Legal Briefs (Tampa edition)

Legal Briefs (Tampa edition)

Bush Graziano & Rice

announces promotions

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, Wetzel earned a law degree in 2001 from the University of Toledo College of Law. Wetzel had served as an assistant Pinellas County public defender.

In other news, Carrie Beth Baris, Karen S. Cox, Brent A. Jones and Glenn M. Katon are new shareholders at the firm.

Baris practices in the firmis creditorsi rights and insolvency group; Cox in the litigation and dispute resolution group; Jones in the business, tax and corporate finance group; and Katon in the litigation and dispute resolution group.

Carlton Fields hires

Michelle Holland

Michelle Holland is a new staff attorney in the real estate and mortgage financing practice group at Carlton Fields PA, St. Petersburg. A graduate of Loyola University New Orleans, Holland earned a law degree last year from St. Thomas University School of Law.

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 Martin 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.

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.

Each academic semester, the 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 personal injury and insurance defense litigation, construction litigation and the defense of trucking lines, automobile dealerships, corporations and individuals.

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

Carreja, who received a law degree magna cum laude from Florida State University, is a member of the commercial litigation practice group.

Carrejais practice area includes general real estate, property acquisition and development, homeowner associations, foreclosure, eminent domain and inverse condemnation.

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 workersi compensation defense.

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

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

Mason, who graduated from the University of Florida, concentrates on intellectual property law, including trademark and copyright prosecution, enforcement, licensing, infringement litigation, cyber-squatting and domain name dispute resolution.

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.