Training Today. Leading Tomorrow.

The Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy is a multi-session training program designed to assist a diverse and inclusive group of lawyers in becoming better leaders within our profession, in their chosen path, while enhancing their leadership skills. Each year a select group of participants are selected from applications submitted to The Florida Bar to become Academy Fellows. 

During their one-year term, Academy Fellows follow a curriculum tailored to enhance their professional development, knowledge base and experience, including attending The Florida Bar events and special educational programs. Academy Fellows are given the opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of the Bar and their role in the legal profession, while enhancing their personal leadership skills. The Academy’s Mission is to identify, nurture and inspire effective leadership within the Bar and the legal community.

The 2018-2019 Leadership Academy Application is available. Applications must be submitted by January 16, 2018 by 5:30 p.m.

December 1, 2017

Dear Fellow Bar Members:

Please join one of our committees of dedicated members who volunteer their time for the betterment of our profession.

It is a privilege to practice law in this state, and with that privilege comes a responsibility. I need your energy and your enthusiasm! We must work together to address the many challenges facing our profession. You can be a part of our joint effort; simply submit your committee preference form by January 16, 2018.

Serving on a Florida Bar committee can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Take advantage of this opportunity to enhance our profession and to improve the services we provide the citizens of our state and our members.

Some of the factors I will consider in making committee appointments are: prior service to The Florida Bar and voluntary bar organizations; the need to infuse new members into a committee; and diversity of gender, ethnicity, geography, and area of practice. I will also consider previous committee participation and contributions.

BY JANUARY 16, 2018 – PLEASE DO THE FOLLOWING:

IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING ON A STANDING COMMITTEE AND YOUR TERM EXPIRES IN 2018,

you must submit your committee preference form by January 16, 2018, to be considered for reappointment. To check your term on a committee, please select your committee from this listing.

IF YOU ARE NOT CURRENTLY SERVING ON A STANDING COMMITTEE, AND WANT TO BE CONSIDERED,

submit the committee preference form by January 16, 2018. Your comments concerning your participation in Bar-related activities, your qualifications and interests will be particularly helpful.

IF YOU ARE SERVING ON A SUBSTANTIVE LAW COMMITTEE AND WANT TO CONTINUE,

you must submit your committee preference form by January 16, 2018, to be considered for reappointment.

Leadership Academy applications are also due by January 16, 2018. Information is available at floridabar.org/leadershipacademy.

Thank you in advance for your interest in helping The Florida Bar maintain its reputation for excellence. I look forward to working with you in the upcoming Bar year.

Sincerely,

Michelle R. Suskauer

FIFTEENTH CIRCUIT JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION ANNOUNCES JUDICIAL VACANCY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2017
CONTACT: Gregor J. Schwinghammer, Jr., Chair; gschwinghammer@gunster.com,
Fifteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission
TELEPHONE: (561) 650-0595

The Fifteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Committee announces one vacancy for a Circuit Court Judge position, caused by the resignation of the Honorable Thomas H. Barkdull. The Judicial Nominating Commission has been asked to provide Gov. Rick Scott with nominees for the Circuit Court vacancy.

Qualifications of Applicants:

Applicants must be able to fulfill the Constitutional qualifications before assuming the office of Circuit Court Judge, which require the person to be a member in good standing of The Florida Bar for the preceding five years, a resident of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit and a registered voter in the State of Florida.

Instructions for Submission:

1. The current Judicial Application form must be used and can be downloaded in Word version from The Florida Bar’s website. Applicants should ensure they are using the correct and current form.
2. The completed application must be typed and bound. The application must include a photograph.
3. In addition to the original application, applicants must provide the following: (i) three (3) copies of the completed application, (ii) one redacted copy of the application excluding all exempt information under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes or other applicable public records law; and (iii) an electronic copy of the application on nine (9) individual flash drives in PDF format with the applicant’s name on the exterior of the flash drives. The pdf of the application (including all exhibits and attachments) must be a single file not to exceed 8 Mb. No other attachments or files are to be included on the flash drives. All printed copies should be two-sided.
4. Applications. The deadline for submission of the completed application is 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 13, 2017. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. The completed application, copies and flash drives must be delivered to Palm Beach County Bar Association at its temporary offices, 515 N. Flagler Drive, Suite 800, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401. (Note this is the temporary office, not the previous location at the PBCBA permanent offices.) Please ensure the Application is complete, including all required responses (including references, case style and contact information regarding recent cases, and class standing and degree information regarding education), and all required attachments (writing sample, financial disclosure, photograph). Incomplete applications may not be considered.
5. Interviews. The JNC has not determined the date for any interviews. If the JNC conducts any interviews, they will likely occur in early or mid-January, 2018. Applicants should check with the Palm Beach County Bar Association’s website [www.palmbeachbar.org] for information as to date and time of any interview. 

Additional Information:

After the deadline for submitting applications, the Commission will publish on the Palm Beach County Bar Association’s website: [www.palmbeachbar.org] the date, time and location of any interviews that the JNC chooses to conduct. Any interviews will be done in person; no telephonic interviews will be scheduled.

All JNC proceedings are open to the public, except for deliberations. Applications are not confidential. If an applicant is nominated, all materials attached to the original application will be submitted to the Governor.

A list of members of the Fifteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission is available from The Florida Bar’s website at www.floridabar.org.

Members of the bench, the Bar and the public are urged to contact the members of the Commission concerning applicants for judicial positions.

If you have any questions, please call Mr. Schwinghammer at (561) 650-0595, or email at gschwinghammer@gunster.com.

 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ATTORNEY 

Responsibilities Include:

•          Review and manage trademark clearance searches.  Register Perry Ellis’ trademarks in the U.S. and throughout the world.

•          Police trademark infringement on a global basis and manage contested matters related to trademarks and domain names.

•          Provide legal counsel to corporate marketing, product development team members and others throughout the company regarding trademark issues.

•          Provide legal counsel on trademark intermediary liability issues, including developing removal policies, advising on removal requests and counseling product teams.

•          Reviews outside counsel work to ensure the work, methodology, and costs meet expectations.

•          Provides trademark clearance searches and opinions and offer recommendations on risk mitigation and potential conflicts.

•          Monitors and protects the company's trademarks, including drafting cease and desist letters and investigating infringement.

•          Drafts and negotiates licenses, settlements or coexistence agreements.

•          Investigates domain name infringement issues and determines take down actions.

•          Draft and negotiate licensing and distribution agreements (globally); therefore, requires a broad understanding and appreciation for nuances of international trademark, licensing, tax, sourcing, and other laws that may impact our rights globally.

•          Conducts IP related diligence or companies and/or third party intellectual property portfolios for possible acquisition or licensing analysis.

Minimum qualifications:

•          JD degree or equivalent

•          3 years of experience practicing trademark law

•          Must be admitted to the bar in which position is located and in good standing or otherwise authorized to practice law (e.g., have registered in-house status) in the state in which the position is located.

Preferred qualifications:

•          Strong interpersonal and team skills and sense of humor.

•          Good business judgment, hardworking, well-organized and able to manage numerous projects simultaneously under deadline pressure.

•          Commitment to professionalism and to client service.

•          Experience and interest in working on intermediary liability issues.

•          A mix of both in-house and firm experience

•          Experience as a (registered) patent attorney is also highly desirable (but not critical) to assist with implementing and supporting a R&D and design patent program with our teams and processes in US & Asia.

If you are interested in the above position, please submit your resume directly to General Counsel Tricia Thompkins at tricia.thompkins@pery.com.

CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER

Overview: The Chief Compliance Officer has delegated authority and responsibility for leading, planning, executing, supervising, reporting results, monitoring, reviewing and evaluating compliance programs and activities of Howard University and the Howard University Hospital which is a division of the University.

Compensation: Competitive salary commensurate with experience and benefits package.

Experience: The successful candidate will have at least 8 years of legal experience with compliance programs, including at least 5 years in an academic setting or in a law firm representing higher education institutions in compliance matters.

Relos: Yes.

Bar: Active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.

Howard University has exclusively retained Major, Lindsey & Africa to conduct a search for a Chief Compliance Officer to be located in Washington, D.C. Howard is an equal opportunity employer. Interested candidates please submit your resume (in MS Word) to the recruiter managing this search, Deborah Ben-Canaan and Edina Beasley, to the MLA recruiter who contacted you about this position, or by submitting your resume to HowardCCO@mlaglobal.com. Please do not contact the organization directly; all resumes sent to the organization will be routed to MLA for handling and will create delays. Please click here for the full position description.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 2017
CONTACT: Kristen Wilson
TELEPHONE: (850) 561-5757

The Florida Bar

 

2018 JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION NOMINATIONS TO BE MADE BY THE FLORIDA BAR

Judicial Nominating Commissions: Two lawyer vacancies for each of the 26 JNCs. The Florida Bar has the opportunity to nominate six lawyers for each Judicial Nominating Commission to Gov. Rick Scott for his appointment. Each appointee will serve a four-year term, commencing July 1, 2018. Applicants must be members of The Florida Bar engaged in the practice of law and a resident of the territorial jurisdiction served by the commission to which the member is applying. Commissioners are not eligible for state judicial office for vacancies filled by the JNC on which they sit for two years following completion of their term.

Applications must be submitted no later than 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 3, 2018 in the Executive Director’s office of The Florida Bar. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. Screening committees of the Board of Governors will review all JNC applications. The Executive Committee will then make recommendations to the Board of Governors.

Persons interested in applying for any of these vacancies may click here to complete and download the new application form from the Bar's website, www.floridabar.org, or should call Bar headquarters at (850) 561-5757, to obtain the application. Completed applications must be received by the Executive Director, The Florida Bar, 651 East Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2300 by the January 3rd deadline date.

###

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF LAWYER CHAPTERS

American Constitution Society

FULL-TIME

REMOTE, DC

https://www.acslaw.org/careers/assistant-director-lawyer-chapters

ACS has an immediate opening for an Assistant Director of Lawyer Chapters to help manage a growing national network of over 40 lawyer chapters in cities across the country and support the overall work of the Department of Network Advancement. This is a remote position. Preference will be given to candidates based in an area other than Chicago, Houston, or Washington, D.C. (where current Department staff are based).

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Assistant Director of Lawyer Chapters will:

·          Help manage the existing network of ACS lawyer chapters across the country and strategic expansion of ACS lawyer chapters in new cities and states;

·          Build a vibrant, diverse, active and cohesive network for members at all stages of their careers;

·          Facilitate programming for lawyer chapters;

·          Approve and handle funding for lawyer chapter events;

·          Implement the lawyer chapter division’s budget and strategic priorities;

·          Integrate lawyer chapter activities and chapter members into ACS’s various substantive initiatives;

·          Develop and plan signature events to raise money and to raise ACS’s profile and broaden its impact in key legal markets around the country;

·          Facilitate outreach to student chapter members and outside organizations;

·          Work with the Director of Lawyer Chapters, other Assistant Director of Lawyer Chapters, Vice President of Network Advancement, and Director of Student Chapters to ensure career-long engagement of young lawyers and law students with the ACS network;

·          Help coordinate the participation of network members with ACS special projects and career opportunities; and

·          Other duties as may be assigned from time to time within the overall department

*ACS values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. ACS encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability and veteran status.

How To Apply

Please send all materials to: jobs@acslaw.org

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

·          The ideal candidate will possess many of the following qualifications and personal attributes:

·          Campaign or other organizing experience

·          Would do anything for a networking opportunity (loves it, loves it, loves it!)

·          Details are your friends

·          Ability to absorb information about several moving parts

·          Works equally well with millennials, law students, new and seasoned lawyers, scholars, judges and public officials

·          Event planning and/or fundraising experience

·          Excellent writing skills

·          Thrives in an outcome-driven work culture

·          Knowledge of current legal and public policy issues

·          Some travel for meetings and events is required

·          JD and 2+ years of post-law school experience

·          Social media, HTML and Excel experience are a plus

·          Being based in a southern or western state is a plus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2017
CONTACT: Kristen Wilson
TELEPHONE: (850) 561-5757; kwilson@flabar.org
The Florida Bar 

TWO FLORIDA BAR FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS VACANCIES TO BE FILLED IN JANUARY

The Florida Bar Board of Governors is seeking applicants for the following vacancies to be filled during its January 26, 2018 meeting:

The Florida Bar Foundation Board of Directors: Two lawyers to serve three-year terms, commencing July 1, 2018 and ending June 30, 2021. This 33-member Board of Directors administers Florida’s IOTA program. Directors shall be members of the Foundation during their term(s) as directors.

Persons interested in applying for these vacancies may click here to download the Application for Special Appointment and review the “Expectations for Service of Board Members” from the Bar's website, www.floridabar.org, or may call Bar headquarters at (850)561-5757, to obtain these documents. Completed applications must be submitted to the Executive Director, The Florida Bar, 651 East Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, 32399-2300 no later than the close of business on Monday, December 11, 2017. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2017
CONTACT: Kristen Wilson
TELEPHONE: (850) 561-5757; kwilson@flabar.org
The Florida Bar

 

THE FLORIDA BAR BOARD OF GOVERNORS SEEKS TO FILL JUDICIAL ETHICS ADVISORY COMMITTEE VACANCY

The Florida Bar Board of Governors is seeking applicants for the following vacancy to be filled during its January 26, 2018 meeting:

Supreme Court's Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee: One lawyer to fill an expiring term commencing March 1, 2018 and ending June 30, 2022. This is a 12-member committee that renders 20-25 written advisory opinions a year to inquiring judges and judicial candidates regarding application of the Code of Judicial Conduct to specific instances of contemplated judicial and non-judicial conduct. The committee meets once a year at The Florida Bar’s Annual Convention and attendance is strongly encouraged. The majority of the committee’s work, however, is undertaken via e-mail and phone conferencing. The committee is also responsible for judicial campaign conduct forums scheduled in election years.

Persons interested in applying for these vacancies may click here to download the Application for Special Appointment from the Bar's website, www.floridabar.org, or may call Bar headquarters at (850)561-5757, to obtain the application form. Completed applications must be submitted to the Executive Director, The Florida Bar, 651 East Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, 32399-2300 no later than the close of business on Monday, December 11, 2017. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application.

###

ELEVENTH CIRCUIT JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION ANNOUNCES VACANCIES IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2017
CONTACT: Hans Ottinot, Chair, 
Eleventh Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission
TELEPHONE: (305) 792-1765

MIAMI – The Eleventh Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission has been asked to provide Governor Rick Scott with nominees for the vacancies in the Miami-Dade County Court created by the elevations of 

County Court Judge Ivonne Cuesta and County Court Judge Laura Anne Stuzin to the Circuit Court.

The Commission requests that interested candidates submit an application for consideration. Applicants must meet the qualifications for county court judges described in Article V, Section 8 of the Florida Constitution and Section 34.021 of the Florida Statutes.

Applicants must deliver a complete original application by November 17, 2017, at 5:00 p.m. No copies shall be provided. Any application delivered after the deadline will not be considered. The original application should be delivered to:

Hans Ottinot, Esq.
City Attorney’s Office for
the City of Sunny Isles Beach
18070 Collins Avenue
Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160

In addition to the original application, applicants must e-mail a PDF version of the application to Hans Ottinot, Esq., Chair (hottinot@sibfl.net) with personal information not subject to public disclosure—such as the social security number—redacted as permitted by Section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes. 

Applicants are invited to provide the Chair with a one page sheet listing the date, location and time of hearings or trials that they would want the Commissioners to observe. The one page disclosure sheet is not mandatory and can be provided to the Chair at any time before the interview day. No information other than the date, location and time should be provided on the one page sheet.

Applications may be downloaded from the Florida Bar’s website at www.flabar.org and the Office of the Governor at www.flgov.com. Applicants should include a recent photograph.

NOTE TO APPLICANTS: To assist the Judicial Nominating Commission in its review of applications, all questions must be fully and completely answered. Applications must include current contact information, including e-mail addresses, for judges, co-counsel, opposing counsel, and references to facilitate the background investigation that will be conducted by the members of the Commission.

Members of the bench, the Bar, and the public are encouraged to contact the members of the Commission concerning applicants for judicial positions.

###