THE FIRM

Collins, Brown, Caldwell, Barkett & Garavaglia, Chartered, had its origins in Burch and Collins, the association of Paul Burch and George G. Collins in 1974. Mr. Burch had been in practice for many years and had been the County Attorney for Indian River County and an Assistant State Attorney for the 19th Judicial Circuit. Mr. Collins followed Mr. Burch as the County Attorney for Indian River County and had a respected real estate and general practice at the time of the formation of the law firm.

Calvin B. Brown joined the law firm and the name was changed to Burch, Collins and Brown in 1975. Mr. Brown brought an expertise in litigation and financial institutions to the Firm. He had been in practice in Indian River County with G. Kendall Sharp, now on the Federal Bench, prior to joining the Firm.

In 1977, William W. Caldwell came to Vero Beach from Fort Lauderdale, where he had been a partner in Gustafson, Caldwell, Stephens & Ferris for 13 years. Mr. Caldwell brought with him an expertise in municipal, corporate, real estate, and business law. The name of the law firm was changed to Collins, Brown & Caldwell, Chartered in 1979. (Paul Burch passed away in 1977.)

The Firm has expanded significantly since 1979, with the addition of other partners providing expertise in various practice areas. Bruce Barkett joined the Firm in 1987, providing his experience in the areas of real estate acquisition and development; land use permitting; planning and zoning matters; litigation and appeals. In 1991, Michael J. Garavaglia joined the Firm. Mr. Garavaglia's practice of law includes areas of personal injury, general civil litigation, and corporate and business matters.  Lisa Thompson joined the firm in 1996 and became a partner/shareholder of the firm in 2002.  Ms. Thompson's practice includes commerical and real estate litigation, corporate and real estate transactions and homeowner and condomininium association law.

The Firm is AV rated, the highest rating available, by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.

LEGAL SERVICES

Collins, Brown, Caldwell, Barkett & Garavaglia, Chartered, continues to grow and offers a broad spectrum of professional services today. The Firm currently consists of seven attorneys and an extensive support staff. Collins, Brown, Caldwell, Barkett & Garavaglia, Chartered, offers expertise, counseling, and professional services in real estate, litigation, trusts & estates, guardianship, corporate, land use, governmental, administrative and business entity law. We represent a diversity of clients, including Wachovia Bank, N.A.; Bank of America, N.A.; Bent Pine Golf Club; Visiting Nurse's Association, National Oil & Gas; Lawyers Title Company; Oslo Citrus Packers Association; Northern Trust Bank; First National Bank & Trust Company of the Treasure Coast; Vista Royale Association, Inc.; local and foreign corporations; partnerships; real estate trusts; real estate developers; general construction companies; real estate brokers; and individuals and smaller enterprises of every kind. Specific areas of practice are listed below.

Real Estate

Real Estate law directly or indirectly affects most business within the State of Florida. Collins, Brown, Caldwell, Barkett & Garavaglia, Chartered, enjoys a prestigious real estate practice. We represent international, national, state, and local concerns, as well as a variety of lending institutions. The scope of ventures with which the Firm is involved ranges from individual residential sales and purchases to large-scale multi-use projects involving complex transactions and major institutions. The Firm handles complex commercial real estate transactions, representing buyers, sellers, lenders, and real estate brokers in different transactions. Firm attorneys are familiar with the legal requirements to close as well as the practical aspects of each party's interests in a transaction. Real estate practice is a mainstay of Collins, Brown, Caldwell, Barkett & Garavaglia, Chartered. We regularly assist clients with the financing, acquisition, development, construction and sale of real property.

Litigation

The Firm maintains an extensive trial and appellate practice. We represent a wide range of clients, large and small. Our goal is to offer vigorous and professional representation. The Firm offers representation in a diversity of areas, including:

Breach of Contract

Commercial and Construction Litigation

Construction and Design Claims

Family Law

Personal Injury

Probate & Trust Litigation

Product Liability

Property Disputes

Real Estate and Related Litigation

Wrongful Death

Our litigation attorneys have experience in courts at trial and appellate levels. Their practice includes trials, negotiations, arbitration, administrative hearings and appeals in the Florida and Federal trial courts, Florida District Courts of Appeal, and the Florida Supreme Court.

Estate Planning, and Probate

Part of the Firm's tax practice focuses upon the application of federal, state and gift tax law to the planning of individual estates. This includes drafting simple and complex wills and trusts, and preparing comprehensive estate plans, including family business planning and charitable trusts and foundations.

The Firm also represents personal representatives of estates and trustees, and offers professional services regarding all facets of the administration and distribution of estates and trusts. We are involved in preparation of federal estate tax returns for estates, as well as representation of clients in will contests, disputes involving the rights of spouses and other family members in estates and trusts, cases involving improper administration of estates, and matters relating to the defense of the estate's position with the Internal Revenue Service.

Corporate and Business Organization

Collins, Brown, Caldwell, Barkett & Garavaglia, Chartered, represents large, small and mid-sized corporations, partnerships, and other business entities. The Firm advises clients with respect to the choice of business entity, the formation of the enterprise, the operation and annual filings, buy-sell agreements, options, shareholders rights and agreements, employment contracts, noncompetition agreements, and sale or termination of the enterprise. These decisions are critical to the client in today's business oriented society, and it is the Firm's commitment to work with the client's partners, accountants and other professionals to provide the best advice available.

Land Use

Collins, Brown, Caldwell, Barkett & Garavaglia, Chartered, attorneys regularly appear before all planning and zoning boards within the area; the Indian River County Commission; the City Councils of Vero Beach and Indian River Shores; Boards of adjustments (variance boards); code enforcement boards; the Indian River County Environment Control Board; and State environmental and land use permitting agencies. We offer services involving the following matters:

Coastal Construction

Control Line Permits

Comprehensive Land Use Plan Amendments

Conditional Uses

Planned Unit Developments

Property Tax Adjustments

Rezoning

Site Plan Approvals

Special Exceptions

Subdivisions & Plats

Submerged Land Leases

Variances

Wetlands

Banking

Collins, Brown, Caldwell, Barkett & Garavaglia, enjoys a long-standing and successful reputation representing banking and lending institutions. The Firm represents several local institutions, both state and federally chartered. Our lawyers are noted for their knowledge and experience regarding legal questions arising from the operations of banks, the decisions of their boards of directors. We regularly provide legal advice to bank trust departments regarding the administration of trusts, the operation of common funds and other investment activities, as well as the interpretation of wills and trusts. Issues involving commercial and installment lending, credit arrangements used by lending institutions, mortgages and loan agreements, and other issues critical to successful operations are regularly referred to the Firm. Our representation of financial institutions extends to matters involving troubled loans and agreement disputes which are a part of every institution's operation.