Attorneys

Bradley S. Bell
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Brad Bell is the founder of BLG and a long-time resident of Tampa, FL. He graduated high school from Berkeley Prep and received a double major in Economics and International Affairs from Florida State University. After college, Mr. Bell worked in the family business before attending South Texas College of Law where he excelled academically.

Mr. Bell began his legal career in 1999 as a staff attorney for the Second District Court of Appeal in Lakeland, Florida. After several years with the appellate court, Mr. Bell worked with several AV rated commercial litigation and insurance defense firms as both an associate and a partner before starting BLG in 2013. Mr. Bell has been involved in numerous jury and non-jury trials over the years in both the state and federal courts.

One hundred percent of Mr. Bell’s practice is focused on litigation. He prides himself on building strong relationships with his clients by keeping them informed and involved through all aspects of their case. This relationship encourages the client to ask questions and be heard throughout the litigation process. As a result, most of Mr. Bell’s clients return as future clients for years to come. Most of Mr. Bell’s clients (be they national or international corporations, insurance companies, local businesses or individuals) have been dedicated clients of Mr. Bell’s for years.

Practice Areas

  • Appellate Law
  • Arbitration
  • Complex Litigation
  • Construction Litigation
  • Corporate Litigation
  • Insurance Defense
  • Insurance Coverage Opinions
  • Securities Litigation

email  Contact Brad
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Education

Florida State University, B.S., Economics and International Affairs, 1994

South Texas College of Law, J.D., 1999

Admissions

Florida Bar

U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit

Hillsborough County Bar Association

American Bar Association

Federal Bar Association

Business Law Section, American Bar Association

Construction Law Section, Hillsborough Bar Association

Trial and Litigation Section, Hillsborough Bar Association

Related Professional Experience

Law Clerk, Second District Court of Appeals, Florida


Melissa K. Griffeth
Senior Associate





Melissa K. Griffeth was born and raised in the Midwest. Ms. Griffeth obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, IL.  Ms. Griffeth obtained her Juris Doctorate in 2003 from the St. Louis University School of Law. That same year, Ms. Griffeth was admitted to the Missouri Bar.  The following year, 2004, Ms. Griffeth was admitted to the Illinois Bar.

Ms. Griffeth began her legal career working for several highly rated criminal defense firms.  Over the next 20 years, she expanded her practice to include criminal defense, family law and personal injury. Ms. Griffeth and her family later relocated to Florida, and she was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2023.

Ms. Griffeth joined Bell Law Group in 2023.  Her diverse practice area, decades of litigation experience, and her representation of both plaintiffs and defendants, brings a unique perspective to her analysis of your case.

Ms. Griffeth has maintained her law licenses in all three states and is licensed to practice in the state courts in Missouri, Illinois, and Florida.  Melissa is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri and the Middle District of Florida.

 

Education

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, B.A. Political Science, 2001

St. Louis University School of Law, J.D. 2003

Admissions

Florida Bar

Missouri Bar

Illinois Bar

U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri

Illinois State Bar Association

American Bar Association

 


 

Andrew Schertzer
Associate





Andrew Schertzer is from Michigan where he graduated from Grand Valley State University. There, he received a Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Journalism with a minor in Spanish. After graduation, Mr. Schertzer moved to Florida for law school. Mr. Schertzer graduated from Ave Maria School of Law in Naples, FL where he was awarded his Juris Doctorate.

While in law school, Mr. Schertzer was involved in numerous moot court and mock trial activities, and dedicated much of his time to defending domestic violence victims for the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence.

After graduating, Mr. Schertzer worked as an Assistant State Attorney managing approximately 180 active cases. During that time, Mr. Schertzer conducted 7 trials, resulting in 4 convictions. After gaining valuable trial experience, Mr. Schertzer left the State Attorney’s Office to join the Bell Law Group in 2023.

Currently, Mr. Schertzer is specializing in insurance defense and commercial litigation. He works directly with the firm’s lead partners in preparing the cases for trial or arbitration.  Mr. Schertzer fights for his clients with tenacity and enthusiasm.

 

Education

Grand Valley State University, BS

Ave Maria School of Law, JD

Admissions

Florida Bar

Young Lawyers Division

 


 

J. Bowen Brown
Partner





Bowen Brown is a Florida native and long-time resident of the Tampa Bay area. He attended the prestigious School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in the nation’s capital and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service and a dual minor in Soviet Studies and African Studies. Mr. Brown received his Juris Doctorate in 1991 from University of Florida and obtained his law license that same year.

Mr. Brown began his career working for several AV rated insurance defense firms before joining one of the pioneering aging services defense firms in the state. He later left that firm to start his own firm defending assisted living facilities and nursing homes leading the Tampa office, but operating across the state. Due to client demand Mr. Brown took the Arizona bar in 2013 and passed in order to handle special cases for one of his clients in Arizona. Mr. Brown has tried and arbitrated many cases including taking multiple nursing home cases to verdict and award. Most recently Mr. Brown broadened his experience working for a multinational insurance company on medical and dental malpractice cases as well as premises liability, assisted living and aging services cases. Mr. Brown joined BLG in 2020.

Mr. Brown believes that interaction with the client pays dividends in the litigation resulting in successful resolutions and satisfied clients. He goes out of his way to offer tailored strategies for each lawsuit in order to accomplish the client’s ultimate goals. His goal is to ensure that the client is engaged in the development of ongoing litigation, as well as offering advice and education regarding what can be done to reduce future litigation.

Education

Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, BS

University of Florida College of Law, JD, 1991

Admissions

Florida Bar

Arizona Bar (expired 2016)

US District Court Middle District of Florida

US District Court Southern District of Florida

Hillsborough County Bar Association


Philip A. Beach
Partner





Philip A. Beach joined BLG in 2014. Admitted to the Maryland Bar in 2000 and to the Florida Bar in 2004, he has been principally engaged in commercial and construction litigation.

Phil’s areas of concentration include all aspects of business and complex civil litigation, construction defect litigation, contract disputes, collections, and insurance defense.

Mr. Beach received his undergraduate degree from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia in 1992 and his juris doctorate from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 1999. While in law school, Mr. Beach served for two years as a judicial law clerk to Alfred L. Brennan, Sr., and Kathleen Gallogly Cox, Associate Judges, Third Judicial Circuit, Baltimore County, Maryland. His experience participating in jury and bench trials led to a desire to practice law as a civil litigator.

He is a member of the Sarasota County Bar Association and the Hillsborough County Bar Association. He is also a member of the Trial Lawyers Section of the Florida Bar.

Practice Areas

  • Business Litigation
  • Complex Litigation
  • Construction Litigation
  • Insurance Defense

email  Contact Phil
Download VCF

Education

James Madison University, B.S. Political Science, 1992

University of Baltimore School of Law, J.D., 1999

Admissions

Florida Bar

U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

Hillsborough County Bar Association

American Bar Association

Maryland Bar Association

Related Professional Experience

Law Clerk, Third Judicial Circuit, Baltimore County, Maryland