ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR MIAMI-DADE’S TOP 30 TO WATCH IN 2013

Attorney At Law Magazine Celebrates Second Anniversary With Year-End Special Issue Featuring South Florida’s Most Dynamic Legal Professionals

MIAMI  – Attorney At Law magazine of Greater Miami, a premiere business publication focused on South Florida’s legal industry, is seeking nominations for it’s 30 to Watch in 2013 said Publisher Rhenne Leon.

“We want to profile Miami-Dade attorneys who will be making a big impact in 2013,” said Leon. “These are lawyers who are either handling significant corporate transactions, achieving noteworthy court verdicts or settlements for their clients, leading the charge to update obsolete laws and legal procedures, or volunteering with civic organizations to make the community better for others.”

-Leon said the nominees must be a member of The Florida Bar (in good standing), over the age of 30, and mainly based in Miami-Dade County. Submissions should include a biography (or resume); a descriptive essay, no more than two pages, explaining why the nominee will be one to watch in 2013; the attorney’s contact information; and headshot. Completed nomination materials should be emailed Friday, September 21, 2012 to: RLeon@attorneyatlawmagazine.com or rhenne.leon@gmail.com.

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JUDGE BRAVO RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FROM FLORIDA CONFERENCE OF COUNTY JUDGES

The Florida Conference of County Court Judges recently presented Seminole County Court Judge Carmine Bravo with its most prestigious honor, the 2012 Harvey Ford Award. The award is presented by the Conference to one judge among its 320 members for their outstanding service to the judiciary and their respective communities.

The Florida Conference of County Judges provides continuing judicial education and develops programs to address current trends and improve the administration of justice. Since his election in 1996, Judge Bravo has worked tirelessly on behalf of the Conference, serving on various committees, its board of directors and as board secretary for the last four years. He has also served on The Florida Bar’s Alternative Dispute Resolution committee.

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John Foster Receives The Florida Bar Family Law Section Rising Star Award

The Family Law Section of The Florida Bar recently recognized Baker Hostetler Partner John Foster with a Rising Star Award for the second year in a row. This award was given to recognize Mr. Foster for his committee work and contributions to other Section activities. Mr. Foster also has the following achievements regarding his professional efforts:

• Election to the Family Law Section’s Executive Council
• Appointment to the Family Law Section’s Legislative Committee
• Appointment to Chair the Family Law Section’s Equitable Distribution Committee
• Appointment to Co-Chair the Parentage Committee of the Family Law Section

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Gerald F. Richman is The Florida Bar Board Certified Lawyer of the Year

Gerald F. Richman, president of the commercial litigation and business law firm Richman Greer in Miami and West Palm Beach, has received the 2012 Justice Harry Lee Anstead Award for The Florida Bar Board Certified Lawyer of the Year.

Florida Bar board certified lawyers have demonstrated ability and experience in their fields and professionalism within the legal community, and are the only Florida lawyers who may use the terms “specialist,” “expert” or “B.C.S.” for Board Certified Specialist when referring to their legal credentials. The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education created the Anstead award in 2005 to recognize “exemplary professionalism and excellence in the practice of law and character and commitment to The Florida Bar's certification program.” The BLSE annually presents the award to a Florida Bar board certified lawyer or judge. 

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Richard Lydecker recognized by the City of Miami Beach for dedication to community

MIAMI, FL –July 31, 2012 – Lydecker Diaz Senior Partner Richard Lydecker was recognized by the City of Miami Beach for his dedication to the community during the commission meeting on July 18, 2012. City of Miami Beach Mayor Mattie Bower and Commissioner Michael Gongora, along with the entire City Commission, presented Lydecker with a certificate in honor of his many community contributions.

Among his advocacy roles, Lydecker is chairman of the Miami Dade Democratic Party, leading the party’s local efforts to ensure talented democratic candidates are elected to public office. He is also a board member of the Miami Downtown Development Authority, working to improve the quality of life for businesses, employees, residents, and visitors in Downtown Miami. In addition, he was cross appointed by US Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio to be a member of the Federal Judicial Nominating Committee which nominates candidates to the President of the United States for appointments to the Federal Bench and the US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

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Miami Law's Legal Corps needs your CLASSY Awards VOTE BEFORE JULY 26th

Our friends at U of Miami Law have a huge favor to ask of you. They have been nominated for a CLASSY Award and voting ends this Thursday.

The information is as follows:

Miami Law's Legal Corps program has been selected as one of five finalists in the human rights category for the Southern region for the CLASSY Awards. Now in its fourth year, the CLASSY Awards is the largest philanthropic award ceremony in the country and the event celebrates the greatest charitable achievements by nonprofit organizations, socially conscious businesses, and individuals worldwide.

The Miami Law Legal Corps is an ambitious postgraduate fellowship program that places recent law graduates in public sector organizations globally. To date, 148 fellows have participated in the program and 104 fellows have been hired by their host organizations or have found outside employment since participating in the program.

In order to advance, Miami Law's Legal Corps program needs your vote before July 26th. To vote, please:
1. Visit http://www.stayclassy.org/classy-awards/vote;
2. Select South from the list of regions;
3. Scroll to the Human Rights category and select the Miami Law Legal Corps.

Thank you for your support!

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PALM BEACH CHAPTER ALA AWARDS ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS

WEST PALM BEACH, FL (July 6, 2012) – Palm Beach County Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators presented 3 $1,000 gifts from the Tisha K McNamara Scholarship Award at the Annual Scholarship luncheon held in June. This award is available to the Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast legal industry employees and their dependents.

(left to right): Devin Dempsey, Michael Burdo, Kristina Soubasis, Gloria Hernandez (ALA Chapter President)

The Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) is a global organization of more than 9,000 members, whose professional concern is the effective management of government, corporate and private agencies and departments devoted to the delivery of legal services. Palm Beach County Chapter is but one of nine ALA chapters in the state of Florida.

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Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers Honored with the 2012 Partner in Education Award

In May 2012, the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers (“CFAWL”) was honored with the Partner in Education Award for West Orange County for all of the good work the organization completed at Rock Lake Elementary School. CFAWL member Kayla Mudge attended the award ceremony at Sea World.

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Carlton Fields Receives Family Friendly Firm Award from the Florida Association for Women Lawyers

West Palm Beach, Fla. – June 14, 2012 – Carlton Fields received the Family Friendly Firm award today from the Palm Beach County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL) during FAWL’s Annual Awards Luncheon.

The award recognizes a law firm for its creation of an environment that encourages attorneys, government consultants and professional staff to balance professional and family responsibilities. This includes maintaining programs such as alternative work schedules (e.g. flextime); telecommuting; generous maternity/paternity leave; and other programs that promote work-family balance.

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Ervin A. Gonzalez Inducted into La Salle High School Hall of Fame

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (April 30th, 2012) – Attorney Ervin A. Gonzalez, partner at the Coral Gables-based law firm Colson Hicks Eidson, was inducted into La Salle High School’s Hall of Fame at the 2012 Hall of Fame Induction ceremony held on Saturday, April 28 in the school’s Bayshore Ballroom.

Gonzalez, a 1978 graduate of La Salle High School, received the Saint John Bosco Alumni Award alongside distinguished alumni Lyan Fernandez (1971), Roymi Membiela (1976), and Jorge Plasencia (1992). Criteria for the distinguished award include:

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JOHN VREELAND HONORED WITH UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FOUNDATION’S ANNUAL VOLUNTEER AWARD

LAKELAND, FL— May 9, 2012 — John K. Vreeland, of the Lakeland office of GrayRobinson, P.A., was honored by the University of Florida Foundation’s Board of Directors with the Annual Volunteer Award, along with his wife Weezie Vreeland. The award acknowledges the Vreelands for their outstanding service to the University of Florida and the University of Florida Foundation.

“We are extremely proud of John and Weezie’s recognition by the University of Florida Foundation,” said GrayRobinson President Byrd F. "Biff" Marshall, Jr. “Both have remained passionate and dedicated members of the University of Florida community and we know they will continue to advocate and support its many programs and initiatives.”

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MICHAEL FREELING RECEIVES NATIONAL ADL LEADERSHIP AWARD

Boca Raton, FL, April 30, 2011 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has announced that Michael Freeling, of Boca Raton, has received a 2012 Daniel R. Ginsberg Leadership Award, which recognizes outstanding leadership in the fight against anti-Semitism, racism and all forms of prejudice. The annual award presentation was held on April 29th at the ADL Shana Glass National Leadership Conference, a gathering of nearly 500 Jewish community leaders in Washington, DC.

“Michael Freeling has been an invaluable supporter of ADL, and we are thrilled and proud that his commitment of time and energy invested into ADL’s mission to fight anti-Semitism and prejudice of all forms was recognized on a national level,” said Andrew Rosenkranz, ADL Florida Regional Director.

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Barry University School of Law’s Trial Team defeats Harvard

Orlando, Fla. -- Barry University School of Law’s Trial Team defeated Harvard University in the final round to win the ABA National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition held March 29-31 at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago. 

Hon. Stanley Sacks, presiding judge of the final round, (far left) presents the championship certificate to Barry’s winning trial team (from left): Aboubakr Maaroufi, Ryan Sainz, Ciara Harris, Victor Zamora and Professor Elizabeth Megale.

The win was Barry’s seventh championship at a national competition since 2008. It is also the second championship in the 2011-12 academic year, marking the second year in a row Barry’s Trial Team has won two championships.

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Kimberly Lopez Awarded Scholarship to Attend ABA Bar Leadership Institute Conference

ORLANDO, Fla. – April 5, 2012 – Kimberly Lopez, an associate in  Akerman Senterfitt's Orlando office and a member of its Litigation Practice Group, is one of five persons nationwide that was awarded a $1,000 scholarship to attend the American Bar Association's (ABA) Bar Leadership Institute Conference in Chicago last month.

The ABA grants the scholarship to upcoming leaders of small bar associations. Lopez is the 2012 president-elect for the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida (HBACF), and her attendance at the leadership conference marked the first time the HBACF had been represented there.

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GABRIELLE D’ALEMBERTE NAMED CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AXA ADVISORS BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR

Coral Gables, Fla. (March 22, 2012) – Gabrielle D’Alemberte, a trial attorney with the Law Offices of Robert Parks, P.L., has received the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce's 2012 AXA Advisors Businesswoman of the Year Award in the philanthropy category. D’Alemberte was recognized as an outstanding leader in the community who demonstrates excellence in business and serves as a role model for women.

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Daniel Diaz Leyva Receives 2012 Ruth Shack Leadership Award

Coral Gables, FL – March 15, 2012 ­– Infante Zumpano announced today that Daniel Diaz Leyva is the recipient of the 2012 Ruth Shack Leadership Award. This award is presented to an emerging leader who embodies the qualities of ethical leadership, dedication and service to Greater Miami; qualities embodied by President Emeritus of The Miami Foundation, Ruth Shack.

Diaz Leyva is a Miami native and a partner at the law firm of Infante Zumpano, where he leads their strategic planning and business development efforts. His passion for and commitment to the South Florida community is reflected in his years of service to various causes especially children.

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Don Slesnick Awarded with the U.S. Army’s “Outstanding Civilian Service Medal”

Coral Gables, Fl. – Don Slesnick, former Mayor of the City of Coral Gables, received the distinguished honor this past week of being given the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal. This award was established by the United States Army to recognize private citizens that have demonstrated exceptional public service on behalf of the nation’s military. General Douglas Fraser, Commander of the United States Southern Command, presented the award at a ceremony in Mr. Slesnick’s honor at the Conference Center of the Americas.

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Cristina Alonso Honored as Glass Ceiling Award Winner for 2012

Miami, Fla. – March 13, 2012 – Cristina Alonso, a Miami shareholder with Carlton Fields, was honored at the Florida Diversity Council’s 2^nd Annual Florida Women’s Conference as a winner of the 2012 Glass Ceiling Award.

 

The award is presented to women who have excelled and shattered the glass ceiling in professions which are dominated by men. The conference was held at the Kovens Conference Center at Florida International University. The conference, sponsored by Carlton Fields and co-chaired by the firm’s Miami Shareholder Kristy Johnson, is a statewide event focusing on professional development, community, networking and entrepreneurship. The conference gives women a tremendous opportunity to learn and make connections. In addition, the conference lends itself to be a statewide dialogue for women in the work place.

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Patricia H. Thompson Receives National Lifetime Achievement Award

Miami, Fla. – March 1, 2012 – Carlton Fields Miami Shareholder Patricia H. Thompson was recently recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) for her significant contributions to the fidelity and surety law profession.

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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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