Education
J.D., High Honors, 1987, Univ of Florida, Gainesville, FL Rank: Top 5%
B.A., Univ of Florida, May, 1979, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia (1974-76)
Honors & Activities
Bar
President, The Florida Bar (2010-11)
City Attorney of the City of Orlando (2007-present) Member, State of Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission (2014-present)
Member, Board of Governors of The Florida Bar (2002-2011)
The Florida Bar, Budget Chair, Executive Committee (2005-2009)
ABA, House of Delegates (2010-2011)
President, Orange County Bar Association (1997-98)
Nominee, Fifth District Court of Appeal (2000)
President, The Legal Aid Society (1995-96)
President, Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers (1992)
Editor, The Briefs, Orange County Bar Association (1988-90)
Editor, Commercial Litigation Column, AFTL The Journal (1994-96)
Florida Supreme Court State Technology Commission (2004-2008)
US District Court Local Rules Committee (1998-2004)
11th Cir Judicial Conference Delegate (1997, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013)
Top 10 Central Florida Women Business Leaders Orlando Business Journal (1999)
Citations for Excellence in Pro Bono Work, Legal Aid Society
UF Law Center Association Board of Trustees (2012-present)
Ninth Circuit Civil Courts Commission (1998-1999)
Florida Trend "Legal Elite" (Civil Trial)
Florida Super Lawyers (Commercial Civil Defense)
"2019 CEO of the Year" Orlando Business Journal
"50 Most Powerful People" Orlando Magazine (2012, 2013, 2015)
Best Lawyers (Comm’l Litigation, Family Law & Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2007-2016)
Top 50 Women Lawyers in State of Florida (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)
Family Law "Lawyer of the Year" - Central Florida (Super Lawyers)
Orlando Magazine Best Lawyers
Martindale Hubbell AV rating
"Champion of Justice" 2013 Barry University
Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, 2008, Trinity Preparatory School
FAWL’s Rosemary Barkett Outstanding Achievement Award (2013)
Central Florida Partnership, Board of Directors (2013-2014)
Orlando Economic Partnership, Board Member (2015-Present)
Daily Business Review, Litigation Department of the Year, 2015
Orange County School Board, Search Committee, Chair 2008
U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, Magistrate Selection Committee, Chair 2010
Law School
J.D. with High Honors (3.5 GPA and above)
Order of the Coif
American Jurisprudence Book Awards
University of Florida Law Review
Law Review invitee
Senior Articles Editor
Senior Executive Editor
Outstanding Editor
Research Assistant (Prof J. Juergensmeyer & Prof D. Gifford)
University of Florida Hall of Fame
Florida Blue Key
Faculty Appointments Committee
Who’s Who in America’s Colleges & Universities
Chancellor, University of Florida Student Honor Court
Boards
Lexis-Nexis Florida Editorial Board (2008 - present)
State of Florida Long-Term Care Council (2011-present)
Florida Bar Foundation Board of Directors (2010-present)
Wells Fargo Advisory Board (2012-2016)
University of Florida Law Center Association, Board of Trustees (2012-2017)
Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, Board of Directors, 2016-present
Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company (2012)
Various CLE Panels and Presentations, 98-present
St. Thomas Law Day Speaker, 2009
"Managing Conflict in Depositions," AFTL Seminar, December, 91
"Appellate Practice & Procedure," The Florida Bar Seminars 93-96
"Litigation Seminar --- Discovery in State & Federal Courts," 93
"Professionalism In Difficult Situations — These Are My Colleagues?"
The Florida Bar Professionalism Symposium 98
Review, Ninth Circuit Annual Court Conference, 99
"Advanced Litigation Techniques," Institute for Cont’ing Educ, 97
Moderator, Annual Dinner for the Judiciary, 93 & 94
"When Are Corp Officers Directors Personally Liable?" The Briefs, 89
"Fraud & Misrepresentations of Law Not Actionable" The Briefs, 89
Publications & Presentations
“On a big scale or small scale, lawyers make people’s lives different. Not everything we do can be seen by the eye of man. But what we do is of critical importance, because without this ability to resolve disputes peaceably, you can’t have a democracy; you can’t have a government. If disputes can’t be resolved in a reasonably peaceable fashion, the fabric of society breaks apart. And that’s what being a lawyer is about to me, helping people with problems. It is my gift and my passion. I feel so grateful every day that I can make my living and support my family like this.”