Meet Our Attorneys
Founder / Managing Attorney
Denise R. Tessier, Esq.
When I was nine years old, my little sister was born. At the time, my mother had a difficult time coping with a new baby, and it quickly became apparent that her highs and lows were much more than just postpartum depression… She was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and related psychiatric conditions.
For many years, throughout my high school and college years, Mom cycled in and out of doctors' and psychiatrists' offices, medications, and institutional settings. When I was eighteen and old enough to assist my father with her care, I was able to obtain a healthcare surrogate agreement, or “medical proxy," for her to enable me to get access to her medical records, speak to doctors on her behalf, and schedule appointments. Over the years, having such documents has been critical in getting her help during times when she was in precarious or dangerous situations. I was also better able to have conversations with doctors about her course of care, having a history of the progression of the illness over time.
Although my family was told in the early years that she would not have likely survived beyond age 40, Mom is in her 80’s and is now doing very well, living independently and in good health. Medications and treatments over the years helped her successfully battle the worst of her condition, and today she is a ray of hope and joy for her friends and family, inspiring others going through dark periods.
Nevertheless, I’ve never forgotten the early days and how critically important it has been to be well prepared for any eventuality. The importance of loved ones having an estate plan with a trust or will, and all financial and medical advance directives, cannot be understated. These simple but powerful documents ensure that a person’s values and treatment preferences remain respected, even in moments when they cannot speak for themselves.
I have been a lawyer now for over 30 years, admitted to the legal bar in Florida, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. For many years, I served diligently as in-house counsel for large multinationals and international and start-up operations, rising to general counsel and compliance officer roles. While I have had expertise in highly complex areas such as global insurance and corporate law, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution, after moving to Florida I have enthusiastically transitioned my practice to serve families and assist them with "TAKING CHARGE OF LIFE'S TRANSITIONS"!
I am passionate about educating and serving our local community and showing them how to protect their children, their families, and their assets, legacy, and wealth. My goal is to help my clients achieve peace of mind, whether handling elder concerns or crafting solid estate plans.
Education and Associations
Denise is a graduate of Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island, and Western New England University in Springfield,
Massachusetts. She is an active member of many legal and community organizations, including the
- Estate Planning and Real Property Chapter of the Florida Bar Association
- National Academy of Elder Law Lawyers (NAELA) and Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys (AFELA)
- American Bar Association, Real Estate, Trust & Estates Section
- Polk County Estate Planning Attorney Bar Association
- Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL) and American Business Women's Association (ABWA: Lakeland Chapter)
- Denise has a particularly strong desire to enable and promote other women-owned businesses and is an LGBTQ+ community ally.
Life Outside the Office
On a more personal note, Denise is happily married to a former British citizen, and enjoys international travel. She is an amateur
painter and supports a wide range of museums, concerts, visual and performing arts. She enjoys pickleball, yoga, golf, and Brittany
Spaniels, and volunteers as a Child Guardian Ad Litem for children in the foster care system.
Jacob C. Rickard, Esq.
Growing up, Jacob’s favorite television show was the original “Law & Order” series. The competence and the passion portrayed by the attorneys left a lasting, deep impression on Jacob of what serving society at large should look like and how much pride one could take in that role.
Developing on these early impressions, Jacob has spent most of his life in roles that serve others. He started in his childhood, as most do, in cashier and clerk positions in grocery and retail stores. At age 20, Jacob volunteered to serve his country by enlisting in the U.S. Air Force, where he spent over six years on active duty, including two deployments to Qatar and South Korea. After transitioning out of the military, Jacob leveraged his earned veterans' benefits to pursue higher education. With the favorable predisposition to legal institutions and concepts that Jacob still had from his youth, he enrolled in law school with the goal of becoming the kind of lawyer he grew up idolizing. After law school, Jacob chose the path of civil service again by accepting a position as an Assistant Public Defender, where he gained a wealth of litigation experience as the sole attorney of record for clients in thousands of cases, including representation of those clients in over a dozen jury trials. Jacob has now taken his litigation experiences with him away from solely criminal matters and, with the same strength of conviction, assists those people wishing to take charge of their life’s transitions.
Education and Associations
Jacob is a graduate of The Community College of the Air Force in Montgomery, Alabama, Louisiana State University at Alexandria in
Alexandria, Louisiana, and Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is an active member of many legal and
community organizations including the:
- Lakeland Bar Association
- Florida Bar, Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section
- Florida Bar, Business Law Section
- Florida Bar, Young Lawyers Section
- Willson American Inn of Court
- Estate Planning Council of Polk County
Life Outside the Office
Jacob has always had a strong desire to be a father, and he feels blessed in having a wonderful family. He and his wife have three
amazing children together. Jacob enjoys being one of the louder parents at his kids' recreational soccer games, reading, shooting
pool, going to the gym, and semi-competitive gaming.
Like most parents, Jacob hopes to one day leave his children better off than he, himself, ever was. Coming from modest origins with
no pre-existing family wealth, Jacob is now proud to be a first-generation lawyer and strives to be the most positive influence for his
children. Because of this, Jacob understands and believes in the importance of proactive, proper, and thorough estate planning.
Carrying that strong sense of justice from childhood to the present day, Jacob has always felt a higher calling to live by the "golden
rule" and "do the right thing" for others. In the estate planning and probate contexts, Jacob's goal is to give others the same peace of
mind that he wishes to have for himself and his own family. To this end, Jacob works tirelessly to be the kind of lawyer that will
represent his clients with as much care, compassion, and competence as he would want for his own family and friends.
Client Relations/Marketing Manager
Sophia Misayvanh
Sophia Misayvanh is a dedicated and compassionate professional who is the child of Cambodian refugee parents. As the second oldest of four siblings, she has always embraced responsibility and leadership. Sophia earned her bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design and Marketing from the International Academy of Design and Technology in Tampa, Florida.
With more than 10 years of experience in customer service, management, and administration, Sophia has developed strong skills across a variety of professional areas. She is known for her willingness to share resources and knowledge with others and is always ready to lend a helping hand, treating those around her like family. Sophia takes great pride in her work and is committed to ensuring that questions are addressed and clients feel supported.
Sophia is also a proud mother of three beautiful girls, including a set of twins. She enjoys spending quality time with her children and creating cherished memories together. A self-proclaimed foodie, Sophia loves cooking and baking, often experimenting with new recipes. In her free time, she enjoys watching Korean dramas, playing golf with her husband, and spending time with friends, finding joy and relaxation in the stories and experiences they share.
Drafting Paralegal
Briana Davis
Briana Davis is a Drafting Paralegal with a strong background in both general practice and estate planning. She earned her Bachelor of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies from Northwest Career College in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she graduated with honors. After graduation, Briana spent four years working for a general practice law firm, gaining valuable experience across a variety of legal matters before relocating to Florida.
For nearly two years, Briana has focused her career on estate planning, specializing in the preparation of wills, trusts, and comprehensive estate planning documents. As a Drafting Paralegal, she works extensively with WealthCounsel to help prepare customized estate plans designed around each client’s individual needs and goals.
Briana enjoys the detail and problem-solving involved in estate planning and is always eager to expand her knowledge and skills. Outside of the office, she enjoys reggae music, learning new things, and embracing new experiences.
Client Relations and Legal Operations Associate
Fred Kusani
Fred Kusani serves as the firm’s Client Relations and Legal Operations Associate, welcoming clients, managing front desk operations, answering phones, scheduling consultations, and assisting with data entry and legal drafting.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the State University of New York (SUNY) and is currently pursuing a part-time Juris Doctor degree through Western New England School of Law’s online program. Fred previously served as a Correctional Probation Senior Officer with the Florida Department of Corrections, as well as a New York State Parole Officer and Correction Officer. These roles provided him with extensive experience and valuable insight into the criminal justice system.
Fred is also skilled in legal research and navigating Polk County courts and government processes. He enjoys helping clients take the first steps in their estate planning journey and is committed to providing helpful, professional support throughout the process.
Outside of work, Fred volunteers with Guardian ad Litem and enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and cheering for his favorite New York sports teams.
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Coming Soon...
For more information, or to schedule a consultation, call us at 863-220-7927.