Sessums Black is hiring an associate attorney. Please send resumes to recruiting@sessumsblack.com. All resumes and responses are confidential. The salary is competitive and benefits are commensurate with experience. One or more years of experience. Litigation experience preferred. Candidates must be organized, highly motivated, and have strong academic backgrounds.
Managing Partner Alex Caballero served as a co-presenter with attorney Richard Mockler for “Advanced Strategies & Procedures for Litigating Claims for Attorneys’ Fees & Costs,” a two-hour Marital and Family Law CLE hosted by the Hillsborough County Bar Association on October 23 at the Chester H. Ferguson Law Center. SBCF attorney Andrew D. Reder introduced the speakers. Topics include discovery and privilege issues, proving need and ability to pay, Rule 4-1.5 factors, defending against claims for fees and costs, and reserving jurisdiction. The event had an excellent turnout and participants earned 2.5 CLE credits including 2.5 for Ethics. Thank you to HCBA for hosting the CLE and to all who attended.
Kudos to SBCF attorney Andrew D. Reder for his recent participation in the John Germany Young Readers “Read to Dream” Initiative by reading to children at Broward Elementary School. He has participated several times in the program, which regularly places caring and engaged volunteers—readers and mentors—in positive group reading sessions with at-risk and underserved children. The Read to Dream initiative coordinates with the Hillsborough County Public School System and Friends of the Library. For more information about contributing to or volunteering, please contact Lorie Tonti, Manager of Learning Experiences, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library at 813-273-3638 or TontiL@hillsboroughcounty.org.
Congratulations to SBCF Shareholder Caroline Black Sikorske, who recently was admitted to the prestigious International Academy of Family Lawyers, a worldwide association of practicing attorneys who are recognized by their peers as experienced and skilled family law specialists in their respective countries. The organization was formed in 1986 to improve the practice of law and administration of justice in divorce and family law throughout the world. Caroline said, “I have found more and more that my cases have global issues and my connection to international lawyers on these issues has been incredibly interesting and rewarding. The law around the world is so different yet so much alike.”
It is a time of change here at Sessums Black, P.A. After being part of the SBCF family for 13 years, Sarah E. Kay, an associate at our firm and an excellent lawyer, has decided to start her own law firm, Kay Family Law PLLC, effective December 21, 2019. Sarah’s last day at SBCF is December 20. We are proud of Sarah’s desire to start her own firm and expand her family law practice to include the matters affecting families of special needs children, including special education law. We wish her the best.
Sessums Black is proud to have been a sponsor for a very special continuing legal education event last weekend in Tampa. The Florida Bar Family Law Section’s “Special Needs Children and Family Law” CLE focused on educating family lawyers and the judiciary on issues regularly faced by families with “differently-abled” members. Speakers included a special education attorney, an education and family advocate, mental health and medical professionals, a guardianship attorney, Florida Bar board-certified specialists in family law, parents of children with special needs and others experienced in working with families of special needs children. Congratulations to SBCF attorney Sarah Kay, who was one of the three program chairs who facilitated an outstanding event.
Congratulations to SBCF Managing Partner Alexander Caballero, who has been invited to be a presenter on Practice and Procedure at the 2020 Marital and Family Law Review Course hosted by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Florida Chapter and the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar. The continuing legal education event is scheduled for Jan. 31–Feb. 1, 2020, in Orlando. With more than 1,600 attendees, it is one of the largest CLE events in the Southeast. Alex served on The Florida Bar Marital and Family Law Board Certification Committee from 2012 to 2018, which prohibited him from being a review course presenter, and we are proud that he will be speaking for the second time at this preeminent CLE event. Alex is Florida Bar board certified in Marital and Family Law, is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, is named to the 2019 lists of Top 100 Florida and Top 50 Tampa Bay Super Lawyers and is rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale Hubbell.
Sessums Black Shareholder Jennifer Ficarrotta recently participated in “The Six: A Great Debate,” a panel discussion among six marital and family lawyers about the pros and cons of collaborative divorce versus litigation. The Clearwater Bar Association’s Collaborative Law and Family Law sections hosted the debate. Jennifer is board certified in Marital and Family Law by The Florida Bar, is Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated and is an active member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and the Tampa Bay Collaborative Divorce Group.
Last week, SBCF Attorney Sarah Kay attended the 15th Annual Conference of the Florida Chapter – Association of Family & Conciliation Courts and Office of The State Courts Administrator (FLAFCC and OSCA) in Orlando. The conference is the result of ongoing collaboration between family law attorneys, mental health professionals, court administrators, the judiciary, and guardians ad litem to provide educational and networking opportunities for professionals who regularly work with parties within the family court system. The goals are to reduce conflict and promote conciliation. Sarah is board certified by The Florida Bar in Marital and Family Law and is a Certified Family Law Mediator through the Florida Supreme Court.
