Top industry honor awarded to local law firm partner

After more than 50 years in the industry, Shutts & Bowen LLP partner John Patterson received the Florida Bar Foundation’s 2022 Medal of Honor Award. 

Citing the difference the Sarasota-based attorney has had on thousands of people as well as the improvements he’s made on the administration of justice in the state, the selection committee’s decision was unanimous, according to a statement. The award will be presented during the foundation's annual award ceremony, a date for which has not been announced yet. 

Patterson was the only lawyer chosen this year for the award, and due to a lack of nominations, there were no non-lawyer recipients selected, according to the March board report. Each year, the award can also go out to a member of the public or an inactive lawyer who's' contributed to enhancing the administration of justice. 

Patterson was an active Florida Bar Foundation board member from 2004-15. During that time, he chaired the development, finance and audit, and Legal Assistance for the Poor/Law Student Assistance Grant Program committees. He was also the president and vice chair of the executive, grant program and nominating committees, the release states. 

“I am honored to have been chosen by The Florida Bar Foundation for this award,” he says in a release. “I hope to continue to contribute to the good work that the foundation does, as well as inform others on the importance of equal access to justice, for years to come.”

This isn’t the first Patterson was honored in his career. He was named the 1985 recipient of The Florida Bar President’s Award for pro bono service for the 12th Judicial Circuit. 

Patterson works within the corporate practice group at the Sarasota office of Shutts & Bowen, a business law firm with eight offices across the state.