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Firm Contact Information
101 E. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 3100
Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: (813) 229-2775 | Fax (813) 229-2712
Email: info@dgfirm.com
Vivian Arenas-Battles Named Chair of The Florida Bar’s Eminent Domain Committee
Vivian Arenas-Battles has been named Chair of The Florida Bar’s Eminent Domain Committee for the 2011-2012 term. The Eminent Domain Committee’s scope and function is to study and keep informed of recent developments in the field of eminent domain, to be a liaison to private companies and governmental agencies who have and use the power of eminent domain, and study and consider legislation, law or problems in the area of eminent domain law.
Vivian is a Shareholder with de la Parte & Gilbert, P.A. and practices in the areas of eminent domain, environmental and land use law and administrative law.
Bay Area Legal Services’ 2012 Cruisin’ for Justice presented by the HCBA
Rich is a Shareholder with de la Parte & Gilbert and can be reached at rgilbert@dgfirm.com.
Richard Gilbert, David Caldevilla, and Vivian Arenas-Battles Named To Florida Trend’s Legal Elite
Richard A. Gilbert, David M. Caldevilla and Vivian Arenas-Battles have been named to Florida Trend’s Legal Elite for 2011. Florida Trend’s Legal Elite recognizes the top tier of attorneys as chosen by their peers. These lawyers have each exemplified a standard of excellence in their profession.
Rich Gilbert’s practice areas include business litigation and civil trial, construction litigation, commercial litigation, professional liability and products liability. Rich is a Shareholder with de la Parte & Gilbert and can be reached at rgilbert@dgfirm.com.
David Caldevilla focuses his practice on appellate, administrative, civil litigation, environmental, eminent domain and government cases. David is also a Shareholder at the firm and can be reached at dcaldevilla@dgfirm.com.
Vivian Arenas-Battles is a Shareholder with de la Parte & Gilbert and focuses her practice in the areas of administrative law, civil litigation, environmental and eminent domain issues.
Rich Gilbert Invited to Speak at State Court Trial Seminar
Rich Gilbert has been invited to speak at the Hillsborough County Bar Association’s Young Lawyer’s Division State Court Trial Seminar on June 10, 2011. Mr. Gilbert will be speaking about the examination of witnesses from the plaintiff’s perspective. Over the years, he has lectured extensively in the areas of trial advocacy, professional ethics, business and commercial litigation, and professional and products liability.
The seminar is being held at the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse and carries a qualifying 4.0 credits for registered young lawyers. For more information, please visit www.hillsbar.com.
Rich is a Shareholder with de la Parte & Gilbert and can be reached at rgilbert@dgfirm.com.
de la Parte & Gilbert Attorneys selected as 2011 Super Lawyers & Rising Stars by Super Lawyer Magazine
Edward P. de la Parte, Jr. (Environmental Litigation), Richard A. Gilbert (General Litigation), David M. Caldevilla (Appellate) and Vivian Arenas-Battles (Eminent Domain) were once again named as “Super Lawyers” in the 2011 issue of Florida Super Lawyers magazine.
Daniel J. McBreen (Business Litigation) and Kristin Y. Melton (Environmental Litigation and Administrative Law) have also been selected again as Rising Stars among the state’s younger attorneys.
Nicolas Q. Porter (Environmental Litigation and Administrative Law) is a new addition to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list. Nick joined the firm in 2003 after graduating with honors from Florida State University College of Law. He can be reached at nporter@dgfirm.com.
Mike Bray, Eric Nowak and Sara Younger participate in “Law Week Mock Trial” at Ballast Point Elementary
United States vs Paul Bunyan
On May 3, 2011, Mike Bray, Eric Nowak, and Sara Younger participated in the Mock Trial component of the Hillsborough County Bar Association’s Law Week. Law week is an annual event where local attorneys visit classrooms, give tours of the local courthouses, and perform mock trials for elementary through high school students as a way to educate them about the legal process. The three attorneys acted out the script of “United States v. Bunyan” in front of a large group of 3rd and 4th graders at Ballast Point Elementary. The attorneys thoroughly enjoyed playing the parts of prosecutor and defense attorney in this environmental court-room drama, scripted by the American Bar Association. At the conclusion of the mock trial, all three attorneys fielded questions from the students about not only the mock trial and its results, but what their lives are like as practicing attorneys. Mike Bray joined the firm in 2008; Eric Nowak joined the firm in 2009; and Sara Younger joined the firm in 2010.
Kristin Melton participates in “Law Week” Courthouse Tours
On May 5, 2011, Kristin Melton participated in the courthouse tours component of the Hillsborough County Bar Association’s Law Week. She thoroughly enjoyed showing the students how our judicial system works by taking the students into courtrooms where they were able to watch criminal defendants appear before the judge. Law Week is an annual event where local attorneys visit classrooms, give tours of the local courthouses, and perform mock trials for elementary through high school students as a way to educate them about the legal process.
Kristin joined de la Parte & Gilbert in 2007; her primary practice areas include environmental, government, administrative and appellate law.
Team de la Parte & Gilbert was at it again! Fundraising for Moffitt Cancer Research
For six years and counting, de la Parte & Gilbert, P.A. raised funds and participated in the Florida Bank Miles for Moffitt 5K Run and the 1 mile walk held on May 14, 2011, at the University of South Florida in Tampa.
While the rest of the Tampa Bay Area was sleeping, Team de la Parte & Gilbert, along with a record breaking number of runners/walkers, engaged in a memorable event and walked to celebrate and honor loved ones and friends stricken by and who have survived cancer. Proceeds from Team de la Parte & Gilbert’s fundraising efforts go to Miles for Moffitt, which was created to support cancer research at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. Team de la Parte & Gilbert hopes its contribution will help to make a positive impact on finding a cure for cancer.
In the Race For Full Compensation, Don’t Disregard The Rules
HCBA Lawyer, Eminent Domain Section, Feb 2011
Vivian Arenas-Battles and Eric Nowak, attorneys at de la Parte & Gilbert, P.A., recently co-authored In The Race For Full Compensation, Don’t Disregard The Rules. The article was published by HCBA Lawyer in its February 2011 issue under the Eminent Domain Section.
The article underscores the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar (“the Rules”) as well as the ethical issues that may arise with regard to advertising attorney services directly to clients, specifically in the area of eminent domain cases. A copy of the full article is available here.
Vivian’s primary practice areas include eminent domain, inverse condemnation, and civil litigation. Eric’s primary area of practice is civil litigation.
Nicolas Porter Selected to Join Florida Chamber Foundation’s Six Pillars Caucus System – Shaping Florida’s Next Economy for Prosperity
Nicolas Porter has been selected to serve on the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Six Pillars Caucus System. Nick will join other leaders from across the state on the Infrastructure and Growth Leadership Caucus to help craft the first-ever, state-wide strategic plan.
The Six Pillars Caucus System is a qualitative research program aimed to engage the best and brightest minds in the state to develop a plan for Florida’s future economy that includes high-wage jobs, global competitiveness and vibrant communities by the year 2030. The program launched last year and current members have already begun to construct the foundation for the plan. In this second year, Caucus members’ deliberations will become more focused in order to finalize the first draft. For more information, visit www.FLFoundation.org.
Nick’s practice focuses on environmental and administrative law issues, including complex environmental litigation throughout the state. He can be reached at nporter@dgfirm.com.