Mike is an attorney at Vernis & Bowling of North Florida, P.A., in Jacksonville, Florida. He represents insureds, self- insureds, individuals, national corporations, domestic and public companies, and non-profit organizations in complex insurance and business litigation matters at both the state and federal levels. Mike maintains a concentrated practice in pre-trial litigation, including client interviews, drafting complex motions and pleadings, developing litigation strategies, and conducting
and defending depositions. While he has second chaired jury trials in state and federal court, Mike understands the practical and economic factors associated with litigation and regularly obtains settlements that serve his client’s interests at mediation.

Mike grew up in Johnstown, Pennsylvania where his family owned and operated a dairy business. The non-negotiable core values of honesty, accountability, and ethics were instilled in him at an early age and operate as the foundation for maintaining the reputations of he and his clients with courts, adversaries, and peers.

Prior to joining Vernis & Bowling, Mike worked for one of the nation’s premier trial law firms, where he honed his litigation experience by handling all stages of high stakes civil litigation from investigations to discovery and throughout trial. Clients and colleagues alike have remarked on his aptitude for diagnosing problems, identifying innovative solutions, and making those solutions a reality. With a work ethic that is unmatched, Mike is adept at managing deadlines, multi-tasking, and coordinating litigation strategies in a fast-paced environment. He enjoys condensing otherwise-complex issues for the fact-finder through the effective and impactful presentation of information. And in every case, he is committed to efficiently and economically meeting his client’s objectives.

Mike met his Wife, Melinda, in law school and attributes much of his professional success to her creativity and counsel over the years. Together, they are devoted to the community and cherish every day with their two young daughters playing golf, riding bikes, and taking family trips to the beaches along the First Coast.

Thomas W. Paradise was born in Houghton, Michigan and raised in Boca Raton, Florida. He graduated in 1988 from Tulane University, A.B. Freeman School of Business with a B.A. Degree in Management, Accounting Major. While at Tulane, Tom was awarded for academic achievement and was the Vice-President of the Beta Alpha Psi Honorary Fraternity. He then attended Stetson University College of Law and received his Juris Doctorate in 1991.

Tom Paradise is an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, which is an award that identifies attorneys with the highest legal ability and signifies expertise, experience, integrity and overall professional excellence. He is also listed in the Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers, A.M. Best’s Recommended Insurance Attorneys and named in “South Florida’s Top Rated Lawyers”. Tom specializes in civil litigation with an emphasis in the areas of personal injury, premises liability, automobile accidents, negligent security and supervision, commercial trucking accidents, governmental tort liability, product liability and insurance subrogation. His practice includes formulating polices/procedures and managing risk concerns for major corporations and governmental entities. He also defends insurance companies in first party property claims which covers a wide array of issues such as breach of contract, appraisals, declaratory actions, fraud, arson and bad faith. Tom has been a speaker at numerous conferences and has presented legal/educational seminars for insurance companies, third party administrators and self-insureds throughout the United States.

He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1991, and practices before all Florida State Courts, including the Third and Fourth District Court of Appeals. Tom also has an active Federal Court practice and is admitted in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Tom began his practice with a prominent Miami civil defense firm where he worked in the areas of insurance defense, personal injury, commercial litigation, and in complex litigation involving shoddy home construction and Hurricane Andrew. His practice at that time included several class actions involving catastrophic property damage and significant insurance subrogation. Tom joined Vernis & Bowling as a Managing Attorney in October 2002.

Tom has participated in the Broward Community Development Corporation and the Dade County Bar Association Put Something Back Program. He is a current or past member of the Broward County Bar Association, Miami-Dade County Bar Association, American Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, Counsel for Litigation Management and the South Florida Claims Association where he served as President in 2012.

Florida Bar Certified in City, County and Local Government Law

Dirk M. Smits was born in Boca Raton, Florida. He attended and graduated from Tulane University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. During his years at Tulane, he was a member of Beta Alpha Psi Accounting Honor Society and on the Dean’s List three (3) semesters. Mr. Smits attended law school at the University of Miami and graduated Cum Laude. While in law school, he received honors including Dean’s List and an honors scholarship.

Mr. Smits’ practice is concentrated primarily in City, County and Local Government Law and he has been certified as an expert by the Florida Bar for those areas. He serves as a Monroe County School Board Attorney, City Attorney for the City of Layton, Board Attorney for the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District, and Board Attorney for Key Largo Fire & EMS District. Mr. Smits formerly served as City Attorney for the City of Marathon and as a special counsel for Monroe County.

In service of the numerous government clients, Mr. Smits has handled every aspect of the practice. Matters include a range of routine meeting issues to complicated land use, acquisition and even eminent domain questions. Mr. Smits regularly drafts legal documents, resolutions, ordinances, contracts and legal opinions for his government clients.

Additionally, Mr. Smits has extensive jury trial experience at both the Federal and State level. In addition, Mr. Smits has appellate experience in the Third, Fourth and Fifth State District Courts of Appeal, as well as the Supreme Court of Florida.

Mr. Smits serves on the board of Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys as Vice President. Dirk is also a lector, Eucharistic minister and member of his parish’s finance counsel. He founded Friends of San Pedro Catholic Church which is an endowment to provide for the capital needs of the church.

Robert C. Bowling was born in Hollywood, Florida. He graduated from Stetson University in 1987 with a B.B.A. (emphasis in Finance). Robert obtained his J.D. from the University of Miami where he graduated cum laude in 1990. While in law school, Robert’s academic memberships and honors included the Phi Delta Phi Honorary Legal Society and Dean’s List (1987 -1990). While at Stetson University, Robert’s membership and honors included Honor Roll; Dean’s List; member of Publications Board; member of Student Union Board; and member of Inter-Fraternity Counsel. Robert is a member of the Florida Bar and the State Bar of Georgia, His professional memberships include: The American Bar Association (member, Sections on Litigation, on Corporate, Banking and Business Law and on Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law; member, Committees on Class Actions and Derivative Suits, on Business Torts Litigation, and on Commercial and Banking Litigation) and the Dade County Bar Association. Robert is a former member of Stetson University’s School of Business Administration Board of Advisors (2002-2005).

Robert’s areas of practice include commercial and corporate litigation; commercial ground transportation litigation; employment law; and commercial general liability litigation. Robert’s published opinions include the representation of a national insurance company in defense of a class action alleging violations of 627.736; representation at trial and appellate levels in a case of first impression to Florida Supreme Court, Y.H. Investments v. Godales, 690 So.2d 1273 (Fla.1997), in which the Supreme Court permitted consideration of the negligence of a non-party parent or guardian in determining the cause of a minor’s injury in a negligence action against a third party tortfeasor; representation of a corporate minority shareholder on the appeal of an interlocutory order to the Supreme Court of Georgia on an issue of first impression, S.C.I. v. H.M. Patterson & Son, Inc., 434 S.E.2nd 455 (Ga.1993); representation of a corporate minority shareholder in shareholder’s derivative action; representation of a corporation and its shareholder in an action against former employees alleging tortious, unlawful and unfair competition, tortious interference with contractual and business relationships, usurpation of corporate opportunities, and breaches of duties of loyalty and care; representation in actions alleging breaches of a franchise agreement; representation in cases involving the Criminal Practices Act and of the Deceptive and Unfair Practices Act; representation in debt collection suits; and representation in general commercial litigation involving the sale of goods and services. Robert has been awarded several professional distinctions such as being selected as one of South Florida’s Top Lawyers by the South Florida Legal Guide and being named a Power Leader in Law by the South Florida Business Journal.

Robert enjoys spending time outdoors—especially in the Rocky Mountains—as well as exploring oenology, geology, astronomy, Christian existential philosophy, and all natural sciences. Robert has also been a lifelong fan of the Miami Dolphins, Heat, and Hurricanes. He loves to be involved in his community and currently serves as a Trustee for the First United Methodist Church of Fort Lauderdale and the Director of Charitable Giving for Vernis & Bowling.