Melanie Burnette Coats has been honored with the Angel of Adoptions award at the Leon County Courthouse for her work as an adoption attorney. Coats was at the courthouse finalizing the adoption of 11 children who have been in foster care. She has performed meaningful work to facilitate building families through adoption, including developing strong relationships to help birth mothers rebuild their lives. Posted 11.16.23

Masheika Allgood spoke at the 49th Public Employment Labor Relations Forum in Orlando, chaired by Janeia Daniels Ingram ('04) (pictured on the right) which is hosted annually by two sections of The Florida Bar. The subject of her talk was "Opportunities, Challenges Strategies, and Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Employment Law." Allgood is an AI ethicist and the founder of AllAI Consulting, LLC, which is a platform for providing artificial intelligence education across various industries to people with non-tech and non-AI backgrounds. Posted 11.1.23

   Amanda Barritt was one of Henderson Franklin's eighteen attorneys recognized as 2023 Florida Super Lawyers in the area of Real Estate. Posted 7.10.23

   Rob Rogers has been named a partner at The Rock Law Group, P.A., in Orlando, where his litigation practice focuses on first party property insurance defense at the trial and appellate levels in state and federal court. Rob and Kara (Decker) Rogers ('04), who works as a senior manager in Global H.R. Operations for The Walt Disney Company, live in Winter Garden with their daughter Claire, who is now eleven. Posted 3.10.23

Shawn Demers has joined GrayRobinson in the firm's Melbourne office. Demers focuses his litigation practice on corporate, real estate, and other business transactions. He serves as a commercial litigator handling a diverse portfolio of complex commercial litigation matters from inception through trial, a business transaction attorney handling asset and purchase agreements, and as counsel for small and growing businesses. Demers regularly works with developers, investors, contractors, residential and commercial property owners, commercial tenants, and other parties in the real estate and litigation arena. Posted 3.10.23

Gigi Rollini was installed as treasurer of the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) Board of Directors during NAWL’s Annual Meeting in Chicago, on July 21, 2022, and will lead NAWL’s Finance Committee during the 2022-2023 year. NAWL provides leadership, a collective voice, and essential resources to advance women in the legal profession and advocates for the equality of women under the law. Rollini is a shareholder at Stearns Weaver Miller. Posted 8.24.22

Gigi Rollini, a shareholder at Stearns Weaver Miller, was recently recognized in the 2022 edition of Florida Super Lawyers. The Super Lawyers list is a rating service acknowledging outstanding lawyers in a particular state. Posted 6.27.22

   Alissa Meyers was recently promoted to Director of Environmental Services for the City of Tallahassee. Posted 5.27.22

   Amanda Barritt was honored as the 2022 community association law "lawyer of the year" in Fort Meyers in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Posted 9.1.21

Gigi Rollini was named to the 2022 Best Lawyers in America list in the area of administrative/regulatory law. Posted 8.25.21

Jon Hernan passed away unexpectedly in June. Hernan enjoyed a career as a trial lawyer defending major corporations including automakers, amusement parks, chemical companies and other manufacturers. He began his legal career as an associate at Cabaniss Smith Toole & Wiggins, followed by Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, and almost 10 years with Seipp Flick & Hosley. In February 2016, Hernan and his partners joined the national firm of Bowman and Brooke, where he was named the managing partner of Orlando (Lake Mary), Florida office in February 2021. Posted 7.6.21

Gigi Rollini was recognized in the 2021 edition of Florida Super Lawyers. Rollini leads the Stearns Weaver Miller's Government and Administrative Law Group and practices all aspects of Florida administrative law, litigation and appeals, including regulatory compliance, licensure, administrative complaints and disciplinary proceedings, government contracts, procurement and bid protests, rulemaking and rule challenges, state and local taxation, election compliance and litigation, and non-profit/trade association formation, compliance and management. Posted 7.1.21

Benjamin Bush is a shareholder at Ausley McMullen in Tallahassee. His practice includes the areas of transactional real estate law, commercial and agricultural lending, and real property and land use law. Bush represents institutional lenders and private lenders in connection with the negotiation and documentation of real estate financing transactions, including real estate and asset-based lending, construction financing, permanent lending, and loan workouts and restructures. He represents land owners in connection with the acquisition, financing and disposition of commercial, agricultural and timberland properties. Posted 5.5.21

Magnus D. Hines, III is now a business development executive for unemployment insurance at Geographic Solutions in Palm Harbor, Florida. Hines will focus on developing new relationships with labor agencies across the United States while nurturing current clients and marketing the Geographic Solutions Unemployment System solution, a custom-off-the-shelf solution that encourages rapid reemployment, helps reduce the depletion rate for the UI trust funds and assists in decreasing tax rates. Posted 3.1.2021

Frederick L. Aschauer, Jr. has been named a shareholder at Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A. in Tallahassee. Aschauer has extensive experience representing clients on matters related to litigation and environmental regulation. He focuses his practice on the litigation of complex federal and administrative environmental permit challenges, environmental permitting, defending clients in enforcement actions brought by environmental regulatory agencies and the legal issues associated with the remediation of contaminated property. Posted 1.14.21

Gigi Rollini was named to the 2021 Best Lawyers list in the area of Administrative/Regulatory Law. Posted 8.31.20

Frederick L. Aschauer was named to the 2021 Best Lawyers list in the area of Natural Resources Law, Tallahassee. Aschauer is of counsel at Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A. Posted 8.24.20

Gigi Rollini has been selected as an executive officer of the National Association of Women Lawyers (MAWL) Board of Directors. Since 2012, Rollini has served on NAWL’s prestigious Amicus Committee, which vets the organization’s amicus brief participation in the United States Supreme Court and federal district appellate courts, chaired NAWL’s 2018 Midyear Meeting and served on NAWL’s Path to Equity Partnership, Membership and Sustaining Sponsor Committees. Posted 7.27.20

Gigi Rollini was recognized in the 2020 edition of Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite. Posted 7.1.20

Bridget Smitha was honored with a 2020 Tallahassee Women Lawyers Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Award. Smitha is a shareholder at Stearns Weaver Miller in Tallahassee. She primarily focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation, corporate defense and election law. She also frequently assists businesses in obtaining or transferring alcohol licenses. Posted 6.15.20

Gigi Rollini was honored with a 2020 Tallahassee Women Lawyers Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Award. Rollini leads the Government & Administrative Law Group at Stearns Weaver Miller in Tallahassee. She practices all aspects of Florida Administrative law, litigation and appeals, including regulatory compliance, licensure, administrative complaints and disciplinary proceedings, government contracts, procurement and bid protests, rule-making and rule challenges, state and local taxation, election compliance and litigation, and non-profit/trade association formation, compliance and management. Posted 6.15.20

Bridget Smitha was named a 2020 Florida Super Lawyer. Smitha is a shareholder at Stearns Weaver Miller in Tallahassee. Posted 6.15.20

Gigi Rollini was named a 2020 Florida Super Lawyer. Rollini leads the Government & Administrative Law Group at Stearns Weaver Miller in Tallahassee. Posted 6.15.20

Gigi Rollini was selected as a 2020 Honoree for the Tallahassee Community College Women’s History Month celebration. The annual celebration recognizes fifteen women (ten community members and five current TCC students) for their leadership skills and service to the public. Posted 2.24.20

Gigi Rollini spearheaded the formation of a new government & administrative law group at Stearns Weaver Miller. The group facilitates statewide, cross-practice communication, collaboration and shared resources to serve its clients in almost every aspect of Florida administrative and government law. Posted 2.18.20

Amanda Barritt is now the chair of the real estate department at Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., in Fort Meyers, where she is a stockholder. Barritt also serves as chair of the firm’s condominium and homeowners associations practice group and is co-chair of the marketing committee. She represents residential and commercial condominium, homeowners and property owners associations, non-profit social and recreational clubs, developers, builders and individuals in all aspects of real estate development, operation, and condominium and property association law. Posted 1.24.20

Paul “JJ” Johnson, Jr. joined Nelson Mullins Broad and Cassel, LLP as a partner in Orlando. He previously was a partner, founder and principal of his own firms, Johnson Real Estate Law, PA and Destination Title. Posted 12.12.19

Gigi Rollini, shareholder at Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A., has been named as a member of America’s Second Harvest of the Big Bend’s Feeding Hope Society. Posted 11.22.19

Chasity O’Steen, current general counsel for the Florida Department of Management Services, has been selected as the next Leon County Attorney. Posted 11.22.19

Christian M. Givens has been named to the 2020 Best Lawyers in America list for family law. Givens is a partner at Givens Givens Sparks, PLLC in Tampa, where he focuses his practice on personal injury, first party insurance and family law. Posted 9.3.19

Gigi Rollini has been named a 2019 Florida Super Lawyer in the area of administrative law. She is a shareholder at Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A. in their Tallahassee office. Her practice encompasses administrative and civil litigation and appeals, and all aspects of Florida administrative law. Posted 8.5.19

Christian M. Givens has been named a 2019 Florida Super Lawyer. Givens is a partner at Givens Givens Sparks, PLLC in Tampa, where he focuses his practice on personal injury, first party insurance and family law. Posted 6.5.19

Christian M. Givens' firm, Givens Givens Sparks, PLLC in Tampa, was named to the 2019 list of Best Law Firms for Client Satisfaction by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys®, an honor that it has received for the last three years. Givens is a partner at the firm, where he focuses his practice on personal injury, first party insurance and family law. Posted 4.10.19

Kirk A. Perrow became an equity partner at Morgan & Morgan, P.A. in January 2019. On March 7, 2019, his wife Jennifer Perrow gave birth to their son Kirk Ainslie Perrow Jr. Perrow practices in the area of workers' compensation in the firm's Jacksonville office. Posted 3.20.19

Marion D. "Drew" Parker, of Radey Law Firm in Tallahassee, has accepted an offer to join the firm as a shareholder. He was previously of counsel at the firm for two years. Parker practices in the areas of administrative and governmental law, government contracting and procurement, and civil and administrative litigation. Posted 1.29.19

Christian M. Givens' firm, Givens Givens Sparks, PLLC in Tampa, earned a 2019 Best Law Firms Tier-1 family law national ranking by U.S. News. Posted 11.19.18

Sarah E. Spector, a shareholder at Roetzel & Andress in Fort Myers, is the newly appointed co-chair of the Lee County Bar Association’s Land Use and Governmental Law section. She represents clients in zoning and land use matters, including environmental resource and water use permitting, local and state code compliance, and private and government agreement drafting and negotiation. Posted 8.22.18

Christian M. Givens, of Givens Givens Sparks, PLLC in Tampa, will take over as chair of the Marital and Family Law Section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association in June 2018. He will preside over a group of local family law attorneys who meet to discuss law, issues and trends within their legal specialty, and brainstorm solutions for challenges within the legal community. Posted 6.26.18

Gigi Rollini is now a shareholder at Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A. in their Tallahassee office. Her practice encompasses administrative and civil litigation and appeals, and all aspects of Florida administrative law. Posted 6.11.18

Christian M. Givens' firm, Givens Givens Sparks, PLLC in Tampa, was awarded a $30 million jury verdict in a pedestrian injury case, the highest value verdict awarded in the state of Florida for a brain injury in 2017 and the fourth highest verdict for personal injury cases overall in the state. Additionally, the case award was the 62nd highest verdict awarded in the country in 2017 across all legal categories. The firm was also recognized on the 2018 list of Best Personal Injury Law Firms in Tampa by Expertise.com. Posted 5.23.18

Jennifer A. Sullivan has been elected equity shareholder at Guilday, Simpson, West, Hatch, Lowe & Roane, P.A. in Tallahassee, where she practices in the litigation department. She primarily represents businesses in general liability and construction disputes, and defends professionals against malpractice claims. She is also a member of The State Bar of Georgia and currently serves as the president-elect of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers. 
Posted 10.16.17

Sarah E. Spector is now a partner in the Real Estate, Banking & Finance practice group at Roetzel & Andress in their Fort Myers office. She focuses her practice on Community Association Law, where she assists condominium, cooperative, and homeowners’ association clients with the management and operational aspects of governing their communities. Posted 10.11.17

Daxton White is the managing partner of The White Law Group, LLC in Chicago, IL and Vero Beach. He practices securities arbitration and securities law. Posted 9.27.17

Stuart F. Williams is now the vice president of corporate development at Liberty Dental Plan Corporation in Tallahassee. Posted 8.23.17

Frederick L. Aschauer, Jr. is now of counsel at Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A. in their Tallahassee office. He has extensive experience representing clients on matters related to litigation and environmental regulation. Posted 7.6.17

Gigi Rollini, a shareholder at Messer Caparello, P.A. in Tallahassee, was named a 2017 Florida Super Lawyer and one of Florida's Top 50 Women of 2017 by Super Lawyers. Posted 6.28.17

Christian M. Givens has been named a 2017 Florida Super Lawyer. He is a partner at Givens Givens Sparks, PLLC in Tampa. Posted 6.9.17

Joshua G. White was published in the Huffington Post regarding work-life balance. He is an attorney at the Saudi Arabian Oil Company in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Posted 5.1.17

Marion D. "Drew" Parker has accepted a position at Radey Law Firm in Tallahassee. He practices in the areas of administrative and governmental law, government contracting and procurement, and civil and administrative litigation. Posted 2.22.17