W. Donald Cox Maintains Board Certification for 25 Years
Florida's Legal Board Certification celebrates 25 years, recognizing 28 local lawyers who have maintained board certification since 1983. W. Donald Cox, shareholder and Litigation Department Chair for Fowler White, is among this elite group receiving his certification in civil trial law. "Florida's board certification program is predicated on experience and integrity, the foundations that are inseparable from our work as lawyers to advance the administration of justice," said Florida Bar President John G. "Jay" White, III in a press release.
Rhea F. Law named 2008 Tampa Bay CEO of the Year
On Thurday, December 11th, Rhea F. Law was named 2008 Tampa Bay CEO of the Year by Tampa Bay CEO Magazine. Ms. Law was among 38 nominees in nine categories. She also won in the Legal Services category. Criteria for the award included community involvement, leadership initiatives, corporate vision and market performance. David C. Glass, CEO & Publisher of Tampa Bay CEO Magazine, commented, "Rhea is doing some amazing things in the business community, demonstrating a level of vision and leadership that sets her apart from her contemporaries. She truly personifies everything we were looking for in our CEO of the Year." For more details, click here.
Rhea Law Recognized by NAIOP Tampa Bay
Rhea Law received a Special Service Award from NAIOP Tampa Bay for her involvement in the Tampa Bay Watch Program in 2008. This forum allows business leaders, elected officials, and regulators to meet and discuss ideas, exchange views, and work together to find solutions to the development issues that impact the industry.
The mission of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties is to provide the commercial and industrial real estate industry with a visionary, beneficial and responsive Association. Ms. Law is a former president of NAIOP Tampa Bay and currently serves on the Board of Directors.
Kenneth L. Bednar joins Fowler White Boggs
Kenneth Bednar has joined the firm as a shareholder and will continue to expand his national client base through the firm’s prominent presence throughout Florida. He is an experienced litigator who concentrates his practice in the areas of complex commercial litigation, construction litigation, corporate shareholder and partnership disputes, employment law, and toxic exposure claims. He has extensive trial experience in all state and federal courts. He has been previously named one of Florida’s Legal Elite commercial litigators by Florida Trend.
Mr. Bednar will continue to expand and strengthen Fowler White Boggs’s distinguished statewide commercial litigation practice in the south Florida market. Mr. Bednar brings to Fowler White 23 years of litigation and trial experience predominately in south Florida, which will allow the firm to better serve and expand its statewide and national client base. Prior to joining Fowler White Boggs, Mr. Bednar was a senior partner with the law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP.
Rhea Law Re-Elected to Florida Council of 100
Rhea F. Law, CEO and Chair of the Board of Directors of Fowler White Boggs, has been re-elected to the Board of Directors of the Florida Council of 100. The Florida Council of 100 is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan, non-lobbying association for Florida’s top business, education, non-elected state and governmental leaders. The Council works in close harmony with the Governor, the Chief Justice, the Legislature, as well as with private organizations, to achieve quality of life improvements for the people of Florida. The mission of the Florida Council of 100 is to be a forum of strategic thinkers and leaders having a major positive effect on Florida public policy which enhances the quality of life and economic well-being of all Floridians.
Society of Human Resources Management Association Appoints Jaime Maurer to Its Board of Directors
Jaime A. Maurer, an associate with the law firm of Fowler White Boggs, has been appointed to the board of directors for the Society of Human Resources Management Association (SHRM) of Southwest Florida. SHRM is the world’s largest association devoted to human resource management. Ms. Maurer practices in Fowler White Boggs’s Commerical Litigation Practice Group and has experience in business and commercial litigation, shareholder and partnership disputes, contract disputes, employment law and employment litigation.
Rhea F. Law Speaks at the Women's Breakfast Forum
Rhea F. Law, CEO and Chair of Fowler White's Board of Directors, was a guest panelist at the Lighting the Path Women's Breakfast Forum hosted by Grant Thornton on November 5. During the event, women business leaders shared details about their experiences, their endeavors, and suggestions for how women today can "light the path" to success. Ms. Law has served as Fowler White's CEO for the last six years and is the only woman to lead a major law firm in Florida.
Fowler White Changing its Name.
Fowler White Boggs Banker P.A., one of Florida’s oldest law firms, announced the firm will be known as Fowler White Boggs P.A. The firm will be celebrating its 65th anniversary representing Florida, national, and international clients in business transactions and commercial litigation. Fowler White Boggs P.A. has offices in Tampa, Tallahassee, Ft. Myers, Jacksonville, and Ft. Lauderdale.
Rhea F. Law Inducted into Stetson's College of Law's Hall of Fame
On October 11, Rhea Law, CEO and Chair of Fowler White's Board, was inducted into Stetson University College of Law's Hall of Fame along with five other members. Stetson Law's Hall of Fame now includes 46 members. After graduating from Stetson University College of Law, Rhea worked her way up in Fowler White to become the first female president and CEO of a large Florida law firm in 2001. She has served on the Stetson College of Law Board of Overseers and was instrumental in the law school's Cornerstone fundraising campaign. Click here to view videos of the 2008 Hall of Fame inductees.
Thomas E. Gibbs Joins Fowler White Boggs
Thomas E. Gibbs has joined Fowler White as a shareholder in the Business Transactions and Corporate Law Practice. Mr. Gibbs was the founding partner of the Jacksonville office of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae (now Dewey & LeBoeuf). He practices in the areas of corporate acquisitions and mergers, general corporate matters, insurance law and regulatory matters pertaining to financial institutions. He also has substantial international law experience.
Mr. Gibbs has served as an officer and a director of numerous corporations, public and private, foreign and domestic. He was president of The Charter Company's Insurance Group and senior vice president, general counsel, and secretary of The Charter Company. Mr. Gibbs also held numerous offices with Consolidated International Group, Inc. Currently, he serves as vice chairman of the Board of Directors for Black Diamond Group, and as Chairman of the Board for the Florida Bank of Jacksonville. He is AV peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He received his B.A., With Honors, from the University of Florida and his J.D. from Franklin Pierce Law Center.
Michael Byrnes Joins Fowler White Boggs
Michael S. Byrnes has joined the Fort Lauderdale office as an associate in the Business Transactions and Corporate Law Practice Group. His area of practice includes health care corporate transactions and regulatory compliance. Mr. Byrnes’ work has included advising clients on topics such as: corporate structuring; health care fraud and abuse issues regarding Stark/Florida Patient Self-Referral Act, anti-kickback, and fee-splitting; employment and professional service agreements; Medicaid audits and Department of Health complaints; HIPAA, EMTALA and third party reimbursement disputes.
Fowler White won the Sustainability Pioneer Award
Fowler White won the Sustainability Pioneer Award in the large business category at the inaugural Earth Charter Sustainable Business Awards of Tampa Bay event. Earth Charter U.S., in conjunction with the University of Tampa, recognized Fowler White for our sustainable business practices, our efforts in providing legal services to underserved populations through our Courthouse Assistance project through Bay Area Legal Services and our "Living Green" initiative with Tampa Bay’s 10 WTSP TV (the CBS affiliate in the Tampa Bay Region). Fowler White was the only law firm to be recognized.
Living Green Initiative
Fowler White is proud to partner with Tampa Bay’s 10 WTSP TV (the CBS affiliate in the Tampa Bay Region) on a "Living Green" initiative, a community outreach program designed to distribute information and resources necessary to help consumers make educated decisions about "green" related products and services.
National Association of Corporate Directors Florida Chapter Elects Kathy Tayon to the Office of Secretary
Kathy J. Tayon, a shareholder in the Business Transactions and Corporate Law practice group, has been elected as Secretary to the Florida Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). The NACD Florida Chapter was founded in 2005 and is dedicated to delivering educational and networking value to directors and CEOs who are committed to raising standards and improving boardroom performance.
