Class of 2009

View your classmates' news and accomplishments by selecting your graduation year! The most recent class notes entries appear first on each page. If you have anything that you would like to include as a class note, you may submit a class note online or contact Becky Shepherd.

Jo-Anna M. Nieves is owner and CEO of the Nieves Law Firm, APC, in Oakland, CA, which was recently ranked 38th on the 2024 Seminole 100 list. Posted 3.6.24

 

Joseph M. "Joe" Percopo was unanimously elected as one of Dean Mead's newest shareholders. A member of the firm’s Estate & Succession Planning department, Joe works with a variety of clients spanning from young couples who are just beginning their estate planning process to families who are well-versed in wealth management and preservation. Posted 2.26.24

   

Brennan Keeler was appointed to serve as a judge on the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Posted 1.11.24

richardson_adam_web.jpgAdam J. Richardson's article, 'The Originalist Case for Why the Florida Constitution’s Right to Privacy Protects the Right to an Abortion' was recently published by the Stetson Law Review. Posted 10.1.23

 

John B. Dorris has joined Rebecca L. Palmer Law Group. With nearly fifteen years of legal experience he specializes in corporate law, debtor/creditor issues, bankruptcy, executive leadership, commercial contracts, and family law assisting clients across a broad spectrum of industries and backgrounds. Posted 4.6.23

   

Timothy C. Garding was named to the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of commercial litigation and litigation – construction. Posted 10.4.22

   

The Honorable Jessica G. Costello, of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Hillsborough County, was named to Tampa Magazine's 2022 Top 10 Under 40 list. Posted 9.12.22

   

Jo-Anna Nieves is the founding attorney of The Nieves Law Firm, which was recently ranked 35th on the Seminole 100 list. Posted 3.2.22

Joseph M. "Joe" Percopo has joined the Orlando office of Dean Mead. Percopo practices in the firm’s estate planning department and works with a variety of clients spanning from young couples who are just beginning the estate planning process to families who are well-versed in wealth management and preservation. Posted 6.3.22

   

Jo-Anna Nieves is the founding attorney of The Nieves Law Firm, which was recently ranked 35th on the Seminole 100 list. Posted 3.2.22

Karli Clemons Webb was named partner at Troutman Pepper in Atlanta at the end of 2020. Webb's practice focuses on advising clients on environmental components of both asset and stock transactions, including advising on Brownfields and other cleanup programs. Her national regulatory practice focuses on environmental compliance, including, in particular, RCRA, CERCLA, and EPCRA compliance, rulemaking and permitting. Webb also defends federal and state environmental enforcement actions and advises on facility-wide environmental compliance issues. Posted 1.14.21

The Honorable Jessica Goodwin Costello was a guest on The Florida Bar's Never Contemplated podcast. She spoke about her journey to the bench and the importance of mentoring and giving back. Posted 12.17.20

   

Shane Costello, shareholder at Hill Ward Henderson in Tallahassee, recently attained board certification by The Florida Bar in Business Litigation. Posted 11.23.20

   

The Honorable Jessica Goodwin Costello is serving on the FSU College of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors for the 2020-2021 academic year. Posted 7.1.20

 

The Honorable Paetra T. Brownlee was appointed to Florida's Ninth Circuit Court in May 2020. Posted 5.12.20.

Jo-Anna M. Nieves is owner and CEO of the Nieves Law Firm, APC, in Oakland, CA, which was recently ranked sixth on the 2020 Seminole 100 list. Posted 2.24.20

 

James Timothy "Tim" Moore, Jr. is now a shareholder at GrayRobinson in Tallahassee. His areas of practice include appellate, health care and litigation. Posted 11.18.19 

 

The Honorable Jessica Goodwin Costello was appointed to the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet by Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis. Costello is the county court judge for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Tampa. Posted 8.5.19

 

Joseline Jean-Louis Hardrick received The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division’s 2019 Diversity Award for her work to promote diversity in the profession and for encouraging more gender, racial, ethnic, religious or other minority participation in law schools and the practice of law. She is the founder of Diversity Access Pipeline in Tampa. Posted 7.26.19

Costello_Jessica_2019_web.jpgThe Honorable Jessica Goodwin Costello was appointed to the Hillsborough County Court by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. She previously served as an assistant statewide prosecutor at the Florida Attorney General’s Office in Tampa. Posted 4.11.19

 

Neiberger_Ellie_web.jpgEllie W. Neiberger was promoted to shareholder at Bryant Miller Olive, P.A. in Miami. She practices appellate advocacy and litigation, with an emphasis on representing Florida governments in high-profile and complex cases and cases of first impression. Posted 3.7.19

 

David J. Gillis, of The Law Offices of David J. Gillis, PA in Fort Lauderdale, represented a client charged with a crime who was acquitted at trial. The client had no criminal record and Gillis applied for an expunction. While applying, Gillis learned that expunction of a criminal record was only available if the case was dismissed by the prosecution prior to trial, not upon acquittal by a judge or jury. In response to his research, Gillis approached the Florida House of Representatives to initiate a bill to amend the statute to make those acquitted at trial eligible for expunction. The bill passed the House and the Senate unanimously, and was signed into law, effective October 1, 2018. Since the law has taken effect, Gillis received state attorney approval for expunction of his client's record and awaits the FDLE's approval. Posted 1.18.19

Shane T. Costello was promoted to partner at Hill Ward Henderson in Tampa. His practice focuses on litigation involving real estate and land use issues, complex commercial matters, and trust and estate disputes. Posted 1.17.19

Jeffrey J. Wilcox was promoted to partner at Hill Ward Henderson in Tampa. His practice primarily focuses on employment law, including wage-hour compliance, FMLA and ADA compliance, allegations of discrimination and harassment, non-compete litigation, and handbook and policy drafting. Posted 1.17.19

Sykes_Jonathan_web.jpgJonathan M. Sykes was promoted to partner at Burr & Forman LLP in Orlando. He is a member of the Creditors’ Rights & Bankruptcy and Financial Services Litigation practice groups, where he represents financial institutions and creditors in a wide variety of bankruptcy and litigation matters. Posted 1.17.19

 

Alyssa S. Lathrop is now a hearing officer at the Public Employees Relations Commission in Tallahassee. Posted 7.9.18

richardson_adam_web.jpgAdam J. Richardson, an associate at Burlington & Rockenbach, P.A. in West Palm Beach, authored the article, "Reversed and Remanded for a New Trial: A Guide to Retrial in Civil Cases," in the July/August 2018 edition of The Florida Bar Journal. He also has been named a 2018 Florida Super Lawyer Rising Star in the area of appellate law. Posted 6.15.18

 

costello_family_web.jpgJessica Goodwin Costello and Shane T. Costello welcomed son Cameron William Costello to the world in November 2017. Jessica is an assistant statewide prosecutor at the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution in Tampa. Shane is an associate at Hill Ward Henderson in Tampa, where he focuses on litigation involving real estate and land use issues, complex commercial matters, and trust and estate disputes. Posted 1.30.18

 

glanz_brandon_web.jpgBrandon T. Glanz is now a shareholder in the civil litigation group at HKM Professional Association in their St. Paul, MN office. He practices in the areas of toxic torts, employment litigation and general civil litigation defense. Posted 1.11.18

 

Thomas B. Acuff was named general counsel of the Morgan Auto Group in Tampa in June 2016. Posted 12.11.17

nieves_jo-anna_web.jpgJo-Anna M. Nieves was awarded the 2017 Distinguished Service Award by the Alameda County Bar Association (ACBA) on January 26, 2017. The ACBA specifically noted that her passion, commitment to excellence, quiet reflection, and drive for justice and service embodies the spirit of the ideal new lawyers in Alameda County. Nieves is the founding attorney at The Nieves Law Firm, APC in Oakland, CA. Posted 12.6.17

 

Carolyn R. Rickert (maiden name Carolyn R. Haslam) was recently honored as a recipient of the inaugural Akerman Impact Award for her years of volunteer work as a Guardian ad Litem, as well as her work on the firm's Community Impact Team. She is an associate at Akerman, LLP in Orlando, where she practices Florida land use and entitlements law. Posted 10.9.17

Jessica G. Costello was selected to participate in Connect Florida's Class VII, a statewide leadership institute program of Leadership Florida. She is an assistant statewide prosecutor for the Florida Attorney General's Office of Statewide Prosecution in Tampa. 
Posted 7.24.17

William D. Hall, III is now special counsel at Jones Walker LLP in Tallahassee. Posted 5.3.17

renner_jason_web.jpgJason M. Renner is now counsel at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP in Detroit, MI. His current practice is primarily focused on the defense of extra-contractual and liability insurance coverage matters, as well as property and general liability claims. Posted 2.14.17