January 1, 2026, News and Notes
John F. Lakin was a presentation speaker in the virtual meeting of the ABA International Law Section, Europe Committee, addressing International Law in Europe on cross border matters with the U.S. and Europe.
Haylee Blessing of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt has been appointed to the Arts Bonita (formerly known as the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs) Board of Directors.
Michael P. Sampson of Orlando received the 2025 Thomas V. Behan Collaborative Excellence Award by the Collaborative Family Law Group of Central Florida/Central Florida Collaborative Divorce.
Jennifer Perez of Shutts & Bowen in Miami was recently named the winner of this year’s Miami-Dade Leader of Impact by the American Heart Association
Steven M. Harris wrote monthly feature articles, “Update: Chapter 776 Righteous Presence Requirement For Stand Your Ground” and “Florida Supreme Court on Self-Defense ─ PTSD Evidence Admissible (Maybe), Giving Wrong Way Fla. Stat. § 776.013(4) Instruction Not Decided,” in the November and December issues of Forum 8, the online newsletter of the Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association.
Michael J. Mueller of Hunton Andrews Kurth in Miami was inducted into the College of Labor & Employment Lawyers at its ceremony in Denver, CO.
Melissa Rodriguez and Mark Romance of Day Pitney in Miami wrote a column titled, “When Paradise Becomes a Probate Battle,” published by Wealth Management.
Dennis G. Kainen of Weisberg Kainen Mark in Miami was a speaker for BDO Miami on, “Update on Criminal Tax Cases (and some civil cases) Impacting CPAs — What you Must Know to Stay Out of Trouble.”
Gary A. Forster of ForsterBoughman presented, “The Business Lifecycle: Entity Choice, Governance, Employee Incentives and Sale/Transition,” for the New York Society of CPAs. He also presented, “Asset Protection with Single-Member LLCs,” for the National Business Institute.
Ross Hartog of Markowitz Ringel Trusty + Hartog was a panelist at the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees’ 2025 Trustee Assistant Fall Summit discussing, “Representation by and Communication with Special Counsel in personal injury, mass tort, and class action litigation.”
Bruce A. Blitman of Palm Beach Gardens published an article, “The Mediator Playbook: The Importance of Asking Questions on The Road to Resolution,” in the November 2025 edition of the Broward County Bar Association’s newsletter, The Barrister.
Langdon Lile of Laird A. Lile, PLLC, has been selected for the inaugural class of Act One: Gulfshore Playhouse Ambassadors, a leadership initiative designed to engage emerging professionals who support the arts, education, and cultural enrichment in Southwest Florida.
Christopher Smith of Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice, Purtz, Smith & Smith has been named Attorney of the Year by the Southwest Florida Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
Maria C. Gonzalez of Maria C. Gonzalez, P.A., presented, “Case Law Update,” at the 40th Annual View from the Bench Family Law Seminar at the 11th Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade County in November.
Eric C. Boughman of ForsterBoughman provided legal advice for Veterans at Seminole County Legal Aid Society’s Legal Clinic at the Seminole County Public Library.
