Tampa Bay attorneys receive specialty certifications

The Florida Bar recently certified 21 Tampa Bay attorneys in 10 legal practice areas.

The designation marks the highest level of recognition by The Florida Bar of competency and experience in areas of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida. About 4,200 Florida lawyers are certified in 22 fields.

The specialty areas and recently certified attorneys are:

• Antitrust and trade regulation: Robert L. Ciotti and Sylvia H. Walbolt, Tampa
• Appellate practice law: Gwendolyn P. Braswell, Sarasota
• Business litigation: Bernard H. Gentry Jr. and Mark N. Miller, Lakeland, George D. Conwell Jr. and William F. Hamilton, Tampa
• City, county and local government: Tammi E. Bach, Clearwater
• Civil trial: John F. Lakin, Bradenton, James B. Thompson Jr., St. Petersburg and Fredric S. Zinober, Tampa
• Construction law: Daniel L. Moody, Largo, David E. Gurley and Alan E. Tannenbaum, Sarasota
• Criminal trial: Stephen J. Nelson, Clearwater and Andrew B. Shein, Tampa
• Elder law: Rebecca C. Bell, Port Richey
• Labor and employment law: Scott A. Fisher, St. Petersburg and Erin G. Jackson, Tampa
• Real estate law: David H. Rosenberg, Bradenton and Christopher W. Brewer, Tampa

To qualify for certification, a lawyer must be a member in good standing of The Florida Bar who meets the state Supreme Court's standards. In addition, a lawyer must have a minimum of five years experience practicing law; show substantial involvement in the field of law for which certification is sought; pass an examination; receive satisfactory peer review assessment of competence in the specialty field as well as character, ethics and professionalism in the practice of law; and satisfy the certification area's continuing legal education requirements.

The board certification is valid for five years. During that time, an attorney must keep practicing law and attending Florida Bar-approved continuing legal education courses. To be re-certified, lawyers must meet requirements similar to those for initial certification.

About Conwell Kirkpatrick

Conwell Kirkpatrick, P.A. is a Florida based law firm specializing in trial and appellate litigation. CSK's Florida litigation attorneys specialize in the litigation of commercial and personal disputes as well as selective commercial and personal injury disputes. G. Donovan Conwell, Jr. and Wrede Kirkpatrick have extensive trial and appellate litigation experience in intellectual property and technology law cases. Conwell Kirkpatrick’s office is located in Tampa, Florida.