Shutts & Bowen is a leading Florida firm with offices located throughout the State of Florida. Shutts & Bowen is one of the oldest firms in Florida, but our innovative approaches to problem solving bring a fresh perspective to the practice of law. We offer a complete range of legal services to our local, state, national and international clients. We represent major industrial corporations and life insurance companies, utilities companies, securities brokerage firms, transportation concerns, national and international financial institutions, local banking firms, major foreign companies, health care organizations, local municipalities, local corporations, and individuals and smaller enterprises of every nature.

Statement of Practice

General Civil Practice in Federal and State Courts and before Administrative Agencies; Practice areas include: Administrative, Alternate Dispute Resolution, Antitrust Litigation, Appellate, Banking, Banking Litigation, Bankruptcy, Business, Business Reorganization, Class Action, Commercial, Condominium, Construction, Contracts, Corporate, Development, Eminent Domain, Employment Litigation, Environmental, Estate Planning, Finance, Financial Services, Financing, Governmental, Health Care, Immigration, Insurance, Insurance Defense, Intellectual Property, International, International Tax, Labor and Employment, Legislative, Mediation, Mergers and Acquisitions, Probate, Public Financing, Real Estate, Real Property Litigation, Securities, Securities Litigation, Sports and Entertainment, Tax, Trusts and Estates, White Collar Criminal Defense, Zoning, Planning and Land Use.

Representative Clients:

ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
American Express International Banking Corp.
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria
Banco de Chile
Banco do Brasil
Bank Hapoalim B.M.
BankAmerica International, Bank of America NT&SA
Bankers Trust Florida, N.A.
Banque Sudameris
BestFoods Baking Distributing Company
Burger King Corporation
C.I. Banacol, S.A.
CitiBank (Florida), N.A.
Combustion Engineering Inc., a subsidiary of ABB ASEA Brown Bovary Ltd.
Commercebank, N.A.
Dresdner Lateinamerika Bank A.G.
Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America
J.P. Morgan Florida Federal Savings Bank
Lincoln National Life Insurance Co.
ManorCare Health Services, Inc.
Merrill Lynch Bank & Trust Co.
Miami Children's Hospital
Ocean Bank
Royal Bank of Canada
Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons (Bahamas) Ltd.
SunTrust Bank Miami, N.A.
Telefonica
The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States
The Prudential Insurance Company of America
The Whiting Turner Contracting Co.
UNUM/Provident
Wachovia Bank, N.A.
WCI Communities, Inc.
World Fuel Services Corporation.

Address

Suite 1500
100 S. Ashley Drive
Tampa, FL 33602, (Hillsborough Co.)

Phone

Phone: 813-229-8900
Fax: 813-229-8901

Website

http://www.shutts.com

Firm/Affiliate Offices

(For complete biographical data on all personnel, see Professional Biographies at Miami, Florida)

PARTNERS

Eric S. Adams (Partner) born Gainesville, Florida, June 25, 1970; admitted to bar, 1996, Florida and U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida; 1997, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; 1998, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: Marshall University (B.B.A., Economics and Spanish, magna cum laude, 1992); Oxford University, Oxford England (Summer 1990); University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain (Summer 1991); Florida State University (J.D., cum laude, 1996). Lambda Chi Alpha; Omicron Delta Kappa (National Leadership Honor Society); Moot Court; Order of Barristers; Society of Yeager Scholars. Recipient, Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award, Florida State University College of Law. Member, Board of Directors, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa, Inc. Member, Board of Directors, Bay Area Legal Services. Leadership Tampa, Class of 2005. Board Member of the Year, 2005-2006, Secretary, 2006-2007 and Member, Board of Directors, Tampa Connection. Team Member of the Year, 2004, Tampa Connection, Class of 2004. Florida Trend, 2006 Florida Legal Elite. Member: Hillsborough County Bar Association (Member, Trial Lawyers Section; Member, Young Lawyers Division Board of Directors, 1999-2005); The Florida Bar (Member: Civil Procedure Rules Committee, 2005—; Grievance Committee 13E, 2003-2006). Reported Cases: Kraft Co., Inc. v. J & H Marsh & McLennan of Florida, Inc., 2006 WL 1876995 (M.D.Fla. 2006); Marsh U.S.A., Inc. v. Walpole, Inc., 2005 WL 2372006 (M.D.Fla. 2005); Martin v. Mentor Corp., 142 F.Supp.2d 1346 (M.D.Fla. 2001); Hunt Ridge at Tall Pines, Inc. v. Hall, 766 So.2d 399 (Fla. 2d DCA 2000); Sutherlund ex rel. Sutherland v. Pell, 738 So.2d 1016 (Fla. 2d DCA 1999). Practice Areas: Litigation; Trial Practice; Civil Litigation; Federal Civil Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Complex Litigation; Real Estate Litigation; Intellectual Property Litigation; Civil RICO; Commercial Torts; Commercial Collections.Email: Eric S. Adams

Steven K. Barber (Partner) born Lagrange, Georgia; admitted to bar, 1979, Georgia; 1983, Florida. Education: University of South Carolina (B.S., 1975; J.D., 1979). Listed: Best Lawyers in America, 2007-2009; Chambers USA, 2006-2008. Member, Florida West Coast Employee Benefits Council. Past Board Member, Tampa Bay Pension Council. Member, The Group. Member: American Bar Association (Member, Tax Section); The Florida Bar (Member, Tax Section, 1986—; Executive Council; Chair, Employee Benefits Committee; Secretary; Director: Federal Tax Division; Long Range Planning Committee; Finance Committee). Practice Areas: Employee Benefits; Pension and Profit Sharing Law; Tax Law.Email: Steven K. Barber

Brendan A. Barry (Partner) born New York, N.Y.; admitted to bar, 1994, Florida; 1995, New Jersey and Maine; U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida. Education: Florida Atlantic University (B.A., 1991); New York Law School (J.D., 1994). Member: The Florida Bar. (Board Certified Real Estate Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education). Practice Areas: Real Estate Law; Secured Lending Transactions; Bankruptcy Law.Email: Brendan A. Barry

William P. Cassidy, Jr. (Partner) born Woodbury, New Jersey, July 4, 1974; admitted to bar, 2000, Florida, U.S. District Court, Middle, Southern and Northern Districts of Florida and U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A., with distinction, 1996; J.D., 2000). Golden Key National Honor Society. Circulation Editor, North Carolina Journal of International Law & Commercial Regulation. Law Clerk to the Hon. James D. Whittemore, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Author: "Universal Service in a Competitive Telecommunications Environment," 25 N.C.J. Int'l. L. & Com. Reg. 108. Member: American Bar Association (Chair, Liaison Subcommittee, Outreach Committee); The Florida Bar (Member, Labor and Employment Section). Practice Areas: Employment Litigation; Commercial Litigation.Email: William P. Cassidy, Jr.

Joseph R. Englander (Partner) born Miami Beach, Florida, January 25, 1966; admitted to bar, 1992, Florida and New York; 1994, U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; registered to practice before U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Education: Cornell University (B.S., 1987); Fordham University (J.D., 1991). Former Member, Legislative Committee, Association of Food and Drug Officials. Member: Broward County (Chair, Intellectual Property Section) and New York State Bar Associations; The Florida Bar (Member, Section: Intellectual Property Law); American Intellectual Property Law Association; International Trademark Association. Practice Areas: Patent Prosecution; Trademark Prosecution; Intellectual Property Litigation.Email: Joseph R. Englander

Andrew J. Fruit (Partner) born Jacksonville, Florida; admitted to bar, 1999, Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.A., Economics, with honors, 1995; M.B.A., 1999; J.D., with honors, 1999). Member: The Florida Bar; American Bar Association (Member, Business Law Section). Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures; Securities; Contracts.Email: Andrew J. Fruit

David A. Gemunder (Partner) born New York, N.Y.; admitted to bar, 1994, Ohio (inactive); 2001, Florida. Education: University of Chicago (A.B., 1991; A.M., 1991); Vanderbilt University (J.D., 1994). Fellow: American Bar Association (Section of Business Law, 2000-2002); American Bar Foundation. Member: American Bar Association (Member, Section of Business Law and Section of Health Law); American Health Lawyers Association; The Florida Bar (Member, Business Law Section and Health Law Section). Practice Areas: Business Law; Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures; Health Care.Email: David A. Gemunder

R. Alan Higbee (Managing Partner) born Fort Pierce, Florida, January 10, 1957; admitted to bar, 1982, Florida; U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida; U.S. Tax Court. Education: University of Florida (B.A., with honors, 1978; J.D., with honors, 1981). University of Florida, Phi Alpha Delta. Member and Chief Tax Editor, University of Florida Law Review. Fowler White Boggs Banker P.A. (1981-2006); Shareholder; Chairman Marketing Committee; Corporate Practice Group Leader; Chairman Buisiness Department; Member Board of Directors. Shutts & Bowen, LLP; Managing Partner, Tampa office. Member: The Florida Bar; American Bar Association (Member, Corporation, Banking and Business Law Section). Practice Areas: Securities; Mergers and Acquisitions; Business Law; Corporate Law; Corporate Finance.Email: R. Alan Higbee

John E. Johnson (Partner) born Reno, Nevada, October 28, 1960; admitted to bar, 1986, Florida. Education: University of South Carolina (B.A., cum laude, 1982; J.D., cum laude, 1986). Order of the Coif. Member, Society of Wig and Robe. Member, National Trial Competition Team. Member: Hillsborough County and American (Member: Securities Litigation Committee; Committee on Intellectual Property Litigation; Business Torts Committee) Bar Associations; The Florida Bar; Federal Bar Association (Member, Board of Directors and President, Tampa Bay Chapter); The Tampa Club (Member, Relations Committee). Fellow: American Bar Foundation. Practice Areas: Commercial Law; Products Liability Law; Securities Litigation; Litigation.Email: John E. Johnson

Suzanne Youmans Labrit (Partner) born 1961; admitted to bar, 1987, Florida; 1989, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida and U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; 1992, U.S. Supreme Court; 2007, Tennessee; U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Education: Randolph Macon Woman's College; University of Florida (B.A., 1981); Nova University (J.D., 1987). Member, Nova Southeastern University Law Review. Member: The Florida Bar; American Health Lawyers Association. Reported Cases: Durham Park Neighborhood Ass'n, Inc. v. City of Miami, ___ So.2d ___, 2007 WL 3085361 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007); Dan v. BSJ Realty, LLC, 953 So.2d 640 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007); LaPenna v. Government Employees Ins. Co., 2006 WL 3388454 (M.D. Fla. 2006); Coral Imaging Services v. Geico Indem. Ins. Co., 955 So.2d 11 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006); 5220 Biscayne Blvd., LLC v. Stebbins, 937 So. 2d 1189 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006); Gaetan v. Geico Indem. Co., 938 So.2d 569 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006); Collins v. Government Employees Ins. Co., 922 So.2d 353, (Fla. 3d DCA 2006); Herzog v. Castle Rock Entertainment, 193 F.3d 1241 (11th Cir. 1999); Dentaland, P.A. v. St. Stephen Ltd. Partnership, 729 So.2d 1012 (Fla. 3d DCA 1999); Florida Power & Light Co. v. Periera, 705 So.2d 1359 (Fla. 1998); System One Information Management, L.L.C. v. Incentive Connection Travel, Inc., 693 So.2d 1092 (Fla. 3d DCA 1997); Mayor's Jewelers, Inc. v. State of Cal. Public Employees' Retirement System, 685 So.2d 904 (Fla. 4th DCA 1996); Boschetti v. Landon, 660 So.2d 365 (Fla. 3d DCA 1995); Dina's Discount, Inc. v. Lowell, 658 So.2d 564 (Fla. 3d DCA 1995); F.D.I.C. v. Diamond C Nurseries, Inc., 629 So.2d 157 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993); In re Estate of Vernon, 614 So.2d 1188 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993); Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Huntington Nat. Bank, 609 So.2d 1315 (Fla. 1992); Sun-Island Realty, Inc. v. F.D.I.C., 606 So.2d 437 (Fla. 4th DCA 1992); F.D.I.C. v. Hemmerle, 592 So.2d 1110 (Fla. 4th DCA 1991); Ensign Bank, F.S.B. v. So. Fla. Warehousing II, 582 So.2d 165 (Fla. 4th DCA 1991); Comet Dev. Corp. v. Prudential Ins. Co. of America, 579 So.2d 355 (Fla. 3d DCA 1991); Hemmerle v. F.D.I.C., 575 So.2d 708 (Fla. 4th DCA 1991); Hemmerle v. F.D.I.C., 569 So.2d 472 (Fla. 4th DCA 1990); Hemmerle v. F.D.I.C., 556 So.2d 457 (Fla. 4th DCA 1990); Crane Rental of Orlando, Inc. v. Hausman, 532 So.2d 1057 (Fla. 1988); Hall v. Wilson, 530 So.2d 410 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988). Practice Areas: Appellate Practice.Email: Suzanne Youmans Labrit

Lee Edward Nelson (Partner) born Roswell, New Mexico, September 27, 1962; admitted to bar, 1991, Florida. Education: Wake Forest University (B.A., 1985; J.D., 1991).Email: Lee Edward Nelson

E. Zachary Rans (Partner) born South Bend, Indiana, February 15, 1971; admitted to bar, 1997, Indiana; 2000, Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Florida. Education: Purdue University (B.A., 1994); Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington (J.D., 1996). Member: The Florida Bar; Sarasota County, Lee County, Collier County, Indiana State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Commercial Real Estate; Construction Contracts; Construction Finance; Leases and Leasing; Commercial Mortgages; Real Estate.Email: E. Zachary Rans

Lynn W. Sherman (Partner) admitted to bar, 1983, Florida. Education: Florida Southern College (B.S., 1980); Stetson University College of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 1983); New York University (LL.M., Taxation, 1989). Member: The Florida Bar.

Terri Thomas (Partner) admitted to bar, 2001, Florida; U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Education: Pennsylvania State University (B.A., with highest distinction, 1992); University of Florida (J.D., with honors, 2000). Phi Delta Phi. Speaker, "Florida Construction Cure Statute and Mold Claims," Indoor Air Quality Continuing Education, 2006. Member: Hillsborough County Bar Association; The Florida Bar. Practice Areas: Complex Litigation; Civil Litigation; Construction Defects; Construction Litigation; Business Litigation; Commercial Litigation.Email: Terri Thomas

Robert H. Waltuch (Partner) born New Haven, Connecticut, June 28, 1947; admitted to bar, 1976, Connecticut; 1977, Virginia; 1985, Florida. Education: Franklin & Marshall College (A.B., 1969); Western New England College (J.D., 1976); Georgetown University (M.L.T., 1980). Member: The Florida Bar (Chairman, Estate and Gift Tax Committee, 1988-1996; Member, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section); American Bar Association (Member, Taxation Section). Practice Areas: Wills; Trusts Planning; Estate Planning.Email: Robert H. Waltuch

OF COUNSEL

Sally T. Woodward (Of Counsel) born Jackson, Mississippi, February 15, 1958; admitted to bar, 2004, Florida. Education: Florida State University (B.S., magna cum laude, 1978); University of Southern Mississippi (M.S., summa cum laude, 1980); Stetson University (J.D., 2003). Staff Psychologist/Child Therapist: Lake Sumter Community Mental Health Center, Leesburg, Florida; Mental Health Services of Orange County, Orlando, Florida, 1980-1985. Employee Relations Management: Hotel Royal Plaza, Walt Disney World Village, Florida, 1985-1989; Orange County Government, Orlando, Florida, 1989-1992; Intervoice-Brite, Inc., Lake Mary, Florida, 1998-2000. Fowler White Boggs Banker P.A. 2001-2006 Shutts & Bowen, LLP 2006—. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Securities; Mergers and Acquisitions; Business Law; Labor and Employment.Email: Sally T. Woodward

ASSOCIATES

Gerald L. Black, Jr. (Associate) born Lakeland, Florida; admitted to bar, 2006, New York; 2008, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; 2009, Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.A., 2002); Harvard Law School (J.D., 2005). Member: The Florida Bar. Practice Areas: Complex Litigation; Civil Litigation.Email: Gerald L. Black, Jr.

Nicole A. Deese (Associate) born Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 1973; admitted to bar, 2004, Florida and U.S. District Court, Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Florida. Education: University of South Florida (B.A., Finance, 1995; M.B.A., Finance and International Business, 1997); Stetson College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2004). Order of Barristers; Phi Delta Phi. Stetson Trial Team: 2004 ATLA Regional Championship Team, 2004 ATLA National Quarterfinalist, 2003 NTC Semi-Finalist, 2002 Chester Bedell Finalist. Stetson Moot Court Team: Robert Orseck Moot Court Competition, Finalist, Best Oralist and Best Brief; Criminal Procedure Tournament, Semi-Finalist; 2004 National Tax Moot Court Competition, Finalist, Best Oralist and Best Brief. Recipient: Victor O. Wehle Award for Trial Advocacy; Stanley Milledge Award; All-American Scholar Award. Member, Stetson Law Review. Author: "Taking Stock of Option-Grant Backdating," Society of Corporate Compliance & Ethics, October 2006. Associate, Tampa Bay Inn of Court. Member: The Florida Bar; Hillsborough County (Co-Chair, YLD Pro Bono Committee), American and Federal (Membership Chair, Tampa Bay Chapter) Bar Associations; Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Practice Areas: Securities; Financial Services; White Collar.Email: Nicole A. Deese

Tiffany A. DiIorio (Associate) admitted to bar, 2004, Florida and U.S. District Court, Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida; 2007, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: University of Florida (B.A., Criminology, 2000); Stetson University College of Law (J.D., 2003). Member: The Florida Bar. Practice Areas: Bankruptcy.Email: Tiffany A. DiIorio

Andrew Parker Felix (Associate) born Pensacola, Florida, 1978; admitted to bar, 2003, Florida and U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.S., Finance/Economics, 2000); University of Alabama (J.D., 2003). Member: St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Hillsborough County and American Bar Associations; The Florida Bar. Languages: German. Practice Areas: Litigation; Trial Practice; White Collar Crime.Email: Andrew Parker Felix

Peter A. Franke (Associate) born Berkeley, California, 1976; admitted to bar, 2005, Florida. Education: DePauw University (B.A., 1998); Purdue University (M.B.A., 2002); University of Minnesota (J.D., cum laude, 2005). Member: American Bar Association (Member, Sections on: Business Law; Real Property Law); The Florida Bar; Hillsborough County Bar Association. Practice Areas: Business Law; Corporate Law; Securities; Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures; Real Estate Contracts; Finance.Email: Peter A. Franke

Robin H. Leavengood (Associate) born Gainesville, Florida; admitted to bar, 2002, Florida and U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Education: Furman University (B.A., 1998); University of Florida (J.D., cum laude, 2001). Member: Hillsborough County Bar Association; The Florida Bar. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Intellectual Property; Construction Litigation.Email: Robin H. Leavengood

Jordan G. Lee (Associate) born Tampa, Florida; admitted to bar, 2005, Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.S., with honors, 2001; J.D., magna cum laude, 2004; LL.M., Taxation, 2005). Member: The Florida Bar; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Trusts and Estates; Estate Planning; Wills(50%); Taxation(25%); Private Foundations(15%); Nonprofit and Charitable Organizations(10%).Email: Jordan G. Lee

Michael P. Silver (Associate) born Tampa, Florida, October 26, 1978; admitted to bar, 2004, Florida, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida and U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Education: University of Florida (B.S.B.A., summa cum laude, 2001; J.D., cum laude, 2004). President, Florida Blue Key, 2004; Treasurer, Florida Blue Key, 2002-2003. Teaching Fellow, Legal Research & Writing and Appellate Advocacy, University of Florida College of Law, 2002-2003. J. Wayne Reitz Scholar, University of Florida. Listed, University of Florida Hall of Fame. Class Representative, University of Florida Law Alumni Council. Co-Chair, Signage Committee, 2007-2008 and Festival Liaison, 2008-2009, Gasparilla Festival of the Arts. Member, The Tampa Connection, Class of 2009. Member: Hillsborough County Bar Association (Parliamentarian, Young Lawyers Division, 2005-2006); The Florida Bar (Member and Business Litigation and Judicial Liaison, State Court and Federal Courts Committees, Business Law Section; Member: Trial Lawyers Section; Young Lawyers Division). Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Business Litigation; Business Torts; Professional Liability Defense; Real Estate Litigation.

Janelle A. Weber (Associate) born 1977; admitted to bar, 2005, Florida; 2008, New York. Education: Georgetown University (B.S., Foreign Service, magna cum laude, 1999); Columbia University (M.S., Journalism, 2000); University of Florida (J.D., magna cum laude, 2005). Order of the Coif. Florida Law Review (Notes and Comments Editor). Recipient, Book Awards in Constitutional Law, Copyright Law, Intellectual Property Unfair Competition, Business Organizations, Law & New Information Technologies, Legal Research & Writing, Legal Drafting. Law Clerk to the Hon. Ed Carnes, United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (2005-2006). Law Clerk to the Hon. Steven D. Merryday, United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (2007-2008). Associate, Thomas & LoCicero PL (2006-2007). Member: Hillsborough County and American (Communications Law Forum) Bar Associations; The Florida Bar. Languages: Spanish and French. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation(70%); Media Law(15%); Intellectual Property Litigation(15%).Email: Janelle A. Weber

Adam Woodruff (Associate) born Winston Salem, North Carolina; admitted to bar, 2005, Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.S.B.A., 2001); Nova Southeastern University (J.D., 2005); John Marshall Law School (LL.M., Real Estate, 2006). Member: The Florida Bar. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Real Estate.Email: Adam Woodruff