Who We Are
Charged with advancing and facilitating cooperation, communication, and collaboration of new members and future leaders in the Business Law Section (the “Section”), IMF consists of an array of members-—including judges, academics and private practitioners—who are charged with the task of fostering a welcoming environment within the Section encouraging involvement and contributions to the goals of the Section through our mentoring, fellowship, and scholars programs. Read more about the IMF Committee’s goals in our Strategic Plan.
Fostering Involvement:
In fulfilling the charge of fostering a welcoming environment to the Section, IMF serves as a key strategist for increasing the number of new and traditionally underrepresented members of The Florida Bar involved in the Section’s activities and plumbing the educational pipelines into the profession for greater representation. Through its work and programs, IMF provides a forum for members to becoming active and building networks in our Section and the legal profession.
The goal of IMF is to advance involvement within the Section and help pave the road to leadership within the Section. IMF provides valuable opportunities to Florida Bar members who are traditionally underrepresented in the areas of business law, including those who experience physical, social, economic or cultural impediments to becoming a member of the Section.
Fellowship
The Section has implemented a Fellowship Program to provide a two-year subsidy to eight qualified applicants who express an interest in becoming active in the substantive work and leadership of the Section. During their participation in the Fellowship Program, selected “Fellows” will receive leadership training and work closely with leading attorneys in the Business Law field. At the end of their Fellowship term, we are confident all Fellows will find the program enhanced their personal and professional development.
Fellowship Program Description
Applications will be accepted for 2024-2026 in early 2024. Learn more here.
Current Fellowship Class
Subcommittees:
Communication & Marketing Committee:
Chairs: Matthew Akiba and Valerie David
Vice Chairs: Alfredo Dally and Jessey James Krehl
Members: Lauren Stricker and Tyler Brand Stall
Responsible for monitoring and updating the Business Law Section IMF web page and associated social media
(current events, calendaring IMF-related events, related links) and providing emails to the Fellows with
important reminders, forms, and helpful information.
Networking Committee:
Chairs: Zachary Needell; Elizabeth Brusa, and Joseph Coleman
Vice Chairs: Samantha Medina and Christian Haman
Members: Adam Gilbert and Jake Isenberg
Responsible for organizing social and networking events with and for BLS Fellows and Scholars, both virtual
and in-person. Plan Sunday Dine Around dinner plans for the Fellows. Organize and schedule Fellow meal
meet-ups and activities during the Section meetings. Research and reach out to voluntary bar organizations
and other sections of the Florida Bar regarding regional events.
CLE Committee:
Chairs: Alejandra M. Iglesia; Kameron Fleming; and Reinaldo Gomez de la Vega
Vice Chair: Marshall Kobrin and Jessey James Krehl
Members: Chemere Ellis and Katherine Van De Bogart
Responsible for developing CLE program and speaker database on topics that benefit and serve IMF’s goals
within the Section.
Mentoring Committee:
Chairs: Nader Amer; Kayla Heckman; Ian Corp; and Jacinda D. Béraud
Vice Co-Chairs: Layla Nguyen and Rasheed Nader
Members: Marisol Cruz and April Martindale
Matching mentees and mentors. Monitoring and supervising the experience of mentees and fellows. Planning a
mentoring/mentee event for the Retreat. Working with the Membership Committee as needed to assist the
Scholars Program.
Collaboration and Involvement Committee:
Chair: current IMF Vice Chair
Incoming Chair: IMF Second Vice Chair
Current Members:
a. Mariane Dorris,
b. Jacob Isenberg,
c. Chemere Ellis,
d. Adam Gilbert,
e. Tara Trevorrow.
f. all current Fellows are heavily encouraged to
attend meetings and contribute.
Responsible for periodic updates to the BLS Strategic Plan updates. Monitor the BLS’s CLE programming to
ensure that BLS Entities conduct CLE programs that foster collaboration and involvement of all members. The
Subcommittee has the authority to engage and assist any BLS Entities to further participation and connections
with new and underrepresented members.
For more information or to get involved with IMF, please contact the Co-Chairs of the Subcommittee you are interested in.
