Brooks Law Group

Attorney Stephen K. Brooks

Steve was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. As was the practice for new doctors his father worked day and night during his medical residency at Charity Hospital there. Steve comes from a long line of doctors. His father, his grandfather, his great grandfather, even two uncles were all specialists and/or surgeons in their chosen medical specialties, including internal medicine specialist, obstetrics/gynecology, neurosurgery and general practice/surgery. His great-great grandfather was the Surgeon General of Ohio during the Civil War.

When Steve was two years old the Brooks family moved to Winter Haven, Florida where Steve’s dad, Beach A. Brooks, Sr. began practicing medicine at Bond Clinic. Growing up in Winter Haven was a great experience. People didn’t have to lock their doors and neighbors became close like family and looked out for each other.

Growing up in Winter Haven (the Chain of Lakes City) on Lake Otis, Steve, his brother Beach and two sisters, Libba and Nancy loved boating and skiing. Steve even used to barefoot ski, including starting barefoot from the beach. The boys would load up their boats with oranges and have “orange wars”, with other friends in their boats, using metal garbage can lids as shields. They had great times growing up, but their parents often worried about their dare devilish ways.

Steve enjoyed baseball, tennis and other sports; but he was especially interested in owning his own business. His grandmother was a real estate broker and that sparked an interest in him to invest in real estate. At the age of 14, Steve purchased his 1st rental house with his grandmother co-signing the loan.

After graduating from high school, Steve attended the University of Florida for two years. His appetite for business ultimately resulted in Steve’s transfer to Stetson University where he graduated with a Business Administration degree.

Attorney Amy Smith

Amy Smith started working for Brooks Law Group as a senior litigation associate in July 2022. She has worked as an active trial attorney for nearly seventeen years having tried approximately 150 cases. She has practiced in multiple areas of the law including personal injury litigation, general civil litigation, criminal litigation, family law litigation, probate litigation, municipal law, educational law and appellate practice.

Amy was born and raised in the small town of Hillsboro, Illinois. After graduating High School Amy attended the University of Illinois where she studied psychology and political science. Upon graduation, she was awarded a full tuition merit scholarship to Stetson University College of Law. During law school, Amy worked as a dean’s fellow, trial advocacy teaching assistant, research assistant, and as a legal intern for the Florida Attorney General, Children’s Legal Services and the St. Petersburg City Attorney. She also enjoyed working as a volunteer for the 6th Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem program. Amy graduated cum laude in May, 2005, with honors including the Victor O. Wehle Trial Advocacy Award and the William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award.

Amy perfected her trial skills working as a prosecutor at the Office of the State Attorney, 10th Judicial Circuit. She held multiple positions as an Assistant State Attorney including misdemeanor trial attorney, felony trial attorney, special prosecution trial attorney, misdemeanor assistant director, felony division chief, and special projects attorney. Amy has tried serious felony cases including DUI manslaughter, attempted first degree murder, capital sexual battery, lewd molestation, lewd battery, aggravated child abuse, armed robbery, armed burglary, sexual assault, and drug trafficking. Amy also worked with the Bureau of Special Investigations to prosecute the promotion and possession of child pornography.

As a civil litigator, Amy has handled a wide range of unique legal matters including litigation of forfeiture proceedings, charter school appeals, civil foreclosures, landlord/tenant disputes, risk assessment, and special needs advocacy.

Attorney Roberto Anton

Attorney Roberto Anton is an associate in our Tampa office. Admitted to the Florida Bar in 2012, he spent the first seven years of his career representing insurers and private clients in a variety of practice areas including first- and third-party property insurance disputes (including and especially catastrophic windstorm claims,) commercial general liability, personal injury, wrongful death, professional malpractice, and commercial shipping disputes. Roberto spent the following three years of his career with a personal injury firm in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he divided his time between criminal defense and civil plaintiff’s practice.

Originally from Miami, Roberto is the son of Cuban émigrés. Roberto holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Florida State University, and taught middle school for two years before attending, and earning his juris doctor, from Florida International University College of Law.

Attorney Beach A. Brooks, Jr.

Beach A. Brooks Jr. received his B.A. degree from Vanderbilt University and his law degree from Stetson University College of Law in 1983. Since becoming a member of the Florida Bar, Beach has practiced law in the Winter Haven area and was a partner with a large local law firm prior to joining his brother.

Beach practices primarily in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death, and auto and truck accidents.

He is a member of the Florida Bar, the Polk County Trial Lawyers Association, and is a past president of the Polk County Family Lawyers Association.

He has also been admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. He is past chairman of the Tenth Judicial Court Grievance Committee.

Attorney Charles M. Laycock Jr.

Charles left high school as a sophomore and went directly to college. He received his Bachelors of Science degree from the University of California Berkeley in 1996 in Psychology and his law degree from Tulane School of Law in New Orleans Louisiana in 2000 with a certificate in Admiralty Law.

During his time at Tulane, Mr. Laycock participated in a study abroad program in Greece studying Admiralty Law, worked in Tulane’s Civil Litigation Clinic handling general civil litigation issues and later clerked for the Offices of Administrative Law Judges in Metairie Louisiana, handling Longshore Harbor Workers Compensation Act claims.

After graduation, Charles moved to Florida and began his career working as a contract attorney for a large Admiralty Defense Firm in Miami. Disappointed with the lack of trial work that a junior associate in a large firm is usually exposed to and generally dissatisfied with insurance defense in general, Charles decided that he rather spend his life helping people and accepted a job with the Public Defender’s Office in Tampa.

At the Tampa Public Defenders Office, Mr. Laycock tried over 100 cases and specialized in handling juvenile’s issues, drug charges and representing mentally handicapped individuals.

Attorney Joseph Hovsepian

Joe Hovsepian moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1985 just in time for the Chicago Bears to win the Super Bowl. Since then, good timing has been a strong dictator in his success.

Joe received his undergraduate degree in Criminal Science from Illinois State University and his Juris Doctor degree from Florida State University College of Law in December, 2001. In law school he was on the Dean’s List and received a Book Award.

He was admitted to the Florida Bar in March, 2002. Joe moved to Tampa in 2003, once again bringing the home team a Super Bowl Championship with him. In Tampa, Joe accepted a position as an Assistant Public Defender. There he met future Brooks Law Group attorney, Charles Laycock, Jr. and forged a relationship that would resurface 13 years later at the Brooks Law Group.

After going into private practice in 2005, Joe continued to focus on representing people in need. Whether it was a personal injury client, a criminal defendant, or a small business owner, Joe built a reputation on integrity and never backing down, especially when representing the “underdog”.

In May of 2016, Joe rejoined with his former colleague at the Brooks Law Group. With a relentless competitive spirit to win, Joe’s brings 14 years of experience in state and federal jury trial litigation that solidifies his calling to protect people’s rights. Joe excels at insuring that the government give his client’s everything they are entitled to receive, and he means business.

Attorney Beach A. Brooks III

Beach A. Brooks III was born in Winter Haven, Florida. From a very young age, Beach had a competitive spirit. He had to win at everything he did. As a child he played several sports, but as he grew older, his love for baseball outgrew the others. While attending Winter Haven High School, Beach starred on the varsity baseball team and helped lead the team to three straight state championship games.

After graduating from high school, Beach’s hard work and dedication paid off with an opportunity to attend a top-100 business school while also playing Division 1 baseball. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Business Management.

Upon completion of college and his athletic career, Beach was looking for a career that could fulfill his competitive spirit while also bettering society. Law was a natural choice. His father Beach Jr., uncle Stephen K. Brooks and several other family members were all attorneys. He grew up around the law and saw the positive impact it could have on clients’ lives and the community as a whole.

Beach attended Stetson University College of Law and graduated in May, 2016. While at Stetson he received the highest grade in his class in Criminal Procedure. Beach was drawn to Stetson because of their advocacy program, which is top in the country.

Not only were his father and uncle his mentors, but Beach comes from a family that has served the people. His grandfather Beach Sr. was a longtime doctor in the Central Florida area, while his other grandfather was a colonel in the Air Force. These influences have shown him the joy helping others can bring while also making the community a better place.