Rachel A. Kerlek chairs the civil litigation department at Woods, Weidenmiller, Michetti & Rudnick LLP, where she represents individuals and businesses in complex commercial, real estate, and trust and probate disputes. She brings substantial courtroom experience to her work while maintaining a practical focus on resolving her cases in a way that serves the client’s underlying objectives.
Rachel believes effective representation begins with listening. She takes the time to understand what a client wants to accomplish, communicates candidly about expectations and legal realities, and aligns strategic decisions with those goals. She also draws on strong relationships throughout the Southwest Florida legal community to open constructive dialogue with opposing counsel and explore opportunities to resolve disputes before they become unnecessarily contentious or overly litigated.
When a case requires trial, Rachel is equally comfortable in the courtroom. Her notable case results include a jury verdict exceeding $1 million in a business ownership dispute, obtaining a directed verdict for corporate principals facing nearly $10 million in individual claims, and representing an individual in litigation brought by a major national bank seeking nearly $70 million before achieving a favorable settlement.
Rachel’s courtroom foundation was built early in her career as an Assistant Public Defender, where she gained significant jury trial experience and often handled cases as sole counsel. She won her first jury trial after just seven minutes of deliberation. That early experience helped shape both her confidence as a litigator and her ability to work closely with clients facing difficult and often stressful situations.
Rachel has also contributed time to local organizations and events, including her involvement in the Collier County Bar Association’s Attorney Wellness Initiative, which she is proud to have been a part of since its inception. Outside of her law practice, she teaches tap dance at Spotlight Dance Company.