Matt MargolisManaging Partner
Matt is a seasoned attorney and Partner at Margolis PLLC. Based in South Florida, Matt is more than just an attorney; he is a strategic partner to his clients. Matt goes beyond traditional legal roles, actively engaging with startups and small-to-medium businesses as a part of their legal team.
Prior to founding Margolis PLLC, Matt served as the Head of Legal & Community at a legal technology start-up, and Director of Legal & Risk Management at a Florida based private equity firm. In both roles, Matt provided practical legal advice on contract interpretation, privacy, IP, employment, risk management, and a host of other legal matters. His responsibilities included preparing and negotiating commercial agreements, mitigating potential legal issues, and acting as a liaison between the company and external entities.
He is licensed to practice law in Florida.
Karina Skeie MargolisPartner & Head of Operations
Karina Margolis is the legal powerhouse at Margolis PLLC, where she specializes in guiding startups through the intricacies of commercial contracts and corporate law, with a keen eye on the construction industry. Her approach is both personable and insightful, making her a strategic partner to founders and company lawyers alike.
Karina's collaborative approach makes her more than just an attorney; she's a trusted ally who stands shoulder to shoulder with startup founders and in-house counsel, ensuring their legal needs are met with the utmost care and precision.
She is licensed to practice law in Florida.
Jen HealyPartner
Jen has been practicing law for 18 years, most of which has been spent in house building legal departments at growing tech companies. Jen has built her career on closing deals and providing practical counsel in legal grey areas to enable start ups to ship code and move initiatives forward. Jen's current practice focuses on commercial contracts and fractional GC services.
She is licensed to practice law in New York.
Miguel AristizabalPartner
LITIGATION
Miguel represents clients in a wide range of complex commercial, products liability, consumer, real estate, insurance, business, and other civil matters before state and federal trial and appellate courts throughout the United States. He has litigated matters involving contract disputes, consumer claims, fraud, fiduciary relationships, insurance coverage, business torts, real estate issues, personal injury, and false advertising. With his clients' needs in mind, Miguel uses creative approaches to advance the business and legal goals of the people and companies he represents.
Miguel previously practiced at Clayton Trial Lawyers, PLLC and the largest U.S. law firm, Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
NOTABLE MATTERS
- Part of the trial team that secured a $15.4 million jury verdict for RCBA Nutraceuticals, the supplement company owned by 8-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman, recognized as the 17th largest jury verdict in Florida for 2024. Following a five-week jury trial in Seminole County, the jury found for RCBA against Western Packaging, Inc. and Polyfirst Packaging, Inc. (acquired by ProAmpac) on claims of fraud and deceptive trade practices, along with breach of contract, after evidence established that Western misrepresented its manufacturing capabilities and outsourced production of RCBA's protein pouches to a company that lacked the expertise to produce them.
- Successfully domesticated a Greek judgment in Florida state court and prevailed on appeal.
- Obtained a $369,000 judgment for breach of contract against a seller of KN95 masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Obtained a judgment in favor of a UK-based Formula 1 car parts supplier against a Florida entity.
- Represented an NYSE-listed insurance company in hundreds of lawsuits spanning multiple lines of coverage.
Languages: Spanish, Native
Hunter SutherlandAssociate
Hunter is an Associate Attorney at Margolis PLLC and has shaped his legal career to be embedded with teams across the semiconductor, clinical research, and advanced manufacturing industries. He advises on commercial and government contracting, providing practical, business-minded guidance that helps executives, operations teams, and engineering groups navigate complex challenges. He is especially drawn to legal issues at the intersection of law, science, and innovation.
Hunter has supported early-stage ventures and is a published writer in the field of space law, with a focus on in-situ resource utilization. He enjoys working with engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs to help bold ideas take shape within sound legal frameworks.
He is licensed to practice law in New York.
Alex CastroOf Counsel
Alex is a dedicated labor and employment attorney, guiding management, in-house counsel, and HR on all employee issues, including terminations, compensation, leaves, contracts, and policy maintenance. He works to minimize employee-related distractions so that organizations can focus on their missions. To do so, Alex offers real-world risk assessments and practical advice that understands the people-sensitivities behind employment law issues.
He is licensed to practice in Florida.
Brittany E. CobbOf Counsel
Brittany advises clients on corporate and corporate tax planning matters, drawing on her LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and experience with a national tax and business consultancy. Her practice focuses on helping businesses navigate complex tax and transactional issues with practical, business-oriented guidance.
Brittany has represented clients in mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, and corporate governance matters at leading law firms. She is admitted to practice in Florida and the District of Columbia and is actively involved in the Tax Section and Diversity and Inclusion Section of The Florida Bar. While earning her J.D. at Florida State University College of Law, she served as a Legislative Intern for the Florida House of Representatives Appropriations Committee.
She is licensed to practice law in Florida.
Blake BernardOf Counsel
Blake is the managing partner of Strata IP & Business Law and a contract counsel with the firm. He is a registered patent attorney with over a decade of experience in all areas of intellectual property, including patent, trademark, and copyright acquisition, enforcement, licensing, and M&A consulting. He has a mechanical engineering degree from Georgia Tech and a law degree from the University of Alabama. Blake has extensive experience helping all types of companies, from startups to large corporations, develop, build, and protect global intellectual property portfolios. Blake also has experience as the chief operating officer and general counsel for an innovative start-up company, and can help negotiate complex commercial contracts.
He is licensed to practice law in Tennessee and before the USPTO.
Brandon SapalaOf Counsel
Brandon Sapala is the managing partner of Sapala, LLP and Of Counsel at the Firm. Brandon is a real estate and corporate attorney who serves as a trusted legal partner to lenders, investors, and businesses nationwide. He represents financial institutions, alternative lenders, borrowers, and investors in a full spectrum of commercial transactions, with a particular focus on debt finance. Throughout his career, Brandon has successfully closed over $4 billion in transaction volume.
Drawing on his experience at international law firms and as in-house counsel for a private commercial lender, he offers a unique perspective that blends big-law polish with practical business insight. His approach helps clients manage risk, close deals with confidence, and position their businesses for long-term success.
Brandon received his J.D. from Florida State University College of Law and his B.S. from the University of Alabama.
Dara Felix LopezLegal Operations
Dara is part of the Legal Operations team at Margolis PLLC, where she focuses on improving workflow efficiency, client coordination, and internal processes. She plays an essential role in ensuring accuracy and smooth communication across departments. Passionate about organization and teamwork, Dara is dedicated to delivering high-quality support that helps both attorneys and clients succeed.
Dara is not licensed to practice law.
Get in Touch
Thank you for considering Margolis PLLC for your legal needs. Our team is here to assist you. Please feel free to reach out to us using the contact link below.
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