Growing up, those who knew me best joked that I should become a lawyer because I was never afraid to argue my point. Now, after more than 35 years as a practicing attorney, I see each case not as an opportunity for debate, but as a chance to stand up for what’s right.
My legal career began in the field of criminal defense, which, as you can imagine, requires a certain tenacity. When you’re fighting to protect a person’s constitutional rights — not to mention their freedom — you must always be prepared for the possibility of trial, even if it appears as though the case is headed down a more amicable path. Fortunately for my clients, this is something at which I have always excelled. Frankly, when you believe in fair trial and justice as much as I do, being a part of it comes all too naturally.
To me, there is no greater injustice than ignoring a chance to help someone.
The Evolution of My Practice
At my core, I am a litigator. I have good instincts in a negotiation, and I am not one to back down easily. Today, my practice does not require a great deal of litigation because when it comes to foreclosure defense, criminal law and student loan defense, nearly every case can be resolved without escalating to trial. Still, I find that my background in criminal and civil litigation gives me a certain advantage in each area of law that I practice. Allow me to explain.
For starters, I don’t just prepare for each case I handle; I over-prepare so that I am ready for any direction that case may take. And, when it comes time to negotiate with the other side, the litigator in me can’t help but push for a better deal whenever possible. Finally, on the rare occasion that trial is in my client’s best interest, I am able to personally represent them through to the end of their case.
Outside the Practice
Like Kathryn, my passion for helping others isn’t limited to our office hours. Outside of work, I enjoy teaching what I know about foreclosure litigation to other attorneys and offering pro bono legal counsel to veterans. In my spare time, you can generally find me enjoying a movie or pouring over a good book.
Bar Admissions
- Florida
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida
Certified Legal Specialties
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional "former" (CISSP)
Education
- M.S. - Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 2000
- Major: Computer Science
- J.D. - University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, FL, 1982
- B.A. - University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 1975
- Major: Mass Communications and Political Science
Professional Associations & Memberships
- The Florida Bar, Section on Criminal Law
- Association of Computing Machinery
- Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- American Civil Liberties Union
