Lacey Corona Joins Broad and Cassel

Lacey D. Corona

Destin, Fla.; July 17, 2012 — Lacey D. Corona has joined Broad and Cassel’s Destin office as an associate in the Commercial Litigation Practice Group.

Corona previously practiced at a Fort Walton Beach law firm, where she handled commercial and partnership disputes, title insurance claims, foreclosure defense, employment law, condominium and homeowner’s association law, and real estate disputes.

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Lydecker Diaz Expands Statewide Presence: Opens Offices in Tampa & Jacksonville

MIAMI, FL –May 11, 2012 – Florida law firm Lydecker Diaz continues its momentum of growth, opening offices in Tampa and Jacksonville and moving into more expansive offices in Orlando. These moves represent a significant increase in statewide presence, reflecting the firm’s client reach throughout Florida.

“While many law firms have been forced to cut back because of the state of economy, Lydecker Diaz has continued its strategic growth, first strengthening its core practices and now branching out into new parts of the state,” said Mark Hendricks, managing partner of Lydecker Diaz. “Lydecker Diaz’s three new offices in key Florida cities continue to solidify the firm’s presence and standing as one of the premier commercial litigation, corporate and transactional firms in the region.”

The Jacksonville office, located at 4720 Salisbury Road, the Tampa office located at 4511 North Himes Avenue, and the new Orlando office located at 390 N. Orlando Avenue will add to the firm’s footprint. In addition, the firm has named JW Webb as partner-in-charge of the Orlando office to manage the firm’s robust client list in the area. Mr. Webb has extensive experience managing law firm offices and focuses his practice in general civil trial and complex commercial litigation, insurance defense, and medical malpractice.

The new office openings come less than a year after Lydecker Diaz relocated its Miami office to an expanded space at 1221 Brickell Avenue, in the heart of downtown Miami’s Brickell Financial District. In the past four years, the firm has grown by nearly 60%, from 40 attorneys to 70.

Lydecker Diaz is a full service commercial law firm serving clients throughout Florida. The firm’s attorneys bring extensive experience in the areas of commercial and financial litigation, intellectual property, labor & employment, appeals, and corporate & business transactions. www.LydeckerDiaz.com

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Request to Contact Governor and Attorney General - Civil Legal Assistance Funding

Many of you may have heard that there is $2 million in the 2012-13 state budget for Civil Legal Assistance under the Florida Access to Civil Legal Assistance Act (FACLA). The funds go through the Attorney General's Office/Department of Legal Affairs to the Foundation and are granted out to local legal aid programs (see attached list of grantees from 2010-11 when state funding was $1 million).

We had no state funding last year as Governor Scott vetoed the $1 million appropriation. So, this year, we need to redouble our efforts to secure the Governor's and Attorney General's support. This state funding is especially critical to local legal aid programs in light of the Foundation having to cut its funding because of the drop in IOTA revenue.

We ask that you contact Governor Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi this week or very early next week (and ask others to do so -- especially those who know the Governor and/or Attorney General) and encourage them to support the $2 million appropriation. There was no controversy in the Legislature about this funding (there never has been).

You can let the Governor and Attorney General know how important legal aid is in your community, the difference it makes in the lives of those most vulnerable and how much the state funds are needed.

Contact information, including email links follow. A list of attached resources to assist you follows the content information.

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STEVEN L. DANIELS ANNOUNCED AS NEW ADL FLORIDA CHAIR

Boca Raton, FL, April 4, 2012…The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is proud to announce the installment of Steven L. Daniels as its new Florida Regional Chair.  Mr. Daniels is the coordinating partner in the West Palm Beach and Boca Raton offices of Arnstein & Lehr, LLP.  Mr. Daniels was installed as Chair of the ADL Florida Regional Board at the Board's April 3^rd meeting.  He replaces Seth Gadinsky of Miami Beach who served as Chair for the past two years.

"I am very excited about my new role with ADL,” stated Steven Daniels, ADL Florida Regional Chair. “It is an agency that does excellent work both locally and nationally and yet, there are still so many important initiatives to create, and to grow. There are people in this State who need to be educated, who need to be protected and who need to know that ADL is there for them. I am honored to lead the Florida Region of ADL in that challenge."

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KENNETH JACOBS TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SYNOVUS BANK

Kenneth B. Jacobs

Kenneth B. Jacobs, managing shareholder of the Jacksonville office of GrayRobinson, P.A., has been elected to serve on the board of directors of Synovus Bank, one of the largest community banks in the Southeast.

“Ken’s leadership will be a tremendous asset to the Synovous Bank board,” said GrayRobinson President Byrd F. "Biff" Marshall, Jr. “I am confident he will bring the same level of commitment and leadership to Synovous Bank that he brings to GrayRobinson and our clients each day.”

Jacobs is a commercial litigator with substantial experience representing debtors and creditors in bankruptcy cases and debt workouts. He has also arbitrated employment and commercial claims, as well as handled a wide range of employment issues, contract disputes, commercial lending matters and complex construction cases.

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2012 Pro Bono Awards Complete Recipient Listing

Congratulations to the 2012 Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award recipients. This prestigious annual recognition honors a member of the Florida State Bar in each of the state's 20 judicial circuits who has made outstanding pro bono contributions to the community.

Tobias Simon Pro Bono Award Recipient 

Rosemary E. Armstrong 

The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award Recipients 

1st Circuit, Charles P. Hoskin 
2nd Circuit, Wendy S. Loquasto 
3rd Circuit, Leenette W. McMillan-Fredriksson 
4th Circuit, Suzanne M. Judas 
5th Circuit, Sandra H. Day 
6th Circuit, Myriam Irizarry 
7th Circuit, James A. Kowalski, Jr. 
8th Circuit, Leslie Smith Haswell 
9th Circuit, Edmund T. Baxa, Jr. 
10th Circuit, Deborah L. Wells 
11th Circuit, James F. Pollack 
12th Circuit, Arthur D. Ginsburg 
13th Circuit, Adrian J. “Stan” Musial, Jr. 
14th Circuit, Michael P. Dickey 
15th Circuit, Steven G. Cripps 
16th Circuit, Thomas E. Woods 
17th Circuit, Elizabeth G. Daugherty 
18th Circuit, James L. Torres 
19th Circuit, Norman L. Paxton, Jr. 
20th Circuit, Daniel J. Endrizal, III 
Out-of-State, Melissa L. Mackiewicz 

Voluntary Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award Recipient 

Saint Lucie County Bar Association c/o Jennifer R. Kuczler 

Chief Justice’s Law Firm Commendation Pro Bono Award Recipient 

Fisher, Butts, Sechrest, Warner and Palmer, PA c/o Michael Sechrest 

Chief Justice’s Distinguished Judicial Service Pro Bono Award Recipient 

Judge James M. Barton, II 

Young Lawyers Division Pro Bono Service Award Recipient 

Timothy A. Moran 

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Keith Arnold and Brett Bacot Bolster Fowler White Boggs Government Relations Practice

Tampa, Fort Myers, Tallahassee, FL – Fowler White Boggs is pleased to announce that J. Keith Arnold and Brett Bacot have joined the Firm’s Government Relations and Lobbying Practice Group in Fort Myers and Tallahassee.

J. Keith Arnold

Mr. Arnold is a fifth generation Floridian from Fort Myers who served in the Florida House of Representatives for 16 years.  In 1982, at 23 years old, he was the youngest member elected to the House, and at the age of 28 became the youngest majority leader in state history.  He has served in a number of other leadership posts, including Chairman of the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Committee and Chairman of the Postsecondary Education Committee.  From 1992 through 1996, he was Chairman of the Appropriations Sub-committee on Education, responsible for the state's $14 billion education budget including all Pre K, K-12, Community College, and State University funding.  Mr. Arnold received his M.A. from Barry University in Pastoral Theology, his B.S. from Florida State University in Government and Economics and his A.A. from Edison State College in Government and Economics.

Brett Bacot

Mr. Bacot is a registered lobbyist with more than 11 years experience in the legislative process and during that time has worked on various issues, specializing in healthcare, appropriations, and local government issues.  He has worked as a legislative aide in the Florida House of Representatives and has done grass roots advocacy work on public interest issues with the California Public Interest Research Group.  Mr. Bacot will practice out of the Firm’s Tallahassee office.  He received his M.S. from Florida State University in Applied American Politics and his B.S. from Florida State University in Political Science.

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Reese J. Henderson, Jr., has joined GrayRobinson in Jascksonville

Reese J. Henderson, Jr., has joined GrayRobinson in Jascksonville as a shareholder. Henderson is a board certified construction attorney. He is recognized as an expert in construction law by The Florida Bar as a Board Certified Construction Attorney. 

Henderson has more than fifteen years of experience litigating a variety of construction related matters for owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, materialmen, sureties, manufacturers and condominium associations.

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Jason C. Taylor has joined McConnaughhay, Duffy, Coonrod, Pope & Weaver

Jason C. Taylor has joined McConnaughhay, Duffy, Coonrod, Pope & Weaver in Tallahassee. He will focus in the areas of workers’ compensation and insurance defense.

Jason's practice has included matters in the areas of auto, transportation and premises liability, insurance issues related to several forms of coverage, employment and labor matters, including workers' compensation and general commercial matters. His practice in these areas has been before trial and appellate level courts and administrative bodies. Jason has also engaged in some lobbying efforts, resulting in legislation that amended the Florida Statutes on the issue of automobile insurance coverage.

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