Our Attorneys

Jodat Law Group, P.A. is an established law firm serving the Tampa Bay, Florida area and surrounding counties of Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, and DeSoto since 1994. We are committed to helping people who are facing financial trials file for bankruptcy protection and stop creditor harassment.

Our team of experienced Tampa bankruptcy attorneys have years of combined experience helping Floridians get back on their feet and on the road to financial recovery.  The information below provides you with a brief introduction to the attorneys of Jodat Law Group. Click on each name to learn more.

Melanie A. Newby

Melanie A. Newby is the Litigation Department Head at Jodat Law Group, P.A. In this role, she litigates Bankruptcy and Creditor Harassment cases. In 2005, Ms. Newby began representing bankruptcy clients in the Middle District of Florida and she or a colleague appears personally for all hearings and proceedings in Tampa on behalf of her clients. Melanie Newby received her undergraduate degree from New College in Sarasota, Florida, and her Juris Doctorate Degree from the University Of North Carolina School Of Law at Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She has practiced criminal law in both Florida and North Carolina and was chief of the Juvenile Division for the Public Defender’s Office in Sarasota, Florida and head of the Drug Court Division for the Public Defender’s Office in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ms. Newby is a member of The Florida Bar and the North Carolina State Bar.

Gary R. Jodat

Gary R. Jodat is the founding and managing attorney of Jodat Law Group, P.A. Mr. Jodat got his feet wet while fresh out of law school by taking a job with the Public Defender’s Office trying criminal, Juvenile and Dependency cases prior to transferring into civil litigation. He now primarily handles personal injury cases. Gary Jodat received his undergraduate degree from Roger Williams University and his Juris Doctorate Degree from Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has been a member of The American Bar Association, The Manatee County Bar Association, The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce, The Manatee County Chamber of Commerce, American Inns of Court and Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Click here to read about Mr. Jodat’s life saving rescue on Longboat Key

Eric J. Forte

Eric J. Forte, Esq. serves as Of Counsel to the Jodat Law Group, P.A. handling bankruptcy court appearances in Tampa. Mr. Forte received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and is a graduate of Stetson University College of Law. A Florida Bar member since 2004, he is an aggressive litigator who gained trial experience as an Assistant State Attorney for the 20th Judicial Circuit. He also has experience in Workers’ Compensation and Commercial Litigation.
In addition to serving as Of Counsel to Jodat Law Group, P.A. in the Bankruptcy area, Mr. Forte in his own private practice handles Labor & Employment, and Criminal Defense matters. Although based out of Tampa, Mr. Forte represents clients throughout the State of Florida.

Shannan C. Neri

Shannan C. Neri is the senior bodily injury attorney at Jodat Law Group, P.A. and manages a diverse caseload including premises liability, dog bite, and automobile accident cases. Shannan Neri received her Juris Doctorate Degree from The Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio, where she was president of the Delta Theta Phi law fraternity. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Tampa Bay Trial Lawyer’s Association, the Bar in Florida, the District of Columbia and New York State.

Jamie S. Rosenberg

Jamie Seth Rosenberg graduated with honors from Florida State University in 1996. In 2000, he received his Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude, from Stetson University College of Law, in St. Petersburg, FL. Since that time, Mr. Rosenberg has worked as an Assistant Public Defender in Hillsborough County, Fl., and as an Assistant State Attorney in Manatee County, FL. During his tenure as an Assistant Public Defender, Mr. Rosenberg was admitted to the Middle District of Florida.
Mr. Rosenberg has gained a reputation as an aggressive litigator, having handled more than 100 felony jury trials over the last ten years. Mr. Rosenberg focuses his practice primarily on criminal matters and personal injury litigation. Mr. Rosenberg is a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, the Manatee County Bar Association, and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Kallan C. Eslich

Kallan C. Eslich received his Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, FL where he focused on trial advocacy. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL. Mr. Eslich began practicing family law right out of law school and exclusively practices family law with our firm. Mr. Eslich primarily handles family law issues regarding divorce, paternity, child support, and alimony. Mr. Eslich is a member of the Manatee and Sarasota Bar Associations.

Alene Sartori Fowler

Alene S. Fowler received her Juris Doctorate Degree from Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, from Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. Ms. Fowler began practicing family law right out of law school and exclusively practices family law with our firm. Ms. Fowler primarily handles family law issues regarding divorce, paternity, child support, and alimony.
Ms. Fowler is active in many charitable associations. She is a member of Junior League of Sarasota. Further, she has been on fund raising committees for Make-a-wish Daydreams and Wishes, and Key to the Cure.
Ms. Fowler is a member of the Florida Bar and the Sarasota Bar association. Ms. Fowler is admitted to practice in Florida and also admitted to practice in the Middle District of Florida. Ms. Fowler is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish.