Legal Briefs (Tampa edition)

Legal Briefs (Tampa edition)

Names of five nominees

sent to governor for judgeship

Five Pinellas County lawyers, including County Judge Walt Fullerton, are nominees for the judgeship created by the Dec. 31 retirement of Susan Schaeffer, a former longtime chief judge.

Fullerton, Pinellas-Pasco assistant state attorneys Joseph Bulone and Thane Covert, as well as attorneys John Day and Jack Helinger, are being considered by Gov. Jeb Bush for the position. Sixth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission Chair Nicole Kerr said the five were chosen from a field of 25.

Hill Ward & Henderson

elects three shareholders

Gina K. Grimes, Erik R. Matheney and Lara J. Tibbals have been elected as shareholders at Tampais Hill Ward & Henderson PA.

Grimes, a member of the firmis real estate practice group, earned a bacheloris degree from Duquesne University and a law degree from the Stetson University College of Law.

Matheney, a commercial litigator, earned a bacheloris degree from Howard University and a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center.

Tibbals, a commercial litigator, earned a bacheloris degree from Florida State University and a law degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. She is the current president of the Hillsborough County Bar Associationis Young Lawyers Division.

Stetson elder law professor

receives national award

Stetson University law professor Rebecca Morgan was recently recognized by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys with the 2004 UnAward for her contributions to the advancement of elder law. Morgan is a past president of NAELA and director of Stetsonis Center for Excellence in Elder Law.

Hill Ward hires Sparks

to lead practice group

Brian C. Sparks, former head of the private client group at Akerman Senterfitt, has joined Tampais Hill Ward & Henderson PA as a shareholder. He will serve as chair of the firmis estate planning and administration group.

Sparks earned a law degree from the St. Louis University School of Law and a masteris of law degree in taxation from the New York University School of Law.

Fowler White hires

Fruit as associate

Andrew J. Fruit left Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLP to join Fowler White Boggs Banker PA as an associate. He will practice in the firmis corporate, securities and finance practice group. He received his undergraduate, masteris and law degrees from the University of Florida.

Holland & Knight names

Mullen as Tampa partner

Tampa attorney John D. Mullen has been promoted to partner at Holland & Knight LLP. He is a member of the firmis litigation section. He is one of 25 attorneys throughout the organization to earn the designation.

A graduate of the University of South Floridais New College, Mullen earned a law degree in 1994 from the New York University School of Law.

Carrollwood Bar donates

$1,500 to local charities

Members of the Carrollwood Community Bar Association donated $1,500 to three charities over the recent holiday season.

The group gave $500 each to the Elves for the Elderly Program, the Childrenis Cancer Center Inc. and the Share Food Network.

Rep. Kevin Ambler asks

students to get involved

State Rep. Kevin Ambler, R-Tampa, has come up with a novel way to get students interested in the legislative process. The Tampa lawyer has asked students at Tampais Gaither High School to propose a bill.

Students in 17 of the high schoolis government and social studies classes will develop the bill through a competitive process. Later this month, all of the schoolis students will vote on their choice.

Once the bill is selected, Ambler agreed to submit the bill as one of the six bill slots he is awarded each year as a legislative member. Students will be given the opportunity to present the bill and then lobby for it.

Kathleen McLeroy receives

UT service, recognition award

Carlton Fields PA shareholder Kathleen S. McLeroy received the University Service and Recognition Award at the University of Tampais recent commencement ceremony. It is the highest award given by the universityis National Alumni Association.

McLeroy is a member of the firmis commercial litigation, bankruptcy and creditorsi rights practice groups. She also chairs its pro bono committee. She earned bacheloris and masteris degrees from Louisana State University and a law degree from Washington & Lee University School of Law.

In other news, McLeroy was reappointed to the Bay Area Legal Services Inc. Board of directors and elected as treasurer.

Bush Graziano & Rice names

William Bowles as shareholder

Trial lawyer William B. Bowles Jr. is a new shareholder at Tampais Bush Graziano & Rice PA. He focuses on health care, professional liability and products liability law.

A graduate of Rollins College, Bowles earned a law degree in 1997 from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.,

Laurel Moore to serve

on ABA commission

Carlton Fields PA attorney Laurel Frances Moore has been appointed to the American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence. Moore earned bacheloris and law degrees from the University of Florida.

Mattson joins Akerman

Senterfitt as associate

Ron A. Mattson joined Akerman Senterfittis healthcare practice group as an associate. Mattson, who received his law degree from the University of Florida, was previously with Wicker Smith PA.