Lydia is a managing member of the Southern Atlantic Law Group and has been practicing as an attorney since 2012. Recognized by Super Lawyers as Rising Star in 2022-2024.
Lydia Sturgis Zbrzeznj is a native Floridian and was raised in St. Augustine, Florida along with her five siblings. Lydia grew up attending Good News Church, where her father Smiley Sturgis was the pastor. Lydia played four years of varsity soccer at Nease High School and won a State Championship her senior year. She then attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, on a full soccer scholarship and played all four years on the women’s soccer team.
Lydia went on to attend Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida. During law school, she maintained a class rank of number 1 through all six semesters, was a Staff Editor on the Florida Coastal Law Review, obtained a Sports Law Certificate and Pro Bono Honors Award, served as a research assistant to two professors, and clerked for two civil litigation firms. Upon graduation, Lydia took the Florida Bar. Based on Lydia’s high score, she was selected by the Second District Court of Appeal to speak at the fall 2012 Induction Ceremony.
Lydia is a Managing Member of the Southern Atlantic Law Group and has been practicing as an attorney for just under ten years. All of her experience as an attorney has been in the civil litigation and appellate realm. She focuses on providing efficient, effective, and practical legal services to her clients, and takes pride in achieving positive results through this approach. Lydia has been an avid reader and writer since childhood and enjoys the value of strong legal research and writing skills bring to a case.
Lydia lives in Polk County with her husband, Nick, and their children. She and her family attend Heartland Church in Winter Haven, Florida, and Good News Church in St. Augustine, Florida.
Distinctions
Graduated law school with a class rank of #1Dean’s Scholar all six semesters of law school Sport’s Law Certificate Recipient Pro Bono Honors Award Staff Editor Florida Coastal Law Review, August 2010 – May 2012Book Awards in Constitutional Law I & II, Criminal Procedure, Lawyers Process 1 & 2 (legal research and writing), Comprehensive Law Practice III, Florida Constitutional Law, Media Law, Sports Law Seminar, Torts I Florida Association for Women Lawyers Leader in the Law Recognized on the Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite™ in the Up and Comers category (2022)Recognized by Super Lawyers® as a Rising Star in 2022, and 2023 National Trial Lawyers top 40 under 40, 2020, 2021, and 2022 “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell Polk Association for Women Lawyers President’s Service Award (2023)Polk Association for Women Lawyers Leader in the Law Award (2023) Polk County Trial Lawyers Association’s Karla Foreman Wright Attorney Award (2023)
Professional Memberships & Associations
Tenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission, 2018- Present, Chair (2019-2021)Florida Association for Women Lawyers, 2017-presentPolk Association for Women Lawyers, 2017-present, Past Vice-President, President-Elect, President, Development Director Florida Bar Committee on Professionalism, Term ending in 2024Florida Bar Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration Committee Polk County Trial Lawyers Association Federalist Society American Bar Association
