McKnight Law Staff

John Warren McKnight

Partner, Trial Attorney

A sixth generation Floridian, John has spent his legal career fighting for the “little guy” against big insurance companies and the government.  He primarily practices law in the areas of personal injury, negligence, auto accidents, bird law, wrongful death, and premises liability.

John graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in English (creative writing).  He was privileged to play varsity football under Hall of Fame coach Bobby Bowden.  He earned his juris doctorate degree from Florida State University’s College of Law, where he graduated with honors.  Upon graduation, John was inducted into the Order of the Coif, the national honor society for law school graduates who finish in the top ten percent of their class.

Outside of work, John enjoys playing beach volleyball, spending time with his wife, Anita DiGiacomo, and visiting the Davis Island Dog Park with their dogs, Darwin, Birdie, and Ghost.

Anita A. DiGiacomo

Partner, Trial Attorney

Anita A DiGiacomo has served the Tampa bay community and tried cases across the state of Florida since her admission to the Florida Bar in 2012.

She earned her legal trial experience over the past 12 years at one of the top trial firms in Florida to practice personal injury law and has since been trusted to consult for a number of diverse Florida firms in preparation for their trials alongside and against the best lawyers in Florida.

Anita grew up with a passion for helping others and giving voice to those in need.  Anita was born in an Indochinese refugee camp where her parents worked for the United States State Department, helping the refugees escape genocide.  While in undergraduate school at Florida State University, she spent summers working with a Board Certified Psychiatrist to aid the medical needs of those in her home town of Deland, Florida.  During Law school, she earned awards for her writing and research skills, sharpening her tools in preparation of facing the many intricate legal battles that would soon follow in her pursuit for justice of those who have been negligently injured.

Anita is married to John McKnight, founder of McKnight law group where they tirelessly strive to make clients feel like family.  As a family firm they hold sacred the needs of the wrongfully injured while providing a personal touch. The greatest compliment a lawyer can receive is the referral from a client of their friends or family.  McKnight law group is that firm.

Anita’s love of her family and her community guide her in all her endeavors.

Brittany Powell

Partner, Trial Attorney

Since entering the legal arena in 2006, Brittany A. Powell has viewed personal‑injury litigation from both sides of the aisle.  She spent the first sixteen years of her career working for insurers and corporate defendants in high‑stakes wrongful death, auto, premises‑liability, and product‑injury cases—experience that now powers her plaintiff‑side strategies at McKnight Law Group.  Armed with a deep understanding of defense playbooks, Mrs. Powell guides clients through cases often involving catastrophic injury and complex litigation.  Over the years, she has helped secure millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for plaintiffs.

A graduate cum laude from Stetson University College of Law and admitted to practice in Florida in 2011, Mrs. Powell is an active member of the Florida Justice Association and Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association.  Clients value her clear communication, strategic tenacity, and genuine commitment to restoring lives.  Mrs. Powell is also licensed to practice in Washington, DC and Federal Court.  Outside the courtroom, Mrs. Powell is the proud mom of two children—an experience that deepens her empathy for families navigating life‑altering injuries and fuels her commitment to restoring stability for their families.

Shana Kessler

Attorney

Shana Kessler is an associate attorney with extensive courtroom experience. Before coming to McKnight Law Group, she began her career as a prosecutor, trying hundreds of cases as an Assistant State Attorney in Hillsborough County. She handled bench and jury trials for misdemeanor and felony cases.

Shana was born and raised in Tampa! She attended King High School and Land O’ Lakes High School before earning her bachelor’s degree in Broadcast News from the University of South Florida. Prior to pursuing law, Shana worked in journalism, photography, and marketing. She even had a fun job as an entertainment news reporter interviewing celebrity country singers.

Shana went on to graduate at the top of her class from Cooley Law School in Tampa, where she was honored as the valedictorian speaker of her graduating class. Her favorite class was Trial Advocacy taught by Hillsborough County’s Chief Judge Sabella. She received the highest grade in the history of the class and that experience ignited a passion for advocating in the courtroom.

In addition to her legal career, Shana was crowned Ms. Florida, a prestigious title that allowed her to travel across the state as a public speaker and philanthropist, supporting charitable causes and giving back to the community.

When she is not working, she is spending time with her big, blended family. Together, Shana and her husband Sev have a family of five children, a rescue dog named Luna, and 9 chickens.

Ryan Johnson

Marketing Director, Paralegal

Ryan Johnson, our Marketing Director, is a Florida Native.  Ryan was born and raised in sunny Tampa, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of South Florida.  Prior to joining the McKnight Law Group as a paralegal, he spent seven years working as a Certified Child Welfare social worker serving at-risk youth for a local non-profit organization.  Ryan made a seamless transition to the legal field on account of his empathetic nature, commitment to providing great service, and attention to detail.

In his free time, Ryan enjoys spending time with his dog, Zeus, disc golfing, playing board games with friends and supporting Bucs football, Rays baseball, and Lightning hockey as a lifelong fan of Tampa’s teams.

David Lafond

Assistant to the Regional Manager, Paralegal

David is a Florida Transplant, from the land beyond the wall known as Minnesota. Prior to joining the McKnight Law Group, David spent 14 years working in the field of Distribution and Logistics for a large medical device company, with a focus on automation and business process streamlining. David developed and maintained a suite of applications used to drive production and collaboration between various business divisions and across sites around the world. During his time there he cultivated skills in problem solving, time management, attentiveness to detail, and coping with oppressively cold office air conditioning.

In his spare time, David enjoys exploring local restaurants, drumming, UFC, Vikings football, and spending time with his girlfriend Holly and their dog, Oakley.

Bryan Sanchez

Paralegal

Bryan Sanchez was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, but was raised in Tampa, Florida, where he received his degree in arts. Bryan has worked in the legal field as a paralegal since 2016. Prior to joining McKnight Law Group, Bryan gained important experience learning many different areas of law, including: Personal Injury, Family Law, Probate, Guardianships, and Real Estate.

Outside of work, Bryan enjoys the Tampa nightlife, music festivals, traveling and spending time with his friends and family.  Bryan is also a dog dad of 4 Chihuahuas (Baby, Chanel, Celine, and Armani), who he adores.

Katrina Kraus

Firm Administrator, Paralegal

Katrina Kraus is a Florida native, raised in the small town of Lithia.  She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of South Florida.  Before joining McKnight Law Group, Katrina worked for ten years in different areas of medicine.  Starting with assisted living, she worked closely with patients suffering from traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.  She also worked in a chiropractic clinic and for a neurosurgical group.  Katrina’s empathetic nature and passion for helping others, which were crucial to her success in the medicine field, are the same attributes that make her so effective as a paralegal assisting our personal injury clients.

In her free time, Katrina enjoys spending time with her daughter, attending concerts, pottery, canoeing in local rivers, crafting, and making memories with friends and family.

Holly Corporaal

Paralegal

Originally from Minnesota, Holly Corporaal moved to Florida to escape the long cold winters of her hometown of Cottage Grove.  Holly previously worked in the Pharmaceutical Asset Protection industry with a focus on compliance.  In that time, she worked to develop her skills pertaining to data analysis, conducting investigations, and has a certification in Interview and Interrogation Techniques.  Holly’s experience in various roles such as Human Resources, Employee Relations, and Asset Protection, enables her to bring a diverse skillset to McKnight Law Group.

Holly enjoys spending her leisure time outdoors enjoying the sunshine with her boyfriend, David, and their dog, Oakley.  Additionally, Holly’s desire for constant self-improvement has led her to explore her passions in art, as a tattoo artist, and fitness, as a personal trainer.

Tina Elton

Litigation Manager

Before joining the McKnight Law Group, Tina Elton dedicated nine years to a trusted litigation firm where she played a pivotal role in numerous trials and settlements.  With a background in the dental and medical field, Tina brings a unique perspective blend to the legal arena, ensuring that clients receive the best possible guidance.

Tina is a proud native Floridian with a zest for life and a passion for diverse experiences.  As a black belt in Hapkido, she has honed her martial arts skills, embodying discipline, and resilience.  In her free time, she finds solace in nature through exploring the great outdoors by hiking and caving.  Her love for movement extends to the dance floor, where she expresses herself through rhythm and creativity.  Tina also enjoys tending to her greenhouse, nurturing life, growth, and beauty with her own hands.

Genesis Medina

Paralegal

Genesis Medina, a native of Puerto Rico, attended the University of South Florida where she earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology, graduating with high honors.  After college, she served as a Child Protective Investigator with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.  In that capacity she worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable children and families in our community.  Drawing from her social work background, Genesis brings invaluable experience as an empathetic advocate to her work at McKnight Law Group where she helps victims of negligence.

Beyond her professional career, Genesis has a passion for dance; spending countless hours at her dance studio for children, where she nurtures both the art and the young minds that engage with it. Through her role, Genesis not only contributes to the business’s success but also fosters an environment where creativity flourishes and individuals are empowered to reach their full potential.