from staff
The Florida Bar recently certified 134 Florida lawyers as specialists in 19 areas of legal practice. Fifteen of those attorneys are from Jacksonville. Board certification recognizes attorneys’ special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice.
“Board certification is a valuable credential that is becoming a significant trend in the legal profession,” said Florida Bar President Frank Angones Jr. “Specialization recognizes lawyers’ expertise and professionalism, and is a natural progression for lawyers who can demonstrate high skill levels in particular areas of law.”
The Jacksonville attorneys who were recently board certified are:
• James Daniel (Antitrust and Trade Regulation Law)
• Barry Newman (Aviation Law)
• Kenneth Tomchin (Business Litigation)
• Cindy Laquidara (City, County & Local Government)
• Matthew Posgay (Civil Trial)
• Albert Franson and Christopher Iseley (Construction Law)
• Jason Lewis and Richard Sellinger (Criminal Trial)
• Gregg Gerlach, Leonard Hackett and Heather Owen (Labor and Employment Law)
• Bruce Stutsman (Real Estate)
• Harris Bonnette Jr. (Tax Law)
• Michael Rudolph (Workers’ Compensation)
Certified attorneys are the only Florida lawyers allowed to identify or advertise themselves as “Florida Bar Board Certified,” as specialists or as experts. Certification is the highest level of recognition by The Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in the areas of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida. Florida currently offers 22 specialty areas of practice for which board certification is available. The newly certified lawyers are listed below.
A lawyer who is a member in good standing of The Florida Bar and who meets the standards prescribed by the state’s Supreme Court may become board certified in one or more of 22 certification fields. Approximately 4,300 Florida lawyers are board certified. Minimum requirements for certification are listed below; each area of certification may contain higher or additional standards.
• A minimum of five years in law practice
• A satisfactory showing of substantial involvement in the field of law for which certification is sought
• A passing grade on the examination required of all applicants
• Satisfactory peer review assessment of competence in the specialty field as well as character, ethics and professionalism in the practice of law
• Satisfaction of the certification area’s continuing legal education requirements
Board certification is valid for five years, during which time the attorney must continue to practice law and attend Florida Bar-approved continuing legal education courses. To be recertified, lawyers must meet requirements similar to those for initial certification. Not all qualified lawyers are certified, but those who are board certified have taken the extra steps to have their competence and experience recognized.