Committees

The Palm Beach County Bar Association has several committees. Members are appointed to these committees each spring by the incoming President and their terms run from July 1 – June 30. New members can be appointed throughout the year. Sign up for a committee.

2024–2025 Committee Chairs

Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee

Chair: Reggie Hicks | rhicks@uww-adr.com

Promotes the use of ADR to lawyers, businesses, and the public by sponsoring programs that enhance ADR skills.

Appellate Practice

Chair(s): Nalani Gordon | ngordon@gunster.com; Siobhan Shea | sshea@pd15.org

Bankruptcy Law CLE

Chair(s): Amanda Klopp | amanda.klopp@akerman.com; Julianne Frank | julianne@jrfesq.com

Business Litigation CLE

Chair(s): Dane Leitner | Dane.Leitner@gray-robinson.com; Ken Johnson | KenJohnson@knjlawfirm.com

Civil Practice

Chair(s): Adam Rabin | arabin@rkjlawgroup.com; Robert Kane | kaner@gtlaw.com

Community Assn. Law CLE

Chair: Tanique G. Lee | tglee@gelfandarpe.com

Committee for Diversity and Inclusion

Chair(s): Tania Williams | tania.williams@williamsfirmpa.com; Jack Rice | jrice@gunster.com

Promotes principles of diversity and inclusion as set out in the Corporation’s Anti-Discrimination Policy; and implements or continues programs designed to increase the diversity of the Corporation’s membership and the local legal community.

Construction Law Committee

Chair: F. Malcolm Cunningham | fmcunni@cunninghamlaw.com

Comprised of attorneys dedicated to the practice of construction law, the Committee’s focus is on promoting legal education through its annual CLE Seminar. The Committee is also planning activities geared towards greater exposure for the practice area within the local community.

Criminal Law CLE Committee

Chair(s): Ian Goldstein| ian@iangoldesteinlaw.com; Scarlett Roque | SRoque@sa15.org

Elder Law Affairs Committee

Chair(s): Carolyn Landon | carolyn@landonlaw.net; Anne Desormier-Cartwright | Anne@elderlawyersfl.com

Addresses the needs of the elderly such as crimes against the elderly, Alzheimer’s, access to the Courts, and educating the elderly. Also sponsors two CLE seminars for members of the Bar on elder law issues.

Employment Law CLE

Chair: Holly Goodman | hgoodman@gunster.com

Estate | Probate Law CLE

Chair(s): Mallorye Cunningham | MCunninghamLawOffice@gmail.com; Chioma Deere | chioma@deere-law.com

Family Law CLE

Chair: William “Trace” Norvell | wnorvell@sasserlaw.com

Judicial Relations Committee

Chair(s): Ron Ponzoli | ron.ponzoli@gray-robinson.com; Lauren Johnson | ljohnson@rkjlawgroup.com

Serves as liaison between the Bar and the Judiciary; it plans, implements, and coordinates programs for better relations between the Bench and Bar, including the annual Bench Bar Conference, Judicial Lunch seminar series, judicial relations spokespersons who conduct in-person meetings with the judges, and the bi-annual judicial evaluations administered by the PBCBA.

Law Related Education Committee

Chair: Andrew Kwan | andrew@phflorida.com

Works to promote effective community, law-related education programs for adults and students in Palm Beach County, with an emphasis on respect for the legal system and civics education. The committee seeks to maintain and enhance the cooperative efforts of attorneys and educators in the field of law-related education in Palm Beach County. This committee may include ex officio members who are not members of the Bar but have an interest in promoting the committee’s goals and objectives.

Lawyers for Literacy

Chair(s): Bradley Avakian | brad@avakian.law; Jessica Latour | Jessica@romanolawgroup.com

Dedicated to promoting literacy and a love of reading in our Palm Beach County communities.

Local & Gov’t Land Use

Chair(s): Denise Haire | DHaire@shubinlawgroup.com; Lina Busby | lbusby@wpb.org

Local Government & Land Use Committee will be made up of city, county and other local government lawyers practicing land use law and private sector attorneys representing and practicing before local governments and agencies. The committee will provide relevant CLE’s and networking opportunities.

Membership Committee

Chair(s): Sarah Kranz | skranz@mallorylawgroup.com; Kelly Schulz | Kschulz@mapei.com

The membership committee is tasked with implementing, promoting, and supporting the new “You’ve Been Served Initiative” which is designed to highlight the positive community services provided by Palm Beach County Bar Association Lawyers. This committee will also work to retain members and recruit new members to the organization.

Paralegal Committee

Chair(s): Lesline Alexander | lesline.alexander@palmbeachschools.org; Jackie Jernigan | jjernigan@cl-law.com

The Paralegal Committee seeks to foster and promote the Paralegal Profession. This will be accomplished thru the advancement of educational standards for the experienced paralegal as well as the incoming new paralegals. The opportunity will be provided by educational seminars relative to the advanced Certified/Registered Paralegal along with the ethical obligations of all paralegals. The Paralegal Committee will provide member networking opportunities in similar areas of law. It is our goal to provide continuing legal education and ethical programs for the advanced and incoming paralegals to our profession.

PI | Wrongful Death CLE

Chair(s): Boris Zhadanovskiy | bzhadanovskiy@searcylaw.com; Salesia Smith-Gordon | salesia@smithgordonlaw.com

Probate | Guardianship

Chair: Zachary Rothman | Zrothman@jonesfoster.com

Professionalism Committee

Chair(s): Kara Rockenbach Link | kara@linkrocklaw.com; David Vitale, Jr. | dvitale@searcylaw.com

Addresses ways to instill a sense of professionalism in Bar members; responds to negative publicity concerning the legal profession; sponsors a breakfast for newly admitted attorneys; reviews complaints referred to the Professionalism Council and manages the Bar’s mentor program.

Real Estate CLE

Chair(s): Steven Brannock | steve@brannocklaw.com; Jared Quartell | Jquartell@quartelllaw.com

Solo & Small Firm Practitioner’s Committee

Chair: Thomas Ali | tali@stuartnkaplanpa.com

Provides an opportunity for solo practitioners to meet and network in an informal setting such as brown bag lunch meetings, pizza, and beer seminars and happy hours to exchange information and assist each other with office practices and procedures.

Technology Committee

Chair: Jeffrey Haut | jhaut@mcdonaldhopkins.com

Seeks to improve the practice of law and law firm marketing through the use of technology. Conducts several seminars to help educate the members on the fast-paced changes in legal technology.

PALM BEACH COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

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