For immediate release
Ft. Lauderdale, FL (January 9, 2009): James B. Davis and Martin Press, shareholders at Gunster, are two of only 17 South Florida attorneys who have maintained Florida Bar board certification designation for 25 years. Florida’s legal board certification was inaugurated in 1983, and both Davis and Press earned the distinction in the pioneering year. Both have maintained that status for a quarter of a century.
“We are proud of Jim and Martin for their outstanding credentials and dedication to the profession,” said George LeMieux, chairman of Gunster. “Their standard of excellence is truly superior and it is a testament to both that they have kept up this level of excellence and maintained certification for 25 years.”
Florida’s legal board certification program began with only two specialty areas and now embraces 22 areas. The program recently added two first-in-the-nation specialties: intellectual property law, and state and federal government and administrative practice. The program requires high standards for competence, knowledge, skills and proficiency, and the required peer review includes an assessment of character, ethics, and reputation for professionalism.
“Florida’s board certification program is predicated on experience and integrity, the foundations that are inseparable from our work as lawyers to advance the administration of justice,” said Florida Bar President John G. “Jay” White, III. “The program is one of the nation’s leaders in maintaining the highest standards for excellence and professionalism while adding practice areas for greater public access to legal specialists.”
Certified attorneys are the only Florida lawyers allowed to identify or advertise themselves as specialists or experts. Board certification is valid for five years. The attorney during that time must continue to practice law and attend Florida Bar-approved continuing legal education courses. Recertification requirements are similar to those for initial certification. Not all qualified lawyers are certified, but those who are board certified have taken the extra steps to have their competence and experience evaluated.
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Established in 1925, Gunster is a full-service Florida law firm providing counsel to important businesses and high-net-worth individuals. Our statewide reach, high-performance culture and service-oriented attorneys make Gunster Florida’s Lawyers for Business. Gunster services clients from eight offices strategically located across the state in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and West Palm Beach offering the commitment of 140 attorneys and 200 support staff.
