Legal Briefs (Tamap edition)

Legal Briefs (Tamap edition)

Preston elected member

of international federation

Brett Preston, a shareholder at Hill Ward & Henderson PA, Tampa, is a newly elected member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. A Hill Ward attorney since 1991, Preston earned a bachelor's degree in 1983 from Duke University and a law degree in 1986 from Washington University School of Law, St. Louis.

Luis Prats becomes alumni

association's 79th president

The Stetson University Alumni Association recently inducted Luis Prats, Carlton Fields PA's Tampa managing shareholder, as its 79th president. The two-year term earns him a seat on the university's board of trustees and the association's board of directors.

He will oversee the association's participation in promoting the university, fundraising, student recruitment, alumni board membership and other relationship-building duties. Prats previously served as chair of the association's West Central Florida board of directors. He also is a member of the Presidential Counselors Program, the university's leadership donor group.

He earned a bachelor's degree in 1978 from the university's Deland campus and a law degree in 1981 from the university's law school in Gulfport. At Carlton Fields, he works as a trial lawyer in the construction law practice group.

Vasti joins St. Petersburg

law estate-planning firm

Peter J. Vasti has joined Fisher & Sauls PA, an established St. Petersburg firm with 10 members. The firm specializes in estate planning and administration, taxation and corporate law. Vasti was admitted to The Florida Bar in 2001.

Hillsborough Bar Association

seeks nominees for award

Do you know a lawyer who has made a difference in the legal community? The Hillsborough County Bar Association wants to hear about him.

The group is seeking nominees for its "Outstanding Lawyer Award," which recognizes lawyers in the practice for more than five years who have served as a mentor, performed community service and been actively involved in the association.

Nominations should be submitted by May 15 to HCBA Executive Director Connie Pruitt, 201 N. Franklin St., Suite 1750, Tampa 33602.

Abbey Adams adds

another new associate

Kimberly G. Jackson joined the St. Petersburg-based firm of Abbey, Adams, Byelick, Kiernan, Mueller & Lancaster LLP as an associate. The firm, with a Tampa office at 405 W. Azeele St., now has 24 members.

Stetson law students

win national competition

A Stetson University College of Law team won the Robert Merhige Jr. National Environmental Negotiation Competition at Virginia's University of Richmond School of Law.

The Stetson team of Misty Hale and Will Sunter took first place over finalists from the University of Richmond, Georgetown University and Regent University at the April 2-4 event. Twenty-two teams competed in the second annual competition.

Koch reopens former

Tampa law practice

Jonathan C. Koch, former head of the litigation group at Salem Saxon PA, has resumed his law practice at 100 S. Ashley Drive, Suite 1290, Tampa, in the Wachovia Center. Koch, admitted to the Florida Bar in 1983, is board certified in antitrust and trade regulation law.

Firm named finalist

in business of the year

Brown Security & Law Group PA, owned by attorney Alvin K. Brown, was named a finalist in the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce's "Outstanding Business of the Year" award.

Palm Harbor attorney

opens own firm after rift

Jamie Slater, a longtime Palm Harbor attorney, recently opened his own office after a rift with partner Bruce Young, who is being used for sexual harassment by a former employee. (727) 787-7773.