Legal Briefs (Tampa edition)

Legal Briefs (Tampa edition)

Clearwater attorney elected

to Florida Bar board

Andrew Sasso, a partner in the Clearwater firm of Sasso & Bodolay, was recently elected to the Florida Bar Board of Governors. He takes office June 25, replacing Lou Kwall.

The 52-member board, which meets bi-monthly, formulates and adopts bar policy.

Lawyers recognized for

contributions to diversity

St. Petersburg NAACP President Darryl Rouson and former St. Petersburg Bar Association President Eric Ludin were recently recognized by the Fred. G. Minnis Bar Association for their contributions to the community. The association also recognized Vyrle Davis, a former Pinellas educator, for his community service.

Former SEC lawyer

joins Carlton Fields

Mark A. Danzi is a new associate in the corporate, securities, taxation and asset-based financing practice group at Carlton Fields PA, Tampa. He most recently worked as an associate at New York-based Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. Prior to that, he worked as a staff attorney for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

A graduate of Bucknell University, he earned a law degree in 1996 from the American University Washington College of Law.

Mills Paskert hires

associate attorney

Phillip Keith Lichtman is a new associate at Mills Paskert Divers PA, Tampa. He focuses on business litigation and fidelity and surety matters, including commercial crime, employee dishonesty and directors' and officers' liability.

Lichtman earned bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Alabama.

Former federal clerk

joins Zuckerman Spaeder

Robert R. Hearn, former clerk to Tampa U.S. Magistrate Mark A. Pizzo, recently joined Zuckerman Spaeder LP as a partner. Hearn will focus his practice on complex civil litigation, including the prosecution and defense of claims arising from financial malfeasance of corporate officers.

Fowler White attorneys

to speak at local seminar

Fowler White Boggs Banker attorneys Latesa K. Bailey, Heather B. Brock, Scott A. Fisher and William J. Flynn will speak April 8 at an employment law seminar the law firm is sponsoring at the Hyatt Regency Westshore, Tampa.

The free seminar offers employers an update on immigration laws, how to classify employees correctly under the current Fair Labor Standards Act revisions and other issues.

In addition to the Fowler White lawyers, R. Jeff Brown, vice president and employee benefits practice leader at Marsh USA, will speak at the seminar.

Ferguson & Mcmullen intern

named Florida Blue Key president

Michael P. Silver, a third-year University of Florida law student who is an intern at MacFarlane Ferguson & Mcmullen, was named president of Florida Blue Key. Silver will join the firm upon graduation.

He is the third Macfarlane Ferguson & Mcmullen associate to serve as president of Florida Blue Key. W. Penn Dawson was president in 1985, and T. Paine Kelly Jr. was president in 1934.

Clearwater Bar seeks

nominations for awards

The Clearwater Bar Association is seeking nominations for the annual awards that will be given out at its May 14 Law Day Luncheon. The deadline to submit a nomination is April 7.

The John U. Bird Distinguished Jurist award recognizes a judge who demonstrates high ideals, personal character, judicial competence and service. Last year's recipient was Joseph G. Donahey.

The Ralph Richards Award recognizes a lawyer who shows extraordinary care, concern and service to the legal profession and community. Last year's recipient was Pinellas County Attorney Susan Churuti.

Nominations can only be submitted by Clearwater association members and should be sent to Awards Committee Chair F. Wallace Pope, P.O. Box 1368, Clearwater, Fla. 33757 or by fax at (727) 441-8617.