On the Move

Six Attorneys From Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon Have Been Selected to the 2021 Florida Super Lawyers List

No more than 5% of the lawyers in Florida are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. The attorneys recognized as Super Lawyers are: Alan B. Bookman (16th year selected), Erick M. Drlicka (ninth year selected), Robert A. Emmanuel (15th year selected) and Sally B. Fox (fourth year selected). The attorneys recognized as Rising Stars are: Michelle A. Olliff (second year selected) and Adam J. White (third year selected).

Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon is a full-service law firm dedicated to protecting individuals’ and businesses’ interests with a footprint stretching from Pensacola, Pace, Destin and Tallahassee.

Beggs & Lane

The Judicial Nominating Commission of the First Judicial Circuit conducted its annual meeting on July 28, 2021. Partner Robert L. Jones, III was named Vice-Chair of the 1st Circuit JNC. The JNC is a non-partisan ninemember commission of lawyers and non-lawyers who locate, recruit, investigate and evaluate applicants for judicial office and then submit candidates to the Governor for final selection.

City Announces new Attorney

The city of Pensacola recently selected Charlie Peppler as the new city attorney, responsible for overseeing the city’s legal department and acting as the legal adviser for the city and all of its elected and appointed officers. Peppler has worked as the deputy county attorney for Escambia County since January 2002.

He graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelor’s degree in 1974 before attending the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, earning his juris doctorate degree in 1977. Peppler is board certified in civil trial law by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education from 1997 to present.

He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1977 and is admitted to the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida, the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Susan Woolf – City to UWF General Counsel

The University of West Florida has appointed Susan Woolf as general counsel for the University, effective August 15, 2021. In her position as general counsel of UWF, Woolf will provide legal guidance and counsel in executive and policy decisionmaking and serve as a member of the President’s senior leadership group; lead the Office of General Counsel and its team, as well as outside counsel retained to represent the University; oversee and manage the provision of all legal services to the University and Board of Trustees and provide counsel and guidance on all legal matters relevant to the University; and perform other duties as requested by the President and Board of Trustees.

In her nearly 30 years as an attorney, Woolf has worked in all three branches of government, at the federal, state and local government levels and in trial and appellate courts. Immediately prior to her appointment as city attorney, Woolf held the position of general counsel for the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller for Escambia County, Florida, for six years. She previously served as general counsel for the Pensacola Police Department and assistant city attorney for the City of Pensacola. She also has been a partner in a local, private law firm where she focused on employment law, community association law and contract litigation; a prosecutor for the First Judicial Circuit, trying over 50 jury trials in misdemeanor and felony cases; and a law clerk for the Honorable John Godbold of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

6 Beggs & Lane Attorneys Named 2022 Best Lawyers In America®

Beggs & Lane, RLLP is pleased to announce that 6 of the firm’s attorneys were selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.

The Best Lawyers in America® is regarded as one of the oldest and most respected ranking publications in the legal industry. Recognized attorneys undergo a rigorous peer-reviewed selection process that assesses and evaluates the attorney’s professional abilities and expertise.

Beggs & Lane attorney, Steven R. Griffin, was recognized as a “Lawyer of the Year,” an honor given to attorneys with the highest peer-feedback in each specific practice area and geographic region. Only one lawyer is recognized as the “Lawyer of the Year” for each practice area and location. Steve was recognized as a “Lawyer of the Year” in Energy Law in Tallahassee.

Beggs & Lane attorneys recognized as Best Lawyers In America® include: J. Nixon Daniel III (Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs); John R. Zoesch III (Commercial Litigation); Ralph A. Peterson (Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management); Russell F. Van Sickle (Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Energy Regulatory Law); Steven R. Griffin - Voted the 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” for in Energy Law in Tallahassee (Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law); Thomas F. Gonzalez (Aviation Law, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs).

Moorhead Law Group Adds Attorney

Moorhead Law Group recently announced that Matt Couch has joined its litigation group.

Couch earned his juris doctorate, with honors, from Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2011. Following law school, he served as a law clerk to Judge Sharon L. Blackburn on the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama.

After his clerkship, Couch built and solidified his reputation as a skilled litigator at a large Birmingham law firm, where he represented local and national clients in a wide array of legal matters. He is licensed to practice law in Florida and Alabama.

Couch’s practice areas include real estate and construction disputes, business litigation and employment law.

Elie Breaux Photography The Investiture of the Hon. David J. Oberliesen to the Escambia County Circuit Court was held September 24, 2021.

Oberliesen was a partner at Oberliesen & Henderson since 2015 and worked as a criminal defense attorney for 16 years prior to his appointment to the bench. Previously he served as an assistant state attorney for the Eighth and Twelfth Circuits.

He received his bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University and his law degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

His appointment fills the judicial vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Jeffrey Burns.

The Investiture of the Hon. Clifton A. Drake to the Santa Rosa Circuit Bench was held on September 4th, 2021.

Drake previously served as an assistant state attorney in the First Judicial Circuit beginning in 2010. He became a felony prosecutor in 2011, and worked as a Felony Special Prosecutor focusing on homicide prosecutions from 2015–2021.

He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, and his law degree from Georgetown.

Drake will fill the judicial vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Ross Goodman.

Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon Adds Two New Attorneys

Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon (ESC) is pleased to announce the addition of attorney Jennifer Shoaf Richardson to the firm in the Employment Law practice as a Director where she will grow the practice with Erick Drlicka. Erick is a longtime Director with more than 30 years of employment experience and is board-certified by The Florida Bar in Labor and Employment law.

Jennifer will continue to help safeguard Florida businesses with proactive employment policies and provide legal representation in common disputes and violations. She has extensive experience representing employers in workplace law matters, including preventive advice and counsel, and all stages of litigation in Florida and Georgia. Jennifer litigates all varieties of employment law matters including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, Workers’ Compensation retaliation, disability, whistleblower, the Equal Pay Act, wage and hour and noncompetition agreements.

Jennifer is an experienced litigator, having represented employers before state and federal agencies, state and federal trial courts and courts of appeal. Her client list has been diverse, covering a wide range of industries including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, finance, technology, agriculture and construction. Jennifer is accomplished in seeing cases through to completion, as she has handled dozens of appeals in Florida state courts, the 11th Circuit and the Georgia Court of Appeals.

“We are thrilled that Jennifer will be joining our firm,” said Wes Reeder, ESC Firm President. “These days, employment issues are more complicated than ever. Jennifer has the experience that business owners need to safely navigate today’s challenges.”

Jennifer has also been a leader in Florida, serving as past president of the statewide Florida Association for Women Lawyers and the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association and having served a term on her circuit’s Judicial Nominating Commission. She frequently speaks on issues related to gender equality, pay equity, parental leave, sexual harassment and the promotion and retention of women leaders. She is available to advise clients and provide training on meaningful diversity initiatives within their businesses.

Prior to joining Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon, Jennifer practiced law with a national AmLaw 100 employment firm for years. As a Pensacola native, she is eager to help Panhandle employers of all sizes thrive and protect their most important asset.

Anna-Marie

Forshee has joined the firm Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon as an associate attorney in the real estate practice group. Anna-Marie will work alongside the firm’s experienced 25 attorneys and 40+ staff members who proudly serve clients from offices in Pensacola, Pace, South Walton and Tallahassee.

Anna-Marie focuses her practice on commercial real estate transactions, representing sellers, buyers and lenders in real property acquisitions and sales, development, financing and leasing. She also assists clients in business formations and has assisted condominium associations and homeowners’ associations across Northwest Florida. She is licensed to practice law in Alabama, Florida and Kentucky and earned her law degree, cum laude, from Faulkner University Thomas Goode Jones School of Law in Montgomery, Alabama. She has experience practicing as a real estate attorney in Pensacola, as well as working as a compliance attorney for an agricultural lending company.

“Anna-Marie brings a valuable broad base of real estate development and transactional experience to our practice,” said Wes Reeder, ESC Firm President. “She is an engaged leader in the real estate community along the Gulf Coast, and we are thrilled to have her at Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon.”

Anna-Marie and her husband reside in Pensacola and enjoy spending time with family, cooking and being outdoors. She serves on the board of directors for Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida, is an active member of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association, is the president of Northwest Florida Association of Women Lawyers and is a member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.

New Members

Jan K. Durrani

Levin Papantonio Rafferty jdurrani@levinlaw.com

Alex Wesley Rigsby

Legal Services of North Florida arigsby@lsnf.org

Alice Betts

Legal Services of North Florida abatts@lsnf.org

Anna Zhuromskaya

Legal Services of North Florida azhuromskaya@lsnf.org

Charles R. Wedding

Wade, Palmer and Shoemaker, P.A. cwedding@wpslawyers.com

Rebecca Parker

Wade Palmer and Shoemaker, P.A. rparker@wpslawyers.com

Brian A. Wahl

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP bwahl@bradley.com

Randall Richardson

Regional Conflict Counsel randall.richardson@ora1.myflorida.com

Leighanne E. Lockett

Tidwell, Higdon & Associates PLLC llockett@tha-law.com

Moves

Mathews & Higgins

Moving Offices to 913 Gulf

Breeze Parkway #33

Gulf Breeze, FL 32561