Lawrence J. Hodz is the founding partner of Cortes Hodz Family Law & Mediation, P.A., in Tampa with his wife, Vivian C. Hodz ('02), which was ranked 90th on the 2024 Seminole 100 honoree list. Posted 3.6.24
Autumn Beck Blackledge is the founding partner of the family law firm, Autumn Beck Blackledge, PLLC, in Pensacola which was recently included on the 2023 Seminole 100 honoree list. Posted 12.8.22
Judge Thomas N. Palermo was appointed by Florida Chief Justice Carlos Muniz to serve on the Florida Supreme Court Standing Committee on Fairness and Diversity. He was also appointed to serve as an Honorary Commander in MacDill AFB's 6th Air Refueling Wing Honorary Commander Program. In that program, he will participate in base activities that include aerial-refueling flights, official wing functions, award ceremonies, promotions, changes of command, AirFest, the Air Force Ball, and other activities. He also accepted an appointment to serve on the Saint John's Episcopal Board of Trustees. Finally, he is currently serving as the Fort Brooke Chair for the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council for the Boy Scouts. Posted 9.12.22
J. Cameron Thurber of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Office of Inspector General had his most recent article, “The Attorney as Fraud Investigator,” published in the July/August edition of Fraud magazine. Posted 7.6.22
Autumn Beck Blackledge is the founding partner of the family law firm, Autumn Beck Blackledge, PLLC, in Pensacola which was recently ranked 53rd on the Seminole 100 honoree list. Posted 3.3.22
Elmer C. Ignacio has become a shareholder of Sniffen & Spellman, P.A. Ignacio focuses his practice in all areas of labor and employment law. He is an experienced litigator and has been lead defense counsel in both state and federal jury trials and administrative hearings. Ignacio also counsels employers and management in matters ranging from state and federal labor and employment laws, compliance, and handbook review and drafting. Ignacio has published numerous articles and presented programs on various labor and employment law topics. Posted 2.8.22
Kevin M. O’Brien has been ranked among the top attorneys on the 2022 Super Lawyers list in North Carolina. O’Brien is a partner at Phelps Dunbar LLP in Raleigh. Posted 1.20.22
Sarah S. Butters is the chair-elect of the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law (RPPTL) Section of The Florida Bar. Butters is a shareholder with Ausley McMullen in Tallahassee, where she practices in the areas of trusts and estates, wills and probate, and taxation. She is also an adjunct professor at the College of Law. Posted 9.29.21
Robert "Bob" Swaine is the current chair of the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law (RPPTL) Section of The Florida Bar. Swaine is a partner practicing out of the Sebring office of Swaine, Harris & Wohl, P.A. Posted 9.29.21
Allison E. Turnbull was named to the 2022 Best Lawyers list in the areas of Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Turnbull is a shareholder with Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman in WinterPark, Florida. Posted 9.17.21
The Honorable Thomas N. Palermo received the 2020 Robert W. Patton Outstanding Jurist Award from the Hillsborough County Bar Association on March 25. The award recognizes an outstanding jurist who has an excellent reputation for sound judicial decisions; has an unblemished record for integrity as a lawyer and judge; is generally recognized by bar members as highly qualified; is active in bar-related activities open to the judiciary; and demonstrates concern or willingness to assist young lawyers and demonstrates respect for their abilities. Making the award even more special, Alexandra (Alex) Haddad Palermo ('12) presented the award. Posted 3.29.21
J. Cameron Thurber of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Office of Inspector General, received an Award for Excellence from the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency for his work on the Preventing and Detecting Cyber Threats audit team. Posted 11.3.20
Nick Iarossi has been named to the 2020 edition of The INFLUENCE 100: The Most Influential People in Florida Politics. Posted 10.28.20
Nick Iarossi is serving on the FSU Presidential Search Committee. Iarossi is a co-founding member of Capital City Consulting in Tallahassee. He has more than 20 years of lobbying experience on local, state and federal government policy issues. Previously, Iarossi worked in the Florida Senate Majority Office and Office of Insurance Regulation as a law clerk. Posted 10.20.20
Allison E. Turnbull was named to the 2021 Best Lawyers list in the areas of Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Posted 10.1.20
Allison E. Turnbull has joined Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman, P.A. in Orlando as a shareholder. Turnbull practices in the areas of real estate, land use and development. Posted 3.6.20
Autumn Beck Blackledge is the founding partner of the family law firm, Autumn Beck Blackledge, PLLC, in Pensacola which was recently ranked 82nd on the Seminole 100 honoree list. Posted 12.12.19
Jonathan W. Oliff has been promoted to managing director and senior attorney at American Airlines, where he is labor relations and employment law counsel. He is board certified in labor and employment law by The Florida Bar and is also a member of the State Bar of Texas. Posted 11.22.19
Jeffrey T. Bankowitz is now a shareholder at GrayRobinson in Orlando. He focuses his practice on structuring real estate holdings and navigating real estate transactions. Posted 11.22.19
Jenny Higginbotham Barrett filed her statement of candidacy for Nassau County Court Judge, Group 1, on August 2, 2019. The primary election is scheduled for August 19, 2020. She is senior counsel at Fidelity National Financial in Jacksonville. Posted 9.16.19
Kristie L. Hatcher-Bolin has achieved board certification by The Florida Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization and Education in the area of appellate practice. She is a shareholder at GrayRobinson, P.A. in Lakeland, where she focuses her practice on appellate, general civil and commercial litigation, as well as employment law. Posted 9.3.19
Thomas N. Palermo was appointed to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Palermo previously served as an assistant United States attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tampa. Posted 4.11.19
Thomas N. Palermo is a federal prosecutor in the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division. He also serves as the district's opioid coordinator and, in that role, had the opportunity to prepare an article on the opioid crisis from the perspective of a federal prosecutor. The article, "The Opioid Crisis," was published in the Winter 2019 issue of the American Bar Association's Criminal Justice magazine. Posted 2.11.19
Michael A. Sjuggerud is now board certified in Real Estate Law from The Florida Bar. He practices real estate law, business law, and local and state government law at Cantwell & Goldman PA in Cocoa. Posted 12.4.18
Autumn Beck Blackledge authored the book, Skinny Ninnie’s Kitchen: Recipes and Humour from Four Generations of Southern Mouths. She is the founding partner of the family law firm, Autumn Beck Blackledge, PLLC, in Pensacola. Posted 8.29.18
Elmer C. Ignacio has joined Sniffen & Spellman, P.A. as an associate in Tallahassee. He practices in the areas of labor and employment, state and local government, and civil rights litigation. Posted 5.18.18
Brittany Long is a shareholder at Radey Law Firm in Tallahassee. She practices in the area of Florida administrative law and appellate advocacy, with an emphasis on cases involving public procurement rule challenges, public records and the Sunshine Law. Long is board certified in State & Federal Government and Administrative Practice. Posted 12.14.17
James M. Marshall has joined Gunster's Fort Lauderdale office as a shareholder. He practices environmental and land use law. Posted 10.17.17
Lawrence J. Hodz serves on the Executive Council of The Stann Givens Family Law American Inn of Court. He is a board member of R U Safe, Inc. and recently participated in a CLE for the organization Mock Domestic Violence Injunction Return Hearing: How to Present, Defend and Win. Hodz has been recognized as a 2017 Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star. He practices marital and family law at Cortes Hodz Family Law and Mediation, P.A. in Tampa with his wife, Vivian C. Hodz ('02). Posted 10.3.17
Anthony R. Reeves was appointed to serve as an administrative law judge with the United States Social Security Administration in April. Prior to his appointment, he ran his own practice for 10 years. Posted 9.27.17
Sarah S. Butters is now a shareholder at Ausley McMullen in Tallahassee. Her areas of practice are trusts and estates, wills and probate, and taxation. Posted 4.6.17
Kristy K. Banks served in the Electoral College for the 2016 presidential election. She practices at Kristy Branch Banks, P.A in Apalachicola. Posted 3.20.17
Kristie L. Hatcher-Bolin is a recipient of The Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award. She is a shareholder at GrayRobinson, P.A. in Lakeland, pro bono attorney ad litem and volunteer advocate for the children in the 10th Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem program. Posted 2.22.17