RTRLAW

Bios

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  Nicholas R. Thompson, Esq.

  Principal | Shareholder | Managing Partner Personal Injury

  Nicholas R. Thompson, Esq. serves as both Principal and Managing Partner of RTRLAW, and is licensed and a member of the Florida, Texas and Michigan bar associations. While maintaining a full caseload, Mr. Thompson has been the chief component in the growth of the firm in recent years, developing all six of our Florida locations (Ft. Lauderdale, Lake Worth, Orlando, Tampa, Miami and Jacksonville) and two Texas locations (Dallas and Garland) into highly successful offices, staffed with experienced attorneys and paralegals with fully bilingual support staff. He also has taken the lead in equipping all eight locations with the latest technology, so that all offices act as one. Mr. Thompson received his undergraduate degree from Florida State University, and attended Nova Southeastern University Law School, where he received his Juris Doctorate Degree and was admitted to The Florida Bar in 2005. Mr. Thompson is originally from a small town near Rochester, N.Y. Being born and raised in a small farming town, he epitomizes determination, tenacity and has a keen sense of community. This gives him a rare sense of compassion needed in representing accident victims. It also gives him the ability to sustain the rigors and determination needed for great success in fighting large insurance companies. In addition, it has elevated his status as an experienced personal injury lawyer well beyond his years, and has led to much of the success of RTRLAW. Mr. Thompson is a member of The Florida Bar, The Texas Bar, The Michigan Bar Association, the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, The American Bar Association, as well as many other community and legal associations.

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  Link: Nicholas R. Thompson, Esq.

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  Lance C. Rudzinski, Esq.

  Shareholder | Managing Partner Personal Injury Litigation

  Lance C. Rudzinski, Esq. is a Partner/Shareholder of RTRLAW, and the Managing Partner of the Personal Injury Litigation Department. He is admitted to both the Florida Bar and the State Bar of Texas. Prior to joining RTRLAW, Mr. Rudzinski practiced with one of the top-10 litigation firms in the state of Florida, engaging in all aspects of litigation as a trial attorney on hundreds of cases, including automobile negligence, premises liability, negligent security, pedicure infection, medical malpractice, wrongful death and product liability cases. At the helm of RTRLAW’s litigation department and with his breadth of experience, Mr. Rudzinski is engaged in all aspects of court cases throughout Florida, which has become more demanding, difficult and ever-evolving due to the changes from politicians chipping away at victims’ rights, and due to the fierce battle each and every insurance company presents in the litigation arena. When they say, “Your case is only as good as your lawyer,” you will know having Mr. Rudzinski on your side means you will have the best representation possible. With Mr. Rudzinski’s leadership, the firm continues to position itself to become a dominant force in pursuing any type of case with vigor, and to represent its clients to the fullest extent of the law with success. Mr. Rudzinski received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Justice Studies with a Spanish minor from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. While at Kent State University, Mr. Rudzinski was a four-year student-athlete as a member of the Kent State University football team. Mr. Rudzinski earned various academic and athletic awards throughout his career at Kent State University. He also completed a summer study abroad program in Guadalajara, Mexico. Mr. Rudzinski earned his Juris Doctorate from the Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern University. During law school, Mr. Rudzinski received the highest score in the preparatory trial course, “Trial Advocacy.” In addition, Mr. Rudzinski was also an active member of ATLA (American Trial Lawyers Association), where he competed in the Honorable E. Earle Zehmer Memorial Mock Trial Competition. He was also a dedicated member of Nova Law Review, serving as a Junior Staff Member and later as an Associate Editor. Attorney Rudzinski litigates wrongful death cases, accidents causing serious and catastrophic injuries from auto, motorcycle and trucking accidents, accidents resulting in brain damage, fractures and surgery, construction and electrocution accidents, medical malpractice, pedicure infections causing loss of limb or death, premises liability and negligent security cases involving serious injuries, as well as product liability cases. He is a top-rated lawyer, selected as a Rising Star by the Super Lawyers Committee at Thomson Reuters for three years in a row. Only 2.5% of all attorneys in the state of Florida are selected annually as Rising Stars by the committee at Thomson Reuters. In addition to Super Lawyers, Mr. Rudzinski was also selected to be a member, in 2023, of The National Association of Distinguished Counsel which is an organization dedicated to promoting the highest standards of legal excellence. By virtue of the incredible selectivity of their vetting process, less than 1% of practicing attorneys in the U.S. are members of the “Nation’s Top Attorneys”; the award given by NADC.

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  Link: Lance C. Rudzinski, Esq.

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  Matthew A. Rabin, Esq.

  Partner | Managing Attorney Personal Injury Litigation

  His extensive experience as a trial attorney representing insurance companies defending personal injury cases, including product liability, property damage, condominium disputes, employment claims, American with Disability Act Claims, and Fair Debt Collection Practices, gives Mr. Rabin a unique insight into the defense tactics of insurance companies and their defense attorneys. This makes Matt an extremely important component of our firm’s mission and continued success in the ability to uniquely strategize cases from inception through litigation, whether the case is settled out of court or ultimately results in a trial by jury. Mr. Rabin achieved his undergraduate degree from Florida State University, earning a double major in Political Science and History, graduating cum laude in the top 15% of his class. Mr. Rabin received his Juris Doctorate degree from Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad College of Law, where he also graduated cum laude, at the top of his class. Mr. Rabin is licensed to practice law in all Florida State courts, the South District of Florida (Federal Court), Middle District of Florida (Federal Court) and the 11TH Circuit Court of Appeals (Federal Court). He is also licensed to practice law in Texas. Mr. Rabin is AV-Preeminent-rated by Martindale Hubbell, the highest peer rating standard, and was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in Florida in 2010. He was born in Elmwood Park, N.J., and has lived in Florida since 1992, where he attended Cooper City High School. He currently resides in the Orlando area. In his leisure, Mr. Rabin enjoys playing tennis, kayaking, and spending time with family and friends. Awards AV Preeminent rating by Martindale Hubbell Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, 2010 by Thomson Reuters

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  Shaun M. Serelson, Esq.

  Partner | Managing Attorney Personal Injury Pre-Litigation

  Shaun M. Serelson, Esq. is a Partner at RTRLAW. and the Managing Attorney and an integral part of the Personal Injury and Pre-Litigation divisions, representing victims of accidents throughout the state of Florida, including automobile accidents, premises liability claims, and food poisoning cases. Since he joined the firm in 2011, Mr. Serelson has zealously represented our clients’ interests from the moment he is called upon to do so until they are fully compensated for their injuries. With a team approach and with the support of our diverse practice and experience, Mr. Serelson has gained a unique perspective in the personal injury world with exposure to thousands of cases, handling them from the date of an accident all the way through litigation, mediation and trial. Beginning his career at RTRLAW while attending law school, Mr. Serelson worked closely with Partners Eliot P. Reifkind, Esq., Nicholas R. Thompson, Esq. and Lance C. Rudzinski, Esq. in both the Pre-Litigation and Litigation divisions and quickly became highly trained and ready to practice law. Upon graduating and becoming a member of The Florida Bar, Mr. Serelson immediately joined the law firm as an Associate Attorney. As a dedicated and intensely loyal member of the RTRLAW family, and through his passion and determination in fighting for his clients, he has become an integral part of the success of the firm. Mr. Serelson is admitted to practice in Florida and Texas as members of both The Florida Bar and The State Bar of Texas. Mr. Serelson spearheaded the firm’s expansion into Palm Beach County by opening and managing our Lake Worth office before returning to Ft. Lauderdale. Mr. Serelson earned his Juris Doctorate in May 2013 from St. Thomas University School of Law, graduating cum laude in the top 10% of his class. While in law school, Mr. Serelson made the Dean’s List five out of six semesters and earned Cali Book Awards for Excellence in two classes, “Professional Responsibility” and “Food and Drug Law,” giving him a unique edge in dealing with food poisoning and prescription drug cases, as well as a distinct understanding of the ethics guidelines. He was recognized in 2018 by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys as 10 Best in Client Satisfaction. Mr. Serelson hails from Columbus, Ohio, giving the firm another injection of Midwestern values, demeanor and personality. He is an undergraduate of Florida Atlantic University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History and was an active member of Phi Alpha Theta, an academic honor society. He received his Juris Doctor from the St. Thomas University School of Law in 2013, where he graduated cum laude. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, attending sporting events, playing with his dogs and spending time with his family and friends. Associations Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society Active member of the Davie/Cooper City Chamber of Commerce Education 2013, Juris Doctor, St. Thomas University School of Law, cum laude

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  Link: Shaun M. Serelson, Esq.

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  Gregory J. Blackburn, Esq.

  Partner | Managing Attorney Personal Injury Protection Litigation

  Gregory Blackburn, Esq. is a Partner and Managing Attorney of the Personal Injury Protection Litigation Division at RTRLAW. He practices Plaintiff Personal Injury Protection (PIP) law, handling all aspects of PIP auto insurance coverage, filing lawsuits against insurance companies to collect medical bills on behalf of providers who were either not paid or underpaid the amount billed. Prior to joining RTRLAW, Mr. Blackburn was a partner with a major PIP firm. He also has worked as in-house counsel for insurance companies, giving him a unique understanding of the competition he faces as a Plaintiff’s attorney. He has successfully litigated thousands of cases for both Plaintiff and Defense. Mr. Blackburn has been at the forefront of developing law and new arguments in the PIP industry for many years. Mr. Blackburn earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with double majors in Political Science and Philosophy, plus a minor in History. He received his law degree from St. Thomas University in South Florida. At St. Thomas, Mr. Blackburn received an award for the Best in Class for Trial Advocacy Practice and Interviewing, Counseling and Negotiation. He also was a member of the Law Review and student government. Mr. Blackburn proudly took his first job at age 11 and values hard work and integrity as the utmost importance. Although he grew up in the Midwest, after relocating to South Florida for law school, he found himself much happier in the Sunshine State and built his life here. He is happily married and he and his wife enjoy volunteering in the community, outdoor activities, and adventure travel.

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  Link: Gregory J. Blackburn, Esq.

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  Eliot P. Reifkind, Esq

  Founder | Shareholder

  Mr. Reifkind is the founder and Managing Partner of RTRLAW. Mr. Reifkind founded the practice in 1988 with the belief that injured victims need a lawyer who is Aggressive, Determined, and Accessible. Most of which he hears from the community is the feeling that the general public cannot relate to lawyers. He understands that each one of his clients deserves and gets the personal attention necessary to assist them when it is critical, following an accident involving injury. Upon graduating from the University of South Florida with an undergraduate degree in Business Finance, Mr. Reifkind attended Nova Southeastern University Law School receiving his Juris Doctorate Degree in 1983. During law school, he clerked for a personal injury law firm with over 30 employees, and upon graduating and being admitted to The Florida Bar, began his law career as an associate and eventually became a name partner with this firm. There he learned much about the complexities of practicing personal injury law, and to this day remains grateful for that experience. In 1988, he created Eliot P. Reifkind, P.A. in order to focus on providing more personalized attention and service to personal injury clients. He created a firm with a warm atmosphere and a support team that is able to meet clients anywhere and anytime, even if they are in the hospital, or confined to their homes. The vision of RTRLAW continues to be client-first care and personal service. The firm has moved well into the 21st century with the highest level technology and continues to adapt to the constant changes in the law.

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  Link: Eliot P. Reifkind, Esq

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  Matthew D. Sosonkin, Esq.

  Managing Attorney Workers’ Compensation

  Matthew D. Sosonkin, Esq. is a Managing Attorney of the Workers’ Compensation Division of RTRLAW. Mr. Sosonkin is an experienced Florida Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice and Workers’ Compensation lawyer. He has extensive knowledge of the workers’ compensation system, civil litigation and the insurance defense industry, having gained significant experience working for multiple insurance defense firms in Florida. Mr. Sosonkin has successfully represented clients throughout Florida in both county and circuit court, as well as in front of Judges of Compensation Claims on a wide range of matters, including workers’ compensation and medical malpractice to automobile negligence. His years of experience representing insurance companies have provided Mr. Sosonkin with a unique perspective of how insurance companies work. This insight enables him to navigate clients’ workers’ compensation claims aggressively and efficiently from the initial Petition for Benefits through the Final Merits Hearing. Prior to joining RTRLAW, Mr. Sosonkin worked for another large South Florida firm representing insured workers who were being denied their rightful benefits by insurance carriers and their counsel. Mr. Sosonkin received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware in 1994. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law, graduating cum laude in 1997. He resides in South Florida and works out of RTRLAW’s Fort Lauderdale office, but represents clients across the Sunshine State.

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  Link: Matthew D. Sosonkin, Esq.

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  Angel A. Perez, Esq.

  Associate Attorney Personal Injury & Workers’ Compensation

  Angel A. Perez, Esq. is an Associate Attorney in the Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation Divisions at RTRLAW. Mr. Perez was born and raised in New York City and is a first-generation American. His “go-getter” attitude and ambitious nature has made him a true asset to his clients. Mr. Perez has been a Central Florida resident since 2012, where he attended the University of Central Florida and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies. Mr. Perez worked for nearly a decade in the insurance industry with one of the top insurance providers in the nation and realized that he could be using his skills and education to help people in need. He could no longer stand by while insurance companies took advantage of their clients. He went on to pursue his legal career and received his Juris Doctorate degree from Barry University’s Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law in 2022. Shortly after that, Mr. Perez was admitted to the Florida Bar. Mr. Perez has an affinity for the Spanish-speaking community and strong community ties in Central Florida. When he is not in the office, he enjoys practicing Jujitsu and water activities like fishing or kayaking with his family.

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  Link: Angel A. Perez, Esq.

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  Erik Abrams, Esq.

  Associate Attorney Personal Injury Protection Litigation

  Erik Abrams is a litigation attorney at RTR Law and specializes in Personal Injury Protection (PIP), with extensive experience in first and third-party insurance litigation, real estate transactions and litigation, Maritime law, and Business law. Born and raised in South Florida, Erik graduated from the University of Florida with degrees in Psychology and Business Administration. Following his time at Florida, Erik earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law, where he founded the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Society and was honored with the Senator of the Year award for his dedication to the student body. Throughout his career, Erik has consistently exhibited legal prowess and a strong dedication to the pursuit of justice, earning him the recognition as a 2023 and 2024 Super Lawyers Rising Star. Erik is deeply committed to providing his clients with dedicated and personalized legal representation, ensuring they receive positive resolutions and excellent service.

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  Christopher Steinhaus, Esq.

  Associate Attorney Personal Injury Litigation

  Christopher J. Steinhaus is an accomplished litigation attorney in RTRLAW’s Personal Injury Division, based in Orlando, Florida. With extensive experience spanning over two decades, he specializes in personal injury cases, including automobile accidents, premises liability, and general negligence. Prior to joining RTRLAW in 2024, Christopher held positions at leading law firms such as Norden Leacox PLLC and Morgan & Morgan P.A., where he was instrumental in securing significant verdicts for clients. During his tenure at Morgan & Morgan, he managed over 125 litigation cases simultaneously, served as lead attorney in multiple high-profile trials, and consistently generated substantial attorney fees, exceeding $1.4 million annually from 2021 to 2023. Christopher’s legal expertise extends beyond personal injury. Earlier in his career, he defended clients in premises liability and medical malpractice cases at firms like Hill Adams Hall and Schieffelin P.A., where he represented major hospitals such as AdventHealth and BayCare Health System. His strong background also includes long-term care facility defense and insurance litigation from his time at Quintairos Prieto Wood & Boyer P.A. Admitted to practice law in Florida since 1998, Christopher holds bar admissions to multiple federal courts across the state, as well as an inactive admission in Louisiana. He earned his Juris Doctor from Florida State University College of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Furman University. Christopher’s commitment to his clients, his broad litigation experience, and his history of success make him a vital part of RTRLAW’s Personal Injury Litigation Division. When Chris is not working, he enjoys playing tennis, cooking and spending time with family.

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  Link: Christopher Steinhaus, Esq.