|   | | Law Firm in Naples, Florida | |
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| | Address | | 821 Fifth Avenue South, Suite 201 | | Naples, Florida 34102 | | (Collier Co.) | | | |
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(Main Office)
| Cheffy Passidomo Wilson & Johnson, LLP practices in the following areas of law:
General Practice. Trial and Appellate Practice in all State and Federal Courts, Estate Planning, Estate Administration, Zoning, Land Use and Environmental Law, Real Estate Development, Finance and Transactions, Corporate, Banking, and Business Law, Commercial Litigation, Construction Litigation, Probate Litigation, Professional Liability Defense, Personal Injury and Wrongful Death, Complex Litigation. | | Year Established: 1993 | Firm Profile:
Members of Cheffy Passidomo Wilson & Johnson LLP have been certified by The Florida Bar as specialists in five areas: Real Estate; Wills, Trusts and Estates; Civil Trial; Business Litigation; and Appellate Practice. Principals of Cheffy Passidomo Wilson & Johnson LLP are former partners of large multi-state firms, and they formed the firm with the goal of combining the quality customarily associated with a large firm and the personal service of a small firm. | | Firm Size: 21 | Approved attorneys for:
Attorneys' Title Insurance Fund; Chicago Title Insurance Co.; Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Co.; Stewart Title Guaranty Co. References: First National Bank of Naples; Northern Trust Bank of Florida/Naples, N.A. | | MEMBERS | | Edward K. Cheffy (Member) born Barnesville, Ohio, 1953; admitted to bar, 1978, Ohio; 1984, Florida; 1985, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida including Trial Bar; 1988, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida; 2005, U.S. Court of Appeal, Eleventh Circuit. Education: Harvard University (B.A., cum laude, 1975); The Ohio State University (J.D., with honors, 1978). American Inns of Court (President, Thomas S. Biggs Chapter, 1997-1998). Recipient, Donald E. Van Koughnet "Lion of the Law" Award for Professionalism, Collier County Judiciary, 2000. Partner in Charge of Florida Litigation, Frost & Jacobs, 1985-1993. Included in Best Lawyers in America, "Florida Trend's Legal Elite," Florida Super Lawyers and "The Top 100 Super Lawyers." Twentieth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (1998-2001; Chair, 2000). Chair: Faculty and Steering Committee for Board Certification Review Course for Civil Trial, 2005—; Grievance Committee for the Fort Myers Division of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, 2006—. Member: Collier County Bar Association (President, Trial Lawyers Section, 1991); The Florida Bar (Executive Council, Trial Lawyers Section, 2002-2008; Chair, Grievance Committee 20-B, 1992-1993; Lecturer, Trial Lawyers Section, 1996—). (Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer and Board Certified Business Litigation Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education). Practice Areas: Civil Trial Practice. Email: Edward K. Cheffy | | John M. Passidomo (Member) born White Plains, New York, 1952; admitted to bar, 1978, Florida; 1992, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Education: College of the Holy Cross and Boston College (B.A., cum laude, 1974); Stetson University College of Law (J.D., 1978). Recipient, The Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award, 1985 and 1991. Partner in charge of Florida real estate for Frost & Jacobs, 1985-1993. Vice Mayor, City of Naples, 1990-1992. Member, Naples City Council, 1990-1992. Member, Naples (Collier County) Metropolitan Planning Organization, 1990-1992. Member, 1986-1990 and Chairman, 1989-1990, Planning Advisory Board for the City of Naples. Member: Collier County Bar Association (President, 1987-1988; Chairman, Real Estate Attorneys Section, 1988-1990); The Florida Bar (Member, Sections on: Real Property, Probate and Trust Law; Environmental and Land Use Law; Corporation, Banking and Business Law). (Board Certified Real Estate Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education). Practice Areas: Zoning and Land Use Law; Real Estate Development and Transactions. Email: John M. Passidomo | | George A. Wilson, II (Member) born Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1955; admitted to bar, 1980, Ohio (inactive); 1981, Florida. Education: University of Cincinnati (B.A., cum laude, 1977); University of Toledo (J.D., 1980); University of Miami (LL.M. in Estate Planning, 1981). Trusts and Estates Partner, Cummings and Lockwood, 1981-1996. Member: The Florida Bar. (Board Certified Wills, Trusts and Estates Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education). Practice Areas: Estate Planning; Estate Settlement Law; Trust Administration Law. | | F. Edward Johnson (Member) born Leonardtown, Maryland, 1941; admitted to bar, 1986, Florida. Education: University of Maryland (B.S., 1964; LL.B., 1967). Member: Collier County and American Bar Associations; The Florida Bar. (Board Certified Wills, Trusts and Estates Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education). Practice Areas: Estate Planning; Estate and Trust Administration; Estate and Gift Taxation. Email: F. Edward Johnson | | John D. Kehoe (Member) born Coral Gables, Florida, 1954; admitted to bar, 1980, Florida; U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts including Trial Bar and U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: Lawrenceville School; Dartmouth College (B.A., cum laude, 1976); University of Florida (J.D., 1979). Member: Collier County Bar Association; The Florida Bar; Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers; American Inns of Court (Member, Thomas S. Biggs Chapter). (Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education). Practice Areas: Personal Injury Law; Commercial Litigation; General Trial Practice. Email: John D. Kehoe | | Louis D. D'Agostino (Member) born Cleveland, Ohio, 1960; admitted to bar, 1988, Florida and U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. 2005, Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: University of Notre Dame (B.S., 1983); Nova Southeastern University (J.D., summa cum laude, 1988). Recipient, Dean's Award for Academic Excellence, Nova Southeastern University. Editor, Nova Law Review, 1986-1988. Author, "Recusal of Judges for Reasons of Bias or Prejudice: A Survey of Florida Law - Proposal for Reform," 11 Nova Law Review 201, 1986. Member, Grievance Committee "B", responsible for lawyer disciplinary matters and ethical issues for Florida's 20th Judicial Circuit, 2001-2003. Member: Collier County Bar Association (Director and Officer, 1996-2003; President, 2003-2004; Past President, Trial Lawyers Section, 1997-1998); American Bar Association; The Florida Bar. (Board Certified Appellate Practice Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education). Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Appellate Practice. Email: Louis D. D'Agostino | | Jeff M. Novatt (Member) born Brooklyn, New York, 1958; admitted to bar, 1983, California; 1984, U.S. Tax Court; 1990, U.S. District Court, Central District of California; 2000, Florida; U.S. Claims Court; U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Duke University (B.S., cum laude, 1980); University of Florida (J.D., with honors, 1983); New York University (LL.M., in Taxation, 1984). Phi Eta Sigma; Phi Delta Phi. Member, University of Florida Law Review, 1982-1983. Recipient, Book Awards in Income Taxation, 1982 and Income Taxation of Estates and Trusts, 1983, University of Florida. Co-Author: "Eligibility of Revocable Trust As 'S Corporation' Shareholder After Death of Co-Grantor Spouse," 4 J. S. Corp. Tax 106 (1992). Instructor, Tax Aspects of Real Estate Investments, UCLA Extension, 1988-1998. Panel Member, Tax Court Pro Se Program, 1985-1999. Member: Collier County Bar Association; The Florida Bar (Member, Sections on: Business Law; Tax Law); State Bar of California. Practice Areas: Business Law; Taxation. Email: Jeff M. Novatt | | David A. Zulian (Member) born Somerville, New Jersey, 1960; admitted to bar, 1987, Florida; 1988, New Jersey. Education: Emory University (B.A., Economics, 1983); University of Miami (J.D., 1987). Member: Collier County Bar Association. Practice Areas: Construction; Real Estate; Commercial Litigation. Email: David A. Zulian | | Kevin A. Denti (Member) born Trenton, New Jersey, 1964; admitted to bar, 1989, Florida and U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Education: The American University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1986); Stetson University College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1989). Member, Stetson Law Review, 1987-1989. Member: Collier County Bar Association (Member, Real Estate Section); The Florida Bar (Member, Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section). Practice Areas: Commercial Real Estate; Residential Real Estate; Business Transactions; Banking Law; Finance. Email: Kevin A. Denti | | Jeffrey S. Hoffman (Member) born San Francisco, California, 1959; admitted to bar, 1990, Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.S., with high honors, 1981; M.Acc., 1983; J.D., with high honors, 1989; LL.M., Taxation, 1990). Phi Eta Sigma; Beta Alpha Psi. Order of the Coif. James J. Freeland Scholar. Certified Public Accountant, Florida, 1984. Member: Collier County and American Bar Associations; The Florida Bar. (Board Certified Wills, Trusts and Estates Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education). Practice Areas: Estate Planning; Charitable Giving; Trust Administration; Estate Administration; Corporate Law. Email: Jeffrey S. Hoffman | | Louis W. Cheffy (Member) born Barnesville, Ohio, 1958; admitted to bar, 1992, Florida. Education: Miami University (B.S., 1981); The Ohio State University (M.B.A., 1983; J.D. with honors, 1992). Order of the Coif. Member: Collier County Bar Association; The Florida Bar. (Board Certified Real Estate Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education). Practice Areas: Real Estate. Email: Louis W. Cheffy | | Lisa H. Barnett (Member) born White Plains, New York, 1969; admitted to bar, 1996, Florida; 1997, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Education: Syracuse University (B.S., 1991); University of Richmond (J.D., magna cum laude, 1996). Member, University of Richmond McNeill Law Honor Society. Staff Member, University of Richmond Law Review, 1994-1996. Member: Collier County Bar Association (Director, 1999-2003; Chair, Real Estate Section, 2003-2004); Collier County Women's Bar Association (Vice- President, 1998-1999); The Florida Bar (Member, Section on Real Property, Probate and Trust Law). (Board Certified Real Estate Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education). Practice Areas: Real Estate; Transactions. Email: Lisa H. Barnett | | Clay C. Brooker (Member) born Miami, Florida, 1969; admitted to bar, 1994, Florida; 1995, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; 2001, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Education: Princeton University (B.A., 1991); University of Florida (J.D., with Honors, 1994). Member, Collier County Development Services Advisory Committee, 2004—. Member: Collier County and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Local Government Law; Land Use Law and Litigation. Email: Clay C. Brooker | | Andrew H. Reiss (Member) born St. Louis, Missouri, 1969; admitted to bar, 1997, Florida; 1998, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida; 2004, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: University of Pennsylvania (B.A., 1991); University of Miami (J.D., magna cum laude, 1997). Phi Delta Phi. Member, Moot Court Board. Articles and Comments Editor, University of Miami Inter-American Law Review, 1996-1997. Author: "The Impact of Nahar v Nahar on Comity in Florida: It's Just Not Funny Anymore," University of Miami Inter-American Law Review Vol. 27 No.1 Fall, 1995. Member: Collier County Bar Association; The Florida Bar (Member, Labor and Employment Law Section). Practice Areas: Civil Litigation. Email: Andrew H. Reiss | | William Jack Dempsey (Member) born Livorno, Italy, 1967; admitted to bar, 1998, Florida; 2000, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Education: University of South Florida (B.A., 1992) Stetson University College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1998). Phi Delta Theta. National Deans List. Editor, Stetson Law Review, 1996-1998. Author: "Lawyer v. Department of Justice, Florida's Dance with the Districting Demon," Stetson Law Review. Member, Collier County Historical and Archeological Preservation Advisory Board. Chair, Collier County Bar Association Real Estate Section, 2004. Member: Collier County Bar Association. (Board Certified Real Estate Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education). Languages: Italian. Practice Areas: Real Estate; Zoning, Planning and Land Use. Email: William Jack Dempsey | | ASSOCIATES | | Michael W. Pettit (Associate) born Lima, Ohio, 1950; admitted to bar, 1985, Ohio (Inactive); 1993, Florida. Education: Ohio University (B.G.S., magna cum laude, 1973); University of Toledo (J.D., magna cum laude, 1984). Editor-in-Chief, The University of Toledo Law Review, 1984. Law Clerk to Hon. James P. Churchill, United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1984-1986. Chief Assistant County Attorney, Collier County, Florida, 2003-2007. Member: Member: Collier County Bar Association; The Florida Bar; American Inns of Court. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation. | | Christopher J. Thornton (Associate) born Birmingham, Alabama, 1971; admitted to bar, 1997, Florida. Education: Duke University (B.S.E., 1994); Tulane University (J.D., cum laude, 1997). Member: The Florida Bar (Member, Sections on Environmental and Land Use Law and City, County and Local Government Law); Collier County Bar Association (Member, Section on Real Estate). Practice Areas: Land Use; Local Government; Real Estate. | | Michael S. Gross (Associate) born Washington, D.C., 1967; admitted to bar, 1995, Maryland and Florida. Education: Boston University (B.A., 1989); Washington College of Law, American University (J.D., magna cum laude, 1994); New York University (LL.M., Taxation, 1995). Member: Collier County, Maryland State and American Bar Associations; The Florida Bar. (Board Certified Wills, Trusts and Estates Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education). Practice Areas: Tax Planning; Estate Planning; Trust Administration; Estate Administration. Email: Michael S. Gross | | John Clough (Associate) born Frederick, Maryland, 1971; admitted to bar, 1999, Florida; 2001, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida; 2002, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; 2004, U.S. Tax Court and U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Education: George Mason University (B.A., 1994); University of Miami (J.D., 1999). Phi Delta Phi. Attorney Coach, Community School of Naples, Mock Trial Team, 2004-2005. Member: Peer Review Committee, Twentieth Judicial Circuit, 2004. Member, Board of Directors, 2004-2005 and Member, Board of Directors, Finance Committee, 2004-2005, YMCA of Collier County. Member, Thomas S. Biggs Chapter, Inns of Court, 2001. Member: Collier County Bar Association (Member, 2001 and President, 2004-2005, Young Lawyers Division). Practice Areas: Trial Practice; Federal Litigation; Defense Litigation; Complex Litigation; Civil Litigation; Litigation. | | Jason O. Lowe (Associate) born Mobile, Alabama, 1976; admitted to bar, 2004, Florida and U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Education: Troy State University (B.S., 1999; M.S., 2000); Stetson University College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2003). Member: The Florida Bar; Collier County and American Bar Associations; Defense Research Institute. Thomas C. Biggs American Inns of Court. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Construction Claims. Email: Jason O. Lowe | | OF COUNSEL | | George L. Varnadoe (Of Counsel) born Melbourne, Florida, 1941; admitted to bar, 1972, Florida. Education: University of Florida and University of South Florida (B.A., 1964); Florida State University (J.D., with high honors, 1971). Phi Delta Phi. President, Collier County Real Estate Attorneys, Inc., 1981-1982. President, Lawyers Abstract Service, 1985-1986. Member, Speaker's Task Force on Water Issues, 1983-1984. Member, Panel of Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association. Member: Collier County and American Bar Associations; The Florida Bar (Member, Sections on: Environmental and Land Use Law); ULI. Practice Areas: Zoning, Planning and Land Use; Real Estate Development Law; Administrative Agency Practice; Environmental Permitting; Coastal Environmental Law; Wetlands Regulation; Local Government Contracts; Planned Unit Development Law. Email: George L. Varnadoe |
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