Top Rated Family Law Attorney in Tampa, FL

Honors and Awards:

• Order of the Coif, Florida State University College of Law

Special Licenses/Certifications:

• Marital and Family Law, Florida Bar Board of Certification, 2004 - Present

Bar/Professional Activity:

• Florida, 1993
• Member, Inns of Court, Family Law Section 2001 - 2004
• Secretary, Publication Committee, The Florida Bar, Family Law Section, 2008 - 2009
• Co-Chair, Continuing Legal Education Committee, The Florida Bar, 2004  -  2005
• Secretary, Continuing Legal Education Committee, The Florida Bar, Family Law Section, 2003 - 2004
• Continuing Legal Education Committee, The Florida Bar, Family Law Section, 2002 - 2003
• Member, Grievance Committee 13F, The Florida Bar, May 2007 - Jan 2009
• Member, Grievance Committee 13B, The Florida Bar, May 2000 - June 2002
• Chairperson, Grievance Committee 13F, The Florida Bar, Jan 2009 - Dec 2009
• Chairperson, Grievance Committee 13B, The Florida Bar, June 2002 - June 2003
• Executive Council Member, The Florida Bar, Family Law Section, 2003 - 2008
• Member, Florida Board of Bar Examiners, 2003 - 2008
• Emeritus Member, Florida Board of Bar Examiners, 2008 - Present
• Former Chair, Interdisciplinary Committee, Hillsborough County Bar Association, Family Law Section
• Former Member, Editorial Staff, Hillsborough County Bar Association, Family Law Section, Newsletter
• Former Chair, Education/Articles Committee, Hillsborough County Bar Association, Family Law Section
• Former Chair, Long Range Planning Committee, Hillsborough County Bar Association, Family Law Section
• Member, Executive Council, Hillsborough County Bar Association, Family Law Section
• Secretary/Treasurer, Hillsborough County Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2010  -  2011
• Member, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, 2009 - Present

Pro bono/Community Service:

• Member, Tiger Bay Club 2009 - Present
• The Tampa Connection 1999 - 2000
• Rough Riders Civic Organization, 1994 - 2002

Scholarly Lectures and Writings:

• Chair, "Understanding Bankruptcy Issues in Family Law Cases," Family Law Section seminar, Hillsborough County Bar Association, March, 2011
• New Administrative Order for Temporary Relief Hearing Hillsborough County Bar Association, Lawyer magazine February, 2010
• Speaker, "Opening Statements, Defendant's Perspective," State Court Trial Seminar, Hillsborough County Bar Association, June, 2010
• Program Co-Chair and Speaker, "Show Me the Money," Alimony and Child Support Seminar, The Florida Bar Family Law Section, March, 2010
• Panel Participant, "Practicing with Professionalism", The Florida Bar, September, 2009
• Workshop Leader, "Matrimonial Trial Advocacy Seminar", The Florida Bar Family Law Section, August, 2009
• Speaker, "Thinking Outside the Box: Innovative Approaches to Families in the Courts," The Florida Chapter of AFCC: Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, February, 2009
• Parenting Coordination: The only child-focused process in parental separation and divorce that empowers parents to parent. Co-written with Valorie Hoppenworth, M.A., LPC The Florida Family Law Section, Commentator, Summer, 2008
• Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse by Those Entrusted with Their Care, The Florida Bar Journal, March, 2008
• Speaker, "Parenting Plans/Time-Sharing Evaluations," Hillsborough County Bar Association, November, 2008
• Program Co-Chair, "Matrimonial Trial Advocacy Seminar," The Florida Bar Family Law Section, August 2005 and August, 2007
• Speaker, "Family Law Update," Florida Law Update seminar, The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee and the General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section of the Florida Bar, June, 2005
• Progam Co-Chair, "Child Support and Alimony; Investigating the Numbers," Florida Bar, Family Law Section, March, 2005
• What Defines Income Under F.S. Ch. 61: From a Business Perspective., Co-written with Ingrid Anderson, Esq., The Florida Bar Journal, November, 2004
• Real Property vs. Personal Property-Do Titles Make a Difference?, Hillsborough County Bar Association Lawyer Magazine, June, 2004
• Speaker, "Mechanics of the Matrimonial/Family Law Certification Exam," The Florida Bar Family Law Section, December, 2004
• Speaker, "Fees and Costs in Family Law- How to Get Awards and Avoid Pitfalls," The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee, October, 2004
• Speaker, "Family Law Update," Florida Law Update seminar, The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee and the General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section of the Florida Bar, June, 2004
• Speaker, "Rotating Custody," Hillsborough County Bar Association, February, 2004
• Speaker, "Marital Agreement" and "Ethical Issues in Family Law Practice," Family Law Update Seminar, May, 2003
• Program Co-Chair, "Solutions to Discovery Roadblocks," The Florida Bar Family Law Section, April, 2003
• Factors in Determining Attorney Fees Awards, Hillsborough County Bar Association Lawyer Magazine, May, 2002
• How Long is The Bridge for Bridge The Gap Alimony, Hillsborough County Bar Association Lawyer Magazine, November, 2001
• Speaker, "Legal, Emotional & Ethical Issues: Our Role in Helping Clients Through the Divorce Process," Tampa Bay Association for Marriage & Family Therapy, April, 2001
• Domestic Violence Injunctions in Divorce Cases, Hillsborough County Bar Association Lawyer Magazine, December, 2000
• Member, Florida State University Law Review

Educational Background:

• University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, B.A. in Criminology and Psychology, Cum Laude, Dean's List, May, 1990