John P. Cole, Esq.

Gunster P.A.

John P. Cole is a Shareholder in Gunster’s Jacksonville office. John’s practice focuses on fiduciary risk management and counseling professional fiduciaries; probate, trust and fiduciary litigation; and mediation of probate, trust and fiduciary litigation.

Alexandria Goff

Alexandria Goff Legal P.C.

Alexandria, also known as “Ali” is the owner and founder of Goff Legal, PC, a law firm focused on estate planning, trust & estate administration matters. Ali is known for her in-depth knowledge and expertise with wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney, and her ability to explain complex matters in an understandable way. She was drawn to estate planning to help protect people and their families and provide peace of mind so they avoid complications for generations to come.

She is a frequent presenter for organizations located in California, the Professional Fiduciary Association of California, the Probate Section of the Placer County Bar and the National Business Institute. Ali is also is a certified performance coach, helping women leaders and business owners with their personal and professional endeavors and goals.

Elizabeth Hughes, Esq.

Akerman

Elizabeth Hughes is a highly skilled attorney who focuses on fiduciary litigation, with a particular concentration on disputes that arise from Florida estates, trusts, and guardianships. Elizabeth’s experience includes successfully litigating and resolving complex cases involving will and trust contests, fiduciary fee disputes, determination of heir disputes, disputes over appointment of fiduciaries, removal of fiduciaries, surcharge actions, elective share disputes, and breaches of fiduciary obligations. She regularly assists individuals and clients serving as fiduciaries in reforming and construing wills and trusts, determining rights in wills and trusts, modifying trusts, and terminating trusts.

With more than a decade of experience in guardianship and mental health litigation proceedings, Elizabeth also advises clients on disputes over capacity and appointments as guardian. She has handled contested emergency temporary guardianship proceedings for clients and has experience with adversary elderly exploitation injunction matters in Florida. Elizabeth’s degree in Health Science and Rehabilitative Services provides her with a deep understanding of guardianship administration and restoration proceedings. She is skilled in representing professional and non-professional guardians and has experience representing both petitioners and respondents in Florida Marchman Act proceedings. Elizabeth has also served as private counsel for alleged incapacitated persons, as well as wards.

In addition to representing clients in related matters, Elizabeth has served as court-appointed counsel, ad litem, estate curator, and guardian in numerous probate, trust, and guardianship cases in Florida. For more than ten years, Elizabeth has served on the Executive Council of the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar and in this capacity has been involved in crafting Florida Law relating to estates, trusts, and guardianship proceedings and has been involved in the legislative process for the Section.

Betsy Leslie

Tampa Bay Fiduciary, LLC

Betsy Leslie is a graduate of the Florida State College of Law and is a current member of the Florida Bar where she maintains membership in the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law and Elder Law sections.

Betsy began working in the Professional Fiduciary field in 2015, ultimately opening Tampa Bay Fiduciary, LLC in 2018. She provides an array of fiduciary services including Independent Trustee, Personal Representative, Agent under Power of Attorney, Health Care Surrogate, Curator, and other roles of agency.

As a trustee, Betsy has experience serving Special Needs Trust beneficiaries, domestic and foreign corporate trust clients, major league sports disability trust beneficiaries, and drug addict recovery beneficiaries. Betsy’s Health Care Surrogate appointments include traumatic brain injury patients, dementia and Alzheimer’s patients, and other chronic or emergent care clients.

Betsy is a founding member of the Professional Fiduciary Council of Florida (PFCF). She currently serves as Chair of the Membership Committee and sits on the Executive Board and Curriculum Committee. Betsy has spoken at the PFCF annual conferences, co-hosted PFCF Fiduciary Fridays, and speaks by invitation to Bar Association and Elder Law events. She served on the faculty of the inaugural POA Certification classes offered by Stetson Law School Spring of 2025.

Andrew B. Sasso, Esq.

Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen

Andrew B. Sasso practices in the Clearwater, Florida office of Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen with a practice focused in the areas of probate, guardianship, and trust litigation and administration. Mr. Sasso received degrees from University of Central Florida, B.A., 1980 and Stetson University College of Law, J.D., 1983.

Mr. Sasso has been a member of The Florida Bar since 1984 having served on the Board of Governors (2004-2016) (Disciplinary Procedures Committee, Chair (2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2009-2010, 2010-2011), Executive Committee (2010-2011), Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section, Board of Governors Liaison (2012-2016), Rules of Judicial Administration Committee, Board of Governors Liaison (2012-2016), Clients' Security Fund Committee, Board of Governors Liaison (2014-2016), Designated Review for Grievance Committees 6A, 6B, 6C, (2004-2016), Designated Review for Statewide Advertising Grievance Committee (2011-2016), Designated Review for Unlicensed Practice of Law Committees 6A and 6B (2004-2016)), and Parliamentarian of the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar (2016-2023). Currently, Mr. Sasso is a member of the Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section’s Executive Council.

Mr. Sasso has served the Clearwater Bar Association, Inc. (President (2000-2001), President-Elect (1999-2000), Secretary (1998-1999), Director (1997-1998), Bench/Bar Liaison Committee, Co Chair (1997-1999), Probate, Guardianship and Trust Law Committee, Chair (1995-1996)).

Mr. Sasso is currently serving as Chair of the Local Professionalism Panel of the Sixth Judicial Circuit and is a member of the Professionalism Committee of the Sixth Judicial Circuit. Chief Justice Jorge Labarga appointed Mr. Sasso to serve on the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Management Council Guardianship Workgroup (2016-2018).

Mr. Sasso is AV Preeminent® rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, selected to Super Lawyers®, and has been recognized with The Florida Bar President's Award of Merit, 2010, The Florida Bar Tony Boggs Excellence in Discipline Award, 2016, the Barney Masterson Inn of Court Professionalism Award, 2005, the Clearwater Bar Association’s Ralph Richards Award, 2018, the Barney Masterson Inn of Court Barney Award, 2021, and The Florida Bar Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section’s John Arthur Jones Annual Service Award, 2022-2023.