Tonya J. Meister
Attorney Profile
Top Rated Transportation & Maritime Attorney in Miami, FL
Selected to Rising Stars: 2012 - 2013
Tonya J. Meister is an admiralty and maritime lawyer and the owner of Meister Law, LLC, in Miami, Florida. Ms. Meister has over 15 years of experience and serves clients throughout South Florida. In addition to representing individual clients injured due to maritime accidents, she is a former legal counsel for Port Ministries International and sits on the advisory board of the International Seafarers Ministry of Miami.
A recognized leader in the field of maritime law, Ms. Meister is board-certified in maritime law by The Florida Bar – Board of Legal Specialization & Education. She regularly writes and speaks for professional organizations and publications, and has been quoted in news media and appeared on television to discuss issues in maritime law.
Over the course of her career, Ms. Meister has served in several leadership positions, including chair of The Florida Bar’s Admiralty & Maritime Law Certification Committee, vice-chair of the Florida Admiralty Trial Lawyers Association and chair of the American Association for Justice’s Admiralty Law Section. She is a member of the Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute.
Ms. Meister is active in her local legal community as well. She belongs to the Brevard County Bar Association, the Dade County Bar Association, the Miami-Dade Trial Lawyers Association, the Florida Justice Association and the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
Ms. Meister received a bachelor’s degree in legal studies from the University of Central Florida and went on to graduate cum laude from Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law. She holds licenses to practice law before all Florida state courts, the U.S. District Courts for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida and the Supreme Court of the United States.
- 100%Transportation/Maritime
Admiralty & Maritime Law
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2015 - 2022
- Rising Stars: 2012 - 2013
Certificates and Credentials
- Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization
Admiralty & Maritime Law
Additional Sources of Information About Tonya J. Meister
Visit my FindLaw® profile
About Tonya J. Meister
First Admitted: 2003, Florida
Professional Webpage: http://www.meisterlawfirm.com/attorney-profile/
Special Licenses/Certifications
- Board Certified Expert in Admiralty and Maritime Law by the Florida Bar
Honors/Awards
- Barry University School of Law, Member, Student Trial Advocacy Team, Advocate in three trial competitions. In the 2000 AFTL competition, team advanced to the semifinals, Certified County Court Mediator and Mediation Internship at the Orange County Courthouse, Legislative proposal/legislative analysis submitted to Florida State Representative Haridopolos.
- Florida Super Lawyer
Pro bono/Community Service
- International Seafarers Ministry of Miami
- Space Coast Seafarers Ministry
- Port Ministries International
- Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute
Bar/Professional Activity
- Brevard County Bar Association
- Florida Association of Women Lawyers
- Miami-Dade Justice Association
- Florida Justice Association
- Dade County Bar Association
- Florida Admiralty Trial Lawyers Association, Vice Chair
- The Florida Bar’s Admiralty Law Committee, Chair
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- American Association of Justice’s Admiralty Law Section, Chair
- All Florida state courts
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- U.S. Supreme Court
Scholarly Lectures/Writings
- Punitive Damages Update: Jones Act, Maintenance and Cure, and General Maritime Law for the University of San Francisco Maritime Law Journal
- Personal Injury and Wrongful Death of Passenger in the Florida Maritime Law and Practice book published by The Florida Bar
- Update on the Eleventh, Eighth, Seventh and Sixth Circuits for a Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute
- Alumni Board of Directors for Barry University
- Florida International University
- University of Miami Law School
- St. Thomas Law School
- Causes of Action Under Bahamian and Panamanian Law in Seafarer Arbitrations and the Maritime Labor Convention for the Florida Bar Admiralty and Maritime Section Law Section
- Personal Injury and Wrongful Death of Passengers for the Florida Bar Admiralty and Maritime Law Section
- Punitive Damages in Maritime Law Claims for the American Justice Association
- Forum Non-Conveniens for the American Trial Lawyers Association (now American Justice Association)
- Crew Arbitration for The Florida Bar Admiralty and Maritime Law Section
- Cruise Ship Law for The Florida Bar Admiralty and Maritime Law Section
- Update on Crew Injury Claims for The Florida Bar Admiralty and Maritime Law Section
Representative Clients
- Atlantic Sounding Co. v. Townsend
Educational Background
- Southern Illinois University, Student Government Senator, Judicial Review Board, 1992
- University of Central Florida, B.A., Legal Studies, Dean's List, Spring-Fall, 1997
Industry Groups
- Admiralty & Maritime
Last Updated: 5/15/2022