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YLD Board of Governors Candidates’ Platform Statements

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YLD Board of Governors Candidates’ Platform Statements

Here are the platform statements for the 2015 candidates for The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors. Ballots for the election will be mailed around March 1 and must be returned no later than 11:59 p.m. on March 23.

Bar members will have the choice of voting by the mailed paper ballot or voting online by following instructions with the mailed ballot.

Ninth Circuit:Seat 1

John D.W. Beamer

John D.W. Beamer

It would be my privilege to serve as your representative for The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors for the Ninth Judicial Circuit. For the last seven years, I have lived and practiced within the Ninth Judicial Circuit. My goal is to help you, as members of the Young Lawyers Division, reach your career goals through enhancing and developing relationships within and outside the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

Most members of the YLD face different challenges in our professional careers. For all of us, stress is an issue, which can take many forms. For some, it is the challenge presented by student loan debt, or developing a book of business. For others, it is finding a work-life-law balance. No matter the challenges, the YLD is here to help ease the daily struggles for young attorneys. With these challenges, the mentor-apprentice model of the legal practice is fading away. More often than not, firms are finding it more difficult to absorb the cost of training new attorneys. In turn, new attorneys are finding it more difficult to hone their skills as advocates and litigators. My goal as your representative on the YLD Board of Governors is to enhance and develop relationships with you and other members of The Florida Bar. connecting YLD members from across the state, and encouraging more involvement, we can provide any guidance and a friendly, more experienced ear to turn to with questions.

Serving this circuit on the YLD board is an incredible honor and I certainly welcome your feedback, ideas, and criticisms of how we can all work together to improve the relationships we share and, in turn, improve our profession. You can be assured that I will make myself available and effectively represent the Ninth Circuit on the YLD Board of Governors.

I would be honored to have your vote and ask for your support. Please vote for me between March 1 and 23.

Kyle A. Diamantas

Kyle A. Diamantas

I seek to represent you on The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors representing the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

Young lawyers in Florida are under enormous pressure. As a native Central Floridian, and graduate of the University of Central Florida, and the University of Florida Levin College of Law, I understand the daunting challenges facing young lawyers in our circuit and hope to work unceasingly to address those issues we face. My primary goals will be to advance and protect the availability of meaningful job opportunities for our circuit’s young lawyers; to enhance and increase the availability of public service opportunities and meaningful CLEs on substantive issues critical to young lawyers; to ensure the voice of every young lawyer in our circuit is heard on important Bar issues; and to endeavor to address the overwhelming burdens student loans place upon so many of us. The issues facing young lawyers are many. I, nevertheless, intend to tackle them as an effective and contributing member of the YLD Board of Governors. The Bar must be kept abreast of the needs of our circuit’s young lawyers. If elected, I will represent you zealously and with the professionalism and integrity that experience has taught me are essential to success.

Representing the interests of young lawyers is not all the YLD Board of Governors is charged with doing. The board also has a responsibility to serve those persons outside the legal profession and to promote the public interest through statewide and local community projects and activities. My strong belief in community involvement has held me to serve as a volunteer with the American Diabetes Association, the American Cancer Society, the Salvation Army, The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program, Toys for Tots Foundation, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, among others. I hope to promote that same sense of concern for the public and community awareness among other young lawyers in our circuit.

Representing you on The Florida Bar YLD Board of Governors would be an honor. I humbly ask for both your support and your vote this March. Rest assured that I will work hard on your behalf to fulfill the obligations of the position, to identify and ask the same tough questions you would, and to promote your interest by focusing upon the issues facing young lawyers throughout the legal profession and our circuit.

If you have any questions regarding my candidacy, please contact me directly at

[email protected]

.

Jennifer A. Smith

 Jennifer A. Smith

If you are active in the Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar, you’ve rubbed elbows with me at the social functions, stroked a check at the fundraisers I attend, or shared a drink at the happy hours I never pass up. If you’ve attended a YLS luncheon in the past year, you have emailed me your RSVP and taken your name tag from me as I checked you in. You may have witnessed my Oscar-worthy Big Bad Wolf performance at the Mock Trials, or helped me paint the nails of a child living at the Woman’s Residential Counseling Center at the annual Halloween Party. If you’ve attended the ever popular Evening with the Judiciary, you’ve mailed your admission check to me, then enjoyed the hors d’oeuvres and drinks I selected especially for you. If you were present at the OCBA awards ceremony, you watched me collect my pin from Legal Aid for participating in the OCBA AIDS Project. If you attended the Relay for Life event I chaired in 2013, we sat under a tent together collecting more than quadruple the donations of past years. If you enjoyed Holidays All Year Long this year, my law firm joined me in sponsoring it. We may have sat next to each other at dinner at the George C. Young First Central Florida American Inn of Court, where I am a “Barrister” or shared a meal at a CFAWL “Table for Eight.” In sum, if you are out and about in the Ninth Circuit, particularly with the Young Lawyers Section of the OCBA, you have been doing that with me.

I’ve more than dabbled in the “Big Bar.” I’m finishing my second three-year term on the Student Education and Admissions to the Bar Committee and I just started my first term on The Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Judicial Administration and Evaluation. If you attended Annual Convention, Fall Meeting, or Winter Meeting, we passed each other in the hotel. You may have thought you spotted a (much) larger, taller, blondish Audrey Hepburn at FAWL’s Little Black Dress Party, but it was me.

I am actively serving you and I seek the opportunity to increase my reach, our opportunities to do more together, and meet your needs by serving on the Board of Governors.

My opponents, while both esteemed in their own regard, do not have the distinguished honor of doing all this with and for you — and a Board of Governors seat is not an audition. I’ve proven my dedication, the willingness to serve, and a track record of attendance and participation that demonstrates this isn’t a title for me, it’s a vehicle for us to improve the quality of

our

Bar.

I ask for your trust and your vote, and give you my commitment to show up, work hard, and do more. I will advocate for your interests and listen to your complaints. If elected, I will be accessible to all young lawyers in Orange and Osceola counties, but, then again, you’ll probably be seeing me around.

Ninth Circuit:Seat 2

Karen Persis

Karen Persis

Being a young lawyer isn’t easy.

We are searching for career opportunities. We are learning about practice areas. Balancing work and life is a constant struggle. Technology is changing the way we practice. Some of us are trying to build a firm, while others are navigating the political waters of office life. And some of us rarely see an office, because we are in court every day. We want to volunteer. We want to network. We want to enjoy life. And we want to work. We are still trying to determine what type of lawyers we want to be, while at the same time, we are always evolving into the people we want to be.

The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division has been working on these issues. I am honored to serve as a Ninth Circuit representative for The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors since June 2013. With your support, I hope to continue to work on issues affecting young lawyers in our circuit, such as work-life balance, affordable and relevant continuing legal education, and networking and mentoring opportunities. In 2013-14, I was vice-chair of the Affiliate Outreach Conference, which granted around $50,000 to young lawyer affiliates for service projects around the state. Currently, I am serving as vice-chair of the Awards Committee. I am a member of the Practicing with Professionalism Committee, where I have helped organize the CLE program in Orlando twice, and served as a speaker. I also serve on the Long Range Planning Committee, which is comprised of representatives chosen by the incoming Florida Bar YLD president to address the most pressing programming, advocacy, and funding issues facing young lawyers in the upcoming year.

Additionally, I am very proud to serve as president of the Orange County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section for 2014-15, which was awarded YLD Affiliate of the Year for 2014. Being president gives me the opportunity to collaborate with many young lawyers to create social, professional, and service-related programming to meet the needs of our membership. I previously served as a committee chair for the OCBA YLS seven times, was elected to the board in 2012, and then served as secretary. In addition to organizing social and professional events, OCBA YLS has donated thousands of dollars to local charities. Through local bar service, I have met many young lawyers, which allows me to stay connected with the concerns of our membership.

I have spent my entire legal career in the Ninth Circuit, where I have worked at a large, prestigious law firm, a boutique firm, and as a solo practitioner. Through my varied professional experiences, I can relate to many of the challenges different young lawyers face. I have developed many relationships in the Central Florida community and at the local and state bar levels. If re-elected, I will continue to use my knowledge, leadership abilities, and experience to advance the priorities of our membership, and advocate for issues on our behalf. Thank you for your consideration.

Michelle Swiren Zaltsberg

Michelle Zaltsberg

You may not know me, but I hope to serve as your representative on the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors from the Ninth Judicial Circuit. Here’s why:

I am a third-generation Florida lawyer and my family has lived in Orange County since 1991. After graduating from Cypress Creek High School, I earned a B.A. in Business Administration at the University of Florida. I received my law degree from the University of Michigan, and then passed both the Florida and Georgia bar exams in 2009. My career in private practice began as a litigation associate at McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, in Atlanta, Georgia, where I focused on insurance defense. While in Atlanta, I served on the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers Foundation Board, took on pro bono cases through the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, and was selected to participate in the Marvin C. Goldstein Black/Jewish Coalition 2013 Project Understanding Retreat.

My husband and I are now permanently back in our hometown. Today, my practice involves commercial litigation with the Orlando office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC. I volunteer as a mediator in the OCBA’s Citizen Dispute Settlement Program and serve as a mentor to a seventh-grader at Central Florida Leadership Academy.

Young lawyers today face a daunting task in establishing themselves in our profession. I understand. I graduated from law school in December 2008 with six figures of student loan debt hanging over me, wondering whether I would have a job after I took the bar exam. Since then, I have practiced at two large law firms, but I have a broad perspective. Almost 20 years ago, my father started a solo transactional law practice in Orlando, which my brother has since joined. From them, I have seen the challenges facing young attorneys at small firms, which are different, yet in many ways similar, to what I have experienced at much larger firms. Young lawyers are seeking professionally-satisfying jobs that offer opportunities for growth. We want the ability to pay down our student loans; to grow our professional networks; and to develop expertise and transferable skills that make us marketable to both clients and employers. If elected, I intend to expand upon the programming and resources available in our circuit that will better enable us to achieve these objectives.

Additionally, I believe developing our culture of professionalism should be a top priority. Our genuine respect and courtesy toward each other should fully encompass, and extend beyond, the bounds of the oath we take upon admission to the Bar. An abiding commitment to civility fosters relationships and helps us build understanding that will ultimately lead to our collective and individual success. As your representative, I would work to strengthen this commitment among our membership.

I hope that you share these goals and that I may serve as your advocate on the YLD Board of Governors. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about my candidacy.

11th Circuit: Seat 1

Annika E. Ashton

Annika E. Ashton

I am running for Seat 1 on the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division in the 11th Judicial Circuit. I have been a member of the Bar since 2008 and have been involved in the Bar and local bar associations, including the Caribbean Bar Association, the Dade County Bar Association, and the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr., Bar Association since I started practicing in South Florida in 2009. My work ethic and experience working with diverse bar associations and lawyers throughout our circuit and across the state will add a valuable perspective to the YLD Board of Governors.

As a member of the inaugural class of The Florida Bar’s Wm. Reece Smith, Jr., Leadership Academy, I had the opportunity to meet young lawyers from across the state and become acquainted with the Bar and its divisions and committees, including the YLD. Since 2012, I have participated in the YLD Affiliate Outreach Conferences and Bar meetings. These experiences afforded me the opportunity to interact with YLD board members, establish a rapport, and understand what is required of the position.

In addition, I have a demonstrated commitment to serving our legal community: I have served on the board of the Caribbean Bar Association, including as its president, and on The Florida Bar’s Student Education and Admission to the Bar Committee. On the Caribbean Bar Association board, I have worked to implement pipeline programs to address the dearth of minority lawyers in our state and assist young lawyers as they transition into the practice. Moreover, my background practicing in both the law firm setting and in government, including my current position as an assistant county attorney, will allow me to understand the needs of a wide group of our young lawyers.

I am highly motivated, committed, and driven to initiate change and provide a voice for the lawyers practicing in the 11th Circuit. As your representative, I intend to promote Bar programming that addresses the needs of young lawyers practicing in diverse urban counties like ours, and build upon initiatives that strive to make the Bar an organization that serves the needs of its newest attorneys.

I greatly appreciate your vote to allow me to represent you in Seat 1 of the 11th Judicial Circuit Florida Bar YLD Board of Governors and look forward to the opportunity to serve. Thank you.

Raquel Moya-Casals

Raquel Moya-Casals

I am running to serve as your representative for The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors for the 11th Circuit, Seat 1, in the March 2015 election. As a young lawyer, I am very familiar with the obstacles of navigating through the first few years of our career; hence, it is important to have passionate individuals representing our interests and concerns in the Young Lawyers Division of The Florida Bar. I believe that my passion, background, and experience make me an ideal candidate to meet this challenge.

Currently, I am an attorney at Farrell & Patel, where I practice in the areas of class action litigation concerning the BP Oil Spill, civil litigation, and Social Security disability law. Fortunately, Farrell & Patel is a firm that believes in young lawyers developing their leadership skills in and out of the courtroom. They fully support my pursuit of this board seat.

Even before attending law school, I had a strong passion to serve my community. I had the great honor to volunteer with several nonprofit organizations within South Florida, including Women in Distress, Guardian Ad Litem, and Project Sunshine. Not only have I had the honor to volunteer with these beneficial organizations, I have served as a board member for Covenant House and L.E.A.D. Nation. I am also a founding member of Emerge Broward, a program of the Leadership Broward Foundation developed to promote leadership and personal development among young professionals through networking, community involvement, and educational opportunities. While attending law school at St. Thomas University, I successfully ran for The Florida Bar Law Student Division governor position during my first year of law school. Thereafter, I remained The Florida Bar Law Student Division governor for my class until graduation in 2012. I was also elected ABA student representative from 2009-2012.

Service on the YLD board is a great privilege and responsibility. I look forward to integrating the experience I have gained through various organizations in order to effectively represent our circuit. It would be a great privilege for me to receive your vote and if elected, I will serve the 11th Circuit wholeheartedly. Thank you for your consideration.

13th Circuit: Seat 1

H. Web Melton III

H. Web Melton III

It’s tough to be a young lawyer. I believe the YLD should focus on making your life and practice as a young lawyer better. Young lawyers face challenges and struggles as they navigate a highly competitive job market, attempt to build a professional network, adjust to a new profession, and develop a client base, all while trying to provide the highest level of legal services.

I ask for your vote because I recognize the challenges we as young lawyers face and believe I am an excellent candidate to advocate those interests on behalf of the 13th Judicial Circuit.

For those I have not met, it has been my privilege to serve on The Florida Bar YLD Board of Governors for the past two years. I have also served on the Hillsborough YLD Board since 2010. Prior to that service, I was active in numerous YLD committees and served as co-chair for the State Court Trial Seminar. I have also been active in other Bar committees, active in community organizations, and have mentored new lawyers and law students. I am a shareholder at Bush Ross, P.A., and practice commercial litigation, real estate, and community association law. I attended Vanderbilt University and received my J.D. with honors from the University of Florida.

I want to build on this work to continue enriching the lives of the young lawyers of Hillsborough County by providing them with ways to enhance their professional and personal success by providing skills and training to help young lawyers develop their skills, develop their business, land the job they seek, build their client base, and find ways for young lawyers to get more involved with the community.

I think an important way to promote this agenda is to improve communication and encourage connectivity. The Florida Bar and many local organizations offer programs and opportunities for young lawyers and many young lawyers have great ideas. However, it can be challenging to find some of these opportunities and even more challenging to determine which ones are effective uses of a young lawyer’s valuable time. As such, one of my first goals is to improve communication using the latest technologies. I plan to not only provide young lawyers with information to help further advance their careers, but to do so in a way that promotes flexibility, and to accommodate a young lawyer’s busy schedule. I will also strive to promote in person opportunities to bring other young lawyers together to make connections and exchange ideas.

As an elected representative of the 13th Judicial Circuit, I will continue to work to provide young lawyers with the necessary resources and opportunities that are needed to enhance their quality of life and profession. I hope to continue to serve the young lawyers of Hillsborough County and exceed your expectations in the coming years.

Ella A. Shenhav

Ella A. Shenhav

For the past five years, I have practiced in two states, several areas of legal expertise, and three firms. One thing has remained consistent: my commitment to the community generally, the legal community specifically, and above all, pro bono service.

I am a veteran of the Israeli Defense Forces, and a former small business owner. After graduating from the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, and from Harvard Law School with honors, I began my legal career in Boston. There, I was an active member of the bar and provided hundreds of hours of pro bono work to indigent clients every year, in areas ranging from immigration law to bankruptcy to issues close to my heart and, unfortunately, all too common, domestic violence. Additionally, I took on leadership roles in both the local bar and my firm.

I moved back to Florida, my home, at the end of 2013. I am now co-chair of the Hillsborough County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division Pro Bono Committee, and I am an active participant in several pro bono projects. I strongly believe that The Florida Bar’s Young Lawyers Division is uniquely situated to both offer an incalculable contribution to the community, and to give its members great training as well as satisfaction.

In addition to my commitment to pro bono, I am a firm believer that the Bar should and can (and does) help young lawyers in many ways, from teaching skills relevant to the beginning of a career, to setting up networking opportunities, and assisting young lawyers in finding a career that is right for them.

If elected to the YLD Board of Governors, I will work hard to use the leadership skills I have acquired throughout my life, both as a lieutenant commanding over a dozen soldiers, as a small business owner, and as a leader in the legal community, to take action and get real results. I will listen to you and make sure that the Bar and the YLD, in particular, are working hard to obtain the goals we share and are committed to.

I now ask for your trust and your vote. I give you my commitment to you, the community, the legal profession, and the values we share and cherish. I hope you will give me this opportunity to prove my commitment.

15th Circuit: Seat 3

Stephanie Cagnet

Stephanie Cagnet

During the past year, I have developed dynamic relationships with the Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors at numerous meetings throughout Florida. As your elected representative, I will build upon those relationships to promote programs that directly benefit Palm Beach County’s young lawyers.

Every day, I advocate for the needs of our community. I serve as a domestic violence staff attorney and anti-stalking specialist with the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, where I lead an anti-stalking collaborative of victim advocates, attorneys, investigators, and police officers. I presented at the 2015 Regional Anti-Stalking Conference, which was a training seminar for victim advocates and law enforcement. Every month I visit with victims of domestic violence at a local women’s shelter and provide them with legal assistance on a broad range of topics.

I am an active member of Palm Beach County’s Young Lawyers Section, the Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL), and the F. Malcolm Cunningham, Sr., Bar Association (FMCBA). Through those organizations, I have had the opportunity to make a positive impact in our community by feeding the hungry, organizing the PACE Center for Girls’ holiday party, providing gifts to foster children, assisting with Race for the Cure in downtown West Palm Beach, building homes with Habitat for Humanity, and participating in the Kozyak Foundation’s Annual Minority Mentoring Picnic.

As one of state FAWL’s co-liaisons to the YLD, I drafted a grant proposal, which I presented at the YLD’s Affiliate Outreach Conference in January. With the YLD’s grant monies, we will be able to present a live panel discussion and webinar promoting leadership during this year’s Florida Bar Convention in Boca Raton. This past year, I have also been honored to serve as co-chair of Palm Beach County FAWL’s Judicial Reception Committee.

My experiences have allowed me to understand what it takes to be an effective advocate for positive change. In addition to my demonstrated experience and willingness to serve, I am energetic, enthusiastic, organized, and prepared. I enjoy taking on leadership roles and always follow through with my commitments. I am dedicated to promoting diversity and the interests of the 15th Judicial Circuit’s young lawyers, and I would be honored to receive your vote to represent you on the Board of Governors.

Santo DiGangi

Santo DiGangi

I would be honored to serve on The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors, Seat 3, for the 15th Judicial Circuit.

Growing up in West Palm Beach, I feel an obligation and a responsibility to invest in the very community that helped shape me. That is why I made it a priority to become actively involved in the Palm Beach County Bar Association, namely the Young Lawyers Section, in addition to various other community organizations. I urge you to visit

voteforsanto.com

where you will find a sampling of the Bar committees and various organizations I have been involved in, both within the practice of law and generally within the community. Dedication to the advancement of the legal profession through education, outreach, and service necessarily provides a benefit to the surrounding community. As a representative from the 15th Circuit, I will utilize the various concepts and implementation techniques I have acquired through these successful organizations as the recipe for continued prosperity in the YLD.

Having served as a trial court law clerk, an assistant state attorney, and now a private practitioner, I can relate to the different struggles that young lawyers encounter in both the public and private sectors. As your representative, I will ensure the Bar expands its efforts in reaching out to government attorneys in providing more affordable and convenient programming, which will include education, mentoring, and networking events.

One of my goals on the YLD Board of Governors is to ensure that our generation of colleagues does not forget the extremely fortunate position we are in as attorneys. Our ability to engage in a wide range of services and activities puts us in the perfect position to contribute the most to society. It is our duty to always give back to those who are less fortunate. This is a basic concept that must also be instilled in current law students who serve as the future of our profession. The importance of maintaining a philanthropic focus in our profession is a message that I will assist in propagating to young lawyers and law students around the state as a YLD representative.

Please contact me at

561-515-3127 or

[email protected]

if you have any questions regarding my campaign. It would be a privilege to receive your support in this election and serve as your YLD Board of Governors representative for Seat 3. Please visit

voteforsanto.com

for more information.

17th Circuit: Seat 1

Christopher Horton

Christopher Horton

Teamwork, leadership, integrity, and civility are not just words to me. I learned these by participating in sports. I see examples of them in my office on a daily basis, and I see these qualities as attributes that young lawyers need to make a real impact on our profession. I have always been a team member, but I have demonstrated leadership ability as well, having been a quarterback and football team captain at Jacksonville University, followed by service as the managing editor of the

Inter-American Law Review

at the University of Miami School of Law and a member of the University of Miami School of Law’s Honor Council. Now, having gained experience as a lawyer and professional, I offer energy, ideas, and a genuine desire to make an impact for my colleagues. That goal — to be an involved, hard-working, effective representative for others — prompts me to seek this position as your 17th Judicial Circuit representative on The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors.

I joined Broad and Cassel as a summer associate in 2010, and now, as a litigation associate, am involved in a diverse range of matters, including complex commercial disputes and corporate litigation. I am proud to have been recognized as a “Rising Star” by

Florida Super Lawyers

magazine. Like many of you enjoying the practice of law, I find that each new matter is a new challenge, and rather exciting. I believe that young lawyers, always inquiring, learning, and striving to do our best for our clients, play a particularly important role for the profession.

I also understand the need for balance, and the satisfaction of being involved, not only in work, but in professional and community organizations, such as the American Inns of Court. In addition, through other athletic and civic events, I am a regular fundraiser for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. While different, both of those endeavors teach the importance of teamwork, civility, and enjoying what we do.

It is my long-term career goal to always give back to the legal profession and to our community. It is a source of pride to be a member of The Florida Bar like my grandfather and uncle before me, who showed me the meaning of integrity and civility, both qualities I seek to embody. With your support, being on the YLD Board of Governors will provide an opportunity to serve the goals of collaboration, respect, and professionalism, and to continue my commitment to give back to the community.

From the day I was sworn in as a lawyer, I was particularly struck by the clause in the Oath of Admission addressing the importance of lawyers being civil to each other. Just because we’re often on opposite sides, it doesn’t mean we can’t preserve professionalism and mutual respect. I know my involvement in the Bar will enable me to help further those missions.

Estefania Nasielski

Estefania Nasielski

My name is Estefania Nasielski and it would be my honor to serve as your representative for the 17th Judicial Circuit on The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors.

Currently, I am an assistant state attorney for the 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida. This opportunity to serve my community has also given me the chance to learn about many of the challenges we face as young lawyers. This, combined with the fact that I grew up in South Florida, makes me the ideal candidate to represent you.

My involvement with The Florida Bar first began when I was a law student at the University of Miami, when I served on The Florida Bar YLD Law Student Division Board of Governors for three years. Serving as your representative would allow me the opportunity to continue that involvement now as a young lawyer

As a governor of the Law Student Division, I was able to observe and learn how The Florida Bar operates. As young lawyers, we constantly strive to expand our network and make connections. I would ensure that members are aware of all the opportunities The Florida Bar makes available to us in order to accomplish this goal.

Additionally, I would strive to ensure that the CLE opportunities offered to us are relevant to the shifting demands of the profession. As the profession rapidly changes, we need current CLE programs that allow us to hone our skills in an efficient and effective way.

I am asking for your vote because I believe my strong background and extensive experience with the Bar makes me the ideal candidate to represent you and your needs. I understand that changes take time, and I am committed to making a difference. If given the opportunity to serve, I know my commitment extends far beyond the two-year term.

Alison Smith

Alison Smith

I am running for Seat 1 on The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors in the 17th Judicial Circuit. People who know me would describe me as being passionate about life. I give my all to any endeavor in which I am engaged, and am incredibly motivated to use my resources to serve my community. I have chosen to run for election because I believe it is imperative to be represented by a diverse group of leaders with diverse ideas, goals, and initiatives and, if elected, it is my intention to promote diversity and represent the constituents of this very diverse circuit to the best of my ability.

I have been practicing law for over a decade and am currently a partner in the labor and employment division of Weiss Serota Helfman Cole Bierman and Popok. While I am fully committed to being the best and most zealous advocate for my clients, I am also strongly committed to community involvement. I am the immediate past president of the Caribbean Bar Association (CBA) and served on its board for four years. As president, I was responsible for coordinating and executing virtually all aspects of the CBA’s business, and put in tremendous hours to effectuate its major community outreach initiatives, both within and outside of the legal community. While president of the CBA, my platform was youth mentorship. To that end, I designed and implemented a joint venture with Miami-Dade College, called Aspire to Inspire, which is my most significant achievement as a professional, and the accomplishment of which I am most proud. Through that program, professionals from various career paths, who have overcome hardship and adversity to achieve great measures of success, give motivational speeches to the college students, aimed at encouraging them to strive to be successful themselves, and to become actively involved in their communities.

I am presently the vice chair of the board of directors for Legal Aid Service of Broward County (where I interned as a law student), and am also vice-chair of the Board of Directors of Coast to Coast Legal Aid. Both of those organizations provide much needed pro bono legal services to those who are most in need in our community. In addition, I am on the Leadership Development Committee of the Broward League of Cities, an organization aimed at bettering the governance and operation of municipalities, as well as a member of The Florida Bar’s Voluntary Bar Liaison Committee.

If elected to seat 1, I will use my experience as an advocate and community leader to represent the interests, concerns, needs, and ideas of the constituents in the 17th Judicial Circuit. I look forward to the opportunity to serve you.

17th Circuit: Seat 3

Dena Sacharow

Dena Sacharow

I am seeking election as your representative for The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors for the 17th Judicial Circuit in Broward County. I was raised in Broward County since I was 2 years old. I went to public elementary, middle, and high school in Broward County, continued my education in the county by attaining my J.D. from Nova Southeastern University in 2010, and have practiced law in the county since 2010. I am an active member of the Young Lawyers Division of the Broward County Bar Association and the Stephen R. Booher American Inn of Court. My close connection with Broward County will help ensure that Broward County and its young lawyers are represented to the fullest at the Board of Governor’s level and throughout the State of Florida.

For the last four years, a substantial part of my practice has involved legal malpractice work, Bar grievance matters, and professionalism related issues. With the changing dynamics of the practice of law, including the integration of electronic forms of communication and social media, the practice of law, and the expected high standards of professionalism are being challenged on a daily basis. Tone and tenor can be easily misinterpreted through social media, emails, and text messages potentially resulting in unnecessarily aggressive and litigious expressions. My experience has also provided me with a unique perspective regarding the various issues facing our legal community. If I am elected, I intend to preserve and promote the basic fundamentals of professionalism to young lawyers throughout the state in an effort to ensure that the future of our profession is represented by passionate, yet respectful, lawyers.

Although I am at the beginning of my legal career, I look towards the future with excitement and anticipation. I am well prepared to immediately contribute to the enhancement of young lawyers in Broward County, and throughout the state, and I am eager to work hard and get started. My forward thinking mentality and ability to balance the needs of all young lawyers demonstrates my capacity to strive for excellence and act in the best interests of all those represented. I am certain that my self-motivation, high energy, and desire to perform will be an asset to the 17th Judicial Circuit and the YLD Board of Governors. Just as I zealously advocate for the best interests of all of my clients, I will put the same energy and effort into representing Broward’s young lawyers. It will be a privilege to represent the young lawyers of this circuit and I ask for your support in electing me to this prestigious position.

Cherine Smith Valbrun

Cherine Smith Valbrun

As an attorney with Kim Vaughan Lerner LLP, I understand the value of public service and giving back to our community. Since the day I was sworn in as an attorney, almost nine years ago, I have been serving the Broward community through several organizations, including, the Caribbean Bar Association and the Young Lawyers Section of the Broward County Bar. I have had the privilege of working with many of you in Broward County, in programs geared towards serving the public, including, Broward Young Lawyers for Literacy, Broward Reads for the Record, Legal Aid Service of Broward County, and Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida’s legal advice hotline, town hall meetings, immigration drives, expungement clinics, among other things. I have enjoyed serving with you, and now, I am asking for your trust and vote for the opportunity to be of further service as a representative for the 17th Circuit, Seat 3, The Florida Bar Young Lawyer Division Board of Governors. I give you my commitment to work hard to protect and preserve the values we cherish and to always strive for excellence on behalf of and for the legal profession and for our circuit.

As an active member of The Florida Bar and the Broward County Bar, I believe that my history of service to the Bar and our community along with my demonstrated commitment to creating opportunities for young lawyers will prove integral to my work as your representative. I will address the concerns of the young lawyers in the 17th Circuit, while addressing the many issues facing the Bar as a whole, such as greater access to the courts, the impact of the economy on graduating law students, new lawyers, and practicing lawyers, mentorship for young attorneys, and court funding. These are a few of the issues, which I am committed to work toward a successful outcome.

For additional background information that details my experiences, visit

http://kvllaw.com/kvl_cherinevalbrun.html

. I was recognized for my achievements in

Legacy

magazine as one of 40 Under 40 Leaders of Today and Tomorrow in 2014, and was recently selected to be in the Florida Rising Stars list again. I also received an award from Broward Lawyers Care for recognition of my pro bono services.

I humbly request that you grant me the opportunity to serve as your 17th Judicial Circuit representative, Seat 3, on the YLD Board of Governors. Vote for me because I have served you here in Broward and you have my commitment to strive to make a difference in partnership with all those who serve on the Board so that we can all fulfill every matter that is of concern to us all. I greatly appreciate your consideration.

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