Class of 1996

View your classmates' news and accomplishments by selecting your graduation year! The most recent class notes entries appear first on each page. If you have anything that you would like to include as a class note, you may submit a class note online or contact Becky Shepherd.

Ronald A. Christaldi was named to the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of health care law. Posted 10.4.22

 

Shannon Bream has been named the new host of Fox News Sunday. Bream will be the show’s first female host, and she will also continue to serve as the network’s chief legal correspondent. Posted 8.22.22

Jason Lazarus is the founder and chief executive officer of Synergy Settlement Services, which was recently ranked 54th on the Seminole 100 list. Posted 3.2.22

Jorge A. Mestre has been named to the 2021 Lawdragon 500 Global Litigators Guide. The list features top attorneys who practice in the area of global litigation and arbitration. Posted 3.11.21

 

Jorge A. Mestre is a partner at Rivero Mestre LLP and is honored that Chambers and Partners recognized the firm as the winner of its 2020 Diversity & Inclusion Award for Outstanding Firm for Furthering Diversity and Inclusion in the USA Private Practice Firm category. The awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of firms and individuals who are furthering the advancement of diversity and inclusion across the USA and Canada. Posted 10.20.20

 

JoLinda Herring was appointed to the National Association of Bond Lawyers (NABL) Board of Directors. Herring served as chair of the NABL Bond Attorneys Workshop Steering Committee in 2019. In 2011, she was chair of NABL’s Fundamentals of Municipal Bond Law seminar. She is also a frequent speaker at NABL workshops and Florida Government Finance Officers Association conferences. Herring is co-chair of the Public Finance Group at Bryant Miller Olive P.A. Posted 10.1.20

Jorge Piedra was featured in the law.com article titled, "How South Florida Lawyer Jorge Piedra Helped Push for Miami-Dade's New Civil Courthouse." Posted 9.9.20

Christopher J. Karo is now secretary and general counsel for Hornbeam Insurance Company in Louisville, KY. Karo was formerly assistant general counsel at AIG, where he was responsible for lawyering its U.S. warranty division. Posted 5.24.19

combs_bert_web.jpgBert L. Combs, a shareholder at Radey Law Firm in Tallahassee, was recognized as one of the 2019 Best Lawyers in America in the area of insurance law. Posted 9.13.18

 

mestre_jorge_web.jpgJorge A. Mestre has been appointed to Florida's Judicial Nominating Commission for the Eleventh Circuit by Governor Rick Scott. He will serve for a term ending on July 1, 2022. Mestre is a partner at Rivero Mestre LLP in Coral Gables, where he practices commercial litigation, including international arbitration and litigation. Posted 8.22.18

 

Jorge L. Piedra was sworn in as president of the Cuban American Bar Association (CABA) at the CABA Benefit and Installation Gala held on January 27, 2018 at the FIU Arena in Miami. The event was attended by over 800 guests, judges and community leaders. The Miami-Dade County Office of the Mayor and Board of County Commissioners declared January 27, 2018 “Jorge L. Piedra Day.” Piedra is a managing partner at Piedra & Associates, P.A. in Coral Gables, where he practices commercial litigation. Posted 2.15.18

Jason D. Lazarus will be honored at the 2018 Seminole 100, a celebration of the fastest-growing businesses owned by FSU alumni. He is a founding principal and chief executive officer at Synergy Settlement Services in their Orlando office. Posted 1.19.18

Russel M. Lazega, of the Law Office of Russel Lazega in Dania Beach, published the 14th edition of Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law & Practice (PIP) and the 8th edition of Florida Insurance Law & Practice. His book,Managing Bubbie, has won its 15th book award and was recorded as an audiobook starring Tony-Award nominee and Golden Globe winner, Linda Lavin. Writer/producer Ethan S. Smith will develop the screenplay for the movie. Posted 12.15.17

mcgrath_jason_web.jpgJason A. McGrath, of McGrath & Spielberger, PLLC in Charlotte, NC, has been appointed to a position on the Mecklenburg County Bar Association board of directors. He co-authored an article published in the American Bar Association’s GPSolo Magazine, Vol. 33, No. 2. The article “Foreclosures When Missing the Loan Note: Yes, No, or Maybe?” focused on the legal issues raised when a key loan document is found to be missing. Posted 12.11.17

 

mccarron_douglas_web.jpgDouglas J. McCarron recently won a case in which the plaintiff was awarded $1.57 million. McCarron is a partner at The Haggard Law Firm, P.A. in Coral Gables. The firm represents the rights of people seriously injured or killed through the fault of others. Posted 11.6.17