The Team

“When dealing with the reptilian theory, it is very important to understand the balance between the law and the psychology behind the theory. The prepping of a witness should not only be based on the legal aspects of the case, but also the psychological aspects that are involved as well. Your strategy in prepping a witness should not just be legally centered but psychologically centered as well. The witness-centered preparation strategy is an enhancement to the litigation-centered approach.™ As the deposition guru, my master’s degree in clinical psychology allows me to bring a balance of psychology and law to every deposition preparation session to ensure that the reptile is defeated both legally and psychologically.”

Robin Jackson-Bernhardt, Esq. is a Co-Founder and CEO of Reverse the Reptile.™ She is a Senior Partner and Co-Chair of the Reptile and Deposition Strategies practice group at Luks & Santaniello. Martindale-Hubbell and her peers have rated her AV® Preeminent™. Robin has also received the National Black Lawyers Top 100 Award for 2024 and 2025.  She has tried over 20 jury trials to verdict and 10 bench trials. Robin focuses her practice on first party property, premise liability, general liability, auto negligence, negligent security, and personal injury protection litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Robin was in-house counsel for a national insurance company. While working as in-house counsel, she specialized in fraud cases and complex litigation cases. Robin is fluent in Sign Language.

Robin began her legal career as an Assisted Public Defender for the 9th Judicial Circuit, in Orange County. Robin was initially hired as a Mental Health Attorney and then transitioned to a trial attorney. As a Mental Health Attorney, Robin specialized in competency matters for juveniles, Baker Act defense, and Ryce Act defense. Robin also handled non-mental health cases for the Public Defender’s office that included adult and juvenile criminal defense litigation.

Prior to practicing law, Robin was a clinical mental health therapist. Robin worked for the Florida Assertive Community Treatment team for several years and volunteered at the Children’s Advocacy Center. At that time, Robin also specialized in forensics psychology and cognitive behavioral psychology. Robin also served on the Mental Health Court Board in Marion County. Robin’s background in psychology provides a unique perspective in her practice of law, most evidenced during her tenure working as an Assistant Public Defender. Having this interdisciplinary approach provides her with valuable insight and skills that enhance her practice as an attorney.

Robin earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock where she graduated with honors, (2003). She received a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from Troy University, graduating with honors (2009). Robin obtained her Juris Doctor from Barry University (2016). While in law school Robin was awarded an Honors Certificate in Family law and interned with Legal Aid. She was also on the executive board of the Business Law Society and vice president of the Christian Legal Society.

Robin is admitted in Florida (2016).

Awards & Honors

• Honors Certificate in Family Law
• The 2009 Psychology award in Recognition of Scholastic and Professional Excellence in the Field of Psychology
• Martindale-Hubbell and her peers have rated her AV® Preeminent, the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards
• The National Black Lawyers Top 100 for 2024 and 2025

Accreditations

• Family Services Counselor Professional Certification
• Child Welfare Case Manager
• Licensing Specialist

Bar/Court Admission

• 2016, Florida

Education

• Arkansas State University, A.A., 2001
• University of Arkansas at Little Rock, B.S., with honors, 2003
• Troy University, M.S., with honors, 2009
• Barry University, J.D., 2016

Professional/Civil Memberships

• Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International
• Florida Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division
• Association for Women Lawyers
• Florida Bar Association, Business Law Section
• Paul C. Perkins Bar Association
• Hispanic American Bar Association
• The National Black Lawyers Top 100

Industries Represented

• Office Product Retail Stores
• Home Improvement Retailers
• Retail Specialty Stores
• Supermarket Chains
• Suppliers
• Hotels
• Shopping Malls & Centers
• Restaurants & Bars
• Insurance Companies
• Third Party Administrators for Claims Management and Risk
• State Bureaus & Agencies
• Car Rental Companies
• Public & Governmental Entities
• Rideshare application-based companies
• Employers
• Gas Convenience Stores
• Product Distributors
• Hotels and Hospitality Companies
• Property Managers
• Manufacturers

“Our goal is to establish a recommended best practices industry-wide approach through early identification of reptile risk, deposition awareness and preparation strategies, and effective reverse reptile trial and jury selection strategies.”

Dan Santaniello, Co-Founder of Reverse the Reptile™, is a 35-year seasoned trial attorney at Luks & Santaniello with more than 100 jury verdicts. He is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar, a distinction reserved for experts in the field, and holds the prestigious AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting the highest level of professional excellence as recognized by his peers.

Dan is a proud member of the invitation-only American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and, in 2025, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Defense Lawyers Association (FDLA), where he previously served as President. This honor, presented to only one attorney each year, recognizes extraordinary dedication to the defense bar and meaningful contributions to the legal community. The Defense Research Institute (DRI) has also recognized Dan with an Exceptional Performance Citation for advancing defense standards and improving the administration of justice.

A firm believer in the jury system, Dan is passionate about the principle that civil cases should be decided by the people. Known for his skill in jury selection, he excels at identifying jurors who can put aside emotion and focus solely on the evidence and the law. He has developed a highly effective “reverse reptile” strategy, which has been successfully used to defend some of America’s largest corporations in challenging, high-stakes cases.

Dan’s practice spans wrongful death and catastrophic loss, including negligent security, commercial trucking and transportation, retail and premises liability and product liability. He is frequently retained by excess insurers to oversee complex matters and is often brought in to try difficult cases in challenging venues, including Los Angeles and Las Vegas. His involvement often shifts the dynamics of a case and creates new opportunities for resolution.

Beyond trial work, Dan counsels clients on time-limit demands, bad faith claims, and risk management. He is certified by the Supreme Court of Florida as a Circuit Mediator and is a Qualified Florida Arbitrator. Dan is also a co-founder of ADAAM.org, a Diversity Supplier Initiative connecting clients with highly qualified and diverse arbitrators and mediators nationwide, and TheGavel.net, a national claims defense network.

Born and raised in Boston, Dan earned his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University (1987) before moving to Florida to attend Nova Southeastern University Law School on a full academic scholarship. He graduated summa cum laude and ranked third in his class (1990). In 1995, just five years into his career, Dan founded his law firm, which has since grown to more than 200 attorneys across over a dozen offices. Despite his success, he proudly carries with him a bit of his Boston fight—and accent.

Awards & Honors

• Recipient of the Defense Research Institute (DRI) Exceptional Performance Citation 2013-2014.
• Named South Florida Legal Leaders (ALM) 2013.
• Florida Super Lawyers 2012 and 2011.
• Recipient FDLA 2010 President’s Award for outstanding service.
• Selected Most Effective Lawyer (2007 finalist) by the Florida Daily Business Review.
• Named 2012 “Go-To” Law Firm to F500 Companies by ALM.

Accreditations

• Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist by The Florida Bar.
• Certified by the Florida Department of Transportation in the area of Traffic Control / Maintenance of Traffic.
• Certified by the Supreme Court of Florida as a Circuit Mediator
• Qualified Florida Arbitrator
• Approved Instructor – Florida Adjuster Continuing Education and Attorney Continuing Legal Education seminars

Bar/Court Admission

• 1990, Florida Bar; 1991, Massachusetts Bar
• 1990, U.S. District Court, Southern; 1990, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida including Trial Bar
• 1991, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts

Education

• Northeastern University, B.S., 1987
• Nova Southeastern University, J.D., summa cum laude, class rank 3rd, 1990.

Professional/Civil Memberships

• The Florida Bar
• Massachusetts and American Bar Associations
• Board of Directors Florida Defense Lawyers Association
• Member of the Trucking Industry Defense Association
• Member of the Claims Litigation Management
• The Defense Research Institute
• Miami-Dade County Bar Association
• Broward County Bar Association
• Managing Attorney Member of The Gavel Claims Defense Network
• American Board of Trial Advocates

Industries Represented

• Insurance Companies
• Real Estate Investment Trusts
• Financial Services Companies
• Global Investment Banking Companies
• Third-Party Administrators for Claims Management and Risk Control
• Architects and Engineers
• Motor Carriers, Cargo and Brokers
• Hauling and Owner Operators (trucking)
• Attorneys, Accountants and Other Professionals
• Property Managers
• Commercial and Residential Landlords
• Public and Governmental Entities
• State Bureaus & Agencies
• Adult Living Facilities
• Nursing Homes
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Media & Electronic Commerce Businesses
• Solid Waste Management Services
• Gas Convenience Stores
• Office Product Retail Stores
• Home Improvement Retailers
• Retail
• Supermarket Chains
• Construction Companies
• Contractors and Sub-contractors
• Suppliers
• Homeowner and Condominium Associations
• Transportation Trucking Industry
• Car Rental Companies
• Hotels
• Shopping Malls and Centers
• Restaurants
• Manufacturers
• Product Distributors