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October 4 - Orlando APRIL A. ATKINS is a Florida Bar Board Certified Specialist in construction law, which she has almost exclusively practiced for the past eight years as an associate at Kirwin Norris, P.A., in Orlando, Florida. Ms. Atkins represents clients from all facets of the construction industry in disputes, including arbitrations, lawsuits and appeals. Her reported cases include The Marseilles Condominium Owners Association, Inc. v. Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, 2009 WL 3491016 (Fla. 1st DCA 2009) and Langley v. Knowles, 958 So.2d 1149 (Fla. 5th DCA 2007). She has had the privilege of serving as president of the Greater Orlando Chapter #73 of the National Association of Women in Construction, as vice-chair of The Florida Bar Construction Law Committee, and as vice-chair of the Construction Law Certification Review Course. In addition, Ms. Atkins was identified as a “Florida Rising Star” by SuperLawyers in 2010. Ms. Atkins is licensed to practice law in Florida and Virginia, and had the honor of serving as law clerk to U. S. District Judge John Antoon II prior to joining Kirwin Norris. She has conducted numerous CLE presentations and educational seminars on construction law topics, and currently serves as the chair of the Publications Subcommittee of The Florida Bar Construction Law Committee. DOUGLAS K. GARTENLAUB is an attorney with the law firm of Burr Forman LLP, where he practices in the areas of commercial litigation, real estate litigation and construction litigation. He is certified in business litigation by The Florida Bar. Mr. Gartenlaub formerly was an adjunct professor on legal research and writing and civil litigation for Southern College. He is a member of the Orange County and American bar associations, The Florida Bar and The Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Mr. Gartenlaub earned his B.A. degree and his J.D. degree, with honors, from the University of Florida. JOSEPH A. LANE is a partner in the law firm of Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A., where he concentrates his practice on construction law and suretyship law. Mr. Lane is Board Certified in Construction Law by the Florida Bar. He has practiced construction and surety bonding law since 1978. Mr. Lane's practice includes representation of general contractors, subcontractors, architects and engineers, and sureties in all aspects of the design, construction and dispute resolution process. Mr. Lane has lectured at the University of Florida's School of Building Construction on construction law related issues. He is a member of the American (member, Fidelity and Surety Committee of the Tort and Insurance Practice Section) and Orange County bar associations, and The Florida Bar (member, Construction Law Committee). Mr. Lane earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, from Stetson University and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University. October 5 - Tampa DONALD E. HEMKE is a shareholder with Carlton Fields in Tampa, where his experience includes zoning/land use/environmental, governmental and construction litigation. Prior to joining Carlton Fields, he served as a law clerk for Hon. John W. Peck of the 6th U.S. Court of Appeals. Mr. Hemke has tried land use/zoning cases, including Section 1983 civil rights cases, for landowners in federal court. In addition to litigation, he often is involved in obtaining government permits and licenses. Mr. Hemke also has represented owners, suppliers, contractors and subcontractors in construction cases involving delay, inefficiency, hindrance and differing site condition claims. He speaks and writes frequently on zoning and construction law. Mr. Hemke is a member of the American and Hillsborough County bar associations and The Florida Bar. He has served as an arbitrator for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the American Arbitration Association. Mr. Hemke earned his J.D. degree from the University of Virginia Law School and his B.A. degree, cum laude, from Vanderbilt University. JOHN H. RAINS III is the principal of John H. Rains III, P.A., in Tampa where his practice concentrates in the areas of construction law, arbitration, environmental litigation and commercial litigation. Mr. Rains is Board Certified in Construction Law by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education. He is the author of numerous articles and has contributed to various legal texts on unique issues of Florida law. He has lectured to various professional groups on Florida construction law and is an adjunct professor of law at Stetson University College of Law. Mr. Rains is a member of the Panel of Arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association, the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar, The Florida Bar and the Hillsborough County Bar Association. He is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a circuit court mediator. JOSEPH G. THRESHER is the principal of the Tampa based law firm of Thresher P.A., where he limits his practice to litigation of matters involving construction and surety law. He is Board Certified in Construction Law by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education. Mr. Thresher has experience in representing nearly every segment of the construction industry, including governmental agencies, private developers, construction lenders, general contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers and distributors, engineers, architects, sureties and insurance companies. He has lectured at seminars and presented papers for The Florida Bar, continuing legal education programs, surety institutes, various construction industry associations and governmental agencies. Mr. Thresher earned his J.D. degree, with honors, from the University of Wisconsin Law School. He has been a member of the American Bar Association and The Florida Bar committees and sections involved in government contracts, construction law, and surety and insurance law related to the construction industry.
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