Jeffrey E. Appel, Esquire

 

Mr. Jeffrey Appel is a Florida native, born in Melbourne, Florida.  He grew up in Stuart, Florida, where he graduated from Martin County High School.  Jeff attended the University of Florida, where he earned three degrees. In 1989, Jeff earned a Bachelor in Sociology. Continuing his post-graduate studies at UF, Jeff simultaneously earned his Master of Sociology and his Juris Doctor, both awarded in 1993. Jeff began his legal career at Holland & Knight, in Lakeland, Florida. He served as an associate for four years at Holland & Knight, handling a range of litigation matters. In 1997, Mr. Appel started his own law firm in Lakeland, Florida focused on workers’ compensation matters.  The firm quickly grew in practice areas and volume, opening additional offices in Tallahassee and Ft. Lauderdale.  In 2005, Mr. Appel formed the Appel Law Group, P.A., litigating a range of employment law issues, including workers’ compensation litigation and other employment-related civil litigation. In 2022, Mr. Appel merged his firm with Dickstein Law. Mr. Appel practices from the Dickstein Law office located in Lakeland, Florida, representing individuals and businesses in civil and employment law related matters.

 

Mr. Appel has received an “AV-Preeminent” rating, the highest peer ranking possible, from Martindale-Hubble. He has previously served on the Workers’ Compensation Executive Council and as Editor-in-Chief of the Section’s newsletter, The News & 440 Report. Mr. Appel is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator, and he practices as a Qualified Arbitrator for unions in work-related injury disputes. Mr. Appel was Board Certified in workers’ compensation from 2008 to 2022. Outside of work, Jeff enjoys in-shore fishing and travel adventures.

 

Jeff is married to Nichole (“Nikki”) Appel.  He and Nikki have five children, with two still at home (both attending Harrison School for the Performing Arts), one in Army intelligence (soon deploying to Poland), one working for DCF as a supervisor in Tallahassee, and one graduating Georgia State Law School in May 2023.  Nikki initially worked in the insurance field as a GEICO agent and then alongside Jeff, as a Florida Registered Paralegal, for many years. Nikki still assists Mr. Appel with work when needed.  She also enjoys days on the water, Pilates and travel.