Legal Briefs (Tampa)

Legal Briefs (Tampa)

Criminal justice conference

to be held in St. Petersburg

The attorney that prosecuted serial killer Dennis Rader, dubbed BTK for bind, torture and kill, will present the keynote address Sept. 12 at the National Conference on Science and Technology and the Law at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort, St. Petersburg.

District attorney Nola Foulston's 9:30 a.m. lecture is part of a three-day conference for law enforcement professionals, attorneys, judges, scientists, academics and expert witnesses at the Vinoy, Sept. 12-14.

There'll be more than 40 guest speakers, including Vahid Majidi, former science adviser to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft; Donna Bucella, director, Terrorist Screening Center, FBI; Michael Bromwich, independent investigator for the Houston Police Department; Ken Melson, first assistant U.S. attorney, Eastern District of Virginia, and former president of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences; U.S. Magistrate Elizabeth Jenkins, Middle District of Florida; and Paul Giannelli, law professor, Case Western Reserve University.

The event is sponsored by the National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law at Stetson University College of Law, the International Association of Chiefs of Police-Forensic Committee, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the American Bar Association sections of Criminal Justice and Science and Technology in the Law, and the National District Attorneys Association.

Day one covers the investigation, prosecution and defense of cyber crimes and the impact of news coverage on high-profile cases. Day two covers abuse investigations, ensuring forensic reliability, information sharing and privacy concerns. The final day looks at legal issues, police investigation tools and the impact of new technology.

For more information, visit www.ilj.org/ncstl.

Carlton Fields attorneys

receive recognition

Carlton Fields attorney Nicole C. Kibert received the Florida Bar's Judy Florence Memorial Outstanding Service award for her work on behalf of the Access to Justice Committee.

As a member of Carlton Fields' real estate and mortgage financing group, Kibert is a certified mediator who represents developers in the creation of planned communities, condominiums and subdivisions with a special emphasis on downtown redevelopment, brownfields redevelopment, sustainable development and historic preservation. She's a graduate of George Washington University and the University of Florida law school.

In other firm news, St. Petersburg office managing shareholder, David R. Punzak, was elected to the Community Foundation of Greater St. Petersburg, a nonprofit group that administers funds established by philanthropists for charitable work. Punzak, a director at Carlton Fields, practices in the firm's real estate and mortgage financing practice group, and he's a member of corporate, securities, tax and asset-based financing practice group.

Stainton appointed

to federal JNC

Attorney William M. Stainton of Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen was appointed to the recently formed federal Judicial Nominating Commission for Florida. A 2003 Stetson law school graduate, he practices business and corporate law, commercial litigation, tax planning and estate planning.

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Nominees sought

for judgeships

Judicial nominating commissions for the Hillsborough and Pinellas-Pasco circuits are once again accepting applications for open judgeships.

Hillsborough attorneys interested in applying for one of the three 13th circuit positions have until 5 p.m. Sept. 23 to submit a completed application, with nine copies, to JNC Chair C. Howard Hunter, 101 E. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 3700, Tampa. For an application or more information, call Hunter at (813) 227-8476.

In Pasco, a new county judgeship is open. Nominees should submit completed applications by Sept. 16 to 6th Circuit JNC Chair Cassandra Jackson at Skipper & Skipper, 5653 Main St., New Port Richey. Call Jackson at (727) 385-1606 for information.

To qualify, an attorney must be a resident of the county for which he applies, a registered voter and a member of the Florida Bar for at least five years.

In Hillsborough, the JNC will interview applicants and select nominees whose names will be sent to Gov. Jeb Bush on or before Oct. 25.

Lawyers invited to join

the U.S. Supreme Court

Attorneys in the Tampa Bay area who want to become a member of the U.S. Supreme Court can participate in the Hillsborough County and Clearwater bar associations' third annual swearing-in ceremony May 22 in Washington, D.C.

Only 50 attorneys will be sworn in during the May 22 event, which includes breakfast at the Supreme Court, a reception and tours of the Capital. For more information, Hillsborough County Bar Association members should call (813) 221-7777 and Clearwater Bar Association members should call (727) 461-4869.

Tampa attorney to lead

national corporate group

Business litigator Lewis F. Collins Jr. of Pappas Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP was recently elected president of the national Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel.

Collins, a board certified civil trial lawyer, is a graduate of Florida State University and Loyola University. He's a partner in the Tampa office of Pappas Weihmuller Katz Craig.

The federation is an international organization whose members include attorneys in private practice who specialize in civil litigation defense, general counsel, risk managers and insurance claims executives.

Former SEC lawyer

joins Hill, Ward & Henderson

Mark A. Danzi, who worked several years as a staff attorney at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in New York City, joined Hill, Ward & Henderson PA's corporate and business group. Danzi's work involves mergers and acquisitions, venture capital investments and general corporate matters. He's a graduate of American University's Washington College of Law.

In other firm news, Chad W. Callahan III joined the estate planning and administration group. He previously worked for Snyder & Snyder PA, Fort Lauderdale. Callahan received a law degree from Florida State and a LL.M in estate planning from the University of Miami School of Law.

Son of founding partner

Joins Bricklemyer Smolker

K. Clayton Bricklemyer, son of one of the founders of Bricklemyer Smolker & Bolves PA, joined the firm. A graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Florida, he will concentrate in real estate and property rights as an associate.

The Tampa-based firm, with offices in Tallahassee and Longwood, is a general commercial litigation practice that specializes in real estate matters. It was established 11 years ago.

Fowler White lawyers

appointed, elected to boards

Linda Loomis Shelley, a shareholder with Fowler White Boggs Banker, was appointed to the newly formed federal Judicial Nominating Commission for Florida. The 56-member commission will recommend nominees for the federal courts and top law enforcement posts in Florida.

Shelley is chair of the firm's government, environmental and land use department. She represents clients before the Florida Legislature and executive branch agencies.

In other news, Joelle Z. Bertozzi joined Fowler White as an associate in the real estate practice group. She's a graduate of Vanderbilt University and the University of Florida College of Law. She previously worked for Hill, Ward & Henderson.

In addition, Fowler White attorney Michael S. Lamont was elected to the board of directors of the Epilepsy Services Foundation. Lamont practices in the firm's securities, financial services and white-collar practice group.

Plus, Tracy Raffles Gunn, a Fowler White shareholder, was reappointed to the executive council of the Appellate Practice and Advocacy Section of the Florida Bar. And attorney Jeffrey M. James was selected to participate in the 2006 class of Tampa Connection, which helps guide professionals into key leadership roles while helping meet Tampa's growing social, health and educational needs.