ABOUT THE FIRM

About Hartley Law Group

Hartley Law Group is a litigation-focused law firm providing strategic representation in complex civil matters. The firm was founded with a clear objective: to deliver high-quality legal advocacy grounded in sound judgment, careful preparation, and practical insight.
Based in Tampa, Florida, Hartley Law Group serves clients throughout the Tampa Bay region and across Florida. Each matter is approached with a disciplined understanding of the legal and factual landscape, allowing the firm to develop thoughtful strategies tailored to the specific circumstances and objectives involved.

Leadership & Experience

Josh Hartley

Managing Partner

Hartley Law Group is led by Josh Hartley, a Florida-based trial attorney whose practice focuses on civil litigation. Admitted to the Florida Bar in 2015, Josh brings more than a decade of experience handling complex litigation in both state and federal courts.

Josh concentrates his practice on matters involving automobile liability, bad faith litigation, coverage disputes, and medical malpractice. He has extensive experience across all phases of litigation and significant appellate experience, including appeals before the Florida Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and five of Florida’s six District Courts of Appeal.

Prior to founding Hartley Law Group, Josh spent the first ten years of his practice focusing primarily on bad faith litigation and coverage disputes. He worked for one of Florida’s preeminent bad faith law firms for five years before later working directly with Kansas Gooden, prior to her appointment to the Third District Court of Appeal.

This background provides Josh with a comprehensive understanding of litigation strategy from multiple perspectives.

Josh is admitted to practice in:

The Florida Bar

  • United States District Court – Northern District of Florida
  • United States District Court – Middle District of Florida
  • United States District Court – Southern District of Florida
  • United States Court of Appeals – Eleventh Circuit

Throughout his career, Josh has developed a reputation for careful preparation, strategic thinking, and direct communication. He works closely with clients to understand both the legal issues involved and the broader goals at stake, ensuring representation that is informed, responsive, and results-driven.

The Firm Today

Hartley Law Group is a growing practice supported by a team of attorneys committed to high professional standards and thoughtful advocacy.

Donelle White

Donelle A. White is a dedicated attorney known for her compassion, integrity, and unwavering commitment to justice. A Pennsylvania native, she earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Albright College before going on to study law at Temple University.

Donelle began her legal career in Philadelphia, where she built a strong foundation in both defense and plaintiff work. In 1993, she relocated to Florida, continuing her legal practice while becoming an active member of her community through various charitable endeavors.

Outside the practice of law, Donelle enjoys the Florida sunshine and exploring new destinations with her husband.

Shantanu Patel

Shantanu Patel is an experienced litigator with a diverse background in civil litigation, insurance defense, first-party insurance disputes, and criminal prosecution. Licensed to practice in both Florida and Illinois, he brings a trial-ready perspective to every matter, having managed cases from pre-suit investigation through final resolution.

His background includes work in personal injury litigation, insurance defense, and jury trial advocacy. Before joining Hartley Law Group, Shantanu served as an Assistant State Attorney, worked on complex civil litigation at a national plaintiff firm, handled first-party insurance disputes for a major Florida home insurer, and represented insurance companies, insureds, and governmental entities at a local AV-rated law firm.

Raised in St. Petersburg, Shantanu is deeply connected to the Tampa Bay area and brings both technical litigation experience and practical courtroom insight to his work.

Our Approach

Effective advocacy begins long before a matter reaches a courtroom. Our approach emphasizes early analysis, clear strategy, and ongoing communication at every stage of representation.
We work with clients to evaluate risk, consider options, and pursue outcomes aligned with their goals while remaining adaptable as matters evolve.

A Growing Practice

Hartley Law Group is a modern, growing firm built to evolve alongside its clients. As the practice expands, the firm remains committed to maintaining high professional standards, providing thoughtful advocacy, and delivering a professional, client-focused experience.

Connect with Hartley Law Group

If you would like to discuss a matter or learn more about our approach, we welcome you to get in touch.
All inquiries are handled with care, discretion, and professionalism.