TALLAHASSEE, Sept. 2, 2004 – The Florida Bar recently certified 117 Florida lawyers as specialists in 19 areas of legal practice. Board certification recognizes attorneys’ special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice.
Certified attorneys are the only lawyers allowed to identify or advertise themselves as "Florida Bar Board Certified" or as specialists. Certification is the highest level of recognition by The Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in the areas of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida. The newly certified lawyers are listed below.
“Board-certified lawyers exemplify the high standards The Florida Bar sets for all of its members,” said Bar President Kelly Overstreet Johnson.“Attorneys who specialize and are certified in their practice areas advance the Bar’s mission to promote professionalism and we applaud their achievements.”
A lawyer who is a member in good standing of The Florida Bar and who meets the standards prescribed by the state's Supreme Court may become board certified in one or more of the 20 certification fields. More than 3,700 Florida lawyers are board certified. Minimum requirements for certification are listed below; each area of certification may contain higher or additional standards.
- A minimum of five years in law practice
- A satisfactory showing of substantial involvement in the field of law for which certification is sought
- A passing grade on the examination required of all applicants
- Satisfactory peer review assessment of competence in the specialty field as well as character, ethics and professionalism in the practice of law
- Satisfaction of the certification area’s continuing legal education requirements
Board certification is valid for five years, during which time the attorney must continue to practice law and attend Florida Bar-approved continuing legal education courses. To be recertified, requirements similar to those for initial certification must be met. Not all qualified lawyers are certified, but those who are board certified have taken the extra step to have their competence and experience recognized.
September 2004 Newly Certified Attorneys
ANTITRUST AND TRADE REGULATION
Lori S. Rowe, Tallahassee
APPELLATE PRACTICE LAW
Shannon McLin Carlyle, The Villages
Matthew John Conigliaro, Saint Petersburg
Edward George Guedes, Miami
Sonya Harrell Hoener, Jacksonville
Scot Eliot Samis, Saint Petersburg
Ryan Thomas Truskoski, Orlando
Timothy Wayne Weber, Saint Petersburg
AVIATION
Robert Clay Owens, Miami
BUSINESS LITIGATION
Douglas Keith Gartenlaub, Winter Park
Joseph Marc Goldstein, Fort Lauderdale
George Stephen LeMieux, Tallahassee
Alan Benjamin Rose, West Palm Beach
CITY, COUNTY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
David Arthur Acton, Stuart
Debra Susan Babb-Nutcher, Orlando
Ralf Gunars Brookes, Cape Coral
Isabelle Christine Lopez, Saint Augustine
Melanie Ann Marsh, Tavares
Victor Gerald Meaders Jr., Clearwater
Sarah Ann Schenk, Sarasota
Robert Blake Shillinger Jr., Key West
Erica Nicole Wright, Miami
Donna Darlene Bolin Wysong, Riverview
CIVIL TRIAL
Lisa Jacqueline Baligian, Fort Lauderdale
Donald F. Black, Jacksonville
Glenn Scott Cameron, West Palm Beach
Deborah J. Gander, Coral Gables
David Jay Gorewitz, Melbourne
Brian Charles Guenther, Saint Petersburg
James Read HollandII, Jacksonville
Scott Brian Kallins, Palmetto
Louis Nikolaus Larsen, Stuart
Jonathan Todd Levy, West Palm Beach
Melton Harry Little, Palmetto
William Raymond Ponsoldt Jr., Stuart
Richard Paul Pravato, Fort Lauderdale
Brian D. Stokes, Orlando
Maria Dolores Tejedor, Orlando
Robert Gordon ThornhillIII, Winter Haven
Peter Scott Van Keuren, West Palm Beach
Brian Carl Vigness, Fort Myers
Terrell Patton Youngblood Jr., Tampa
CRIMINAL APPELLATE
David Howard Foxman, Daytona Beach
Margaret Good-Earnest, West Palm Beach
Jo Ann Barone Kotzen, West Palm Beach
Ryan Thomas Truskoski, Orlando
CRIMINAL TRIAL
Oliver David Barksdale, Jacksonville
Jenifer Melander Davis, Orlando
Kendra Rumbough Davis, Tampa
Scott Paul Davis, Tampa
Ronald Lee EckerII, Melbourne
Charles William Lammers, Pensacola
Craig Jarett Schaeffer, Sarasota
Joshua Evan Schoen, Bartow
Stephen Wayne Siegel, Jacksonville
Paul Louis Studer, Saint Petersburg
Ethan Andrew Way, Tallahassee
Teresa Elizabeth Williams, Fort Lauderdale
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ELDER LAW
Elizabeth Bryan Bach, Sarasota
Emma Sleeth Hemness, Brandon
William Arthur Johnson, Melbourne
Arlene Hechter Lakin, Margate
Michael I. Miller, Sanibel
Walter B. Shurden, Clearwater
Tracy Olson Strom, Fort Walton Beach
HEALTH LAW
Erin Alberta Smith Aebel, Tampa
David Leonard Evans, Orlando
Jonathan David Fleece, Bradenton
Michael Robert Lowe, Orlando
Robert Henry Pritchard, Jacksonville
Stephanie Ann Russo, West Palm Beach
Craig Hamilton Smith, Miami
William Francis Sutton Jr., Orlando
IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY LAW
Kashmira I. Bhavsar, Maitland
Gustavo Vargas, Orlando
INTERNATIONAL LAW
Jorge Kuri, Miami
Malcolm Cottingham Riddell, Sarasota
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW
Jason Lucas Gunter, Fort Myers
Brian Koji, Tampa
Ellen M. Leibovitch, Boca Raton
Dennis Michael McClelland, Tampa
Mary Jean Navaretta, Port Saint Lucie
James David Stokes, Pompano Beach
Aaron L. Zandy, Orlando
MARITAL AND FAMILY LAW
Elisabeth Adams, Fort Myers
Alexander Caballero, Tampa
Bruce Barton Childers Jr., Pensacola
Jeffrey Allen Conner, Jacksonville
J. J. Dahl, Clermont
Susan Ellen Greenberg, Boca Raton
Holly Davidson Schuttler, Boca Raton
Eddie E. StephensIII, West Palm Beach
Jeffrey Adam Weissman, Fort Lauderdale
REAL ESTATE LAW
Adelaida Fernandez-Fraga, Coral Gables
Julie Ann Horstkamp, Sarasota
William N. La Forte, Naples
Linda Olson MacLaren, Boca Raton
Anna M. McRae, Delray Beach
Raymond Lloyd Schumann, Bonita Springs
Jo Claire Spear, Saint Petersburg
TAX LAW
Robert Scott Bernstein, Jacksonville
John Jacob Reinhardt Peek, Jacksonville
Christopher Douglas Scott, Norfolk, VA
WILLS, TRUSTS AND ESTATES
Veronica R. S. Bauer, Palm Beach
Daniel Karl Capes, Naples
Robert Scott Collins, Sarasota
Robert Henson Eardley, Naples
Mary Beth Forrester, Bonita Springs
Grace Gutierrez, Fort Myers
Robert Edward Highsmith, Key West
Shane John Kelley, Fort Lauderdale
Shelly Wald Schwartz, Boca Raton
Jason Ira Warshofsky, Coconut Grove
WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW
Philip Robert Augustine, Maitland
Patrick John McGinley, Winter Park
Thomas Warren Sculco, Lake Mary
Benjamin Andrew Winter, Tampa
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For more information, please visit the Bar website at www.flabar.org or contact The Florida Bar’s Legal Specialization & Education Department at 850/561-5842.
Lawyers newly certified by The Florida Bar listed by specialty areas:
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APPLICATIONS SOUGHT TO FILL A VACANCY ON THE FIRST DISTRICT
COURT OF APPEAL
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TALLAHASSEE, Sept. 8, 2004 -- Applications are being sought to fill a vacancy on the First District Court of Appeal created by the retirement of Anne C. Booth effective January 3, 2005.
Applications will be screened by the First District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission, who will send nominees to the Governor. The Governor then has 60 days from the receipt of the nominees to make the appointment.
Applicants must be a resident within the First District, a registered voter, and have been a member in good standing of The Florida Bar for the preceding ten years. Application forms are available on The Florida Bar’s Web site application page or by calling Ms. Miller at 904/630-1540. Ten copies of the completed application must be received by Ms. Miller no later than 5 p.m. on October 7, 2004, 220 East Bay Street, 14th Floor, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for the week of October 18th or October 25th in Tallahassee.
Members currently serving on the First District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission are: Chair, Jeanne M. Miller, Steven K. Yablonski, of Jacksonville; Melissa F. Allaman, Vikky R. Shirley, Monesia Taylor Brown, Carlos Muniz, Stephen Turner, Lawrence E. Sellers, Jr., all of Tallahassee; and Edward P. Fleming, Vice Chair, of Pensacola.
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