Education

• University of Florida (J.D., with High Honors, Order of the Coif, 1975)
• University of Florida (B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, Florida Blue Key, 1969)

Practice Areas

• Litigation

Court Admissions

• All Florida State Courts
• U.S. District Court – Middle District of Florida
• U.S. Tax Court
• U.S. Supreme Court

Bar Memberships

• The Florida Bar (Trial Section)
• Clearwater Bar Association (Past President 1996-97)

Professional Recognition

• Florida Bar Certified Civil Trial Attorney (since 1983)
• Tampa Bay’s Top Lawyers by Tampa Bay Magazine
• Florida Super Lawyer Designation
• Included in Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite”
• AV Preeminent Peer Rating by Martindale Hubbell

Community Service

• St. Pete College Foundation, former Trustee
• First United Methodist Church of Clearwater, Chair, Leadership Board
• Religious Community Services, Inc., past Board Chair
• Kiwanis, Past President and Lt. Gov.
• American Red Cross, former Board member
• Boy Scouts of America, former Executive and District Board member

Career

Before entering the practice of law, Mr. Cole served on active duty in the United States Army. His law practice began with another Preeminent Tampa law firm in 1975. He joined the firm in 1977.