In the U.S. in 1968, women comprised 4% of students in law schools. Last year 56% were women, in the U.S. and in Florida. The state’s top law schools by female enrollment: FAMU, 67%; St. Thomas University, 63%; Barry University, 63%. Women were 38% of practicing lawyers in the U.S. in 2022, versus 3% in 1968. Of federal judges, about one-third are women. Law school deans nationwide are 43% women (versus 10% in 2000); law school faculties are 45% women.
At Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern University that figure is 58%, No. 5 in the U.S. Disparities narrow, the trend is clear, yet women in leadership — particularly women of color — lags: Women were 27% of partners in 2022, according to the National Association of Women Lawyers. But if past is prologue, the lawyers profiled here represent not just leaders in the law but likely the legal sector’s emerging leadership overall.
Anthony and Partners
Gunster
Stearns Weaver Miller
Brannock Berman & Seider
Ratzan Weissman & Boldt
Ausley McMullen
Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas
Holland & Knight
Levin Papantonio Rafferty Proctor Buchanan O’Brien Barr & Mougey
Greenberg Traurig
Gunster
Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine
Gladstone, Weissman, Hirschberg & Schneider
Shuffield, Lowman & Wilson
Hill Ward Henderson
Day Pitney
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick
Allen, Dyer, Doppelt and Gilchrist
Stearns Weaver Miller
GrayRobinson
Marshall Dennehey
Trenam Law
Englander Fischer
Hill Ward Henderson
Kelley Kronenberg
Squire Patton Boggs
Hinshaw & Culbertson
Clark Partington
Boyd & Jenerette
Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings
Lowndes
Donnelly + Gross
Greenberg Traurig
Blank Rome
Bryant Miller Olive
Rumberger Kirk & Caldwell
Shuffield, Lowman & Wilson
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick
McGlinchey Stafford
Gunster
Quarles & Brady
Tyson & Mendes
Marshall Dennehey
Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm
Clark, Fountain, La Vista, Littky-Rubin & Whitman
Boyd & Jenerette
Holland & Knight
Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton
Lowndes
Carlton Fields
Nason Yeager Gerson Harris & Fumero
Clark, Fountain, La Vista, Littky-Rubin & Whitman
The Ward Law Group
Roetzel & Andress
Pittman Law Group
Pavese Law Firm
Dean Mead
Roetzel & Andress
Cozen O’Connor
Law Offices of Michelle Otero Valdés
Boyd & Jenerette
Akerman
Johnson Newlon & DeCort
Stearns Weaver Miller
Akerman
Jones Foster
Polsinelli
Akerman
Moore & Lee
Gladstone, Weissman, Hirschberg & Schneider
Roetzel & Andress
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick
Shutts & Bowen
Kelley Kronenberg
Bilzin Sumberg
Burr & Forman
Carlton Fields
Lieser Skaff
Eisinger Law
Greenberg Traurig
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney
Dimond Kaplan & Rothstein
Widerman Malek
Eisinger Law
Holland & Knight
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm
Serene Harbor
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith
Kim Vaughan Lerner
Lowndes
Methodology: Individuals did not pay to be included. Profiles were written from nomination materials submitted. This list is not comprehensive. It includes only individuals from whom nominations were received and accepted after a review by editors. To qualify for the list, nominees must be in good standing with the Florida Bar; be based in Florida; be a practicing attorney with at least 15 years’ experience; and have made a significant impact in the field of law. Nominees must mentor or act as a role model for others, show leadership in professional organizations and in civic/community service initiatives.