Class of 2015

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.

Zachary W. Lombardo, an associate attorney at Woodward, Pires and Lombardo P.A., was appointed city attorney for Everglades City at a city council meeting earlier this month. Zachary Lombardo is a Florida Bar board-certified specialist in city, county and local government law. The law firm and Lombardo represent private and public sector clients in local government matters, including land-use matters relating to comprehensive plans, zoning, variances, conditional uses, nonconforming uses and matters involving public records. Additionally, Lombardo represents private and public sector clients in environmental concerns and issues involving state lands, including environmental resource permits and sovereign lands leases before state agencies and in litigation. Posted 10.26.23

 

Megan S. Silver is an administrative law judge in Tallahassee, Florida, and currently serves as the executive director of the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH). Judge Silver oversees DOAH’s statewide agency functions, including budget, purchasing, information technology, human resources, and facilities management. Judge Silver is board certified by The Florida Bar in State and Federal Government and Administrative Practice. She is a frequent speaker on a variety of continuing legal education topics and has recently been published as the author of a chapter of the Fourteenth Edition of the Florida Administrative Practice Manual. She currently serves on the Executive Councils of the Administrative Law Section of The Florida Bar and of the Florida Government Bar Association. Posted 9.10.23

 

Zachary W. Lombardo led representation for Woodward, Pires & Lombardo in a successful dismissal of the appellate decision, Delasol v. Vojtiskova, Case No. 1D22-1532 (1st DCA 2022) for the appellee. Posted 8.11.23

 

Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P.A. proudly announces that attorney Zachary W. Lombardo has become Florida Bar Board Certified in City, County and Local Government Law. Lombardo represents clients in land use, and local government law matters, including comprehensive plan amendments, re-zonings, variances, conditional uses, and non-conforming uses. He also represents clients on matters involving public records, including litigation, and guides clients in environmental concerns involving state lands, environmental resource permits and sovereign lands leases before state agencies. He serves as attorney to the City of Everglades City Planning and Zoning Committee and assists in representing the firm’s various special district clients and municipal clients. Posted 8.10.23

 

Chad and Stephanie (Osman, Class of 2014) Rubin, along with their son Judah, are thrilled to share the birth of their second child, Mia Shoshana Rubin, born 04.10.2023 in New York, NY. Go Noles! Posted 6.2.23

 

Anthony R. Rodriguez has joined Goldberg Segalla LLP in the firm's Construction Litigation and Counsel group in West Palm Beach. Rodriguez focuses his practice on construction defect litigation, professional liability, and complex commercial litigation, defending developers, general contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers, and others in the construction industry. He also has extensive experience litigating personal injury matters and wrongful death cases, as well as advising homeowners associations and condominium associations. Posted 5.3.23

Nina C. Welch has been elected to the status of partner at Nelson Mullins LLP, where she practices in their Fort Lauderdale office. Welch represents clients in a variety of complex business litigation matters in state and federal courts across the country. Posted 1.12.23

 

Robert Volpe has been elevated to partner at Holtzman Vogel Baran Torchinsky & Josefiak PLLC in their Tallahassee office. Volpe's practice focuses on disputes involving private property rights, complex real estate transactions, comprehensive planning, zoning, developments of regional impact, and other planned and large-scale developments. Posted 1.4.23

 

David B. Heedy was named to the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America’s “Ones to Watch in America” list in the areas of tax law & trusts and estates. Posted 10.4.22

 

Olivia Walker has joined Shuffield Lowman's Orlando office working in their litigation section. Prior experience includes serving as a prosecutor for the State Attorney’s Office of the Ninth Judicial Circuit, working to prosecute domestic violence felonies and sex crimes. During this time, she represented Florida in over 40 jury trials and was awarded a Champion of Justice award by the County Court Bureau Chief. Posted 9.13.22

 

Robert Volpe was promoted to of counsel at Holtzman Vogel Baran Torchinsky & Josefiak PLLC. Volpe is resident in the firm’s Tallahassee office. He focuses his practice on disputes involving private property rights, complex real estate transactions, comprehensive planning, zoning, developments of regional impact, and other planned and large-scale developments. Posted 1.13.22

 

Joseph R. Salzverg was recently named among the “Ones to Watch” for 2021-2022 by Best Lawyers in America and profiled as a Fourth Floor File in INFLUENCE Magazine. Salzverg is a shareholder with GrayRobinson, and he currently lobbies Florida’s legislative and executive branches of government on a variety of issues. He has also represented clients before local governments on procurement, land use, and general government matters. In addition, he assists corporate and non-profit interests in market entrance strategies and community engagement initiatives throughout South Florida. Posted 9.20.21
 

Jasmyne Henderson is leaving the Tallahassee office of The Pittman Law Group, where she serves as attorney & director of government affairs, to open and manage the firm’s expansion in Orlando, Florida. Posted 7.6.21

 

Chad Rubin has joined the New York Office of Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy LLP as an associate attorney. He will continue to represent large multi-national corporations. Posted 2.18.21

Roger Rozanski is now the director of the Chicago-Kent Patent Hub at the Chicago-Kent College of Law. Posted 9.30.20

 

Nina C. Welch is now an associate at Nelson Mullins in Fort Lauderdale. She is a member of the firm's South Florida litigation team and represents clients in a variety of complex business litigation matters in state and federal courts across the country. Posted 4.21.20

 

portnoy_corey_web.jpgCorey J. Portnoy,  an associate at Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville. In this role, Mr. Portnoy will help oversee many facets of the organization, including its Career Solutions Training Program, “Empower, Engage & Employ,” which provides training to individuals with Down Syndrome to help them become successfully employed.  Posted 10.18.19

 

Jett L. Baumann is now an associate at Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell in Tallahassee. He practices in the areas of government and administrative law, constitutional law, and labor and employment law. Posted 7.31.19

 

Rebecca C. Arends is now an associate at Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell in Tampa. She focuses her practice in the areas of casualty and trucking litigation. Posted 7.31.19

 

Robert C. Volpe was presented with The Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Law Section’s 2019 Stephens/Register Memorial Award for his exceptional contributions of time and talent to the section. He is an associate at Hopping Green & Sams in Tallahassee. Posted 7.26.19

Corey C. Kirkwood was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2019. He is an associate at Matis Baum O'Connor in Pittsburgh, where he practices civil litigation with a concentration on medical malpractice defense and health care law. Posted 5.10.19

Kalish_Scott_web.jpgScott J. Kalish is now an associate at Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP in their Sarasota office. He focuses his practice in the areas of commercial and construction litigation, and has extensive experience representing community associations in a broad range of litigation matters. Posted 1.23.19

 

rady_kayla_web.pngKayla E. Platt Rady has joined Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell in Tallahassee. She practices in the areas of constitutional law, employment and labor law, governmental and administrative law, and casualty defense litigation. Posted 10.16.18

 

turner_austin_web.jpgAustin S. Turner was appointed to The Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Law Section Committee. He is an associate at Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. in Fort Myers, where he concentrates his practice in the areas of land use and environmental law. Posted 10.4.18

 

Grant R. Dostie, an associate at Cotney Construction Law in Tampa, was named a 2018 Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star in construction litigation, as well as a Florida Trend Legal Elite Up & Comer in construction law. Posted 8.24.18

Benjamin W. Buck Jr. is now an associate at Carr Allison in their Tallahassee office. His practice areas include workers’ compensation, insurance defense, premises liability, and labor and employment. Posted 5.7.18

Sarah R. Niewold is an associate at Thurman Law Firm in Tallahassee. She focuses her practice on family law, adoption, estate planning and civil litigation. Posted 1.19.18

ward_david_web.jpgDavid W. Ward will be honored at the 2018 Seminole 100, a celebration of the fastest-growing businesses owned by FSU alumni. He operates corporate consulting firm Vires Strategy and is chief legal officer at iMobile3 in Jacksonville. Posted 1.19.18

 

Celeste N. Gaines joined Waldon Adelman Castilla Hiestand & Prout in Atlanta, GA. She practices in the areas of insurance defense, trucking litigation and construction litigation. Posted 12.11.17

kelly_samantha_web.jpgSamantha R. Kelly received an LL.M. in Estate Planning from the University of Miami in 2016. She is an associate attorney at Simses & Associates, PA in Palm Beach. Kelly practices in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, estate taxation and real estate. Posted 12.11.17

 

Jordane E. Learn is an assistant United States attorney in the Northern District of Florida. She works in the Appellate Division, handling criminal appeals before the Eleventh Circuit. Posted 12.11.17

Kali Lauren M. Sinclair is now the attorney search director at Parker + Lynch in Fort Lauderdale. Posted 10.16.17

ward_david_web.jpgDavid W. Ward received the Reubin Askew Young Alumni Award and was named a 2017 Notable Nole by the FSU Alumni Association. He helped resettle Syrian and Iraqi refugees to Australia during a seven month humanitarian project in the Mideast last year.Ward's story was featured in the Spring/Summer issue of the FSU Alumni Association’s VIRES magazine. He operates corporate consulting firm Vires Strategy and is chief legal officer at iMobile3 in Jacksonville. Posted 10.16.17

 

Chad I. Rubin has joined Dean Mead in their Orlando office as an associate in the Immigration Law department. He focuses his practice on helping foreign nationals and multinational corporations with their immigration needs.  Posted 10.10.17

treece_thomas_web.jpgThomas C. Treece has joined Laird A. Lile, PLLC in Naples as the firm's Resident at Law. The 18-month program provides in-depth training in a trusts and estates law practice environment. Posted 9.28.17

 

portnoy_corey_web.jpgCorey J. Portnoy is now an associate at Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin, P.C. in the firm's Jacksonville office. He focuses his practice on maritime law, shipping litigation, cargo subrogation, premises liability and transportation law. Posted 7.19.17

 

Jaycee Peralta is now in-house counsel at Franchise Creator in Doral. Posted 6.19.17

Brooke A. Bach is now a consultant at Ringler Associates in Fort Lauderdale. Posted 5.3.17

Sarah E. Haston is now a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, in Washington, D.C. Posted 2.17.17