About
Awards & Recognition
Independent ratings and peer reviews are one way prospective clients can size up a law firm before hiring. The recognitions below are issued by professional ratings agencies, peer-review services, and bar organizations — not paid placements. Each is held in the name of the specific attorney or firm noted, and the associated badges are the property of the issuing organizations.
The firm
American Association for Justice
AAJ Member
The national bar association for trial lawyers representing plaintiffs — people injured by the negligence of others, harmed by defective products, or denied their rights. Members commit to AAJ's code of conduct on representing the injured.
Martindale-Hubbell
Peer Rated for Ethical Standards & Legal Ability
Martindale-Hubbell's peer-review rating system has evaluated lawyers since 1868. Reviews are submitted confidentially by judges and attorneys who have worked with the rated lawyer.
Martindale-Hubbell
Client Champion Gold (2021)
Awarded to attorneys with a strong volume of high-quality client reviews on Martindale-Hubbell. Gold is the highest tier of the Client Champion recognition.
Martindale-Hubbell
AV Preeminent — Firm
The highest peer-review rating Martindale-Hubbell issues at the firm level — reflecting both the highest level of professional excellence and the highest ethical standards across the firm's attorneys.
Years of service
Twenty years in practice
Founded in 2006 by Steven and Eviana Martin. Two decades of representing clients across Lee, Collier, Charlotte, and Sarasota counties.
Community service
Pro bono representation
The firm provides pro bono legal services to qualified individuals in Lee and Collier counties and to community organizations.
Steven E. Martin
Martindale-Hubbell
AV Preeminent
The highest peer-review rating Martindale-Hubbell issues. The "A" reflects the highest level of legal ability; the "V" reflects very high ethical standards. Reviews are submitted confidentially by judges and attorneys who have worked with Mr. Martin.
Martindale-Hubbell
Client Reviewed
Recognition based on sustained positive client reviews submitted to Martindale-Hubbell's independent review platform.
Judicial service
Chair, 20th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission
Reappointed by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2025. Florida's judicial nominating commissions vet and recommend candidates to the Governor for circuit and county judge appointments.
Statewide service
Commissioner, Florida Statewide Nominating Commission — JCC
Appointed by the Florida Bar Board of Governors. The commission nominates judges who preside over Florida workers' compensation cases.
Local bar leadership
Past President, Cape Coral Bar Association
Has served all executive offices of the Cape Coral Bar Association.
National membership
American Association for Justice
Member — the national bar association for trial lawyers representing plaintiffs.
Eviana J. Martin
Martindale-Hubbell
AV Preeminent
The highest peer-review rating Martindale-Hubbell issues for both legal ability and ethical standards. Reflects the consensus opinion of fellow members of the bar and the judiciary.
Super Lawyers Magazine
Florida Rising Star (2015, 2016)
Super Lawyers' Rising Stars list recognizes attorneys age 40 or younger, or in practice ten years or fewer, who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. No more than 2.5% of eligible attorneys in Florida are selected.
Florida Trend Magazine
Legal Elite — Up and Comers (2012, 2013, 2014)
Florida Trend's annual list of younger Florida attorneys nominated by their peers as the most promising in the state. Three consecutive years of selection.
Avvo
Clients' Choice (2013, 2015, 2016)
Avvo's Clients' Choice award is given to attorneys with at least four positive client reviews and an overall rating of 4.0 or above on the Avvo platform.
Avvo
Avvo Recognition (2016)
Continued client and peer recognition on the Avvo independent rating platform.
Local bar leadership
Past President, Cape Coral Bar Association (2014)
Served as President of the Cape Coral Bar Association in 2014, after working through all executive offices of the local bar.
Gubernatorial appointment
Trustee, Florida SouthWestern State College District Board
Appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to the District Board of Trustees of FSW — the public state college serving Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, and Glades counties.
Bar foundation
Director, Lee County Bar Foundation
The Lee County Bar Foundation is the charitable arm of the Lee County Bar Association, supporting access-to-justice and legal education programs.
Lisa M. Gelman
Lee County Bar Association
Pro Bono Superstar Award (2024)
The Lee County Bar Association's highest pro bono honor, recognizing extensive volunteer legal service to qualified low-income residents of Lee County.
Lee County Bar Association
Pro Bono Award (2022)
Recognition for sustained pro bono legal service to the Lee County legal-aid community.
Florida Rural Legal Services
Pro Bono Program Certificate of Appreciation (2018)
FRLS provides civil legal aid to low-income residents of rural Florida. The certificate recognizes meaningful pro bono contributions to the program.
Florida Bar Elder Law Section
Special Needs Trust Committee (2019–2023)
Multi-year service on the section committee that develops Florida special-needs-trust law and practice standards for elder law attorneys statewide.
Florida Bar Elder Law Section
Guardianship Committee (2023)
Service on the section committee responsible for Florida guardianship-law practice standards and continuing-legal-education programming.
National & state academies
Elder Law Academy Memberships
Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Member, Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys (AFELA). Both academies are by-application memberships for attorneys focused on elder-law practice.
Matthew L. Stauffer
United States Army — over 20 years
Sergeant First Class (E-7)
Two decades of honorable enlisted service in the U.S. Army, rising from Private to Sergeant First Class before officer commissioning.
U.S. Army Special Forces
Green Beret — Special Forces Qualified
Completed Special Forces qualification at the JFK Special Warfare Center and School — the U.S. Army Special Operations schoolhouse at Fort Bragg.
U.S. Army
Ranger Tab
Awarded for completion of the U.S. Army Ranger School — among the most demanding combat leadership courses in the United States military.
U.S. Army — combat decorations
Combat Infantryman Badge & Combat Action Badge
Awarded for active engagement in ground combat. The Combat Infantryman Badge is reserved for infantry soldiers; the Combat Action Badge is awarded to other branches who have actively engaged the enemy.
Officer Candidate School
Col. Aaron Nett Distinguished Leadership Graduate
Top leadership recognition awarded at OCS graduation. Subsequently commissioned and served as Signal Detachment Commander and Special Forces Company Executive Officer in Stuttgart, Germany.
Ave Maria School of Law
Dean's List & Moot Court Board
Sustained academic distinction. Service on the Moot Court Board and publication in the school's moot court journal.
Other attorneys
Jonathan Bierfeld
Bankruptcy Practice
Florida Bar Business Lawyer Section. Florida Bar General Practice Section. Nearly fifteen years of bankruptcy practice spanning Chapter 7 consumer cases through Chapter 11 business reorganizations across Lee, Collier, Charlotte, and Sarasota counties.
Dustin Butler
UF Levin J.D., Cum Laude
University of Florida Levin College of Law — J.D., cum laude. IUPUI — B.A. Political Science with High Distinction; twice named Top 100 Student; Masarachia Scholar. Florida Bar Family Law, Trial Lawyers, and General Practice sections.
William Gates
Civil Litigation & Estate Practice
Ave Maria School of Law — J.D. Civil litigation, estate planning, probate, and probate litigation across Lee and Collier counties.