Our Legal Team
We value our team members and only recruit the best based on their strength of character, their intellect and decision-making abilities, and their client-first philosophy.
Core Values
Character
At ABL Law, character is our most important value. Character-in-action is an essential part of all our relationships and means treating our clients, our own team members, and all other parties, including opposing parties, with the utmost level of honesty, professionalism, and integrity.
Competence
Competence goes beyond having the legal skill, knowledge, and ability to handle the legal matters at hand. For ABL Law, it’s about how to communicate with all sides of an issue to achieve an optimal solution. It’s about having a longer-term perspective so we can represent both proactive and preventative strategies that allow you to focus on growing your business.
Commitment
At ABL Law, we constantly strive for perfection while also putting our clients’ needs above our own. Commitment is the passionate advocacy and relentless effort needed to hone a legal strategy that delivers the optimal solution for you and your company. And it means following through… until the job is completely done.
Team
Daniel K. Bean
CHAIRMAN
Daniel Bean’s broad-ranging experience in legal matters is enhanced by his 25+ years with the U.S. Navy. Daniel has skillfully resolved complex commercial litigation matters in both federal and state levels. Additionally, he also is a skilled mentor in policy matters.
Jackie A. Van Laningham
Shareholder
After graduating in the top three of her class at Florida State University College of Law, Jackie joined a national law firm where she gained experience in multistate class action litigation, consumer finance, labor and employment, and complex commercial litigation. Jackie specializes in the areas of trust and probate, contract disputes, banking, and administrative law.
Craig Linn Ames
Shareholder
Craig Ames is experienced in labor relations, contract negotiations, unfair labor practices, representation hearings, arbitration, employment practices, risk management & insurance.
Karen Ibach Bowden
Shareholder
Karen is an experienced transactional lawyer and litigator who provides strategic, business-oriented and proactive legal advice and support to her clients. Karen has practiced law for over twenty years in a wide range of areas, including employment law, litigation, health care, real estate, contracts, business,
and commercial lending.
Jared J. Burns
Of COUNSEL
Jared is an attorney with experience in federal court matters. Before joining ABL Law in 2020, Jared was a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Timothy J. Corrigan, Chief Judge, United States District Court, Middle District of Florida. In that capacity, Jared worked on hundreds of federal cases, researching and writing on a wide variety of matters.
Robert Devine
ATTORNEY
Robert has more than 25 years of legal experience both with law firms and large corporations. Being part of the ABL General Counsel Program, which provides advice for companies that have a supplemental need for in-house counsel work and acting as an advisor to companies that do not have a fully developed in-house counsel program. ABL’s assistance in these areas create a strong presence at a reduced cost.
Stacy Scaldo
Attorney
Stacy joins ABL Law after serving seventeen years as a law professor for a Jacksonville area law school. As a law teacher and scholar, Stacy was actively engaged in the development of legal theory and application, particularly with regard to constitutional issues and individual rights. She is the author of several law review articles and has proven herself to be a valuable participant and presenter at various national legal conferences.
Natalie F. Clayton
Attorney
Natalie has spent her 17-year legal career in various roles across the child-welfare system. Starting out with the Guardian ad Litem Program of Florida, Natalie advocated in dependency court for children in the foster care system. Natalie has extensive experience in dependency, family law, and criminal litigation matters, along with general legal advocacy for non-profit organizations.
Tucker Pryor
Attorney
While attending law school at Florida International University College of Law, Tucker was selected by the United States Air Force for their Graduate Law Program. Upon graduating from law school, Tucker also earned a commission as an officer in the Air Force. Tucker served with Air Force Special Operations Command, and later with the United States Space Force.
Melinda M. Higby
Business Manager / Paralegal
Melinda Higby has over 30 years paralegal experience working with distinguished trial attorneys in the state. Mindy is also responsible for the business management of ABL Law and assists the team by supporting the needs of the rapidly growing law practice, while still maintaining a personal commitment to every client.
Susan M. Schafer
Legal Assistant / Paralegal
Suzie, a Michigan native, graduated with honors from Oakland University with a BS in Business Management and a minor in Accounting. She started a small business, which she continues to run today out of her home. After spending two years as a vital team member within a premier law firm as an Office Service Specialist, she agreed to join ABL Law.
Community First
Committed to our Community
Our team is deeply committed to our community and believe it is our responsibility and honor to provide pro bono legal services as well as advice to civic organizations serving the people of Florida. We approach each pro bono engagement with the same high levels of commitment and competence as other projects. Team members have supported community initiatives including those related to veterans’ affairs, juvenile crime, guardianship, probate and prisoners’ rights, and many more. We have also been active in leadership roles in the Jacksonville Bar Association, local public radio/PBS television, and bar service at the state and federal levels.