This James G. Glazebrook Memorial Bar Service Award is presented to a state or federal jurist who best demonstrates service to and support of the legal profession and the Legal Aid Society of the OCBA, is dedicated to professionalism both in and out of the courtroom, and is a leader in promoting professionalism, including civility, integrity, and respect for the legal system. The 2024 recipient of the James G. Glazebrook Memorial Bar Service Award is The Honorable Heather Pinder-Rodriguez, Circuit Judge, Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.

The William Trickel, Jr. Professionalism Award is presented to an attorney who has practiced law for 15 or more years. The 2024 recipient of the William Trickel, Jr. Professionalism Award is Jamie Billotte Moses, Esq., of Holland & Knights.

The Lawrence G. Mathews, Jr. Young Lawyer Professionalism Award is presented to an attorney who has practiced law for less than 15 years. The 2022 recipient of the Lawrence G. Mathews, Jr. Young Lawyer Professionalism Award is Brandon Sapp, Esq., of The Law Office of Brandon Sapp.

The Orange County Bar Association will present its annual Professionalism Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 11, 2024 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Jury Assembly Room of the Orange County Courthouse. For more information or to RSVP visit the Orange County Bar Association’s website at https://www.orangecountybar.org/.

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The Orange County Bar Association, established in 1933, is a voluntary association comprised of 3,000+ judges, attorneys, and other legal professionals whose mission is to serve the profession and the public with outstanding member and community programs. The association established and supports the work of the OCBA Foundation, Inc., and the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc.

The Florida Bar has announced that Nota – a financial platform that helps small law firms and solo lawyers manage trust accounts and adhere to accounting requirements – has been added to The Florida Bar’s Member Benefits lineup. Bar members are expected to be able to use Nota beginning in September 2023.

Nota’s technology addresses the need for a simplified, seamless, and efficient trust accounting platform – especially among solo practitioners and small firms.

Trust account maintenance and compliance is critically important. Lawyers who agree to hold money in trust have an ethical obligation to account for every penny as long as the funds remain in their possession. Commingling of funds, poor ledger management, and even basic accounting errors can result in client complaints, audits, and disciplinary action that could lead to suspension or disbarment. And while most attorneys diligently comply with Rules Regulating Trust Accounts (Chapter 5), trust accounting violations have ranked among the top three most common disciplinary complaints over the past three years and is on track to be the top complaint in 2022-2023.

Nota’s platform provides attorneys with total visibility into their bank accounts along with full integration into law firm workflows. The platform, designed specifically for attorneys, helps to streamline the exacting management of client IOTA accounts, and integrates easily with major practice management, legal payment, and accounting platforms. Nota seamlessly integrates with client accounts across multiple financial institutions or as a standalone trust accounting solution.

“Florida’s legal community continues to see substantial growth from solo and small firm practitioners, who now represent nearly 70% of Florida attorneys,” said Scott Westheimer, president of The Florida Bar. “With Nota, our members have access – at no cost – to the latest in trust accounting technology and a provider who can help them focus on the growth and continued success of their practice.”

“Nota was designed to help smaller legal practitioners easily manage the complex and onerous process of trust reconciliation so they can focus on what’s important—their clients,” said Paul Garibian, CEO, Nota. “Core to Nota’s platform is providing small businesses with access to the banking and recordkeeping services they need to remain compliant and drive growth.”

For a preview of the platform and to pre-register for access, please visit www.trustnota.com/TheFloridaBar.

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ABOUT NOTA

Nota is a fintech solution that helps lawyers quickly and easily track and manage client funds in compliance with state requirements. Powered by M&T Bank, Nota is built for attorneys and allows them to organize and reconcile client funds using information directly from their IOLA/IOLTA accounts. For more information, visit www.trustnota.com/TheFloridaBar.

ABOUT THE FLORIDA BAR

Founded in 1949, The Florida Bar serves the legal profession for the protection and benefit of both the public and all Florida lawyers. As one of the nation’s largest mandatory bars, The Florida Bar fosters and upholds a high standard of integrity and competence within Florida’s legal profession as an official arm of the Florida Supreme Court. To learn more, visit www.FloridaBar.org.

*This offer is only available to Active Members in good standing of The Florida Bar.

*Nota Standard Terms and Conditions Apply

Karen Persis is the owner of Karen Persis, P.A. where she specializes in representing clients worldwide in legal matters involving family formation, specifically, surrogacy, gamete donation, and adoption. In addition to serving on the OCBA Executive Council since 2017.  She also serves a member of the Board of Trustees for the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where she received her Juris Doctor in 2004. Ms. Persis is a Fellow with the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys. She has previously served as president of the OCBA Young Lawyers Section, president of the Central Florida Gator Club, and as a governor on the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors.

Amber Davis is managing partner of Wolter Van Dyke Davis, PLLC. She is board certified by the Florida Bar in intellectual property law and handles IP litigation matters and trademark filing and prosecution.  In addition to serving on the OCBA Executive Council, Ms. Davis is a board member for the Winter Park Racquet Club and sits on the Grievance Committee for the Middle District of Florida. She is also a past president of the OCBA Young Lawyers Section. She received her J.D. from Barry University School of Law cum laude.

Arti Ajit Hirani is an attorney at Meenakshi A. Hirani, P.A. She is a dual licensed attorney in both Florida and New York, and practices in the areas of estate planning, business law and civil litigation, and family law. In addition to serving on the OCBA Executive Council and Young Lawyers Section Board of Directors, she is a current member of the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors and is a past president of the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers. She received her J.D. from Barry University School of Law, her MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and her LL.M. in International Taxation from the University of Florida. 

Keshara D. Cowans is staff attorney for the Office of Legal Services for Orange County Public Schools. Her primary practice areas include employment discrimination and Title IX compliance. She also serves as the legal  advisor for the OCPS District Police. In addition to serving on the OCBA Executive Council, Ms. Cowans is a past president of the OCBA Young Lawyers Section. She received her J.D. from Florida State University.

“Though more and more women are joining the practice of law, we still have had a disproportionate number of female presidents for the OCBA, and have never elected four female officers serving concurrently on the Executive Council. I am grateful for the opportunity to be elected to serve with them, and am ecstatic to work with these dynamic women, and our entire Executive Council, on advancing the mission of the Orange County Bar Association,” says Karen Persis.

The following individuals will serve with the officers on the Bar’s Executive Council for the 2022-2023 term are:

Alisia Adamson Profit, HAWM Law

Stephanie Alcalde, Alcalde Legal

Michael D. Barber, The Law Office of Michael D. Barber, PA

Christopher Carmody Jr., Gray Robinson, PA

Euribiades “Euri” Cerrud, II, The PCB Firm, PA

Lisa Gong Guerrero, State Attorney’s Office

Kate T. Hollis, Milne Law Group, PA

Kristopher Kest, Kest Family Law, PA

Bruce Mount, The Mount Law Group

Eric Reed, Shutts & Bowen

Rafael O. Rodriguez, Law Office of Jason L. Weissman

C. Andrew Roy, Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman, PA

Brandon Sapp, Morgan & Morgan

Jessica A. Travis, Law Office of Jessica Travis PA

Jay Small of Mateer & Harbert, PA, will be instated as president of the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc. Onchantho Am of IMPOWER Inc. will be instated as president of the OCBA Foundation, Inc. Stephanie Alcalde of Alcalde Legal, will be instated as president of the OCBA Young Lawyers Section. Finally, Marisol Gomez of Colling Gilbert Wright & Carter, LLC, will be instated as president of the OCBA Paralegal Section.

All officers and Executive Council members will be celebrated at the OCBA Installation Ceremony & Dinner taking place on May 18, 2022 at the Embassy Suites Downtown Orlando.

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The Orange County Bar Association, established in 1933, is a voluntary association comprised of 3,000+ judges, attorneys, and other legal professionals whose mission is to serve the profession and the public with outstanding member and community programs. The association established and supports the work of the OCBA Foundation, Inc., and the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc.

ORLANDO, FL... The Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2022 Professionalism Awards. The James G. Glazebrook Memorial Bar Service Award, the William Trickel, Jr. Professionalism Award, and the Lawrence G. Mathews, Jr. Young Lawyer Professionalism Award recipients, who are nominated by their peers, are attorneys and judges whose conduct and career stands as a model of success built on unquestioned professionalism.

The James G. Glazebrook Memorial Bar Service Award is presented to a state or federal jurist who best demonstrates service to and support of the legal profession and the Legal Aid Society of the OCBA, is dedicated to professionalism both in and out of the courtroom, and is a leader in promoting professionalism, including civility, integrity, and respect for the legal system. The 2022 recipient of the James G. Glazebrook Memorial Bar Service Award is The Honorable Reginald K. Whitehead, Circuit Judge, Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Judge Whitehead was nominated by the Orange County Bar Association’s Criminal Law Committee and his judicial peers.  

Judge Whitehead is a graduate of the University of Florida Levin School of Law and has served as a judge in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court since 1994. He served for a number of years as a judge for the Unified Problem Solving Courts, and served on The Florida Bar Foundation board for 10 years helping to secure grant funding that would build programs that offer legal services and assistance to the poor. Judge Whitehead has served as a mentor to numerous judges, local high school youth, and has taught law students at the FAMU College of Law for the past 14 years. Judge Whitehead has also served as president of 100 Black Men of Greater Orlando for the past five years

The William Trickel, Jr. Professionalism Award is presented to an attorney who has practiced law for 15 or more years. The 2022 recipient of the William Trickel, Jr. Professionalism Award is John Foster, Esq., of the Family Complex Litigation & Collaborative Group.

Mr. Foster has been practicing law for over 40 years, and currently practices exclusively on the resolution of complex divorce and family law cases. He is actively involved in the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar, and serves on the Family Law Section’s Executive Council and Legislation Committee. He has received numerous awards and honors including achieving the highest AV rating by Martindale Hubbell, is a member of the National Advocates “Top 100,” and serves on the Advisory Board of the American Academy of Certified Financial Litigators. Mr. Foster is a graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

The Lawrence G. Mathews, Jr. Young Lawyer Professionalism Award is presented to an attorney who has practiced law for less than 15 years. The 2022 recipient of the Lawrence G. Mathews, Jr. Young Lawyer Professionalism Award is Michael D. Barber, Esq., of The Law Office of Michael D. Barber.

Mr. Barber is a graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law and has been practicing law for over 10 years. He is a solo practitioner and currently practices in the areas of criminal defense, personal injury, home insurance disputes, and education law. In 2016, Mr. Barber was elected to serve on the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District board, and served as chair from 2019-2022. Mr. Barber has been very active in the Orange County Bar Association including chairing the Criminal Law Committee from 2015-2017 and currently serving on both the Orange County Bar Association Executive Council and as the President of the Young Lawyers Section.

The Orange County Bar Association will hold its annual Professionalism Awards Ceremony on Thursday, March 24, 2022 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Jury Assembly Room of the Orange County Courthouse. For more information or to RSVP visit the Orange County Bar Association’s website at https://www.orangecountybar.org/.

The Orange County Bar Association, established in 1933, is a voluntary association comprised of 3,000+ judges, attorneys, and other legal professionals whose mission is to serve the profession and the public with outstanding member and community programs. The association established and supports the work of the OCBA Foundation, Inc., and the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc.

Reed has been a member of the OCBA executive council since 2000, and has served as president of the OCBA Young Lawyers Section and as a trustee of the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc. Reed, who practices in the areas of commercial litigation, construction litigation, and commercial landlord/tenant litigation, received his law degree from the Barry University School of Law. Reed also serves on the board of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida.

Reed says, “I am proud to serve as the President of the OCBA.  When I first joined the OCBA while in law school, I knew this was an organization that I wanted to be involved. The OCBA membership is tops in the country.”

The OCBA’s 2021-2022 Executive Council officers also include Karen Persis, Law Office of Karen Persis, PA, president-elect; and Amber Davis, Wolter Van Dyke Davis, PLLC, treasurer; and Arti Ajit Hirani, Meenakshi A. Hirani, PA, secretary.

The remaining individuals on the bar’s Executive Council are:

• Michael D. Barber, The Law Office of Michael D. Barber, PA
• Euribiades “Euri” Cerrud, II, The PCB Firm, PA
• Keshara Cowans, Orange County Public Schools
• Lisa Gong Guerrero, State Attorney’s Office
• Catherine “Kate” Hollis, Garganese, Weiss, D’Agresta & Salzman, PA
• LaShawnda K. Jackson, RumbergerKirk
• Kristopher Kest, Kest Family Law, PA
• Bruce Mount, The Leach Firm
• Rafael O. Rodriguez, GEICO
• C. Andrew Roy, Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman, PA
• Brandon Sapp, Morgan & Morgan
• Jennifer Smith Thomas, RumbergerKirk
• Jessica A. Travis, Law Office of Jessica Travis PA
• M. Ryan Williams, State Attorney’s Office

Deborah L. Moskowitz, Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, PA, was instated as president of the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc.

The Honorable Andrew Cameron was instated as president of the OCBA Foundation, Inc.

Michael D. Barber, The Law Office of Michael D. Barber, PA, was instated as president of the OCBA Young Lawyers Section.

April Phillips, was instated as president of the OCBA Paralegal Section.

Eric C. Reed and the remainder of these individuals were honored and celebrated at the OCBA’s Gala and Installation Ceremony held at Rosen Shingle Creek on May 22, 2021.

The Orange County Bar Association, established in 1933, is a voluntary association comprised of approximately 3,200 judges, attorneys, and other legal professionals whose mission is to serve the profession and the public with outstanding member and community programs. The association established and supports the work of the OCBA Foundation, Inc., and the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc. For more information visit www.orangecountybar.org.

ORLANDO, FL... The Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2021 Professionalism Awards. The James G. Glazebrook Memorial Bar Service Award, the William Trickel, Jr. Professionalism Award, and the Lawrence G. Mathews, Jr. Young Lawyer Professionalism Award recipients, who are nominated by their peers, are attorneys whose conduct and career stands as a model of success built on unquestioned professionalism.

This James G. Glazebrook Memorial Bar Service Award is presented to a state or federal jurist who best demonstrates service to and support of the legal profession and the Legal Aid Society of the OCBA, is dedicated to professionalism both in and out of the courtroom, and is a leader in promoting professionalism, including civility, integrity, and respect for the legal system. The 2021 recipient of the James G. Glazebrook Memorial Bar Service Award is The Honorable Lisa T. Munyon, Circuit Judge, Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. The Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers nominated Judge Munyon for her dedication to professionalism both in and out of the courtroom. She was appointed to the Workgroup on Continuity of Court Operations During and After COVID-19 by Florida Supreme Court Justice Charles Canady and has chaired the Florida Courts Technology Commission since 2012. She has also been praised for her collaborative work with the Clerks of Courts across the state of Florida, and has been a visiting associate judge on the Fifth District Court of Appeal on five different occasions.

The William Trickel, Jr. Professionalism Award is presented to an attorney who has practiced law for 15 or more years. The 2021 recipient of the William Trickel, Jr. Professionalism Award is Suzanne Gilbert, Partner, Holland & Knight, Orlando. Ms. Gilbert has been practicing law in Central Florida for over 24 years. She has served on the Ninth Judicial Circuit Professionalism Panel for over 5 years, furthering the professionalism of the local bar by participating in the investigation of complaints filed within the panel. She also serves on the board of the Legal Aid Society of the OCBA and has represented the OCBA in the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates for the last ten years.

The Lawrence G. Mathews, Jr. Young Lawyer Professionalism Award is presented to an attorney who has practiced law for less than 15 years. The 2021 recipient of the Lawrence G. Mathews, Jr. Young Lawyer Professionalism Award is Lisa Gong Guerrero, Assistant State Attorney, Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Ms. Gong Guerrero has spent her entire legal career in the State Attorney’s Office and is currently the County Court Bureau Chief, managing the day-to-day operations for the County Court Bureau. She serves as a mentor, trainer, and supervisor for new prosecutors joining the State Attorney’s Office. She was also a founding member of the Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association (GOAABA), a voluntary bar association that advances the interests of Asian-American legal professionals. She has been very active in the OCBA, having served as Chair of the OCBA’s Criminal Law Committee, and is currently a member of the OCBA Executive Council.

The Orange County Bar Association will present its annual Professionalism Awards Ceremony virtually on Thursday, March 25, 2021 from Noon to 1:00 p.m. For more information or to RSVP visit the Orange County Bar Association’s website at https://www.orangecountybar.org/.

The Orange County Bar Association, established in 1933, is a voluntary association comprised of 3,000+ judges, attorneys, and other legal professionals whose mission is to serve the profession and the public with outstanding member and community programs. The association established and supports the work of the OCBA Foundation, Inc., and the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc.

Upon accepting the award, Dyer commented: “The community deserves this award. On the morning of June 12, 2016 we weren’t young or old; LGBT or straight; Muslim, Christian or Jewish; White, African-American or Hispanic – we were all simply ‘Orlando.’ But that didn't just happen. It was a choice we made. We chose love in the face of hate and we chose unity when someone sought to divide us. That was the silver lining and that is the real strength of this community.”

The 2017 Law Day theme, The Fourteenth Amendment: Transforming American Democracy gave participants an opportunity to learn about how the Fourteenth Amendment has played – and continues to play – a pivotal role in extending the Bill of Rights.

In their remarks, OCBA’s Law Week co-chairs, C. Andrew Roy, Esq., and Jessica A. Travis, Esq., noted that the community of helpers “united in action despite their differences, letting their humanity serve as the binding force. They embodied the spirit of freedom underlying the written words of the Fourteenth Amendment; they lived the mandate of equality. The helpers showed the world what it means to unite.”

Law Day, proposed by the American Bar Association in 1957 and proclaimed by President Eisenhower as a day to honor the role of law in creation of the United States, is celebrated by bar associations throughout the country. The OCBA’s award-winning Law Week program has developed activities that span several months, including participatory mock trials for elementary and middle school students; a poster and essay contest; a DUI mock trial and video, which is presented just prior to prom, for high school students; job shadowing with the judges, including a tour of the courthouse; and programs about careers in the justice system for youth.

The Orange County Bar Association, established in 1933, is a voluntary association comprised of 3,400 judges, attorneys, and other legal professionals whose mission is to serve the profession and the public with outstanding member and community programs. The association established and supports the work of the OCBA Foundation, Inc., and the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc.