Congratulations to Steve Sessums, Caroline Black Sikorske, Alex Caballero, and Jennifer Ficarrotta, who have been named to the 2024 list of Lawdragon.com 500 “Leading Family Lawyers.” According to the Lawdragon website, attorneys are selected through a “time-honed process” that includes submissions; journalistic research; and vetting by peers, clients, and others knowledgeable in this area.

We are exceptionally proud that Sessums Black Shareholder Jennifer Ficarrotta is among the nominees for the 2022 Award for Excellence in the Promotion of Board Certification. The Florida Supreme Court created the certification program as a means to assist consumers in identifying qualified legal specialists and to encourage lawyers to aspire to excellence and professionalism. Nominees for the award have been recognized by their colleagues for “excellence and creativity in advancing the public’s knowledge of and appreciation for legal board certification.”

In Jennifer’s congratulatory letter, Board of Legal Specialization & Education Chair Philip R. Augustine said, “We value the hard work, professionalism and dedication to excellence that are necessary to attain board certification. It is an honor to be further singled out as a leader among those Florida Bar members who are known as experts and specialists. Congratulations, and thank you for your service to the Board Certification program.”

Jennifer is among only 275 lawyers statewide who have earned Florida Bar board certification in Marital & Family Law. Caroline Black Sikorske, Alex Caballero, and Andrew D. Reder also are board-certified by The Florida Bar in Marital & Family Law, and founding partner Stephen Sessums was among the first attorneys in Florida to earn Marital & Family Law board certification in 1983.

We are pleased to announce that Jacqueline Urra has joined Sessums Black as an Administrative Assistant and Scheduler. Jacqueline started working with us in 2006 and recently rejoined the firm. She is a Tampa native who holds an associate degree from Hillsborough Community College and is bilingual in Spanish. She has been a Legal and Administrative Assistant for more than 20 years and has experience in criminal and Family Law. You can contact her at Jacqueline@sessumsblack.com or 813-251-9200, extension 131. Please join us in welcoming Jacqueline back to the Sessums Black team!

Congratulations to SBCF paralegal Michele Carpenter Tawzer, CP, FRP, who this month is celebrating 17 years with the firm. Michele is a Certified Paralegal through the National Association of Legal Assistants and a Florida Registered Paralegal through The Florida Bar. She is an active member of the Tampa Bay Paralegal Association, Inc., an organization that works to set the standard of excellence for the paralegal profession through its work on regulations, ethics and education. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1999 from the University of South Florida and has more than 20 years of family law litigation experience. Michele devotes 100 percent of her practice to marital and family law. Happy work anniversary, Michele!

Congratulations to SBCF Shareholder Jennifer Ficarrotta, who this month is celebrating her 10-year work anniversary with the firm. Jennifer has been Florida Bar board certified in Marital and Family Law since 2015, a designation held by only 271 lawyers statewide. She is a former chair of the Marital & Family Law Board Certification Committee and is rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell. Jennifer has been named to the list of Florida Super Lawyers for nine consecutive years. She is an experienced litigator who is trained in Interdisciplinary Collaborative Law and is an active member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and the Tampa Bay Collaborative Divorce Group. Jennifer devotes 100 percent of her practice to marital and family law.

Congratulations to SBCF Managing Partner Alex Caballero, who has been elected to the Hillsborough County Bar Association Executive Council. Alex previously served on the Executive Council and is a current Hillsborough County Bar Association board member. The HCBA is one of the largest voluntary bar associations in Florida with a membership of close to 4,000 attorneys, judges and legal professionals. Its mission is to inspire and promote respect for the law and the justice system through service to the legal profession and the community.

Congratulations to SBCF partners Alex Caballero and Andrew D. Reder on their recent victories in Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal. In Rolle v. Rolle (2D19-2918) and Allen v. Allen (2D20-1199), Alex won his appeals when the Second District Court affirmed the trial courts’ rulings. In A.H. v. A.B. (2D19-4640), Andrew also won his appeal when the Second District Court held, “We affirm the rulings regarding parental responsibility, decision-making authority, and timesharing without comment.”

When a family law case is appealed, the court of appeal reviews the record of the trial and decides whether the judge’s decision at the trial level should be affirmed or reversed. In these cases, Alex and Andrew were successful in persuading the appellate court to affirm the trial courts’ rulings. Congrats to our clients, Alex, and Andrew on these important victories!