March 29, 2024

Florida Legal Elite

Best Up & Coming Fla. Attorneys, 2009

Lawyers on the way up.

| 10/1/2009

For the past five years, Florida Trend has published its exclusive list of the state’s legal leaders. Ours is the only lawyer recognition program in which all currently practicing Florida Bar members are invited to participate. In the July 2009 issue, we announced the 918 Legal Elite winners, and in this issue, we present the top “Up and Coming” attorneys as recognized by their peers.

Balloting for this year’s list began last October. Announcements in The Florida Bar Journal and The Florida Bar News publicized the ballot deadline and voting guidelines. Florida Bar members were asked to name three “best up and coming attorneys” who exhibit leadership in the law and in their local communities. Eligible attorneys have practiced law for no more than 10 years or are less than 40 years of age.

The ballots were processed, checked and tabulated by Bradenton-based Outsource America and Suncoast Opinion Surveys in St. Petersburg.

The list of top vote-getters was further examined using membership status and histories provided by the Florida Bar.

A panel of previous Legal Elite winners, representing different practice areas in cities across the state, reviewed the selection process and the list of finalists.

The 118 “Up and Comers” are listed here in alphabetical order.

View the entire list of Legal Elite winners.

  • Aidman, Todd Sidney • Ford & Harrison • Tampa
  • Alvarez, Hugo V. • Alvarez & Barbara • Miami
  • Andersen, Jeffrey Carter • Bush Ross • Tampa
  • Arias, Patricia M. • Patricia M. Arias, P.A. • Miami
  • Arizmendi, David N. • Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod • Miami
  • Backman, Jeffrey Aaron • Adorno & Yoss • Fort Lauderdale
  • Banta, Gavin Scott • Angelo & Banta • Fort Lauderdale
  • Barbara, Richard Lee • Alvarez & Barbara • Miami
  • Bassman, Scott A. • Cole Scott & Kissane • Miami
  • Bates, Douglas Alan • Berger Singerman • Miami
  • Belcastro, Matthew • Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt • Fort Myers
  • Berman, Ceci Culpepper • Fowler White Boggs • Tampa
  • Bernal-Dixon, Lourdes • Daniels Kashtan Downs Robertson & McGirney • Tampa
  • Billig, Andrew S. • Andrew S. Billig, P.A. • Boca Raton
  • Boyles, Jeffrey S. • Allen, Dyer, Doppelt, Milbrath & Gilchrist • Orlando
  • Brodi, Michael Phillip • The Florida Law Center, P.A. • Miami
  • Brown, Donovan • Akerman Senterfitt • Tallahassee
  • Cardillo, John Thomas • Cardillo, Keith & Bonaquist • Naples
  • Chanfrau, Kelly Hagan • Ford & Harrison • Tampa
  • Clough, John C. • Cheffy Passidomo • Naples
  • Cohen, Robin I. • Shapiro Blasi Wasserman & Gora • Boca Raton
  • Coleman, John David • Cole Scott & Kissane • Miami
  • Cotney, Trenton Hugh • Glenn Rasmussen Fogarty & Hooker • Tampa
  • de las Cuevas-Diaz, Vivian Caridad • Broad and Cassel • Miami
  • Desmond, Sean Timothy • Office of the State Attorney 2nd Judicial Circuit • Tallahassee
  • Diaz de la Portilla, Renier • Renier Diaz de la Portilla, P.A. • Miami
  • Diaz, Jose Felix • Akerman Senterfitt • Miami
  • Doupé, Reuben Alexander • Asbell Ho Klaus Goetz & Doupé • Naples
  • Ebner, Steven M. • Shutts & Bowen • Miami
  • Faria, Alexander Javier • Berman Rennert Vogel & Mandler • Miami
  • Ferrer, Jose M. • Baker & McKenzie • Miami
  • Figg, Paul S. • Berger Singerman • Fort Lauderdale
  • Fox, Alexander F. • Alexander F. Fox, P. A. • Coral Gables
  • Garcia, Ignacio Javier • Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak and Stewart • Tampa
  • Garvin, Leland Eric • Garvin Law Firm • Fort Lauderdale
  • Gavsie, Brian J. • Greenberg Traurig • Fort Lauderdale
  • Gold, Philip A. • Gold Chavez & Gold • Coral Gables
  • Gonzalez, Thomas Frederic • Beggs & Lane • Pensacola
  • Grant, L. Javan • Rogers Towers • Jacksonville
  • Groisman, Gabriel • Coffey Burlington • Miami
  • Hadjilogiou, Steven • Baker & McKenzie • Miami
  • Haimo, Adam Feuer • Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod • Miami
  • Hanaka, Philip Martin • Angelo & Banta • Fort Lauderdale
  • Harland Jr., Patrick W. • The Law Firm of Patrick W. Harland, Jr., LLC • St. Petersburg
  • Harrod, Rene D. • Berger Singerman • Fort Lauderdale
  • Hayes, M. Travis • Cummings & Lockwood • Naples
  • Heatwole, Lauren Celeste • Lowndes Drosdick Doster Kantor & Reed • Orlando
  • Herndon, Bradley P. • Bradley P. Herndon, P.A. • Fort Walton Beach
  • Hertz, Joshua J. • Joshua Hertz, P.A. • Miami
  • Ickler, Kory J. • Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar • Tallahassee
  • Jackson, Erin G. • Thompson Sizemore Gonzalez & Hearing • Tampa
  • Kaplan, Bradley • Kaplan & Freedman • Miami
  • Kest, Kristopher John • Lowndes Drosdick Doster Kantor & Reed • Orlando
  • Klein, Daniel Jacob • Cole Scott & Kissane • Miami
  • Knapp, Scott Douglas • Wicker Smith O'Hara McCoy & Ford • Miami
  • Lawrence, Jonathan Daniels • Alvarez, Sambol, Winthrop & Madson • Coral Gables
  • Lazarus, Jason D. • Holland & Knight • West Palm Beach
  • Leebrick, Brian D. • Barron, Redding, Hughes, Fite, Sanborn & Kiehn • Panama City
  • Lockwood, John Merritt • Rutledge, Ecenia & Purnell • Tallahassee
  • Love, Adrienne • Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar • Tallahassee
  • Lucas, Hal M. • Astigarraga Davis Mullins & Grossman • Miami
  • Luther, Stephen Hart • Allen, Dyer, Doppelt, Milbrath & Gilchrist • Orlando
  • Lynch, Samuel Brendan • Lowndes Drosdick Doster Kantor & Reed • Orlando
  • Marasco, Scott Lawrence • Marasco & Associates, P.L. • Bradenton
  • Marrero, Mickey • Bercow Radell & Fernandez • Miami
  • McKinney-Williams, Opal • Ausley & McMullen • Tallahassee
  • Mena, Michael O. • Akerman Senterfitt • Miami
  • Merritt, Jason E. • Shuffield Lowman & Wilson • Orlando
  • Molenaar, James D. • State Attorney's Office, 20th Judicial Circuit • Naples
  • Mora-Fernandez, Martha R. • Avila Rodriguez Hernandez Mena & Ferri • Coral Gables
  • Moreno, Esther L. • Holland & Knight • Miami
  • Munoz, Gisela M. • Hughes Hubbard & Reed • Miami
  • Nelson, Kevin D. • Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon • Pensacola
  • Ngo, Stephen Paul • Butler Pappas Weihmuller Katz Craig • Miami
  • Nies, Timothy C. • Howard S. Grossman, P.A. • Boca Raton
  • Nordby, Daniel Elden • Ausley & McMullen • Tallahassee
  • Nullman, Steven A. • Law Offices of Steven A. Nullman, P.A. • Miami
  • Pardieck, Christina Lynn • Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar • Tallahassee
  • Pegg, Allen P. • Murai Wald Biondo & Moreno • Coral Gables
  • Pérez-Martinez, Marilyn Janet • Becker & Poliakoff • West Palm Beach
  • Perkins, Alexander Jacob • Leesfield & Partners • Miami
  • Peterson, Jason Wade • Clark Partington Hart Larry Bond & Stackhouse • Pensacola
  • Pike, Michael James • Burman, Critton, Luttier & Coleman • West Palm Beach
  • Pruss, Lorenz Michel • Dimond Kaplan & Rothstein • Miami
  • Rankin, Mark P. • Carlton Fields • St. Petersburg
  • Ravich, Timothy M. • Clarke Silverglate & Campbell • Miami
  • Recio, Anthony Luis • Weiss Serota Helfman Pastoriza Cole & Boniske • Coral Gables
  • Rich, Jaime Sara • Lott & Friedland • Coral Gables
  • Rivers, E. Dylan • Ausley & McMullen • Tallahassee
  • Ross, David Lee • Law Offices of David L. Ross, P.A. • Miami
  • Roy, Elisha D. • Sasser Cestero & Sasser • West Palm Beach
  • Ruiz, Rene F. • Ford & Harrison • Miami
  • Salazar, David • Cole Scott & Kissane • Miami
  • Sammataro, James G. • Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman • Miami
  • Sarelson, Matthew Seth • Sarelson Law Firm, P.A. • Miami
  • Schimmel, Michael S. • Gunster • Fort Lauderdale
  • Scileppi, David C. • Gunster • Fort Lauderdale
  • Segura, Monica De la Caridad • Rumberger Kirk & Caldwell • Miami
  • Shaked, Sagi • Shaked Law Firm, P.A. • Miami
  • Shaw, James M. • DeMahy Labrador Drake Payne & Cabeza • Coral Gables
  • Silva, Effie D'Anger • Baker & McKenzie • Miami
  • Sloane, Jeremy S. • Akerman Senterfitt • Orlando
  • Solomon, Marty James • Carlton Fields • Tampa
  • Spector, Joshua Byrne • Perlman Yevoli Albright • Fort Lauderdale
  • Sullivan, Thomas Richard • Lowndes Drosdick Doster Kantor & Reed • Orlando
  • Sutton, Kevin H. • Hill Ward Henderson • Tampa
  • Tesh, W. Grey • AAA Criminal Defense.com • West Palm Beach
  • Turnbull, Allison E. • Baker & Hostetler • Orlando
  • Udell, Robb • Berman Rennert Vogel & Mandler • Miami
  • Ussery, Brian C. • Thompson Sizemore Gonzalez & Hearing • Tampa
  • Vafek, Ruth E. • Ausley & McMullen • Tallahassee
  • Vail, Jason Eric • Allen, Norton & Blue • Tallahassee
  • Vezina, G. Scott • Ratzan & Rubio • Miami
  • VonLangen, Esq., John D. • Casselberry
  • Wagner, Scott Andrew • Moore & Company • Coral Gables
  • Ward, Gregory C. • WardKim • Fort Lauderdale
  • Ward, Thomas Steven • Berman Rennert Vogel & Mandler • Miami
  • Whitley, Danielle R. • Foley & Lardner • Jacksonville
  • Woodward, Douglas Shane • Moore Hill & Westmoreland • Pensacola

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