 
  Women have been making a real difference in Florida’s legal profession for decades, with their numbers and influence continuing to grow.
      As 2025 began, nearly 35,000 female lawyers were practicing in Florida, representing more than 41% of the statewide legal community, according to the American Bar Association (ABA). That percentage is trending upward, with the ABA predicting the profession could eventually shift from a male majority to a female majority.
      One reason: From 2019 through 2023, Juris Doctor (JD) degrees were awarded to 12,175 more women than men.
At the very top of the profession for women is the Legal Elite Notable Women Leaders in Law — which recognizes the best in professional excellence, leadership, influence and impact. 
    
    These attorneys uphold high ethical standards and serve as role models, trailblazers and mentors. Known for their resilience, passion and empathy, they are recognized for thought leadership and community engagement.
This year’s list is filled with top performers, and there are more on the way. 
    
 
   Erin Smith Aebel
Erin Smith Aebel
Trenam Law
 Marve Ann M. Alaimo
Marve Ann M. Alaimo
Porter Wright Morris & Arthur
 Kristina L. Alexander
Kristina L. Alexander
Sioli Alexander Pino
 Sashi C. Bach
Sashi C. Bach
Boies Schiller Flexner
 Sarah Barker
Sarah Barker
Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida
 Ceci Berman
Ceci Berman
Brannock Berman & Seider
 Naomi M. Berry
Naomi M. Berry
Carlton Fields
 Ellen Ross Belfer
Ellen Ross Belfer
Hilgers Graben
 Talina Bidwell
Talina Bidwell
Pike & Lustig
 Kimberly L. Boldt
Kimberly L. Boldt
Ratzan Weissman & Boldt
 Rhonda D. Bond-Collins
Rhonda D. Bond-Collins
Bryant Miller Olive P.A.
 Jacqueline Bozzuto
Jacqueline Bozzuto
Lowndes
 Alexis M. Buese
Alexis M. Buese
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings
 Amanda B. Buffinton
Amanda B. Buffinton
Shutts & Bowen
 Robin I. Bresky
Robin I. Bresky
Schwartz Sladkus Reich Atlas Greenberg
 Vanessa Brice
Vanessa Brice
Colling Gilbert Wright
 Lea P. Bucciero
Lea P. Bucciero
Podhurst Orseck
 Crystal E. Buit
Crystal E. Buit
Lowndes
 Mertella Burris
Mertella Burris
Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida
 Jacqueline Calderín
Jacqueline Calderín
Agentis
 Rachel A. Camber
Rachel A. Camber
Markowitz Ringel Trusty & Hartog
 Jennifer B. Carroll
Jennifer B. Carroll
Fisher Phillips
 Anitra Clement
Anitra Clement
Shook, Hardy & Bacon
 Abigail M. Cohen
Abigail M. Cohen
Gladstone, Weissman, Hirschberg & Schneider
 Katherine E. Cole
Katherine E. Cole
Hill Ward Henderson
 Ejola Christlieb Cook
Ejola Christlieb Cook
Kelley Kronenberg
 Stephanie L. Cook
Stephanie L. Cook
Shuffield, Lowman & Wilson
 Kamala E. “Kami” Corbett
Kamala E. “Kami” Corbett
Hill Ward Henderson
 Jennifer R. Cowan
Jennifer R. Cowan
Bryant Miller Olive
 Magdalena Cuprys
Magdalena Cuprys
Serving Immigrants
 Damaris Del Valle
Damaris Del Valle
Law Offices of Carlos J. Martinez, Public Defender 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida
 Julia D. Dennis
Julia D. Dennis
Shuffield, Lowman & Wilson
 Christine Derr
Christine Derr
Harris, Hunt & Derr
 Lauren Y. Detzel
Lauren Y. Detzel
Dean Mead
 Danielle DeVito-Hurley
Danielle DeVito-Hurley
Gunster
 Tasha K. Dickinson
Tasha K. Dickinson
Day Pitney
 Mayanne Downs
Mayanne Downs
DownsAaron
 Jessica D. Ehrlich
Jessica D. Ehrlich
Taylor Duma
 Teresa Enriquez
Teresa Enriquez
Law Offices of Carlos J. Martinez, Public Defender 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida
 Amy D. Envall
Amy D. Envall
Sniffen & Spellman
 Linda Epstein
Linda Epstein
Broward Health
 Barbara Fernandez
Barbara Fernandez
Hinshaw & Culbertson
 Lara Roeske Fernandez
Lara Roeske Fernandez
Trenam Law
 Sandra Ferrera
Sandra Ferrera
Day Pitney
 Samantha J. Fitzgerald
Samantha J. Fitzgerald
SJF Law Group
 S. Katherine Frazier
S. Katherine Frazier
Hill Ward Henderson
 Digna B. French
Digna B. French
Squire Patton Boggs
 Maria D. Garcia
Maria D. Garcia
Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton
 Michelle M. Gervais
Michelle M. Gervais
Blank Rome
 Suzanne E. Gilbert
Suzanne E. Gilbert
Holland & Knight
 Laurie L. Gildan
Laurie L. Gildan
Greenberg Traurig
 Bari L. Goldstein
Bari L. Goldstein
Lippes Mathias LLP
 Laura Gross
Laura Gross
Donnelly + Gross
 Lindsay A. Gunia
Lindsay A. Gunia
Stearns Weaver Miller
 Ariella Gutman
Ariella Gutman
Haber Law
 Nancy Hutcheson Harris
Nancy Hutcheson Harris
Harris Hunt & Derr
 Denise M. Heekin
Denise M. Heekin
Bryant Miller Olive
 Marjorie S. Hensel
Marjorie S. Hensel
Bush Ross
 Michele Leo Hintson
Michele Leo Hintson
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick
 E. Holland “Holly” Howanitz
E. Holland “Holly” Howanitz
Tyson & Mendes
 Leslie Wager Hudock
Leslie Wager Hudock
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney
 Corri Hunt
Corri Hunt
Farah & Farah
 Allison R. Imber
Allison R. Imber
Allen, Dyer, Doppelt, and Gilchrist
 Heidi W. Isenhart
Heidi W. Isenhart
Shuffield, Lowman & Wilson
 Kimberly H. Israel
Kimberly H. Israel
McGlinchey Stafford
 Gina M. Jacobs
Gina M. Jacobs
Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel
 Alaina B. Karsten
Alaina B. Karsten
McDonald Hopkins
 Jennifer Kilinski
Jennifer Kilinski
Kilinski | Van Wyk
 LaKisha M. Kinsey-Sallis
LaKisha M. Kinsey-Sallis
Fisher & Phillips
 Debra P. Klauber
Debra P. Klauber
Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm
 Carly Abramson Kligler
Carly Abramson Kligler
Hilgers Graben
 Tammy Knight
Tammy Knight
Holland & Knight
 Alicia H. Koepke
Alicia H. Koepke
Trenam Law
 Beth-Ann E. Krimsky
Beth-Ann E. Krimsky
Greenspoon Marder
 Stacy Krumin
Stacy Krumin
Squire Patton Boggs
 Tama Beth Kudman
Tama Beth Kudman
Kudman, Tracten, Aloe & Posner
 Sherry Lambson-Eisele
Sherry Lambson-Eisele
Boyd & Jenerette
 Bernice Lee
Bernice Lee
Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton
 Patricia A. Leonard
Patricia A. Leonard
Shutts & Bowen
 Marbet Lewis
Marbet Lewis
Spirit Law Partners
 Jin Liu
Jin Liu
Carlton Fields
 Dana Panza Macdonald
Dana Panza Macdonald
Panza Maurer
 Stephanie Marchman
Stephanie Marchman
GrayRobinson
 Stephanie Martin
Stephanie Martin
Lieser Skaff
 Susan Roeder Martin
Susan Roeder Martin
Nason, Yeager, Gerson, Harris & Fumero
 Sigrid McCawley
Sigrid McCawley
Boies Schiller Flexner
 Kelly Ruane Melchiondo
Kelly Ruane Melchiondo
Bilzin Sumberg
 Diana C. Mendez
Diana C. Mendez
Bilzin Sumberg
 Jamie L. Meola
Jamie L. Meola
Bush Ross
 Janeen Mira
Janeen Mira
Pajcic & Pajcic
 Megan K. Moon
Megan K. Moon
Gunster
 Nichole M. Mooney
Nichole M. Mooney
Dean Mead
 Heather S. Moraes
Heather S. Moraes
Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman
 Chanel Mosley
Chanel Mosley
MMPO Defense
 Megan W. Murray
Megan W. Murray
Underwood Murray
 Nicole Deese Newlon
Nicole Deese Newlon
Johnson, Newlon & DeCort
 Jennifer A. Nichols
Jennifer A. Nichols
Roetzel & Andress
 Joanne M. O’Connor
Joanne M. O’Connor
Jones Foster
 Susan C. Odess
Susan C. Odess
Freidin Brown
 Elizabeth L. Pedersen
Elizabeth L. Pedersen
Panza Maurer
 Jan W. Pitchford
Jan W. Pitchford
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick
 Alisia Adamson Profit
Alisia Adamson Profit
HAWM Law
 Heather M. Ramos
Heather M. Ramos
GrayRobinson
 Sandra G. Rennick
Sandra G. Rennick
Gould Cooksey Fennell
 Rebecca Rhew
Rebecca Rhew
Pike & Lustig
 Elizabeth Ricci
Elizabeth Ricci
Rambana & Ricci
 Mindi M. Richter
Mindi M. Richter
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick
 Sabrina Weiss Robinson
Sabrina Weiss Robinson
Stearns Weaver Miller
 Melissa López Rogers
Melissa López Rogers
Greenberg Traurig
 Margaret A. Rolando
Margaret A. Rolando
Shutts & Bowen
 Traci H. Rollins
Traci H. Rollins
Gunster
 Kimberly L. Rothenburg
Kimberly L. Rothenburg
City of West Palm Beach
 Jennifer V. Ruiz
Jennifer V. Ruiz
Cole, Scott & Kissane
 Suzette L. Russomanno
Suzette L. Russomanno
Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel
 Erica Rutner
Erica Rutner
Cozen O’Connor
 Michelle Saporito
Michelle Saporito
Community Legal Services
 Denise Schneider
Denise Schneider
Gladstone, Weissman, Hirschberg & Schneider
 Beatriz Schachter
Beatriz Schachter
CABA Pro Bono Legal Services
 Stacie Schmerling
Stacie Schmerling
Justice for Kids Division at Kelley Kronenberg
 Katherine C. Scott
Katherine C. Scott
Harris, Hunt & Derr
 Daniella Genet Silberstein
Daniella Genet Silberstein
Greenberg Traurig
 Ghada Skaff
Ghada Skaff
Lieser Skaff
 Schuyler A. Smith
Schuyler A. Smith
Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel
 Jennifer J. Smith
Jennifer J. Smith
Kuhn Raslavich
 Alessandra Stivelman
Alessandra Stivelman
Eisinger Law
 Debra J. Sutton
Debra J. Sutton
Sutton Law Firm
 Carolina Sznajderman Sheir
Carolina Sznajderman Sheir
Eisinger Law
 Karen E. Terry
Karen E. Terry
Searcy Denney Scaraola Barnhart & Shipley
 Elissa A. Tisdahl
Elissa A. Tisdahl
Weisberg I.P. Law
 Michelle Otero Valdes
Michelle Otero Valdes
Law Offices of Michelle Otero Valdes
 Adele Valencia
Adele Valencia
LSN Partners, LLC and LSN Law
 Kristen M. Van Der Linde
Kristen M. Van Der Linde
Boyd & Jenerette
 Joan M. Vecchioli
Joan M. Vecchioli
Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns
 Diane A. Vidal
Diane A. Vidal
Chiumento Law
 Laura M. Walda
Laura M. Walda
Lowndes
 Sasha Watson-Sankey
Sasha Watson-Sankey
HAWM Law
 Danielle R. Whitley
Danielle R. Whitley
Foley & Lardner
 Trisha Widowfield
Trisha Widowfield
Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm
 Marisa Rodriguez Wilson
Marisa Rodriguez Wilson
Polsinelli
 Jennifer J. Wioncek
Jennifer J. Wioncek
Bilzin Sumberg
 Grace H. Yang
Grace H. Yang
GrayRobinson
 Laura Minton Young
Laura Minton Young
Dean Mead
 Eleanor M. Yost
Eleanor M. Yost
Carlton Fields
 Jung Yoon
Jung Yoon
Donnelly + Gross
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. Nominations required a letter of recommendation by senior management. 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.













 Leticia Diaz
Leticia Diaz