Manny Farach, A Legacy of Service, Success & Family
Florida State University College of Law has a rich history of producing dedicated legal professionals who make significant contributions to their communities and the legal field. The story of Manuel 'Manny' Farach (’86) exemplifies the values of hard work, dedication, and service that Florida State Law instills in its students.
As a first-generation college and law school graduate, Farach believes that respect for property rights is fundamental to a well-functioning society, and not surprisingly, his practice focuses on real estate and litigation. As an adjunct professor, he shares his real-world practical experience with his students. It’s one of the ways he gives back while also learning new perspectives. Reflecting on his teaching experiences, he says, “It’s amazing; you teach in an area that you think you know well, and the students will come up with an approach you hadn’t considered.” Farach supplements his teaching with his writing, including, among other works, the Real Estate Law treatise for West’s Florida Practice series.
Florida State Law taught Manny to strive for excellence, and indeed, he has, becoming the first lawyer in Florida to become double board-certified in both business litigation and real estate law and eventually adding appellate law certification to become one of the handful of lawyers who are triple board-certified. He enriched his law school training by clerking at both the trial and appellate levels of the Florida courts before beginning to practice law, first with a large Miami firm and eventually finding a home with Mrachek Law in West Palm Beach. “I've done a lot of work here in the community, and my family still lives here as well,” said Farach when asked why Palm Beach County. “It is one of the best areas of the country in terms of diversity and the different things that you can do with great sports, culture, and entertainment, all while enjoying a very livable lifestyle.”
He is active in the legal community and currently serves as an elected member of the Florida Bar Board of Governors, the Board of Governors of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, and the American Law Institute. He is Chair of the Business Law Section of the Florida Bar and a past Chair of the Florida Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions for Contract Cases, the Judicial Nominating Commissions for the Fourth District Court of Appeal and the Nineteenth Circuit Court, and the American Bar Association’s Real Property Litigation Group. He serves on the Executive Councils of three Sections of the Florida Bar and has served as President of numerous local bar organizations, including the Palm Beach County Bar Association.
His numerous accolades reflect his commitment to the profession as well as the community at large. Farach has been named Board Certified Lawyer of the Year (2019) by The Florida Bar, Member of the Year (2016) by the Florida Bar Business Law Section, one of the 50 Most Influential Hispanic Business Leaders by the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and has received the Judge Edward Rodgers Diversity Award, the Sidney Stubbs Professionalism Award, and the Legal Aid Society Pro Bono Award. He is a graduate of Leadership Florida and a past president of the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches. He was appointed to the inaugural Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics and served as its Chair. Among his other honors, he is listed in LawDragon’s inaugural 500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, The Best Lawyers in America®, U.S. News Best Lawyers, Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, Florida Super Lawyers (including Florida’s “Top 100”), and holds an “AV Preeminent” Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
When he’s not competing in triathlons or meticulously preparing for trial, Farach cherishes time with his family. Looking ahead, he hopes to work on a new book, travel, and continue his passion for teaching and enriching the law. But when asked what he is most proud of, Farach points to his daughters. "Our three daughters graduated from Florida State as undergrads, and two graduated from Florida State Law. They could have chosen many other schools to attend, but they selected Florida State for its rigorous educational environment and tremendous opportunities," he says, reflecting on the values that guided his own decision to attend the law school decades ago.
Farach Family Photos
