Specializing in securities arbitration, commercial litigation, and receivership work, I have been practicing law in Tampa for 30 years. During that time, I am proud to have led the Florida Bar Business Law Section, the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and the Florida Securities Dealers & Advisors association. As a partner at...Read More

Judges fill an integral role on our Executive Council. Meet one of them, Judge Specie. I became licensed to practice in Florida in 1978 and New York in 1979; I attended my first BLS meeting in Orlando in 1980. While in private practice I represented all types of parties in commercial litigation and a wide...Read More

By Deedee Bitran Think Small Businesses Are Immune from Discrimination Laws? Think Again. A recent case involving Jewish therapists facing workplace discrimination has sent a clear message to small employers: being under the 15-employee threshold of Title VII does not give employers a free pass to discriminate. The therapists, who were employed at a practice...Read More

The CFBLA and US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida are both seeking nominations for their pro bono awards. Criteria is below. The Central Florida Bankruptcy Law Association is pleased to announce the return of the Kevin E. Mangum Memorial Pro Bono Excellence Award for 2025. This meaningful recognition celebrates attorneys who demonstrate exceptional commitment...Read More

Happy Monday BLS! Our members are hard at work planning continuing education programs for you throughout the fall. In October we have a number of virtual program offerings: 2025 Legislative Update, Practical Evidence, Drafting and Enforcement of Employment Agreements, and Health and Wellness. Registration is also open for the ever-popular live program View from the Bench in Tampa and Miami, which will likely sell...Read More

By Manny Farach September 20, 2025 Zoble v. Kensington Estates Homeowners Assn of Hillsborough, Inc., Case No. 2D2023-2625 (Fla. 2d DCA 2025). https://2dca.flcourts.gov/content/download/2457438/opinion/Opinion_2023-2625.pdf A community association's exercise of business judgment regarding common area maintenance is subject to the factual question of the whether the association’s right unreasonably interferes with the easement holder’s right to access....Read More

Judges fill an integral role on our Executive Council. Meet one of them, Judge Matthewman. Chief United States Magistrate Judge William Matthewman was appointed to the federal bench in 2012, in the West Palm Beach division of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. He graduated from the University of Florida...Read More

I am married to Bobbie Higer for 40++ years. We have two children, Samantha and Adam who grew up at the BLS retreat at Naples and loved going every year. They have given us four grandchildren—three boys and one girl—who make us feel blessed every day. What have you gained from your involvement with the...Read More

Dear Business Law Section, What a great Labor Day Retreat! Thanks to all of you who joined us for all the fun. Special thanks to Andy Layden and his Retreat Committee, and Michele Moss and her Sponsorship Committee, for ensuring the success of the entire weekend. Of course nothing runs without our Program Administrator extraordinaire...Read More

Judge Brown was appointed United States Bankruptcy Judge after his tenure as Chair of the Business Law Section.   After over 20 years in private practice, I was honored to be appointed to serve as a United States Bankruptcy Judge in 2021. Prior to law school I worked as a chemical engineer in pulp and paper...Read More