Our Associates
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Natalie R. Alfonso
Associate
Natalie R. Alfonso
Natalie R. Alfonso is an associate in the firm’s West Palm Beach office. Ms. Alfonso received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Central Florida and Juris Doctor from Florida A&M University College of Law. During law school, Ms. Alfonso was a member of the Florida Association for Woman Lawyers, Federalist Society, and Criminal Law Society. She was also an Associate Judge for her Law School Circuit Court. Ms. Alfonso also completed various externships while in law school where she gained experience in areas such as first party property and family law.
Ms. Alfonso is a member of the Florida Bar Association. She practices in various areas including first and third-party defense, premise liability, commercial liability, automobile negligence and general negligence.
Leandro Carvalho
Associate
Leandro Carvalho
Leandro Carvalho is an attorney in the West Palm Beach office. Formerly a firefighter in Ohio, Mr. Carvalho received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toledo, and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Dayton School of Law. During his time in law school, which he attended via scholarship, Mr. Carvalho was a member of the Health Care Law Society and Criminal Law Alliance. He was also the President of the Hispanic Law Student Association.
Following his graduation from law school in 2005, Mr. Carvalho immediately began concentrating his legal career on civil litigation. Historically, he had represented plaintiffs in their lawsuits against insurers. Now, he uses his knowledge and experience from the Plaintiff’s side to best represent insurers and other defendants on the defense side.
Mr. Carvalho’s areas of practice include tort law, contract law, business law, and insurance law. He has enjoyed being a member of the Florida Bar since 2005 and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Florida. In his free time, Mr. Carvalho enjoys exercising, kayaking, bicycling, and spending time with his family and rescued dogs.
Katherine Herald
Associate
Katherine Herald
Katherine E. Herald is an associate in the West Palm Beach office. Ms. Herald earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with a minor in English from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. Ms. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in Gainesville, Florida.
During her tenure at the University of Florida, Ms. Herald interned for the Honorable Linda Wells at Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal. During law school, Ms. Herald interned for the Honorable Samantha Ruiz-Cohen at the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida; the Administrative Office of the U.S. Court’s Office of General Counsel in Washington, D.C.; and the Honorable Monte C. Richardson of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
After graduation, Ms. Herald clerked for the Honorable Mark C. Klingensmith of Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach, Florida. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Herald gained experience in defense litigation in various civil matters.
Merrilee A. Jobes
Associate
Merrilee A. Jobes
Merrilee A. Jobes is an associate in the firm’s Coral Springs office. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix, and her Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University, graduating with honors. Ms. Jobes is a member of the Florida Bar, admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and is an AV rated lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell. Her professional affiliations include the Broward County Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the American Association of Nurse Attorneys. Ms. Jobes’ areas of litigation practice are varied, and include general negligence, construction defects, premises liability, automobile liability, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and commercial litigation.
Jaime W. Kehoe
Associate
Jaime W. Kehoe
Jaime W. Kehoe is an associate in the firm’s West Palm Beach office. Ms. Kehoe received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida and Juris Doctor from Barry University School of Law. During law school Ms. Kehoe was a member of the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Student Animal Defense Fund and Students for Equality. She also completed a judicial externship working under various civil and criminal judges from the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Courts of Florida in Seminole and Brevard Counties.
Ms. Kehoe is a member of the Florida Bar Association. She practices in various areas including first and third party defense, premises liability, commercial liability, automotive negligence and general negligence.
Her professional affiliations include the Craig S. Barnard American Inn of Court, Florida Association of Women Lawyers, and the Palm Beach County Bar Association.
Kami A. Sidener
Associate
Kami A. Sidener
Kami A. Sidener is an Associate Attorney currently practicing in the firm’s Tampa office. Ms. Sidener received her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Sciences with a minor in Spanish, from Illinois State University and Juris Doctor from The Florida State University College of Law. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Sidener held the position of legal intern within the Felony Division of the McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office in the State of Illinois.
During her time in law school, Ms. Sidener was a member of various organizations including the Student Bar Association, Women’s Law Symposium, Business Law Society, and Criminal Justice Association. Following her first year, she was employed as a legal intern with the Illinois State’s Attorney Appellate Prosecutor’s Office. She was later employed as a law clerk for the Department of Financial Services in the Worker’s Compensation Division. Working within the Office of the General Counsel, she gained invaluable insight into the law governing compliance of employers under Chapter 440 of Florida Statutes. Ms. Sidener began her legal career as an Associate Attorney for a small defense firm in Tampa, where she practiced insurance defense and general civil litigation.
She is currently a member of the Florida Bar Association and is licensed to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. She now practices in various areas including general negligence and personal injury claims, as well as first and third-party insurance defense litigation.
Andres Silva
Associate
Andres Silva
Andres Silva is an Associate Attorney currently practicing in the firm’s Coral Springs office. Mr. Silva received his Bachelor of Arts in Criminology with a minor in English, from Florida State University and Juris Doctor from The University of Baltimore School of Law.
During his time in law school, Mr. Silva was a member of various organizations including the Student Bar Association, Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Organization, Community Development Clinic, and was President of the Latin American Law Students Association. Following his first year, he was employed as a legal intern with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was later employed as a compliance intern for the Athletic Department at Johns Hopkins University. Working within the UFC and Johns Hopkins, he gained invaluable insight into the law governing compliance of student athletes with the NCAA as well as compliance with the governing bodies of several state athletic commissions. Mr. Silva began his legal career as an Associate Attorney for a insurance defense firm in Coral Gables, where he practiced insurance defense and general civil litigation which preceded his time at a small boutique firm in Hollywood handling transactional matters for small to mid-size businesses, including, entity formation, asset protection, tax law, estate planning, immigration law, and real estate transactions.
He is currently a member of the Florida Bar Association and is licensed to practice in the U.S. District Court for both the Middle District of Florida and the Southern District of Florida. He now practices in various areas including construction litigation, premises liability, general negligence and personal injury claims, as well as first and third-party insurance defense litigation.
Claire E. Wubben
Associate
Claire E. Wubben
Claire E. Wubben, Esq., is an associate attorney in the firm’s West Palm Beach office.
Ms. Wubben received her Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude as a University Scholar with concentrations of study in Political Science and English Literature, as well as a minor in French Language, from Baylor University. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.
During her tenure at the University of Florida, Ms. Wubben interned for the Honorable Charlene Edwards Honeywell at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. At UF, she held the position of Executive Articles Editor for the Florida Journal of International Law, and coached the Alternative Dispute Resolution Team’s Negotiation section to the ABA National competition. Ms. Wubben also has experience mediating small claims cases through her work at UF’s Mediation Clinic.
Ms. Wubben is a member of the Florida Bar and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida. She now practices in general negligence and personal injury claims, as well as first and third-party insurance defense litigation.
Michael A. Zgoda
Associate
Michael A. Zgoda
Michael A. Zgoda is an Insurance Defense Attorney at Roberts, Reynolds, Bedard & Tuzzio, PLLC, representing clients in a wide range of complex civil matters.
Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Michael earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Queens University of Charlotte, where he was a collegiate sprinter and captain of the track and field team. He went on to earn both his Juris Doctor, cum laude, and M.B.A. from Stetson University, where he was inducted into the Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honors Society.
Michael is currently licensed to practice in both Florida and North Carolina. His practice spans wrongful death, products liability, employment litigation, and general personal injury defense. He is known for his strong courtroom advocacy and a relentless focus on case preparation.
Outside of the office, Michael volunteers with Florida Youth Court, where he works with young people to build civic understanding and leadership skills. Beyond law, Michael lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with his two Boston Terriers, Foster and Falco, and can usually be found cheering on his Kentucky Wildcats.
Steffi B. Baer
Associate
Steffi B. Baer
Steffi B. Baer is a litigation attorney in the West Palm Beach office of Roberts, Reynolds, Bedard & Tuzzio, PLLC, where she represents municipalities, counties, school boards, community development districts, and other public entities in complex civil litigation and administrative matters throughout Florida.
Her practice centers on government defense, labor and employment disputes, and other high-stakes matters affecting public entities. Ms. Baer handles claims arising under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Florida Civil Rights Act, and 42 U.S.C. § 1983, as well as disputes involving constitutional and statutory interpretation, land use and development issues, ADA compliance, wrongful death, tort liability, and matters implicating public infrastructure and related regulatory frameworks.
She is involved in all phases of litigation, including early case assessment, dispositive motion practice, discovery strategy, verified position statements, and the development of comprehensive legal analyses. Ms. Baer also advises public clients in administrative and enforcement matters, particularly where legal issues intersect with operational, policy, and political considerations.
Prior to entering private practice, Ms. Baer served as a Judicial Intern to the Honorable George B. Daniels of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. A proud Triple Gator, Ms. Baer earned her undergraduate, graduate, and law degrees from the University of Florida.
During law school, she was awarded the Helen Gibel Blechman Memorial Community Service Award, presented to the top graduating student for outstanding pro bono contributions, as well as the Past, Present & Future Excellence Award. She served as President of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Team, Treasurer of the Tax Moot Court Team, and a Research Assistant focused on mediation and dispute resolution, and was selected as a Pupil in both the First District Appellate American Inn of Court and the Gerald T. Bennett American Inn of Court.
Ms. Baer is admitted to practice in all Florida state courts, as well as the United States District Courts for the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Florida. She is a member of The Florida Bar’s City, County & Local Government Law Section, Labor and Employment Law Section, and Trial Lawyers Section, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Lawyers Association of Palm Beach County. She is also an active member of the Junior League of the Palm Beaches.
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