Orange County Bar Association 2015 Professionalism Award Recipients

OCBA 2015 Professionalism Award Recipients The Orange County Bar Association strives to increase the civility and professionalism of its members by offering seminars, writing articles for The Briefs, and reaching out to local law schools, elementary, middle, and high schools and the community with activities that promote the profession and our system of justice. Through our annual professionalism awards, we recognize three members of the legal community whose practice, service, professionalism, ethical conduct, demeanor, and high moral standards best embody the qualities we all seek to emulate. The following individuals are this year’s award recipients.

The Honorable Bob LeBlanc - 2015 James G. Glazebrook Memorial Bar Service Award

Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge Bob LeBlanc, who was elected to the bench in 2006 and reelected in 2012, has worked within the profession and in the community championing the ideals of judicial professionalism for many years.

Nurturing young lawyers and youth interested in a legal career is paramount to Judge LeBlanc. He currently mentors young lawyers within the Central Florida Family Law Inn of Court, of which he is an active participant. He serves as a volunteer judge at local high school and college mock trials. Judge LeBlanc’s critical work among youth includes a long history of volunteering with Teen Court and serving on its fundraising committee (Teen Alternatives, Inc.). Judge LeBlanc also serves o n the Advisory Board of Barry University School of Law, Orlando.

Richard S. Dellinger, Esq., Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A., states that “Judge LeBlanc is not just an excellent judge, he is also committed to the practice of law and the community,” adding that “he is always available to serve on a panel, to give a speech, and to serve the bar wherever he is needed.” Judge LeBlanc is a familiar face at local bar functions and is a cheerleader for local bar participation among fellow members of the judiciary. He can be found attending CFAWL and YLS luncheons and participating on local bar committees, as well as serving on various civic committees within the community.

Kate McMillan, Esq., Office of the Public Defender, Ninth Judicial Circuit, notes that Judge LeBlanc is “extremely good with young, inexperienced attorneys.” He maintains a positive dialogue with counsel and defendants in an effort to foster respect for the legal system. His professionalism promotes a supportive atmosphere, Kate notes.

“Judge LeBlanc has an even personality, is never rude, and is always cordial to all counsel and litigants. He treats all attorneys and pro se litigants evenly,” and makes them feel that “someone is interested in and listening to their case,” notes Camy Schwam-Wilcox, Esq., Camy Beth Schwam-Wilcox & Associates. She further comments, “His rulings are knowledgeable and consistent.”

Richard West, Esq., West, Green & Associates, PL, echoes Camy’s observations and adds: “Judge LeBlanc appropriately controls the emotions of the courtroom when things get heated. I have never seen him lose patience.” He further notes that in social settings, “[w]hen the topic turns to the practice of law, he displays, to me at least, an ‘old school’ attitude regarding civility, integrity, and respect for the system.”

Tad Yates, Esq., Law Office of Tad Yates, P.A., comments that Judge LeBlanc “brings some appropriate levity to the bench, which eases the tension in the courtroom.” Those who nominated Judge LeBlanc for this accolade heartily affirm that he embodies the integrity, civility, respect, and professionalism for which the James G. Glazebrook Memorial Bar Service Award stands.

Herbert L. Allen, Jr., Esq. - 2015 William B. Trickel Professionalism Award

Herbert Lee Allen, Jr., Allen, Dyer, Doppelt, Milbrath & Gilchrist, P.A., has been a member of The Florida Bar for more than 40 years. During his professional career, he has been unyielding in his passion for practicing law at the highest professional standard. He has been recognized in the Best Lawyers of America as the “Orlando Patent Law Lawyer of Year” in 2013 and is ranked in the Top 100 Lawyers in Florida for Intellectual Property Law. Herb is recognized as a Florida Super Lawyer and has been listed in Florida Trend Legal Elite and Orlando magazines’ “Best Lawyers” for many years. While these honors and accolades may be enough for most practicing lawyers, Herb has never rested on his laurels. At a time in his career when many others would be slowing down, he continues to give back to the profession and community at a pace few other lawyers could imagine, much less lawyers practicing for over forty years. Herb continues to preach that as a member of The Florida Bar, lawyers have a higher obligation to the community than merely practicing law. Herb Allen is a proud Fellow of The Florida Bar Foundation and has been an active participant in the Orange County Bar Association’s Legal Aid Society for decades. His pro bono contributions as a Guardian ad Litem for abused and neglected children spans twenty-five years of service. He has devoted more than 3,100 hours acting as a voice for over 291children. His hard work in this capacity has been recognized statewide as a recipient of the prestigious Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service Award for outstanding commitment “above and beyond the call of duty to serve the legal community,” as well as the OCBA’s Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award, the Individual Award of Merit, the Law Firm Award of Merit, and The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award for the Ninth Judicial Circuit. Herb currently serves as GAL for nine children and makes himself available to take Legal Aid cases.

Nurturing new lawyers is an important aspect of Herb’s endeavors. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Florida College of Law, devoting many hours mentoring students in intellectual property and patent law. Judge John Antoon, II, U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, describes Herb Allen as a “consummate professional.” In a memorable case before Judge Antoon’s court, Herb “treated his adversary with respect and courtesy, making every effort to amicably resolve any discovery, evidentiary, or pretrial dispute before trial began.” Herb’s professional approach was so successful, that over the five-day trial, Judge Antoon was asked to rule on only five objections, serving as an important lesson to young lawyers, some of whom believe the practice of law requires contentiousness to be successful. It is the opinion among his peers that Herb Allen embodies the epitome of the highest ethical standards, moral standards, and professional behavior that should be the standard of the entire legal community.

Anthony F. Sos, Esq. - 2015 Lawrence G. Mathews, Jr. Young Lawyer Professionalism Award

Anthony “Tony” Sos, Esq., Dellecker, Wilson, King, McKenna, Ruffier & Sos, is an outstanding young attorney and community leader who embodies the highest professional and ethical standards. He earned his law degree from the University of Florida in 2003 and his undergraduate degree in legal studies from the University of Central Florida. He is a member of The Florida Bar, the Florida Justice Association, and the American Association for Justice.

An active member of the Orange County Bar Association, Tony served as president of the Young Lawyers Section (YLS) from 2012-2013. In nominating Tony, Liz McCausland, Esq., Liz McCausland, P.A., cited excerpts from a nomination submitted by Paul Brown, former chair of the board of directors of United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida, for Orlando Business Journal’s 40 under 40 recognition. Liz and those who nominated Tony all agree with Paul’s assessment of Tony’s professionalism both within the legal community and in the service organizations to which he volunteers his time.

As the 2012-2013 YLS president, and under his responsible leadership, a renewed energy was ignited among its members, netting unprecedented results. YLS membership grew dramatically, and member participation increased. Attendance at theYLS monthly luncheons grew by more than 300 percent, and more than $50,000 was raised for local charities at YLS community outreach events such as Backpack Project, Great Oaks Village Project (foster home for abused and neglected children), Holidays in January, Spelling Bee for Adult Literacy League, Cancer Relay for Life, and IDignity.

Tony currently serves on the OCBA Executive Council and is co-chairing Law Week, stepping up to the plate for the second time. He has been an active supporter of the YLS mentoring program and has logged many pro bono hours over the past nine years as a Guardian ad Litem (GAL).

Community presence extends to serving on the board of directors for United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Central Florida, volunteering with the Give Hope Foundation, and board membership of Silver Lake Elementary School Foundation. Tony has been recognized multiple times as a “Florida Super Lawyer Rising Star” by Law & Politics, as well as an “Up and Coming Legal Elite” by Florida Trend. Most recently, Tony was asked to be a contributing writer for Law Practice Today, the monthly webzine of the ABA Law Practice Management Section.

Tony has earned the respect of his peers and he serves as an excellent role model for other up and coming legal professionals in Central Florida. “Tony brought and brings the ‘voice of reason’ and an incredible work ethic. Tony raises to the next level every organization or project that he gets involved with,” notes Kristopher Kest, Esq., Kest Family Law, P.A. In addition to his distinguished courtroom success as a personal injury attorney, “Tony is an active citizen who seeks out leadership opportunities, challenges the status quo, and dedicates his time and resources to making a positive difference. He embodies the highest professional and ethical standards and always strives to do the right thing for the right reason,” says Paul Brown.