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.

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.

Here are some great photos of SBCF Managing Partner Alex Caballero presenting on “Practice & Procedure” at the 2020 Marital & Family Law Review Course on Friday, Jan. 31. Attorneys Steve Sessums, Caroline Black Sikorske, Jennifer Ficarrotta, Andrew D. Reder and Sterling Lovelady and paralegals Michele Tawzer and Lorri Rowell attended the sold-out event at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando. The review course is one of the largest CLE events in the Southeast and more than 1,700 were in the audience. Congratulations to Alex on being among the faculty members for this prestigious event.

Photo credit: AAML – Florida

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.

Congratulations and best wishes to Sessums Black Shareholder Alex Caballero, who on July 1 succeeded Caroline Black Sikorske as Managing Partner of the firm. Alex is a former lead trial attorney for the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office. He is board certified in Marital and Family Law by The Florida Bar, is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, 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. Caroline remains with the firm as a Shareholder and is pleased to pass the Managing Partner title on to Alex.

Please join us in congratulating Sessums Black attorney Andrew D. Reder on his four-year work anniversary with the firm. Before he joined us in 2015, Andrew worked with the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office where he tried numerous jury and non-jury trials and prosecuted domestic violence-related offenses. Prior to that, Andrew served as a Sixth Judicial Circuit staff attorney in and for Pasco County. He is a Stetson University College of Law alumnus.

Sessums Black managing partner Caroline Black Sikorske and her husband, Jeff Sikorske, attended the June 6 – 9 Annual Retreat of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Florida Chapter. Florida family law attorneys and their families gathered at the Casa Marina Hotel in Key West and enjoyed water sports, boating, sightseeing and a Keys-style dinner on the beach. Attorneys who attended the retreat also participated in a continuing legal education seminar.

Sessums Black Partner Alexander Caballero recently was in Philadelphia with members of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers National Test Committee to review, update and finalize the exam for applicants applying to be Fellows of the AAML. The AAML’s mission is to provide leadership that promotes the highest degree of professionalism and excellence in the practice of family law. Comprised of the top 1,600 matrimonial attorneys in the United States, AAML Fellows are recognized by judges and attorneys as preeminent family law practitioners, possessing a high level of knowledge, skill, and integrity and earning reputations for professionalism, competence and integrity.

Members of the AAML National Test Commmittee

Alex Caballero and Charles Meyer of Philadelphia

The annual St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation Heroes Ball raised more than $600,000, and Sessums Black is proud to have been a sponsor of the event and the Patron Party recognizing the most generous donors. This year, the Foundation honored community hero Dr. Kiran Patel, a distinguished cardiologist and philanthropist. Funds raised this year allow St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital to be one of two hospitals in the United States to use real-time, virtual reality software for mapping and performing the most complicated pediatric cardiac surgeries. The Foundation is already hard at work planning the Annual Fashion Show and the 2020 Heroes Ball. A special thank you to SBCF Shareholder Jennifer Ficarrotta for her term on the committee, fundraising, and co-chairing the Patron Party. As you can see, the Ball was a great success, but Jennifer had to say good-bye to the Labradoodle puppy who assisted in raising donations during the live auction game of donor wars. 

Congratulations to Sessums Black Firm Administrator Paul Kanjorski, who has been unanimously reelected to the Suncoast Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators Board of Directors for 2019-2020. Paul also will serve his second term as Meetings & Education Chair. With over 70 members, the Suncoast Chapter ALA is the local arm of the national Association of Legal Administrators. Its mission is to provide support to professionals involved in the management of law firms, corporate legal departments and government legal agencies. The association serves more than 8,500 legal management professionals worldwide. Paul provides our firm with a wealth of knowledge and expertise from his 20 years’ experience managing financial, bookkeeping, administrative and human resource functions in various corporate settings, including law firm and other professional services.

Congratulations to Sessums Black, P.A. shareholder Alex Caballero, who this year marks 15 years of continuous board certification in marital and family law by The Florida Bar. Lawyers who earn this designation have been certified by The Florida Bar as having special knowledge, skills, and proficiency in their areas of practice and have been evaluated by the Bar as to their character, ethics, and reputation for professionalism in the practice of law. Every five years, each board-certified lawyer must apply for recertification to maintain the designation. Only 276 Florida lawyers have earned Florida Bar marital and family law board certification. We are proud that SBCF attorneys Alex Caballero, Caroline Black Sikorske, Jennifer Ficarrotta and Sarah Kay are among this group of professionals who have been evaluated for professionalism and tested for expertise. Learn more.

Congratulations to Sessums Black, P.A. receptionist Karina Batista, who today, Jan. 22, is celebrating her 12th work anniversary with the firm. Thank you, Karina, for being such a valuable member of the SBCF team!

Sessums Black attorney Sarah Kay, as immediate past president of the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers, represents HAWL at various legal community events and speaking engagements.

On Jan. 3, Sarah had the honor of speaking at the retirement party for Judge Claudia Rickert Isom, not only on behalf of HAWL but also as someone who has had the privilege and honor of serving with Judge Isom in the Hillsborough County Bar Association and HAWL, being mentored by her, and counting her as a friend. On Jan.4, Sarah and HAWL Secretary Anne McDonough were discussion group leaders for practicing with professionalism at Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Sarah’s group also discussed health and wellness and working toward being the best possible attorney.

Sessums Black, P.A. Managing Partner Caroline Black Sikorske recently attended the 19th Annual Networking and Educational Forum of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP). More than 450 lawyers, mental health professionals, financial professionals and other collaborative practitioners from several countries attended the forum Oct. 25-28 in Seattle. Caroline has been an IACP member since 2007. She attended the conference as Co-chair of the Tampa Bay Academy of Collaborative Professionals, along with other members of the local TBACP, as part of their commitment to the excellence in the practice of collaborative law. Caroline and the attorneys at SBCF have extensive experience in collaborative divorce, a method of alternative dispute resolution in family law that helps clients reach settlements quickly and quietly instead of going to court. Learn more about collaborative law at this link.

Sessums Black, P.A. attorney Sterling Lovelady recently presented on ethics and evidence to The Stann Givens Family Law American Inn of Court of Tampa. The focus was on social media in family law cases. Sterling earned his Bachelors of Science 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 Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law, and received the Victor O. Wehle Award at graduation for excellence in trial advocacy. Sterling is an active member of The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division and Family Law Section and devotes 100 percent of his practice to marital and family law.

Sessums Black attorney Sarah E. Kay, Immediate Past President of the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers, on Sept. 12 presented the 2018 Thomas E. Baynes Friend of HAWL award to The Hon. Claudia Rickert Isom in recognition of Judge Isom’s commitment to HAWL and its purpose, goals and mission. Pictured with Sarah are HAWL Past President Katherine Earle Yanes, 2015 Friend of HAWL award recipient Deborah Larned Werner and Judge Isom.