Scott Westheimer receives Solo & Small Firm Section’s Tradition of Excellence Award
Scott Westheimer and Cristina Alonso
Immediate past President Scott Westheimer has been honored with the Solo & Small Firm Section’s most prestigious award in recognition of his exceptional contributions to practice management.
The Tradition of Excellence Award is presented annually to an individual whose efforts throughout the year have significantly benefited The Florida Bar and solo and small firm practitioners.
Solo & Small Firm Section 2023–2024 Chair Cristina Alonso presented the award to Westheimer during the Annual Florida Bar Convention in June. She praised Westheimer’s “visionary leadership” in the legal community and dedication to enhancing the practice of law for general practitioners.
“From developing the nation’s first guidelines for the ethical use of generative AI to launching an innovative, automated trust accounting solution for Florida Bar members, Scott has consistently demonstrated a commitment to improving practice management for solos and small firms,” said Alonso, of Alonso Appeals in Coral Gables.
Westheimer spearheaded several initiatives during his presidential tenure. Under his direction, Florida lawyers gained free access to the Nota financial management platform through the Bar’s Member Benefits Program. Nota is specifically designed to help lawyers easily manage their trust accounts while complying with Florida Bar rules. More than 850 Florida law firms have been using Nota since it launched in late November 2023.
“Scott’s dedication to our section has been unparalleled,” Alonso said. “He understood that approximately 70% of the Bar’s 112,000 members are solo and small-firm practitioners and worked tirelessly to provide them with tools and resources tailored to their unique needs. Access to Nota has been a game-changer for solos and small firms.”
In addition to his work with Nota, Westheimer directed the creation of the Bar’s first committees on AI and cybersecurity, positioning Florida as a national leader in educating legal professionals on cutting-edge technology.
Westheimer, a partner at Syprett, Meshad, Resnick, Lieb, Dumbaugh, Jones, Krotec & Westheimer.
