Download the 2026 Florida Legal Awards Program


Lifetime Achievement Winners

  • David Bianchi, Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi & Cain
  • Michael A. Haggard, The Haggard Law Firm
  • Joseph Serota, Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman
  • William R. Scherer, Conrad & Scherer Trial Lawyers

Distinguished Leaders Winners

  • Andres Fernandez, Holland & Knight
  • Brian L. Hayden, Jackson Lewis
  • Harry Burnett, King & Spalding
  • Joseph J. Lazzarotti, Jackson Lewis
  • Alison Tanchyk, Morgan Lewis
  • Enrique Martin, Winston & Strawn
  • Robin Bresky, Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas
  • Todd J. Michaels, The Haggard Law Firm

Maritime Attorney of the Year Winner

  • Elisha Sullivan, Chartwell Law

On the Rise Winners (Large & Midsize Firms)

  • Valeria Angelucci, Becker
  • Sara A. Brubaker, Akerman
  • Laura Ferguson, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
  • Alina M. Fernandez Portela, Hogan Lovells
  • Giovanni Giarratana, Bradley
  • Audrey Goldman, Robinson+Cole
  • Elle Hayes, McDermott Will & Schulte
  • Daniel McQuade, Kirkland & Ellis 
  • Axel Miranda, Sidley Austin 
  • Isel Perez, Jones Day 
  • Mark Pinkert, Holtzman Vogel
  • Tom Schulte, Hunton Andrews Kurth
  • Andrew Ingalls, Day Pitney 
  • Matthew R. Maranges, Jones Walker 
  • Brian Vaca, Hughes Hubbard & Reed
  • Chanae L. Wood, Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman 
  • James R. Williams Jr., Gunster 

On the Rise Winners (Small Firms)

  • Melissa Bryan, HAWM Law
  • Marcelo Diaz-Cortes, Levine Kellogg Lehman Schneider + Grossman 
  • Zachary Gorwitz, Podhurst Orseck
  • Nicole Kruegel, Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa
  • Russell Monilla, Cruz Law Firm
  • Daryl L. Saylor, LashGoldberg 
  • Jordan Shaw, Shaw Lewenz
  • David Tarras, Tarras Defense 

Talent Management Winner, Firm

  • The Joseph Firm

Unsung Heroes Winners

  • Juan Bauta, Simmons Hanly Conroy 
  • Carmen Manrara Cartaya, Continental
  • Sharon Caserta, Morgan & Morgan
  • Adam Finkel, The Haggard Law Firm
  • Garrett S. Kamen, Fisher Phillips
  • James Moon, Meland Budwick
  • Elizabeth Somerstein, Greenspoon Marder

Attorney of the Year Finalists

  • Jeffrey Bass, Bass Law
  • Kimberly L. Wald, The Haggard Law Firm
  • John Yanchunis, Morgan & Morgan — WINNER

Best Mentors Finalists

  • Lori Adelson, Approved Dispute Resolution
  • Arturo Arca and Christian Rodriguez, Trembly Law Firm  
  • Jeffrey Hearne, Legal Services of Greater Miami
  • Pedro E. Hernandez, Hinshaw & Culbertson
  • Marck K. Joseph, The Joseph Firm — WINNER
  • Kate Lashley, Sidley Austin
  • Allen P. Pegg, Hogan Lovells
  • Martha Rabbitt, Shutts & Bowen 
  • Miranda L. Soto, Buchanan Ingersoll and Rooney

Construction Trailblazer Finalists

  • Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod
  • Trent Cotney, Adams & Reese
  • Timothy D. Woodward, Shutts & Bowen  — WINNER

Cross-Border Disputes Finalists

  • King & Spalding
  • Squire Patton Boggs
  • White & Case — WINNER

Dealmakers of the Year Finalists

  • Matthew Arenson and Eduardo M. Leal, Kirkland & Ellis  
  • Francisco Cerezo, DLA Piper
  • David J. Cohen, Weil, Gotshal & Manges
  • Esteban J. Elias, Leech Tishman
  • Joshua B. Forman, Greenberg Traurig — WINNER
  • Jackson Hwu, Dentons
  • Ira N. Rosner, Holland & Knight

In-House Counsel of the Year Finalists

  • Lynn Carrillo, FIFA
  • Gerald Del Amo, Broward Health
  • Nefertari Rigsby, Kaplan North America
  • Evian White De Leon, MIAMI Association of REALTORS — WINNER

Innovators Finalists

  • Kaley Dreyer, Farah and Farah
  • Carl Fornaris, Winston & Strawn
  • Kevin Henderson and Eric Pacifici, SMB Law Group — WINNER  
  • Marlon Hill, Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman
  • Michael Platner, Lewis Brisbois
  • Stuart Ratzan, Ratzan Weissman & Boldt
  • Charles B. Jimerson, Jimerson Birr

Law Firm of the Year Finalists

  • Gastesi Lopez Mestre & Cobiella
  • King & Spalding
  • Morgan & Morgan — WINNER

Litigation Departments of the Year, Construction Finalists

  • Cole, Scott & Kissane — WINNER
  • Duane Morris

Litigation Departments of the Year, General Litigation Finalists

  • Boies Schiller Flexner
  • Greenberg Traurig — WINNER
  • Holland & Knight
  • King & Spalding
  • Levine Kellogg Lehman Schneider + Grossman
  • Morgan & Morgan
  • Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
  • Ratzan, Weismann & Boldt
  • Weil, Gotshal & Manges

Litigation Departments of the Year, Insurance Finalists

  • Carlton Fields — WINNER
  • Hunton Andrews Kurth

Litigation Departments of the Year, Products Liability/Mass Torts Finalists

  • King & Spalding — WINNER
  • Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd

Managing Partner of the Year (Large and Midsize Firm) Finalists

  • Abbye Alexander, Kaufman Dolowich
  • Beatriz Azcuy, Sidley Austin — WINNER
  • Dean Cannon, GrayRobinson
  • Albert Dotson, Jr., Bilzin Sumberg
  • Manuel Garcia-Linares, Day Pitney
  • William Lewis, Morgan & Morgan
  • Enrique Martin, Winston & Strawn 
  • Olga Vieira and Sam Williamson, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan

Managing Partner of the Year (Small Firm) Finalists

  • Raul Gastesi, Gastesi Lopez Mestre & Cobiella
  • Patricia M. Hernandez, Avila Law
  • John N. Lambros, Brinkley Morgan 
  • Eric Pacifici, SMB Law Group — WINNER
  • Spencer Payne, Moore Payne Law 

Most Promising Newcomer Finalists

  • Caitlin Calvo, Winston & Strawn
  • Mischaël Cetoute, Holland & Knight — WINNER
  • Evan Gilbert, Winston & Strawn
  • Briana Harris, Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine
  • Emma G. Refuveille, Shutts & Bowen

Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Finalists

  • Melanie Kalmanson, Quarles & Brady 
  • Ross Linzer, King & Spalding  — WINNER

Real Estate Attorney of the Year Finalists

  • Katherine Amador, Berger Singerman — WINNER
  • Daniel Kaskel, Sachs Sax Caplan

Real Estate Firm of the Year Finalists

  • Berger Singerman
  • Bilzin Sumberg
  • Foley Lardner
  • Greenberg Traurig — WINNER
  • Government Law Group
  • Perez Mayoral 

Talent Management Finalists, Individual

  • Ravin Sahadeo, Morgan & Morgan — WINNER
  • Andrea DeField, Hunton Andrews Kurth