Legal Briefs (Tampa edition)

Legal Briefs (Tampa edition)

Abbey Adams firm hires

Luis Viera as an associate

Luis E. Viera is a new associate at St. Petersburgis Abbey Adams Byelick Kiernan Mueller & Lancaster LLP. He practices defense law in the areas of liability, malpractice, workersi compensation and employment claims.

A graduate of the University of South Florida, Martin earned a law degree in 2003 from the Stetson University College of Law. He formerly worked as clerk for 13th Circuit Judge Ralph Stoddard, Region 12 of the National Labor Relations Board and at Tampais Barbas Koenig Nunez Sanders Butler & Hovsepian PA.

Fowler White attorney

elected to board of nonprofit

Fowler White Boggs Banker attorney Scott A. Fisher was recently elected to the board of directors of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Pinellas County. Fisher, a defense attorney, specializes in employment law.

In other news, the firm hired David F. Pope as a shareholder. Pope, a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the University of Florida, concentrates in all areas of cargo claims, injury and death claims, collisions, passenger claims, recreational water sports claims and vessel finance, to name a few. Pope was formerly a partner with Lau, Lane, Pieper, Conley & McCreadie PA, Tampa.

Anna Chesser Smith

joins Bush Ross firm

Anna Chesser Smith is a new associate at Tampais Bush Ross Gardner Warren & Rudy PA. She focuses on commercial and general civil litigation law.

A graduate of the University of Florida, she earned a law degree in 2002 from the University of Virginia School of Law. Smith had worked as an environmental defense and commercial litigator at St. Louisi Greensfelder Hemker & Gale PC.

Akerman Senterfitt picks

Ben Hill IV as shareholder

Benjamin H. Hill IV is a new shareholder in the Tampa office of Akerman Senterfitt & Eidson PA. He practices civil litigation law.

A graduate of Vanderbilt University, he earned a law degree in 1997 from the Stetson University College of Law.

Hill serves as a fellow in the American Bar Associationis tort trial and insurance practice section.

Kelly Fisher becomes

Abbey Adams partner

Kelly M. Fisher is a newly elected partner at St. Petersburgis Abbey Adams Byelick Kiernan Mueller & Lancaster LLP. She practices defense law in the areas of liability, malpractice, workersi compensation and employment claims.

A graduate of the University of South Florida, Fisher earned a law degree in 1997 from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

Carlton Fields associate

contributes to bar journal

Carlton Fields PA associate Cristin A. Conley recently contributed to the Florida Bar publication, iLimited Liability Companies in Florida.i

Conley is co-author of chapter two, iComparative Analysis: When and Why LLCs Are a Better Alternative.i

At Carlton Fields, Conley focuses on tax controversy law and state and federal tax planning. A graduate of Duke University, she earned a law degree and masteris of laws degree in taxation from the University of Florida.

Carlton Fields hire Cho,

Triplett as new associates

Min K. Cho and Dianne M. Triplett are new associates in the Tampa office of Carlton Fields PA.

A member of the firmis construction practice group, Cho had worked as a law clerk for the Florida Department of Transportation. He earned a bacheloris degree in 2001 from the University of Florida and a law degree in 2004 from the Florida State University College of Law.

Triplett is a member of the firmis products and toxic tort liability practice group. A graduate of the University of South Florida, she earned a law degree in 2004 from the University of North Carolina School of Law.

GrayRobinson adds three new

associates in Tampa, Lakeland

GrayRobinson PA has hired three new associates. L. Robin McKinney and Clinton Paris joined the Tampa office; Ashley N. Calhoun, the Lakeland office.

McKinney, a 2004 graduate of the University of Florida College of Law, focuses on civil litigation and insurance-related matters.

Paris, a former associate who most recently worked as an assistant Tampa city attorney, focuses on litigation and dispute resolution. A graduate of the University of South Florida, he earned an MBA and law degree from Stetson University.

Calhoun practices in the areas of taxation, corporate, wealth transfer, estate planning and trusts and estate administration. A graduate of Florida Southern College, she earned a masteris degree in business administration and a law degree from Stetson and a masteris of laws degree in taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in July 2004.

Heath care lawyers choose

Martin as president-elect

James A. Martin Jr., a shareholder at Tampais Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen, was chosen president-elect of the Florida Academy of Healthcare Attorneys.

The group elected him during the Florida Hospital Associationis recent meeting in Orlando.

A graduate of Duke University, Martin earned a masteris degree in 1972 from Brown University and a law degree in 1973 from Emory University.

Akerman Senterfitt earns

spot as a Top 100 law firm

The National Law Journal recently ranked Akerman Senterfitt & Eidson PA as one of the Top 100 law firms in the nation.

Last year, the Orlando-based law firm, which staffs one of the largest law practices in the Tampa Bay area, ranked 115th.

In its research, the legal publication found the number of attorneys at the law firm grew by nearly 15% from Oct. 1, 2003 to Sept. 30, 2004.

Maribeth Wetzel joins

Bush Graziano & Rice

Maribeth L. Wetzel is a new associate at Tampais Bush Graziano & Rice PA. She practices in the area of long-term care defense.

A graduate of Michigan State University, she earned a law degree in 2001 from the University of Toledo College of Law.

Wetzel had served as an assistant Pinellas County public defender.

Danahy, Murray open

new practice in Tampa

Matthew R. Danahy and David C. Murray recently opened Danahy & Murray PA at 2304 W. Cleveland St., Tampa.

The firm focuses on plaintiff first-party claims against insurers over hurricane damage, sinkholes, fire, water loss, flood and other insurance coverage issues.

Carlton Fields awards diversity

scholarship to Gregory Redmon

Gregory Redmon, a third-year student at the Stetson University College of Law, is the first recipient of Carlton Fields PAis diversity scholarship program.

Each academic semester, the law firm plans to select one student who will receive a $5,000 stipend and 200 hours of work experience at the Tampa law firm.

Fowler White names

nine new shareholders

Tampa-based Fowler White Boggs Banker named nine new shareholders: Scott P. Andrew, James G. Biggart, Patrick A. Burson, Tirso M. Carreja, Barry N. Heisler, Heather H. Jones, Stephen R. Kanzer, Donald R. Kirk and Monica B. Mason.

Andrew, a graduate of the University of Florida College of Law, concentrates his practice on general real estate matters, property acquisition and development; construction and financing; commercial leasing; condominium and planned unit developments; and title insurance.

Biggart, a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Law, practices in personal injury and insurance defense litigation, construction litigation and the defense of trucking lines, automobile dealerships, corporations and individuals.

Burson is also in the firmis general trial practice group. The West Virginia University College of Law graduate is a civil litigator.

Carreja, who received a law degree magna cum laude from Florida State University, is a member of the firmis commercial litigation practice group. His practice area includes general real estate, property acquisition and development, homeowner associations, foreclosure, eminent domain and inverse condenmnation.

Heisler, a graduate of St. Thomas University, concentrates his practice in the areas of professional negligence, commercial law, health care law, administrative agency practice and trial practice.

Jones, a Stetson University law graduate, practices in workersi compensation defense.

Kanzer, a Mercer University graduate, is in the firmis general trial practices group. He practices in all areas of insurance defense litigation.

Kirk, a University of Florida graduate, focuses on bankruptcy and creditorsi rights.

Mason, who graduated from the University of Florida, concentrates her practice in the area of intellectual property law, including trademark and copyright prosecution, enforcement, licensing, infringement litigation, cybersquatting and domain name dispute resolution.