Since 2000, Ryan Blackstone-Gardner has practiced law in state, federal, bankruptcy and tribal courts in the areas of employment, business, intellectual property, and general civil litigation. He has extensive experience in every aspect of these areas of law, including all areas of discovery, mediation, law and motion, trial preparation and the trial of cases, as well as defending matters through binding arbitrations. The primary focus of Mr. Blackstone-Gardner’s current practice is the provision of wide-ranging legal services to employers, including publicly-traded and privately-owned businesses and public entities, defending businesses and helping them navigate against an array of legal claims involving wrongful termination, retaliation, harassment, discrimination, individual and class action wage and hour claims and claims brought under the Private Attorney General Act. He provides interactive counsel and training to clients regarding compliance with wage and hour laws, employee discipline, leaves of absence, and the creation and maintenance of company handbooks and policies to promote workplace cultures free of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. Mr. Blackstone-Gardner also assists employers and businesses in responding to agency charges and investigations, including those conducted by the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, Department of Fair Employment &Housing, Labor Workforce Development Agency, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, Employment Development Department, Franchise Tax Board, Department of Labor, Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, and Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. He also provides guidance to clients to ensure compliance with public contracting, the Brown Act, HIPAA, Stark and anti-kickback statutes. As a registered patent attorney before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Mr. Blackstone-Gardner represents clients in preparing and prosecuting provisional and non-provisional patent and trademark applications and represents clients in trademark infringement and cancellation proceedings. Outside of the law, Mr. Blackstone-Gardner is actively involved with the Immaculata Parish on the University of San Diego Campus and the Notre Dame Club of San Diego and enjoys playing golf and watching college football and basketball with his friends and family.

I am an attorney at Donnelly Minter & Kelly, LLC located in Morristown, NJ. My main area of practice includes civil litigation, with an emphasis on the defense of professional liability claims, employment lawsuits, commercial litigation, coverage matters and general liability claims.

Area of Practice: Oil & Gas Law Christopher K. Blair, a Madonna graduate, earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a specialization in banking, finance and economics from West Liberty University, where he was also a member and team captain of the nationally ranked West Liberty Men's Basketball team. Mr. Blair graduated with honors earning a Juris Doctorate Degree from Duquesne University School of Law, and additionally earned a Master's Degree in Finance from Duquesne University Graduate School of Business. He primarily focuses his practice on oil and gas law, fighting for the rights of oil, gas and mineral owners in the Appalachian region, and elder law/estate planning/estate administration, where he helps his clients formulate and effectuate a plan to protect themselves and their hard-earned assets. Mr. Blair has been a speaker at the WV Farm Bureau annual meeting on multiple occasions and is a member of the West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania State Bars. Admitted to practice in the Northern and Southern District Courts in West Virginia, he is also an accredited attorney with the Veteran's Administration. Mr. Blair resides in Pittsburgh with his wife, Sierra, and their children, Lincoln and Brynlee.

Nicole E. Blais is a Senior Associate Attorney at The Grife Law Firm, where she spearheads the Firm’s Pre-Litigation Department. With an extensive background in personal injury, insurance defense, and civil litigation, Nicole brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role. Throughout her legal career, Nicole has routinely achieved top-level results for her injured clients. Nicole’s work has garnered a $1.6 Million result for two teenagers injured in a car crash, $750,000 for a woman injured in a truck crash, and a plethora of $500,000 recoveries. Nicole earned her Juris Doctor degree from Florida State University College of Law in 2014. During law school, she gained practical experience as a Certified Legal Intern, representing indigent clients through FSU’s Public Interest Law Center. She was also honored with the Book Award in Mediation, recognizing her as the top performer in her class in this area. Nicole’s ongoing commitment to building upon these skills has enabled her to maximize favorable outcomes for her clients in settlement negotiations. Before joining The Grife Law Firm, Nicole worked for a leading personal injury trial law firm, focusing on complex personal injury cases. Her comprehensive experience includes handling motor vehicle accidents, unsafe premises, defective products, and insurance bad faith claims. Nicole’s previous work in insurance defense provided her with valuable insights into how insurance companies evaluate, analyze, and manage cases, which she now leverages to effectively advocate for her clients. Admitted to practice in Florida and the Northern, Middle, and Southern District Courts, Nicole has built a reputation for her meticulous attention to detail, strategic thinking, and unwavering commitment to client advocacy. Her approach is characterized by a comprehensive understanding of legal procedures and a relentless drive to achieve favorable results for her clients. Originally from Canada, Nicole became a U.S. citizen in 2014. She resides in Fort Lauderdale with her newly adopted cat, Mushu. Nicole’s diverse background, including a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, enhances her ability to understand and address the nuanced needs of her clients. Nicole is dedicated to providing top-tier representation to clients affected by accidents, negligence, and personal injuries. Her strategic insights and formidable legal skills are invaluable assets to The Grife Law Firm, reflecting the firm’s commitment to delivering exceptional legal services.

Dave Blake is recognized in both Florida and Michigan as a preeminent personal injury trial attorney concentrating his practice in the areas of personal injury, trucking accidents, premises liability, civil rights, and mass tort litigation. Dave is an aggressive and committed trial attorney who has spent his entire career trying cases to verdict to juries throughout the United States. Dave has personally tried more than 60 jury trials to verdict as a first-chair attorney. Known throughout the legal community for his affable personality, “down to earth” nature, quick wit and near photographic memory, Dave has a unique ability to use his characteristics to truly connect with jurors, witnesses, and judges alike. Dave takes tremendous pride in the matters that he handles and his passion for his clients extends far beyond the realm of the cases he tries in the courtroom – he takes each case personally and ensures that his clients are provided for in every way possible. In addition to maintaining an active caseload, Dave is a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). ABOTA is one of the foremost invitation-only trial organizations in the United States. ABOTA members are selected based on a rigorous criteria of trial skills and ability, ethical considerations and the promotion of the civil justice system. In addition to ABOTA, Dave is a lifetime member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an invitation-only organization limited to trial attorneys who have achieved jury verdicts or settlements exceeding two million dollars. This organization is limited to less than 2.5 % of all civil trial attorneys in the entire United States. Dave has previously been selected as a Superlawyer Rising Star, National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Attorneys and is routinely nominated for recognition by his peers and colleagues as a top attorney in the fields of personal injury and civil rights law in leading business and trade publications. For his work in these fields, Dave has been featured in articles and news broadcasts highlighting his cases in the Huffington Post, Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, and The Flint Journal. Dave is an active member of the American Association of Justice, Florida Justice Association, Michigan Association for Justice and Southern Trial Lawyers Association. He has been a former member of the John J. Scheb American Inns of Court, and the Detroit Metropolitan Inns of Court. Dave is an active member of various federal, state and local bar associations. Dave has a passion for helping the less fortunate and routinely volunteers his time assisting the homeless through Tampa-based community outreach programs.