Education
J.D. University of Miami School of Law, Coral Gables, Florida, 1984
Honors: Order of Barristers
University of Miami Moot Court Team-
Robert Orseck Memorial Moot Competition - “Best Brief Award”-1981
University of Miami Mock Trial Team
Moot Court Board
Res Ipsa Loquitur- (Law School Newspaper)- Staff Writer
B.A., University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, 1981
Honors: Cum Laude
Honors: Gold Key Honor Society
Bar Admissions
Florida, 1985
U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 1985
U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida, 2008 Supreme Court of the U.S., March 2019
Florida Supreme Court Circuit Civil Mediator (2008- present) (MC No.: 23302R)
Professional & Bar Association Memberships
The Florida Bar
Member Since: 1985
Citizen's Forum (2000 - 2004)
Grievance Committee, 17th Judicial Circuit (2001 - 2004 )
Florida Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism (Ex-Officio) (2004- present)
Florida Supreme Court JNC (Judicial Nominating Committee) (2004-2008)
Gubernatorial Appointment
Florida Bar Board of Governors (June 2013- present) Communications Committee (present - June 26, 2021) Disciplinary Review Committee (present- June 26, 2021)
Board Liaison - Legal Needs of Children Committee (present- June 26, 2021)
17th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee Designated Reviewer (Comm. “D” & “G”) (June 2013-present)
CSF DR Review (June 2013-present)
2018 JNC Screening Committee
Broward County Trial Lawyers Association
Member Since: 2004
Board of Directors (2004- 2008)
Broward County Bar Association
Member Since: 2005
Board of Directors (2005- 2010)
Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers (n/k/a: Florida Justice Association)
Member Since: 1985
Board of Directors (1996 - 2006)
Fellow (2015 -present)
Chair, Continuing Legal Education (1999 - 2001) Chair, Allies Committee (2001-2003)
Endowment for Academy Giving to Law and Education (Patron) Florida Lawyer's Action Group (Trustee) 2002-2005
Florida Lawyer's Action Group
Trustee (2002 - 2005)
American Board of Trial Advocates [ABOTA] President (2012) (Ft. Lauderdale Chapter)
The Association of Trial Lawyers of America (n/k/a: American Justice Association)
Sustaining Member
Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
Member
National Trial Lawyers Top 100 (Executive Board Member)
Member
Executive Board Member
National Crime Victims Assn (Advisory Board Member 2006-2014)
Coalition for Family Safety
Charter Member, Officer and Director
Published Works and Presentations
• "Seven Steps to Effective Mediation", Trial, June 1997
• Guideline for Handling Cases Involving Sexual Abuse of a Minor by a Public-School Teacher Diana Santa Maria∗ Laura D. Dolin, Nova Law Review Volume 33, Issue 3 2009 Article 5
• "Mediation Strategy and Techniques", Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, 1996
• "Handling Causation Issues in the Low Impact Case", Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, 1998
• "Demand Packages that Get Results and Winning at Mediation", Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, 1999
• "Frye and Daubert Hearings and Issues", Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, February 2001
• "Trial of the Soft Tissue Case", Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, June 2001
• "Cross Examination of a Lay Witness at Trial", Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, August 2001
• "Proof and Argument of Liability In the Slippery Surface Slip & Fall Case”, Academy of Florida
Trial Lawyers, April 2002
• "Settlement and Negotiation in Mediation", Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, June 2002
• "Direct Examination of the Plaintiff - A Demonstration by the Masters", Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, October 2002
• "Ten Most Commonly Misunderstood Litigation Deadlines", Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, February 2003
• "Depositions", Practicing with Professionalism Seminar, Florida Bar, Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, December 2003
• "Managing Your Own Law Practice", Florida Association of Women Lawyers, January 2003
• "Proof and Argument of Past and Future Medical and Related Expenses at Trial", Florida Justice Assn. Workhorse Seminar, February 2006
• "Handling Sex Abuse Cases Involving Minors in Public Schools" May 2006, presentation George Washington University School of Law, Washington, D.C. (NCVBA, National Conference with ATLA, Civil Actions for Criminal Acts) May 2006
• The Defense Exam and Plaintiff’s Pre-Existing Conditions & Injuries- Strategies, Tactics and Techniques to Debunk Defense Positions and Strategies , Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers , Feb. 2007
• Negotiating, Mediating, Settling and Trying Personal Injury Cases -Florida Personal Injury Practice for Paralegals, Jan. 30, 2009
• Do's and Don'ts of Mediation (Broward County Hispanic Bar Assn.) Oct. 2011
• President’s Installation Message- ABOTA (Ft. Laud. Chapter) Jan. 2012
• Bilingual Mediations: Cultural Diversity in Mediation (ABOTA Ft. Laud. Chapter) Oct. 2012
• Masters in Trial- Plaintiff Trial Lawyer Team -Direct Examination, ABOTA- Fort Lauderdale Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (May 2013)
• Vanity Insanity – Trending Malpractice Issues Involving Cosmetic and Related Procedures-
Florida Justice Assn. Workhorse Seminar (Feb. 2013)
• “Trial Lawyer of the Year” Acceptance Speech- ABOTA- Ft. Laud. Chapter Jan. 2014
• Civil Justice for Victims of Crime in Florida –panelist- National Crime Victims Assn (NCVBA)- March 2014
• “Creating Your Blueprint for Leadership”- panelist- FAWL-Florida Bar Annual Convention June 25th, 2015
• “Compassionate Gladiatrix” – Acceptance of Award and Presentation, “Redress, Restitution and Redemption” (Florida Justice Association – Workhorse Seminar, April, 2016)
• Medical Malpractice Session - “Pre-suit Steps and Procedures – Six Hot Tips and Things You Need to Know” (Florida Justice Association – Workhorse Seminar, April 2016)
• Opening Statement Lecture- 7 Goals for an Effective Opening Statement – Florida Justice Assn.-Al Cone Trial Advocacy Institute- (Aug. 4, 2016)
• Making your Mediation Great- Practical Tips for a Successful Mediation- panelist – South Broward Bar Assn. (Aug. 2017)
• Bench & Bar Convention Mock Trial- Broward County Bar Assn. (Oct. 2017)
• Super Stars in Trial: Plaintiff Team- Miami vs. Broward & Palm Beach- Dade County Bar Assn. (March 2018)
• Closing Argument- panelist- Dade County Bench & Bar & Spellman -Hoeveler Chapter of the American Inns of Court (March 2019)
• The Anatomy of a Defense Medical Exam and Deposition- Florida Justice Assn.- Workhorse Seminar (presentation with Nelson Baez, Esq.) Florida Justice Assn.-Workhorse Seminar March 2020
Honors and Awards
• Best Lawyers in America 2009-present
• ABOTA (Ft. Laud. Chapter) Trial Lawyer of the Year (Jan.2014)
• Florida Justice Association Compassionate Gladiatrix Award (2016)
• National Trial Lawyers Top 100 (Civil Plaintiff- Florida) (Diplomat )
• LAWDRAGON 500 LEADING PLAINTIFF CONSUMER LAWYERS (July 2019- present)
• South Florida’s Leading Lawyers – Legal Guide- Top Lawyer- (March 2017)
• Martindale Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
• Million Dollar Advocates Forum (1995- present)
• Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers – Most Valuable Player- Staff Appreciation Award (1997) (2000)
• Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers - Legislative Leadership- Shoe Leather Award- (Oct. 1997)
• Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers - Above & Beyond Call of Duty Award (June 1999)
• Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers - Wings of Justice Award (June 2000)
• Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers – Bronze Eagle Award (June 2001)
• Florida Super Lawyers (2005 – 2012)
• Martindale Hubbell AV rated 1991- present
