Isabel M. Alcocer, Esq.
Isabel Alcocer is the managing partner for the Firm. Ms. Alcocer graduated with honors from the University of Georgia and received her Juris Doctor degree from Georgia State University. Ms. Alcocer represents the interests of Employers, Insurance Carriers, and Third-Party Administrators in Workers’ Compensation Insurance Defense and Subrogation matters.
Ms. Alcocer maintains an active caseload. She represents a variety of Employers ranging from governmental entities, retail, grocery, and service industries, to construction projects including OCIPS and CCIPS. She has successfully handled many cases, and several have impacted Florida case law. Her cases have been cited by the First District Court of Appeal on issues ranging from Attorney’s Fees to Compensability and Fraud.
Ms. Alcocer is a frequent lecturer and provides Continuing Education credits on various Workers’ Compensation issues such as Heart/Lung, Case Law Updates, Trending Topics, and Ethics.
She is a member of the Florida Workers' Compensation Section. She was appointed to the Council on Ethical Billing. Ms. Alcocer speaks, reads, and writes fluent Spanish. She is a proud member of the Office of Supplier Diversity, and the Firm is designated as a certified woman owned, Hispanic American business.
Gary M. Schloss, Esq.
Gary M. Schloss is a partner with the Firm. Mr. Schloss received his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance, with Honors, from Boston College in 1989. He graduated with Honors from the University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law in 1992, where he served as a Fellowship Instructor in Advanced Legal Research, Writing and Appellate Advocacy.
Mr. Schloss practices in all areas of Workers' Compensation at the trial and appellate levels. He represents a variety of Employers ranging from insurance carriers, governmental entities, school districts, and large self-insured entities in multiple industries. He has extensive experience with complex Workers' Compensation litigation, including catastrophic claims, permanent total disability, death cases, exposure/occupational disease claims, fraud/misrepresentation, and the heart and lung bill. Mr. Schloss also practices employment-related defense, subrogation and general liability.
He has successfully litigated cases in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Brevard, Highlands, Hendry, Hardee, Broward, and Dade Counties. During his distinguished legal career, Mr. Schloss has handled numerous appellate matters, including oral arguments in front of the First District Court of Appeal. Mr. Schloss has been responsible for numerous appellate decisions which have impacted the practice of Workers’ Compensation.
Neil J. Hayes, Esq.
Neil J. Hayes is the founding partner of the Firm (1951-2020). He graduated from Villanova University in 1973. Mr. Hayes then attended the Stetson College of Law in 1979. Upon graduation Mr. Hayes was selected to serve as a law clerk to the Chief Judge of Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal. Following his service with the Court Mr. Hayes practiced Workers’ Compensation defense in the West Palm Beach area and opened Neil J. Hayes, P.A. in 1989, now Hayes, Schloss & Alcocer, P.A.
Julianne M. Sais, Esq.
Julianne Sais is an associate attorney at Hayes, Schloss & Alcocer, P.A. She focuses her practice on representing the interests of Employers, Carriers, and Servicing Agents in all aspects of Florida Workers’ Compensation defense. She brings a great deal of experience from her time at a New York firm where she successfully managed a large volume of cases.
Ms. Sais earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from SUNY Stony Brook. She then went on to earn her Juris Doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School. She is admitted to both the Florida and New York Bars.
Kurt Wirsing, Esq.
Kurt Wirsing is a Senior Associate Attorney at the law firm of Hayes, Schloss & Alcocer, P.A. Kurt has worked exclusively in workers’ compensation since 2004 and is a highly experienced litigator at the trial level. Kurt dedicates his practice to representing the interests of employers, carriers, and servicing agents throughout Florida. He is known for his strategic, creative thinking and fierce client advocacy. Kurt was admitted to The Florida Bar in 2003 and is a member of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Florida Bar Association. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Emory University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in 2003.
Mary Spagnola-Hills, Esq.
Mrs. Spagnola-Hills recently joined the law firm of Hayes, Schloss & Alcocer, P.A. as a Senior Associate Attorney. Mary received her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration(1987) and Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida (1991) and has been licensed to practice law in Florida since 1992. She is a member of the Florida Bar Association and the Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation Section and is Board Certified in Florida Workers’ Compensation (since 1999). Mary is currently serving on the Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation Board Certification Testing Committee as well as the Florida Bar West Palm Beach Workers’ Compensation Committee and is a member of the Robert D. McAliley Inn of Court. She is admitted to the United States Southern District and Middle District Courts of Florida. Mary has had the opportunity to represent both injured workers and employers, carriers and servicing agents and but has concentrated her practice defending Insureds, Employers, Carriers, Self-Insurers and Third-Party Administrators in workers’ compensation matters for the past 23 years. Mary’s initial ten (10) years representing injured employees has given her a unique perspective and advantage in representing her current clients. She also has experience in Employment Discrimination Defense, Retaliatory Discharge Defense, Unemployment Defense, Social Security Disability and Civil Litigation. Mary firmly believes that the client is her number one priority and believes in a Team Approach, working closely with her clients to optimize the outcome and maintaining communication with timely updates and continuity of strategy. Mary has served on the Board of Directors of Treasure Coast Division of the 440 Scholarship Fund, Inc. from January 2015 to September 2016, raising funds to provide college scholarships for students affiliated with people involved in the Florida Workers’ Compensation System. Mrs. Spagnola-Hills is a two-time breast cancer survivor. She is a fierce advocate for breast cancer awareness and research towards a cure and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Susan G. Komen, South Florida Affiliate from April 2015 to 2019. Mary has also found the time to pursue her interest in martial arts with her family where she, her husband (now deceased) and two sons are all black belts. Mary is an Official Provider and Instructor for the Florida Bureau of Agent & Agency Licensing Services, providing adjusters with seminars for continuing education credits. Please call (772) 201-2682 to speak with Mrs. Spagnola-Hills if you are interested in arranging an approved seminar.
