Meltzer & Bell, P.A.: Your Florida Legal Shield
With offices strategically located in Fort Pierce, Stuart, Palm Beach, and Broward County, Meltzer & Bell, P.A. provides unwavering legal defense across a wide swath of Florida. Our team of seasoned attorneys brings decades of combined experience to the table, including former prosecutors who understand the intricacies of the criminal justice system from both sides.
We have a proven track record of securing favorable client outcomes, even in the most complex and high-stakes cases. Our commitment to aggressive advocacy and fearless representation has earned us over 1000 5-star reviews from satisfied clients. Our attorneys have tried death penalty cases and been featured on Court TV, demonstrating our dedication to fighting for your rights.
When your freedom is on the line, you need a legal team with the experience, skill, and dedication to fight for you. At Meltzer & Bell, P.A., we’re not just lawyers; we’re your partners in navigating the complexities of the legal system and achieving the best possible outcome for your case.
Steven Bell
Steven Bell is a former Broward County public defender who worked in the felony division before leading the juvenile division. He also has years of experience practicing privately in South Florida. Bell graduated from the University of Florida in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in advertising, and he earned his juris doctor from Nova Southeastern University’s Sheppard Broad Law Center in 2004.
Lawrence Meltzer
Lawrence Meltzer is a former Broward County prosecutor who defends clients in Fort Lauderdale and surrounding areas of Broward County. Meltzer earned his bachelor’s degree from American University and his juris doctor from Nova Southeastern University’s Sheppard Broad Law Center. He spent four years working in the Broward County State Attorney’s Office before moving into private criminal defense practice.
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Ari Goldberg
Ari Goldberg had been an Assistant State Attorney in Palm Beach for three and half years before joining Meltzer & Bell, P.A. Ari graduated from Florida International University College of Law in Miami in 2009 with his Juris Doctorate. Ari was first assigned to the County Court Trial Division while he was at the State Attorney’s Office where he served as the Lead Attorney. His responsibilities included supervising other ASA’s, handling hundreds of cases and making filing decisions on all DUI’s assigned to his division.
Stephan Dobrinsky
Stephan Dobrinsky was born and raised in south Florida. For his undergraduate studies, he attended the University of Maryland where he majored in Philosophy. In 2011, he enrolled at the Levin College of Law at the University of Florida. Prior to joining Meltzer & Bell, P.A., Stephan worked as an Assistant Public Defender in Broward County for over three years, dedicating himself to the defense of indigent people charged with crimes.
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David Goudreau
David Goudreau is a Partner at Meltzer & Bell, P.A. He studied Criminology at Florida State University, earning cum laude honors. It was there that he first discovered his passion for the law, working right alongside a local attorney who would later be appointed to the Federal Judiciary.
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Whitney Duteau
Whitney Duteau is a Board Certified Criminal Trial Attorney with over a decade of experience in exclusively criminal defense practice. She was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Upon graduating in 2010, Whitney began to pursue her law degree at Florida Coastal School Of Law in Jacksonville. She graduated in 2013 with Pro Bono honors for her outstanding dedication to the community. Prior to joining the Meltzer & Bell, P.A. family, Whitney worked as an Assistant Public Defender in the 19th Judicial Circuit (St. Lucie, Martin, Okeechobee, and Indian River counties) for 7 years. During her time at the Public Defender’s office, Whitney provided legal representation to those charged with misdemeanors and felonies.
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Rachel Newman
In her 17 years as an assistant public defender, Rachel Newman represented thousands of defendants in county, juvenile and felony courtrooms. In 2016, Rachel was promoted to division chief of the felony division, where she supervised and mentored approximately 30 felony lawyers. Rachel has handled some of the most difficult and high-profile cases in Broward County, having spent the last several years in the major crimes division.
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Paul Bernard
Paul Bernard is committed to serving his clients by treating them with dignity and respect, by humanizing them to the court and to opposing counsel, and by expeditiously and aggressively assisting them by protecting their legal, civil, and human rights through what is sometimes a daunting and complex legal system.
Howard J. Schumacher
Howard J. Schumacher serves Of Counsel at Meltzer & Bell, P.A., where is defends people in South Florida against criminal charges. He has practiced in Florida for more than 25 years. His work has included extensive practice in federal appeals, especially the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes Florida.
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Anthony Carrera
Anthony Carrera is a Paralegal Palm Beach County Division Meltzer & Bell, P.A. for over 4 years. Prior to joining Meltzer & Bell, P.A., Mr. Carrera worked for the Law Offices of Olea and Porcella, P.A. Anthony joined Meltzer and Bell P.A. team in January 2017. HE works as a Legal Assistant within the field of traffic tickets, mailing, and various administrative duties.
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Beverly Baitsholts
Beverly Baitsholts is a full-time legal assistant responsible for running our treasure coast divisions with attorneys Whitney Duteau, Esq. and Paul Bernard, Esq. She brings a wealth of knowledge to our treasure coast office and is a vital part of our team.
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Adrienne Theeck
Adrienne Theeck came to Meltzer & Bell, P.A. in 2022. She is the chief Legal Assistant and Office Manager for the Fort Lauderdale Offices of Meltzer & Bell, P.A. for Partners Lawrence Meltzer and Stephan Dobrinsky and Attorney Rachel Newman. Meltzer & Bell, P.A, its attorneys and clients are so very privileged to have Adrienne as a member of our firm. She is an invaluable asset and a wonderful person who takes great pride in her work and is immeasurably dedicated to the Firm and our clients.
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Meltzer & Bell is prepared to treat you as its most important client and our goal is to live up to highest ethical standards in the industry. Meltzer & Bell is a client driven law firm and believes in personal representation. Meltzer & Bell believes that your life comes before all else and we will strive to always provide you with an aggressive and unmatched defense unique to the circumstances of your case. The firm believes in litigation and trial advocacy and leaving no stone unturned when it comes to defending you.
Once you hire Meltzer & Bell, you will have unique 24/7 access to the firm’s partners. Unlike many firms, we are available at night, on weekends, and even on holidays as criminal charges and arrests can occur at any time and you cannot be without a ready legal defense. You will be provided with direct e-mail and cell phone access to each of the firm’s founding partners and you will have the opportunity to have real-time communication concerning your case through the firm’s state-of-the-art case management system.
No matter the time of day, Meltzer & Bell, is ready to tackle your case with your future always in mind, day or night, no matter how simple or complex. Hiring Meltzer & Bell also provides you unique access to a bank of thousands of legal pleadings, documents, and motions that have been used in the dismissal and reduction of hundreds of criminal charges on our clients’ behalf throughout the State of Florida and will have the opportunity to secure state of the art evidentiary presentation options in the defense of your case. You will have access to a roster of distinguished investigators and expert witnesses.
If you have been accused of a crime, call and speak to a partner at our Martin County and St. Lucie County criminal defense firm immediately. Meltzer & Bell is your first line of defense!
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