Class of 1997

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.

Shawn D. Smith has recently resigned after 16 years as the Key West city attorney to take the position of general counsel to the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority. Posted 6.2.23

Heather M. Toft HeadshotHeather M. Toft has been elected to the status of partner at Nelson Mullins LLP, where she practices in their Atlanta office. Toft works primarily in the areas of low-income housing tax credits, affordable housing, equity and debt financing, market rate financing, real estate, and general business organizations law. Posted 1.12.23

 

espino_alejandro_web.jpgAlejandro Espino re-joined Vezina Lawrence & Piscitelli, PA where he worked from 2000-2010. The construction law firm is now known as VLP Copenhaver Espino and has offices in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and Tallahassee. Posted 1.11.23

 

Elizabeth E. Thomas was appointed to the Financial Accounting Foundation's Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Council. Posted 1.29.21

Christopher Polaszek is chief legal officer and corporate secretary for Bluma Wellness, Inc. He orchestrated and oversaw Bluma’s reverse takeover in Canada, which resulted in the commencement of trading on the Canadian Securities. Posted 8.24.20

 

Michael Ufferman authored the book, Florida Criminal Practice and Procedure in 2019.  Updated annually, it is a comprehensive guide to pretrial criminal procedure, investigation of criminal offenses and stages of trial.  The current version of Florida Criminal Practice and Procedure, 2020 ed. (Vol. 22, Florida Practice Series) is available to purchase through Thomson Reuters. Posted 8.6.20

 

Scott Remington is serving on the FSU College of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors for the 2020-2021 academic year. Posted 7.1.20

Charles P. Young is now a county judge for the Escambia County Court in Pensacola. He previously practiced at Clark Partington Hart Larry Bond & Stackhouse, P.A. Posted 9.3.19

Seegers_James_web.jpgJames W. Seegers was promoted to partner at BakerHostetler in the firm’s Orlando office. He advises and represents private- and public-sector management clients in connection with employment and labor law matters. With more than 20 years of experience, Seegers has represented employers in state and federal courts throughout the United States, as well as in proceedings before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Justice. Posted 2.4.18

 

espino_alejandro_web.jpgAlejandro Espino was recognized in Florida Trend's 2017 Legal Elite and named a 2017 Florida Super Lawyer in the area of construction law. He will serve as chair of the Construction Certification Committee for the 2017-2018 term. Espino is a shareholder at Taylor Espino Vega & Touron, P.A. in Coral Gables. His areas of practice include construction and commercial litigation matters, primarily in the state courts. Posted 10.4.17

 

allman_frank_web.jpgThe Honorable Francis J. Allman, Jr. was appointed to the bench on February 22, 2016 by Governor Rick Scott. He currently presides over civil and family law matters. Prior to his appointment, he was a prosecutor in the Second Judicial Circuit for 18 years, where he served as a division chief in the Tallahassee office and head of the Gadsden and Liberty County offices. He prosecuted some of the most serious and high-profile cases in the circuit. Posted 10.3.17