eastern District of New York

Tyler D. Hardy received his juris doctorate from Georgia State University, where he participated in the Refugee/Asylum clinic while also interning for United States Senator Johnny Isakson.  Prior to law school, Tyler worked for the Department of Defense in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Tyler has extensive trial experience and has represented clients through all stages of litigation.  He has been successful at trial obtaining judgments in all five New York City counties.  Through his work, he has gained the respect and confidence of court officials, judges, and his colleagues.

Tyler is an avid sports fan who enjoys soccer, football, snowboarding, and hiking.

• Georgia State University College of Law – Juris Doctorate
• University of Maryland, Heidelberg Germany – Bachelor of Arts

• Subrogation
• Commercial Real Estate
• Residential Real Estate

• New York
• New Jersey

While living in Germany, he was a recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for time spent volunteering with the American Red Cross.

Doug received his Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University School of Law, where he was a member of the Seton Hall Legislative Journal and was named Best Oral Advocate for his section in Appellate Advocacy. Prior to joining DSB&C, Doug worked for the New Hampshire Department of Justice and several law firms. Doug started handling subrogation claims in 2018. After law school, he clerked for the Honorable Patrick DeAlmeida, P.J., in the Tax Court of New Jersey. Prior to law school, Doug had a successful career as a Financial Advisor.

In his spare time Doug is a filmmaker and screenwriter.

• Seton Hall University – Juris Doctorate
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor – Bachelor of Arts

• Subrogation

• New York
• New Jersey
• Washington, D.C.
• New Hampshire