Natasha was born in Houston, Texas, but has called Florida home since 2008. After graduating from Oglethorpe University, Natasha worked as an I.T. professional in Atlanta, Georgia. Natasha then attended DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, Illinois and graduated with honors. Upon graduation, Natasha moved to South Florida in order to avoid the harsh winters of Chicago. Natasha has spent the majority of her legal career in the world of insurance defense. Prior to joining Vernis & Bowling, Natasha worked in-house for two of the largest automobile insurers in the state.

Since joining Vernis & Bowling, Natasha focuses her practice on defending all forms of personal injury claims, including automobile accidents and premises liability. Additionally, Natasha defends claims on behalf of the Florida Department of Children & Families and the agencies that support them.  Natasha’s work at the firm includes handling matters pre-suit, preparing responses to complaints, preparing and responding to discovery, responding to and preparing motions, attending hearings, depositions, settlement negotiations, mediations and trials.

When Natasha is not busy defending clients, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Van, and her many fur babies, including pigs Daisy, Charlie and Zoe. Natasha also is an avid outdoor enthusiasts who enjoys fishing, hiking and kayaking.

Joseph D. Bootka was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Aquinas College with a Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Political Science with a Minor in Legal Studies. After college, Joseph attended Ave Maria School of Law where he earned his Juris Doctor.

Joseph was admitted to the Florida Bar and immediately joined the Vernis & Bowling Team to focus his civil trial practice in all areas of automobile negligence, premises liability, civil rights litigation, first/third party claims and liability defense.

Joseph is a member of the Florida Bar and is also admitted in the United States Supreme Court, United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

When not working, Joseph enjoys all aspects of outdoor life with his beautiful wife to include camping, hiking, boating, and lounging at the beach.

Jeff Gill was born in Suffern, New York in 1962. He grew up in Waldwick, New Jersey and graduated from Waldwick High School in 1980. He graduated from Haverford College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1984. Following his graduation from college, Jeff coached high school basketball for a year. He then enrolled in the Vanderbilt University School of Law from which he graduated with a Juris Doctorate in 1988. Upon graduation from law school, Jeff began his legal career in the Pensacola office of Carlton, Fields, et al. He founded the firm of Bridgers, Gill & Holman in 1991 and acted as managing partner there until joining Vernis & Bowling in 2002.

Jeff has tried more than 150 civil jury trials. He has tried and won cases in most Florida jurisdictions including Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Washington, Gadsden, Lee, Jefferson, Taylor, Madison, Suwannee, Dixie, Columbia, Alachua, Nassau, Duval, Clay, St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam, Marion, Volusia, Lake, Seminole, Orange, Pasco, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Hillsborough, Palm Beach, Broward, Dade and Collier counties as well as in the Federal Courts of the Northern and Southern Districts of Florida.

Jeff has served as national trial counsel for several large corporations in defense of their Mass Tort Litigation. He has also served as statewide trial counsel in Florida for several fortune five hundred companies. He has obtained defense verdicts for his clients in wrongful death cases in both State and Federal Courts and has prevailed in trials against some of the most high-profile lawyers in Florida including, but not limited to, Fred Levin, Bob Montgomery, Chris Searcy, Mike Papantonio and Joel Wolpe.

Jeff has been the head basketball coach at Pensacola Catholic High School since 2015 and lead the Crusaders to the final four in 2018.

Hailey Jordaan was born in Clearwater, Florida, and grew up in the Tampa Bay area. She graduated Cum Laude from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a minor in Sociology. Hailey then attended Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center where she graduated with her Juris Doctor. Upon graduation, Hailey received the Dean’s Outstanding Pro-Bono Service Award.

During her law school career, Hailey was a part of the LSU Law Immigration Clinic, an Extern at the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, and worked in private practice. In 2016, she had the opportunity to spend the summer studying law in Lyon, France, and visit the International Labour Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. She also served on the Academics Committee and Tailgate Committee while at LSU Law. Hailey was able to study at the University of Florida Levin College of Law for her final year of law school.

Hailey was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2018 and joined Vernis & Bowling as an Associate Attorney defending insurance and tort matters, including Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and general liability. Her outside interest includes cooking, reading, and traveling whenever she can.

Originally from Macon, Georgia, Michael Becker moved to Atlanta in 2007 where he attended Georgia State University for college and law school, earning his Juris Doctorate in 2017. Michael immediately joined the defense bar after obtaining his law license and has defended individuals and businesses in civil litigation ever since. Michael has handled jury and bench trials, argued countless motions, won numerous dispositive motions, and written and won several appeals. He seeks and achieves favorable results for his clients through aggressive tactics, procedural acumen, hard work, and attention to detail.

Michael’s practice includes appellate advocacy, automobile liability, trucking, premises liability, coverage and declaratory judgment actions, products liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist defense, and wrongful death, among other areas. He is admitted to practice before every court in the State of Georgia including all federal and state trial and appellate courts.

Outside the courtroom, Michael spends his time in the great outdoors with his wife and children.