Legal Briefs (Tampa)

Legal Briefs (Tampa)

Tampa firm included

on national list

The Minority Law Journal placed Tampa's Carlton Fields PA, one of the five largest firms in Florida by number of attorneys, on its 2005 Diversity Scorecard. The firm ranked 32nd, up from 47th place last year.

"Being ranked No. 32 is a great achievement for our firm," Jason M. Murray, a Miami shareholder and co-chair of the firm's diversity committee, says in a press release. "I believe this is a reflection of the firm's forward thinking, long-term commitment to diversity."

The firm was third among the firms surveyed for its percentage of Hispanic lawyers, according to a press release. The journal surveyed 260 of the largest and highest-grossing firms in the country.

Lawyer suspended

for trust violations

The Florida Supreme Court suspended a Clearwater attorney who has practiced law for nearly 40 years. John C. Gardner was suspended for 90 days and ordered to attend a trust accounting workshop.

The court found that Gardner, admitted to the Florida Bar in 1967, had violated rules regulating trust accounts; represented a client where the representation of that client was directly adverse to the interests of another client; and wrongly used trust funds.

H&K snags Gingrich's

former assistant

Holland & Knight LLP, one of Florida's largest law firms, recently bragged about its acquisition of attorney Kathryn Lehman, who has worked with Newt Gingrich, Tom DeLay and J. Dennis Hastert.

The firm sent out orange and cream colored cards announcing that Lehman joined the firm as a partner in Washington, D.C. She most recently served as chief of staff for the House Republican Conference chaired by Rep. Deborah Pryce, and she was counsel to the House Judiciary Committee for eight years.

She served as a special assistant to Gingrich, as policy director to DeLay and director of coalitions and outreach for Hastert.

Lawyer reappointed

to aviation authority

Stephen J. Mitchell, an attorney with Squire, Sanders and Dempsey LLP, was reappointed to the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority by Gov. Jeb Bush. Mitchell's new term ends July 1, 2009.

Phelps Dunbar attorney

recognized for service

Phelps Dunbar LLP attorney Dennis M. McClelland recently received the Hillsborough County Bar Association's 2005 Outstanding Young Lawyer Award. McClelland practices in the firm's litigation section and is board certified in labor and employment law. A graduate of Florida State University and the University of Florida, he is past president of the association's Young Lawyers Division.

Fowler White attorney

appointed to council

Fowler White Boggs Banker PA attorney Ravi Seepersad was appointed to the executive committee of the INDOUS Chamber of Commerce, a group of Asian and Indian professionals. Seepersad, who works in the firm's St. Petersburg office, practices health care litigation, including medical negligence and licensing matters, class action litigation and commercial litigation.

Forizs & Dogali adds

two more lawyers

Forizs & Dogali PL recently announced the addition of attorneys S. Michael Ostow and Bree M. Fathers. Ostow is of counsel in the St. Petersburg office and Gathers is an associate in the firm's Tampa office.

Carlton Fields starts

fellowship program

Tampa-based Carlton Fields PA has started a diversity fellowship program with Stetson University College of Law that allow students to gain "large-firm" experience each semester.

"The program provides our students with invaluable experience and the opportunity to develop relationships with the firm and its members," Stetson Dean Darby Dickerson said in a press release.

In the spring, Stetson third-year student Gregory Redmon worked about 200 hours at Carlton Fields and received a $5,000 stipend.

The program is intended for students - no matter their race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, marital status or veteran status - who have faced life challenges, the release states.