Congratulations to SBCF paralegal Michele Carpenter Tawzer, CP, FRP, who this month is celebrating 17 years with the firm. Michele is a Certified Paralegal through the National Association of Legal Assistants and a Florida Registered Paralegal through The Florida Bar. She is an active member of the Tampa Bay Paralegal Association, Inc., an organization that works to set the standard of excellence for the paralegal profession through its work on regulations, ethics and education. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1999 from the University of South Florida and has more than 20 years of family law litigation experience. Michele devotes 100 percent of her practice to marital and family law. Happy work anniversary, Michele!

Congratulations to SBCF Shareholder Jennifer Ficarrotta, who this month is celebrating her 10-year work anniversary with the firm. Jennifer has been Florida Bar board certified in Marital and Family Law since 2015, a designation held by only 271 lawyers statewide. She is a former chair of the Marital & Family Law Board Certification Committee and is rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell. Jennifer has been named to the list of Florida Super Lawyers for nine consecutive years. She is an experienced litigator who is trained in Interdisciplinary Collaborative Law and is an active member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and the Tampa Bay Collaborative Divorce Group. Jennifer devotes 100 percent of her practice to marital and family law.

Congratulations to SBCF Managing Partner Alex Caballero, who has been elected to the Hillsborough County Bar Association Executive Council. Alex previously served on the Executive Council and is a current Hillsborough County Bar Association board member. The HCBA is one of the largest voluntary bar associations in Florida with a membership of close to 4,000 attorneys, judges and legal professionals. Its mission is to inspire and promote respect for the law and the justice system through service to the legal profession and the community.

In lieu of the firm’s annual Valentine party, we chose to make donations to Bay Area Legal Services and The Spring of Tampa Bay.

The Spring of Tampa Bay provides comprehensive services to enhance the safety of victims and survivors of domestic violence in Hillsborough County, and to support them as they rebuild their lives. If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, creating a safety plan with the help of a trained advocate is essential. The Spring’s staff members are available 24 hours a day to answer phone calls, connect you to resources like safe shelter or legal representation, and to make sure you are not alone. Their programs are free of charge. If you need to shelter, The Spring can help you, your children and even your pets. The need is great. One in four women reports experiencing domestic violence in her lifetime. Since it was founded in 1977, The Spring has provided a safe haven and comprehensive supportive services to more than 70,000 abused adults and their children, and they have answered calls from more than 150,000 women in crisis.

Bay Area Legal Services provides free civil legal services to low-income residents and nonprofits in the Tampa Bay area. The organization helps foster children find permanency in stable, loving homes; protects families from domestic violence and child abuse; and helps veterans and seniors fight foreclosure and retain their homes. Every year, BALS attorneys, paralegals and support staff assist thousands of individuals, families and community groups. Support for Bay Area Legal Services promotes access to justice. Law firm support helps give BALS the ability to sustain and grow their programs and continue the important work they do in our communities, and we are proud to be a BALS Sustaining Law Firm for the tenth consecutive year.

SBCF Attorney Andrew D. Reder recently served as the moderator for “Accountant’s Perspective on Financial Affidavits and Use of Financial Experts,” a Hillsborough County Bar Association legal education seminar. Andrew is an active member of the HCBA and was elected by his peers to the Executive Council of the Marital and Family Law Section of the HCBA for the 2019-2022 term. We appreciate Andrew’s continued involvement in the Bay Area legal community.

Please join us in congratulating SBCF Shareholder Caroline Black Sikorske, who this week celebrates 31 years with the firm. Caroline is named among the Top 10 2020 Florida Super Lawyers, attorneys who received the highest points during the Super Lawyers nomination, research and review process. She is 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. She is a diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, a select group of 100 top U.S. family lawyers who practice sophisticated and complex family law matters. She has been included in The Best Lawyers in America© in family law since 2006. She is Florida Bar Board Certified in Marital and Family Law, is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® Peer-Review rated.

Congratulations to certified paralegal Michele Carpenter Tawzer, who last month celebrated 16 years with the firm. Michele is a Certified Paralegal through the National Association of Legal Assistants and a Florida Registered Paralegal through The Florida Bar. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of South Florida in 1999. She is an active member of the Tampa Bay Paralegal Association, Inc., whose mission includes setting the standard of excellence for the paralegal profession through its work on regulations, ethics and education. Michele has more than 25 years of family law litigation experience and devotes 100 percent of her practice to the area of marital and family law.

Congratulations to Sterling Lovelady, who this week is celebrating three years of working with the firm as an attorney. Sterling first worked with us as an intern in 2016 and assumed his full-time position as an attorney in 2017. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Florida State University, where he played as an offensive lineman for Florida State Seminoles Football. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law. Sterling is a member of The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division and the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar. He also serves as an Attorney Ad Litem—a volunteer attorney—for Crossroads For Florida Kids, a nonprofit organization that handles complex legal representation for disadvantaged children and young adults in Hillsborough County. Sterling devotes 100 percent of his practice to marital and family law.

We are proud that SBCF Managing Partner Alexander Caballero recently was sworn in for his third, two-year term as a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association Board of Directors. Congratulations to these newly installed HCBA leaders:  Paige Greenlee of Greenlee Law PLLC is serving as 2020-21 President. Other officers are President-elect Cory Person of Hill Ward Henderson, Immediate Past President Grace Yang of GrayRobinson, P.A., Secretary Scott O. Stigall of the City of Tampa Attorney’s Office and Treasurer Amanda Porupski of Cbiz Mhm LLC. Best wishes to all for an excellent Bar year.

Congratulations to the Hillsborough County Bar Association and HCBA YLD 2020-21 boards of directors and officers, who were installed virtually on June 4. SBCF Managing Partner Alexander Caballero was sworn in for his third, two-year term as a member of the HCBA Board of Directors. Best wishes to our friends and colleagues who were installed in their leadership positions and thank you for your service to our local legal community.

For the health and safety of our employees and clients, Sessums Black is adhering to the standards set forth in the White House Guidelines for Opening Up America Again.

SBCF partner Jennifer Ficarrotta serves as vice-chair of the nine-member Florida Bar Marital & Family Law Board Certification Committee, which reviews credentials for board certification applicants in that practice area, implements its standards, and administers and grades the Marital & Family Law certification exams. The committee has been grading the examinations that applicants took on March 13. Board certification evaluates attorneys’ special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice. Board-certified lawyers are evaluated for professionalism and tested for expertise. Jennifer earned Florida Bar Marital & Family Law board certification in 2015. Currently, only 273 attorneys are Florida Bar board-certified in Marital & Family Law.

Congratulations to SBCF paralegal Frank Steinbeck, Jr., who is serving a four-year term as treasurer and as a board member for the Tampa Bay Paralegal Association, Inc. The TBPA’s mission is to set the standard for excellence for the paralegal profession through its work on regulations, ethics and education. Frank has been a Florida Registered Paralegal through The Florida Bar since 2012. He also is a member of the Knights of Columbus in New Port Richey. Frank joined SBCF in 2012 with more than five years of civil litigation experience. He now devotes 100 percent of his practice to marital and family law.

SBCF partner Caroline Black Sikorske was a presenter on May 1 at the 42nd Annual AAML Institute hosted by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) Florida Chapter. The Institute is a premier continuing legal education opportunity and the presenters are among the top in their fields offering advanced education for family law attorneys. Caroline spoke on “Mediation and the Art of Negotiation: How to Create Options that Lead to Closure” with attorneys Tami Sbar and Ky Koch. Congratulations to the AAML staff, who did a great job of hosting the Institute virtually.

We are very proud that SBCF attorneys Caroline Black Sikorske, Alexander Caballero and Jennifer Ficarrotta are among only 273 lawyers statewide who are board-certified by The Florida Bar in marital and family law. All have maintained board certification since earning the designation in their respective years: Caroline (1995), Alex (2004) and Jennifer (2015).

Board certification recognizes attorneys’ special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice. Certification is The Florida Bar’s highest level of evaluation of the competency and experience of attorneys in the 27 areas of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida. Learn more about Florida Bar marital and family law board certification.

SBCF partner Jennifer Ficarrotta serves as vice-chair of the nine-member Florida Bar Marital & Family Law Board Certification Committee, which reviews credentials for board certification applicants in that practice area, implements its standards, and administers and grades the Marital & Family Law certification exams. Board certification evaluates attorneys’ special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice. Board-certified lawyers are evaluated for professionalism and tested for expertise. Jennifer earned Florida Bar Marital & Family Law board certification in 2015; SBCF partners Caroline Black Sikorske and Alex Caballero also are board-certified. We are proud of Jennifer’s involvement in this important role for The Florida Bar.

SBCF Managing Partner Alex Caballero recently took part in a panel discussion on judicial elections and appointments with Dr. Susan A. MacManus and attorney Erin Aebel. Alex serves on the Judicial Nomination Commission for the Second District Court of Appeal and is a former Thirteenth Judicial Circuit JNC commissioner and chair. The event was held at Wright’s Gourmet House and was hosted by Coffee with the Candidates. L-R: Stacy Yates, Erin Aebel, Dr. Susan MacManus and Alex Caballero.

SBCF attorney Andrew D. Reder has been selected to speak on Ethics in Family Law: Allegations of Domestic Abuse at the “Florida Family Law & Ethics for Paralegals” seminar on March 31 at the Courtyard by Marriott Tampa Westshore/Airport. His presentation will address the duties of attorneys who represent the accuser or the accused in divorce cases that include domestic violence allegations. The seminar is hosted by HalfMoon Education Inc. and is approved for 7.0 CLE hours (3.0 Ethics) for Florida Registered Paralegals. Information and registration are available at this link.

Andrew gained substantial experience in the courtroom as a successful prosecutor for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. As a prosecutor in Hillsborough County, Andrew successfully litigated numerous jury trials, non-jury trials, and motions, including prosecuting domestic violence offenses. Prior to that, Andrew was a staff attorney in the Sixth Judicial Circuit (Pinellas County) where he clerked for four circuit court judges. Andrew is a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, the Marital and Family Law Sections of The Florida Bar and the HCBA, the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, the Tampa Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society and the J. Clifford Cheatwood Inn of Court. Andrew was recently elected by his peers to the Executive Council of the Marital and Family Law Section of the HCBA for the 2019-2022 term.

Sessums Black is proud to announce that Paralegal Tami Bradley has joined the firm. Tami has been a family law and business litigation paralegal and legal assistant for more than five years. She previously worked as a paralegal for the Law Offices of J. Kevin Carey, P.A. Tami is a Florida Notary Public and licensed realtor. She has worked in residential sales since 2002 and in commercial sales in from 2018 until joining SBCF. She also is a volunteer Guardian Ad Litem in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit and was named 2018 Guardian Ad Litem of the Year. Please join us in welcoming Tami to the SBCF team.

Please join us in congratulating Shareholder Caroline Black Sikorske, who on Nov. 1 celebrated 30 years with Sessums Black. After graduating with her Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law in 1984, Caroline was an Assistant State Attorney for Hillsborough County before devoting her practice 100 percent to marital and family law in 1989. Caroline is 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. She is a diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, a select group of 100 top U.S. family lawyers who practice sophisticated and complex family law matters. Caroline was named among the Top 10 2018 Florida Super Lawyers, attorneys who received the highest points during the Super Lawyers nomination, research, and review process. She has been included in The Best Lawyers in America© in family law since 2006. She is Florida Bar Board Certified in Marital and Family Law, is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® Peer-Review rated. Congratulations, Caroline, and best wishes on your work anniversary!

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.

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.

We’d like to give a shout-out to SBCF attorney Sterling Lovelady, who is serving for the second year as an Attorney Ad Litem—a volunteer attorney—for Crossroads For Florida Kids, a nonprofit organization that handles complex legal representation for disadvantaged children and young adults in Hillsborough County. Sterling earned his Bachelors of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Florida State University, where he played as an offensive lineman for FSU Seminoles football. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law. Sterling is an active member of The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division and the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar and devotes 100 percent of his practice to marital and family law.

Congratulations to SBCF paralegal Frank Steinbeck, Jr., who this month is celebrating seven years with the firm. Frank earned an Associate of Arts degree from Pasco-Hernando State College in 2012 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Studies through South University Tampa P.A. Program, an ABA-Approved Paralegal Education Program, in 2014. He is a Florida Registered Paralegal through The Florida Bar. Frank, we appreciate all that you do for Sessums Black and are proud that you are part of the team.

The Hillsborough County Bar Association 2019-20 Board Officers & Directors Retreat took place July 26 and 27 in Sarasota. SBCF Managing Partner Alex Caballero and other directors are pictured here with HCBA Immediate Past President John Schifino. The HCBA is one of the largest voluntary bar associations in Florida with a membership close to 4,000 attorneys, judges and legal professionals.

Kudos to SBCF shareholder Caroline Black Sikorske for being part of the Athena Society of Tampa, an organization of Tampa professionals who have demonstrated leadership in the community and committed themselves to promoting equality and opportunity for women. The society promotes equality through the removal of artificial boundaries to success and by fostering leadership through collaboration and education. Learn more at www.athena-society.com.