12/1/04 -- Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen is pleased to announce that James A. Martin, Jr., was elected President-Elect of the Florida Academy of Healthcare Attorneys on November 18, 2004, at the Annual Meeting of the Florida Hospital Association in Orlando.    Currently, Mr. Martin serves as Secretary and will assume the Presidency in 2006.   Mr. Martin is a Shareholder and Director in the firm’s Clearwater office.  His practice is concentrated in the areas of medical malpractice, labor and employment, litigation, civil rights, and professional liability. 

The Florida Academy of Healthcare Attorneys serves the Florida Hospital Association and its members in legal matters and in lobbying for and drafting legislation relating to the needs of the FHA’s membership which includes over 215 hospitals, 20 Professional Membership Groups, and over 1,800 professional members. 
 

11/05/04 -- Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen is pleased to announce that K. CLAYTON BRICKLEMYER and MICHAEL P. SILVER have joined the firm as associates in the Tampa office. 

Mr. Bricklemyer received his law degree from the University of Florida, cum laude, in 2004.  He obtained a bachelor’s degree in English, with a minor in history, from Wake Forest University in 2000.  Mr. Bricklemyer will concentrate his practice in real estate transactions and related issues. 

Mr. Silver received his law degree from the University of Florida, cum laude, in 2004 and also received a B.S.B.A., summa cum laude, in 2001.  He was the Recipient of Book Award in Criminal Procedure, Teaching Fellow, Legal Research & Writing and Appellate Advocacy.  He was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Beta Gamma Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi and the University of Florida Hall of Fame.  Mr. Silver was a member of Florida Blue Key and served as President in 2004.  He is the third Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen attorney to serve as President of the prestigious leadership honorary organization.  W. Penn Dawson served as President of Florida Blue Key in 1985 and T. Paine Kelly, Jr., was President in 1934.  Mr. Silver will concentrate his practice in business litigation and professional liability litigation. 

7/29/04 -- Carolyn House Stewart re-elected national Secretary of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority

Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen is pleased to announce that Carolyn House Stewart, has been re-elected National Secretary of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.  The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority was founded in 1908 on Howard University’s campus.  Ms. Stewart will help lead the 97-year old international service organization of 170,000 college-trained women.  Prior to her election Ms. Stewart served as president of the local Gamma Theta Omega Chapter and Chairman of the International Program Committee.  Under her guidance as program chair, the Sorority completed many diverse service projects, including raising funds for Sickle Cell research, awarding scholarships, mentoring over 15,000 at-risk children and funding and building 10 schools in South Africa.

Ms. Stewart is a shareholder of the firm and practices law in the Tampa office in the areas of labor & employment law, personal injury, eminent domain, insurance defense, commercial litigation and products liability.

7/27/04 HIGHTOWER HONORED AS A TOP CIVIL TRIAL LAWYER BY FLORIDA TREND MAGAZINE

Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen is pleased to announce that R. Nathan Hightower was honored to be included in Florida Trend Magazine’s 2004 Florida Legal Elite.  Mr. Hightower was listed as one of the 142 best civil trial lawyers in Florida.  

Mr. Hightower is a shareholder in the firm’s Clearwater office.  His practice is concentrated in the areas of business litigation, real estate and family law.

7/22/04 MAGIDSON REAPPOINTED BY BUSH TO NOMINATING COMMISSION

Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen is pleased to announce that Josh Magidson has been reappointed by Governor Bush to serve a second 4-year term as Commissioner to the Sixth Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. 

 Mr. Magidson, a shareholder in Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen’s Clearwater office, focuses his practice in bankruptcy and civil litigation, with an emphasis in real property litigation, probate litigation and auto dealership law.

6/14/04- MICHELLE C. PITTMAN JOINS MACFARLANE FERGUSON & McMULLEN

Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen is pleased to announce that Michele C. Pittman has joined the firm.  Her practice will focus on litigation, including tort litigation, constitutional issues, particularly First Amendment issues, and National Security Law.    

 Ms. Pittman received her law degree from Stetson University College of Law, magna cum laude, in 2003.  Prior to joining the firm she litigated insurance defense cases.  She clerked at the Department of Navy Office of General Counsel in 2002 and served as legal intern at the office of the Judge Advocate General at the office of the Command Judge Advocate, United States Disciplinary Barracks in 2001. 

6/1/04 -- McDONELL APPOINTED TO FLORIDA BAR EMINENT DOMAIN COMMITTEE

Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen is pleased to announce that Noel McDonell has been appointed to The Florida Bar Eminent Domain Committee for the term of July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005.   Mrs. McDonell’s practice focuses on eminent domain.  She has served on the Florida Real Estate Commission since 2001. 

Macfarlane, Ferguson & McMullen has a long history of representing clients in the areas of eminent domain, land use and environmental protection issues.  Throughout its 120 year history, the firm’s attorneys have also demonstrated a commitment and involvement in Florida’s growth management.

 More information about the firm’s Eminent Domain practice can be found a www.mfmlegal.com.  More information about The Florida Bar’s Eminent Domain Committee can be found on The Florida Bar’s website at www.flabar.org.  

5/21/04 -- Two MFM Lawyers Selected for Who's Who in Business

Stephen Sears and Stella Thayer have been selected by Tampa Bay Business Journal readers and editorial staff to be featured in the 2004 Who’s Who in Business in the Tampa Bay area.   Mr. Sears and Mr. Thayer are two of just 25 business people selected in the field of law. 

5/5/04 -- And The Defense Wins

Andrew M. Brown,  a partner in the law firm of Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen and Andrew S. Bolin, an associate with the firm, achieved an important defense verdict in a week-long medical malpractice case in Tampa, Florida. The wrongful death medical malpractice case involved a woman who died as the result of a bleed, which was caused by the deployment of a stent in her renal artery.  Read the full story published by the DRI (Defense Research Institute).

4/8/04 -- GIBSON JOINS MACFARLANE FERGUSON & McMULLEN

Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen is pleased to announce that Jeffrey W. Gibson recently joined the firm’s Litigation Practice Group.  Mr. Gibson’s practice will focus on insurance defense, products liability and commercial litigation. 

Mr. Gibson received his B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Tampa in 1998 and was awarded his law degree, with honors, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2001. He has practiced law in Tampa since graduating from law school.

2/14/04- NOEL P. McDONELL JOINS MACFARLANE FERGUSON & McMULLEN

Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen is pleased to announce that Noel P. McDonell joined the firm in 2004.  Her practice at the firm focuses on eminent domain litigation. In 2001 Ms. McDonell was appointed by Governor Bush to the Florida Real Estate Commission and she continues to serve as a Commissioner.

Ms. McDonell received her law degree in 1990 from Florida State University College of Law.  She brings extensive trial experience to her practice.  Prior to joining the firm she was an Assistant Statewide Prosecutor for Computer Crime and Identity Theft Unit of the Office of Statewide Prosecution where, in addition to conducting all aspects of multi-jurisdictional litigation, she was a member of Operation L.E.G.I.T. (Law Enforcement Getting Identity Thieves), a task force formed to identify, dismantle and prosecute organized identity theft rings.  Her previous litigation experience includes Lead Trial Attorney at the Office of the State Attorney for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit and Felony Prosecutor at the Office of the State Attorney for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. 
 

 2/1/04-- MACFARLANE FERGUSON & McMULLEN ANNOUNCES NEW SHAREHOLDERS

Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen is pleased to announce that Natalie C. Annis and Charles A. “Cam” Moore became shareholders of the firm in 2004. 

Natalie C. Annis received her law degree from the University of Florida in 1998.  Ms. Annis represents individuals in estate planning, probate, estate and trust administration, including matters involving the IRS.   She also represents nonprofit organizations in all areas, including general corporate and contract matters, corporate governance issues, creating new non-profit entities and obtaining and maintaining tax exemptions.  Her practice also focuses on assisting small and large businesses in a broad range of matters, including selection of entity structure, business planning, transactions involving the merger, sale and acquisition of businesses and contract negotiations.

Charles A. “Cam” Moore is a 1998 graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law.  His practice focuses on assisting small and large businesses in a broad range of matters, including selection of entity structure, business planning, transactions involving the merger, sale and acquisition of businesses and contract negotiations.  He also practices in the area of estate planning, as well as trust and estate matters involving the IRS.