Category: Firm Updates

Several county courthouses in Florida are closed due to Hurricane Ian – a Category 4 Hurricane that made landfall on September 28, 2022, around 1:00 pm off the coast of West Florida in between Tampa and Fort Myers.

About 2.5 million people were under mandatory evacuation orders as the hurricane started slamming Florida with heavy rain and tropical-storm-force winds. It was packing sustained winds of 155 mph — making it just shy of a Category 5 hurricane.

Florida Courts Closures for Hurricane Ian

Northern District of Florida

• Gainesville: Closed Sept. 28-29.

Middle District of Florida

• Fort Myers and Tampa: Closed Sept. 27-29.
• Ocala and Orlando: Closed Sept. 28-29.
• Jacksonville: Closed beginning at 2 p.m. Sept. 28-Sept. 30.

Southern District of Florida

• Miami: Closed Sept. 28-29.
• Broward: Closed Sept. 28-29.
• Fort Pierce: Closed Sept. 28-29.
• Key West: Closed Sept. 28.
• West Palm Beach: Closed Sept. 28.

Hillsborough County Closures for Hurricane Ian

The courthouse facilities of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit will be closed due to Hurricane Ian through Fri., 9/30/22.  Courthouse facilities will reopen on Monday, October 3, 2022.

For a comprehensive and up-to-date list of county court closures, please refer to the Weather-Related Emergency Orders on the Florida Supreme Court Website.

Lieser Skaff Alexander is honored to announce that several of our attorneys have once again earned the designation of Super Lawyer and Legal Elite by their peers and legal experts for 2022.

Super Lawyers

Each year, Super Lawyers magazine uses independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations to rate attorneys across the nation in over 70 practice areas. Nominations are made by peers, managing partners, or the Super Lawyers research team. Candidates for Super Lawyer status are then evaluated using 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only three percent of attorneys are ultimately named to the ranks of “Super Lawyer” based on their professional achievements and peer recognition. This year, Jeff Lieser, Ghada Skaff,  Joe Alexander, and Stephanie Martin are privileged to be among the select few attorneys who were named as Florida Super Lawyers.

This year’s designations show consistent high-level legal representation by the firm. Attorney Jeff Lieser was also named a Super Lawyer for 2021 and a Rising Star for 2013-2017. Joe Alexander received the Super Lawyer designation for 2016-2021 and the Rising Star recognition in 2014-2015 while Ghada Skaff was previously named a Rising Star in 2015-2017. Stephanie Martin made her debut as a Super Lawyer in 2022.

Legal Elite

Florida Trend magazine publishes a list of Florida’s Legal Elite each year, presenting the state’s top licensed and practicing attorneys. Along with making the Florida Super Lawyers list, attorneys Jeff Lieser and Ghada Skaff are proud to announce their inclusion on the 2022 list of Legal Elite attorneys. Florida Trend solicits nominations each year for the Legal Elite list from members of the Florida Bar. Members are asked to nominate, and then vote for, attorneys who are highly regarded or who they would recommend to others. Only 1.4 percent of Florida lawyers make the Legal Elite list each year, making this a distinctive honor for attorneys Jeff Lieser and Ghada Skaff. Both attorney Lieser and attorney Skaff also received the Legal Elite designation in 2021.

Our Super Lawyer and Legal Elite recipients are humbled and proud to be recognized by experts and peers for their hard work, exceptional skills, and unwavering dedication to representing clients and to the exceptional practice of law.

Jeffrey P. Lieser, Esq., a founding partner at the Tampa Bay area law firm of Lieser Skaff Alexander, has been chosen to serve a three-year term on a Florida Bar Grievance Committee.

Attorney Lieser focuses his practice of law on complex business and real estate litigation. Jeffrey was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers® magazine from 2013-2017, a Super Lawyer in 2021, and has been named to the Florida Legal Elite roster for the last four years in a row.  He also remains active as a Reserve Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army J.A.G. Corps, where he holds the rank of Major and serves with the Trial Defense Service (TDS) whose motto is “Defending Those Who Defend America.”

The Florida Bar grievance committees are composed of lawyers and non-lawyers who are responsible for continuing the investigation of possible lawyer misconduct. Florida is divided into 20 districts with each district having at least one grievance committee. Attorney Lieser will serve on the District 13C Grievance Committee. In that capacity, he will be responsible for reviewing complaints, similar to the function of a grand jury, and also investigating complaints. The committee determines if there is probable cause to believe a lawyer violated the professional conduct rules imposed by the Supreme Court of Florida. If so, the committee considers what disciplinary action, if any, should be taken against the lawyer.

We are delighted to announce that once again, our namesakes have been recognized as Super Lawyers and/or Legal Elite by a panel of peers and experts.

Super Lawyers

The Super Lawyer designation is awarded to a select few attorneys who excel in their chosen fields. Fewer than 3% of attorneys are recognized each year. This year, Super Lawyers magazine has selected Jeff Lieser, Ghada Skaff, and Joe Alexander as recipients of this prestigious designation.

Florida Trend’s Legal Elite

In addition to being recognized as SuperLawyers, Jeff Lieser and Ghada Skaff have been named Legal Elite members.  This distinction is provided to just 1.3% of Florida lawyers.   Legal Elite by Florida Trend Magazine recognizes the top Florida attorneys. Florida Trend’s Legal Elite attorneys are chosen by peers for their knowledge, expertise and experience in various areas of Florida law.

Both the Super Lawyers and the Legal Elite awards are given after careful consideration and peer voting. Lawyers who are awarded these designations have been chosen as leaders in their fields by attorneys throughout the state of Florida.

We are proud to announce that Jeff Lieser and Ghada Skaff were recognized as 2020 Florida Legal Elite and Joseph Alexander was named Super Lawyer for 2020. In addition, Associate Alissa Kranz was named both a Super Lawyers Rising Star and Florida Legal Elite Up & Comer for 2020.

Florida Legal Elite is an honor bestowed to the top 1.4% of Florida attorneys. 

Florida Legal Elite has recognized Jeff each year since 2017, making this his fourth year to receive this honor. Jeff was also named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine from 2013 to 2017. A co-founder of Lieser Skaff Alexander, Jeff’s practice focuses on complex business and real estate litigation. He also serves as class action counsel, Circuit Civil Mediator, and Reserve Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army J.A.G. Corps.

This is the third year in a row that Ghada Skaff has been recognized by Florida Legal Elite. She has also been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star from 2015 through 2017. She is a member of Leadership Tampa class of 2020, a program designed to enhance the skills and opportunities of local business leaders. Serving as counsel for many of Tampa Bay’s finest businesses and entrepreneurs, Ghada’s practice is focused on transactional and business law. 

Joe has been named a Super Lawyer every year since 2016. He is known for excellent representation as well as his extensive service to the community. 

For Alissa, this is her third consecutive year to be named a Super Lawyer Rising Star, which is an honor reserved for the top 2.5 percent of attorneys under the age of 40. This is the second year she was named Florida Legal Elite Up and Comer. Alissa specializes in complex commercial and real estate litigation and represents clients in both federal and state courts. Her client base ranges from individuals to Fortune 500 companies.

The ten attorneys at Lieser Skaff Alexander are all dedicated to providing the highest legal representation to our clients while adhering to The Florida Bar’s ethical standards. This year, each of our partners and two of our associates were recognized by Florida’s Legal Elite and/or SuperLawyers® Magazine for their exemplary service.

Partner Ghada Skaff was selected as Legal Elite for 2019.  The 1,126 lawyers listed for 2019 represent fewer than 1.3% of the active Florida Bar members who practice in Florida.   This peer-review recognition is for attorneys who “exemplify a standard of excellence in their profession and, by so doing, have garnered the respect and esteem of their colleagues.” Last year she earned a place in the Legal Elite category “Up and Comer,” which is reserved for attorneys under the age of 40 who have “exhibited leadership in law and in their community.” Ghada has also been recognized by SuperLawyers® as a Rising Star from 2015 through 2017.

Partner Jeff Lieser also earned recognition as Legal Elite for 2019, an honor he also earned in 2017 and 2018.  Jeff was also a SuperLawyers® Rising Star from 2013 to 2017.

This year, Joe Alexander was recognized by SuperLawyers® as among the best Florida attorneys for 2019. Joe was also recognized by SuperLawyers® in 2016, 2017 and 2018. He was also a “Rising Star” in 2014 and 2015. In 2014, Legal Elite also recognized Joe as an “Up and Comer.”

We are also proud to announce that two of our associates, Alissa Kranz and Laura Coleman have received recognition from these organizations. Alissa has been selected as a “Rising Star” by SuperLawyers®, an honor she also earned last year. In addition, Alissa was recognized as a Legal Elite “Up and Comer.” Laura was also named a Legal Elite “Up and Comer” for 2019. We are not surprised, but nonetheless grateful that the hard work, dedication and professional growth of our associates has been recognized by their peers and these groups.

The attorneys of Lieser Skaff Alexander are honored to again be recognized by their peers for their exceptional legal expertise and high ethical standards in service to their clients. Jeff Lieser was selected as a Legal Elite by Florida Trend, Florida’s premier business publication. This peer-review recognition is for attorneys who “exemplify a standard of excellence in their profession and, by so doing, have garnered the respect and esteem of their colleagues.” This year, only 1,012 attorneys were selected for this honor, representing less than 1.5% of active Florida Bar members. Jeff also earned this recognition in 2017 and was a SuperLawyers® Rising Star from 2013 to 2017.

Ghada Skaff also earned recognition from Florida Trend as a Legal Elite “Up and Comer.” This special category is for attorneys under the age of 40 who have “exhibited leadership in law and in their community.” Only 128 attorneys received this honor in 2018. Ghada has also been recognized by SuperLawyers® as a Rising Star from 2015 through 2017.

Joseph Alexander has been recognized by SuperLawyers® as among the best Florida attorneys for 2018 and is categorized as “Top Rated Business Litigation” by this organization. To receive this honor, Joe was “measured against 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement.” Less than 5% of Florida attorneys earn the distinction of Super Lawyers® and Joe received it in 2016, and was a Super Lawyers® Rising Star in 2014 and 2015. In addition, Joe was named a Legal Elite Up and Comer in 2014 by Florida Trends.

The partners of Lieser Skaff Alexander have once again received recognition from Super Lawyers® for their outstanding legal expertise and high ethical standards. Both Jeff Lieser and Ghada Skaff were selected as Rising Stars, an honor based upon peer review reserved for the top 2.5% of attorneys under age 40. Jeff has earned this distinction of Rising Star each year since 2013, and Ghada has earned it each year since 2015.

Joseph Alexander was a Rising Star in 2014 and 2015, and recognized as a Super Lawyer in 2016, and again this year. This distinction is also based on peer review, and is reserved for the top 5% of attorneys.

In addition to the Super Lawyers honor, Jeff was named one of Florida’s Legal Elite by Florida Trend, Florida’s premier business publication. Attorneys selected for this honor exemplify a standard of excellence in their profession. The peer-review selection process recognizes less than 1,100 active Florida Bar members (1.5%).

These honors demonstrate our commitment to providing the highest quality legal representation to our clients. If you are seeking legal counsel to meet your professional or personal needs, please contact us today.