John Brock is a senior-level Construction attorney at Zinzow Law. He is a fourth-generation Floridian who spent a portion of his formative years under the tutelage of his grandfather, a prominent Tampa Bay businessman and Contractor who started the incredibly successful Enterprise Construction and the reason for the existence of Enterprise Road in Clearwater. John’s grandfather built many hotels and commercial buildings around Tampa Bay, including the world-class facilities at Ruth Eckerd Hall. His grandfather may be one of the reasons he has such a love of theater. John spent his early years performing on stage and participated in theater competitions.

After high school, John knew that he would follow in the footsteps of his father, a prominent Tampa Bay heart surgeon, and attend the family alma mater. On the very campus where he was born, John became a Florida Gator. However, he did not go off to college with the idea of becoming a doctor; instead, John blazed his own trail and pursued a career in law. In Law, he would further harness his love for the written word. Early on, he served as a legal intern for the Honorable Alexander L. Paskay of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa. This internship was life-changing and humanized financial struggles in both personal and business settings. As a young lawyer, John deeply desired to continue the legacy his grandfather had built. He felt a pull towards construction and how transformative it can be in building a community. John, also having worked in his grandfather’s business, wanted to help business owners. It was a natural fit for John to head down the path of Construction Law.

John’s passion for the theater has not left him, and he continues to attend whenever afforded the opportunity. He is also an avid trivia buff with a keen grasp on the 1980s, movies, and music. John’s other passion is diabetes, and as a person with type 1 diabetes, he works hard on health and nutrition and is always looking to learn more about the condition that he and so many struggle with.

Christopher Roach is a Senior Counsel at Zinzow Law. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he is the middle son of Irish and Italian American parents. Christopher’s high school debate club fostered his passion for history, economics, philosophy, and law and set the course for his life. His family, specifically his grandparents (who honorably served in WWII), instilled a deep and patriotic appreciation for the American way of life. His studies of law, economics, and the American founding have only increased his appreciation of our country and its Constitution. This passion for America and those who build and keep the American Dream alive, coupled with his love of the law, make him a zealous and strategic counselor to those he represents.

Christopher began his legal career clerking for a federal judge in Dallas, Texas, the Honorable Sidney Fitzwater, where he had the opportunity to participate in assisting with the draft of the first reported opinion interpreting the Twelfth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in a case arising from disputes over the 2000 election. This experience of being on the other side of the bench gave him a much deeper understanding of what judges and juries are concerned about, which arguments will succeed, and how to frame them accordingly.

Since that time, he has worked at elite international firms and on his own, both in Texas and Florida. During his 25+ year legal career, he has covered a wide breadth of subject matter, representing plaintiffs and defendants in numerous commercial disputes. Christopher is unafraid of the courtroom and takes pride in fighting and winning for his clients, but he also understands that well-thought-out planning can often end the fight before it begins. They say, “When you love what you do, you never work a day.” Christopher exudes a passion for the law, and if the saying is true, he has probably never worked a day.

In his free time, he enjoys competitive shooting, reading about American and European history, occasionally writing about politics and current events, and exploring Florida’s many state parks and trails on his bike.

For Stephen Gross, the path to becoming a Board-Certified Construction Law Specialist didn’t begin in a library—it began in the cramped, high-stakes belly of a nuclear submarine.

As a U.S. Navy nuclear electrician from 1994 to 1999, Stephen operated in an environment where technical systems had to be flawless and a single oversight could have catastrophic consequences. Today, he translates that mission-critical precision to the construction industry. He understands that in construction law, much like in a nuclear engine room, the “wiring” of a contract or the “foundation” of a legal strategy determines whether a project succeeds or sinks.

While he serves as Zinzow Law’s vital South Florida presence, Stephen’s reach is defined by a relentless Pittsburgh work ethic and a veteran’s discipline. By combining his problem-solving mindset with elite Florida Bar Board Certification, he offers clients a rare advantage: a lawyer who truly understands the mechanics of how things are built and the tactical resilience required to protect them in the courtroom.

Whether he’s untangling a complex defect claim or drafting a foolproof agreement, Stephen treats every case with the preparation of a military operation. He knows that his clients’ livelihoods are on the line, and he brings the same grit to the legal “trenches” that he once brought to the submarine service.

When the hard hats are off, Stephen stays grounded by the values of home, sharing his life with his wife, their two sons, and his mother. For Stephen, the ultimate goal is simple: providing the rock-solid legal foundation his clients need so they can focus on building the future.

A Foundation of Precision

Lan White’s career is built on a foundation of tactical precision. Long before navigating complex legal landscapes, he developed his disciplined approach to problem-solving during his early service as a Captain in the U.S. Army. During his army service he commanded an Engineer platoon , an intelligence collection detachment in Viet Name, and an infantry rifle company stateside. Since joining the Florida Bar in 1981, Lan has applied that same structured focus to a legal legacy that bridges the technical complexities of the courtroom with the high-stakes strategy of the corporate boardroom.

A lifelong adventurer, Lan once crossed rugged terrains and open roads on two wheels, tackling the Alaska Highway, Blue Ridge Parkway, Andes and the American Southwest as an avid motorcycle enthusiast. Today, he and his wife explore the globe with a different kind of precision, trading the motorcycle seat for international air travel and world-class cruising vessels.

The Insider’s Blueprint
Lan does not just study construction and real estate law; he lived it. Having served as a principal, Vice President, and General Counsel for four distinct real estate development companies, a mechanical subcontractor, and a general contractor, he brings a rare “insider’s” viewpoint to the firm. He knows firsthand the operational friction, financial risks, and regulatory hurdles that builders face every day.
This deep commercial background is backed by elite credentials. Lan has been a Florida Bar Board Certified Specialist in Construction Law since 2008—a distinction held by a highly selective group of vetted legal experts. His peer-recognized leadership also earned him a position as a Fellow and Barrister in the elite Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA).

Maintaining the Ground Rules
Beyond the job site, Lan is a highly sought-after neutral voice in dispute resolution. He commanded respect on the bench as a Special Magistrate for the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board, conducting quasi-judicial hearings to keep the industry compliant and fair.

When corporate disputes peak, Lan steps in as a seasoned arbitrator for both the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), systematically untangling intricate construction, commercial, financial, and securities issues.

Forging the Next Generation
Lan brought his signature operational focus back to academia early in his career. After earning his Juris Doctor with honors from Stetson University College of Law in 1981, Lan eventually returned to his alma mater as an Adjunct Professor of Law to masterfully teach the next generation of attorneys the finer details of secured transactions.

Steven ‘Rusty’ Nisbet is a Florida Bar Board Certified Construction Law Specialist and the Senior Trial Attorney and Litigator at Zinzow Law. Having tried well over 100 cases, Rusty knows his way around a courtroom.  Prior to joining Zinzow Law Rusty spent over 20 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Tampa.  Having grown up as one of 5 children in a large New England family, it was in that Rhode Island Town where Rusty would begin to develop his identity and role in the world.  His family provided him with a strong moral foundation and a love for people.  These values were then re-emphasized through athletics.  Rusty learned about teamwork, accountability, trust, winning, losing, hard-work and so much more, and in a way that only competitive athletics can teach.  His summers were consumed with all things water, including: sailing, swimming and lifeguarding.  His winters were all about blazing a trail on skis down the powdery and the slightly icy snow that covers the New England Mountains.  His spring was all about competitive bike riding.  In the fall his time was divided between competitive football and lacrosse, having been awarded the distinguished rank of a U.S. High School All American Football Player.  Rusty went on to play college lacrosse and serve as a ski instructor.  He has skied all over the United States and in various spots around the world.  He has participated in several charitable bike rides across the state of Florida and has competed in Sprint Triathlons and Century Bike Rides.  While both an accomplished Attorney and athlete, if you ask Rusty what his proudest accomplishment is he will not hesitate and tell you it is his family.  Rusty has raised 5 successful children and all with the same level of love for humanity and family with which he was raised.  Just mentioning his family puts a smile on his face and sometimes a tear in his eye.

Justin R. Zinzow is the CEO and Founding member of Zinzow Law.  Justin is a Florida Bar Board Certified Construction Law Specialist.  His background in the road construction, landscaping, and building trades provides the real world experience and insight that foster his role as counselor.  Justin is versed in construction, real estate and business transactional law and litigation; but he prides himself most on being a zealous counselor of not only the law, but of business and life.  Justin often operates as a General Counsel for his clients.  As General Counsel he couples his expert legal skills, training, and business background to provide the perfect partnership, helping his clients and friends grow their businesses.  When not in court you will find Justin on any given day wearing jeans, boots and a cowboy hat.  This is not just a wardrobe for Justin; it is the personification of the values he carries throughout his life and his businesses.  These values can be summed up in the Code of the West.