Women have been making a real difference in Florida’s legal profession for decades, with their numbers and influence continuing to grow.
As 2025 began, nearly 35,000 female lawyers were practicing in Florida, representing more than 41% of the statewide legal community, according to the American Bar Association (ABA). That percentage is trending upward, with the ABA predicting the profession could eventually shift from a male majority to a female majority.
One reason: From 2019 through 2023, Juris Doctor (JD) degrees were awarded to 12,175 more women than men.
At the very top of the profession for women is the Legal Elite Notable Women Leaders in Law — which recognizes the best in professional excellence, leadership, influence and impact.
These attorneys uphold high ethical standards and serve as role models, trailblazers and mentors. Known for their resilience, passion and empathy, they are recognized for thought leadership and community engagement.
This year’s list is filled with top performers, and there are more on the way.
Erin Smith Aebel
Trenam Law
Marve Ann M. Alaimo
Porter Wright Morris & Arthur
Kristina L. Alexander
Sioli Alexander Pino
Sashi C. Bach
Boies Schiller Flexner
Sarah Barker
Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida
Ceci Berman
Brannock Berman & Seider
Naomi M. Berry
Carlton Fields
Ellen Ross Belfer
Hilgers Graben
Talina Bidwell
Pike & Lustig
Kimberly L. Boldt
Ratzan Weissman & Boldt
Rhonda D. Bond-Collins
Bryant Miller Olive P.A.
Jacqueline Bozzuto
Lowndes
Alexis M. Buese
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings
Amanda B. Buffinton
Shutts & Bowen
Robin I. Bresky
Schwartz Sladkus Reich Atlas Greenberg
Vanessa Brice
Colling Gilbert Wright
Lea P. Bucciero
Podhurst Orseck
Crystal E. Buit
Lowndes
Mertella Burris
Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida
Jacqueline Calderín
Agentis
Rachel A. Camber
Markowitz Ringel Trusty & Hartog
Jennifer B. Carroll
Fisher Phillips
Anitra Clement
Shook, Hardy & Bacon
Abigail M. Cohen
Gladstone, Weissman, Hirschberg & Schneider
Katherine E. Cole
Hill Ward Henderson
Ejola Christlieb Cook
Kelley Kronenberg
Stephanie L. Cook
Shuffield, Lowman & Wilson
Kamala E. “Kami” Corbett
Hill Ward Henderson
Jennifer R. Cowan
Bryant Miller Olive
Magdalena Cuprys
Serving Immigrants
Damaris Del Valle
Law Offices of Carlos J. Martinez, Public Defender 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida
Julia D. Dennis
Shuffield, Lowman & Wilson
Christine Derr
Harris, Hunt & Derr
Lauren Y. Detzel
Dean Mead
Danielle DeVito-Hurley
Gunster
Tasha K. Dickinson
Day Pitney
Mayanne Downs
DownsAaron
Jessica D. Ehrlich
Taylor Duma
Teresa Enriquez
Law Offices of Carlos J. Martinez, Public Defender 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida
Amy D. Envall
Sniffen & Spellman
Linda Epstein
Broward Health
Barbara Fernandez
Hinshaw & Culbertson
Lara Roeske Fernandez
Trenam Law
Sandra Ferrera
Day Pitney
Samantha J. Fitzgerald
SJF Law Group
S. Katherine Frazier
Hill Ward Henderson
Digna B. French
Squire Patton Boggs
Maria D. Garcia
Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton
Michelle M. Gervais
Blank Rome
Suzanne E. Gilbert
Holland & Knight
Laurie L. Gildan
Greenberg Traurig
Bari L. Goldstein
Lippes Mathias LLP
Laura Gross
Donnelly + Gross
Lindsay A. Gunia
Stearns Weaver Miller
Ariella Gutman
Haber Law
Nancy Hutcheson Harris
Harris Hunt & Derr
Denise M. Heekin
Bryant Miller Olive
Marjorie S. Hensel
Bush Ross
Michele Leo Hintson
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick
E. Holland “Holly” Howanitz
Tyson & Mendes
Leslie Wager Hudock
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney
Corri Hunt
Farah & Farah
Allison R. Imber
Allen, Dyer, Doppelt, and Gilchrist
Heidi W. Isenhart
Shuffield, Lowman & Wilson
Kimberly H. Israel
McGlinchey Stafford
Gina M. Jacobs
Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel
Alaina B. Karsten
McDonald Hopkins
Jennifer Kilinski
Kilinski | Van Wyk
LaKisha M. Kinsey-Sallis
Fisher & Phillips
Debra P. Klauber
Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm
Carly Abramson Kligler
Hilgers Graben
Tammy Knight
Holland & Knight
Alicia H. Koepke
Trenam Law
Beth-Ann E. Krimsky
Greenspoon Marder
Stacy Krumin
Squire Patton Boggs
Tama Beth Kudman
Kudman, Tracten, Aloe & Posner
Sherry Lambson-Eisele
Boyd & Jenerette
Bernice Lee
Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton
Patricia A. Leonard
Shutts & Bowen
Marbet Lewis
Spirit Law Partners
Jin Liu
Carlton Fields
Dana Panza Macdonald
Panza Maurer
Stephanie Marchman
GrayRobinson
Stephanie Martin
Lieser Skaff
Susan Roeder Martin
Nason, Yeager, Gerson, Harris & Fumero
Sigrid McCawley
Boies Schiller Flexner
Kelly Ruane Melchiondo
Bilzin Sumberg
Diana C. Mendez
Bilzin Sumberg
Jamie L. Meola
Bush Ross
Janeen Mira
Pajcic & Pajcic
Megan K. Moon
Gunster
Nichole M. Mooney
Dean Mead
Heather S. Moraes
Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman
Chanel Mosley
MMPO Defense
Megan W. Murray
Underwood Murray
Nicole Deese Newlon
Johnson, Newlon & DeCort
Jennifer A. Nichols
Roetzel & Andress
Joanne M. O’Connor
Jones Foster
Susan C. Odess
Freidin Brown
Elizabeth L. Pedersen
Panza Maurer
Jan W. Pitchford
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick
Alisia Adamson Profit
HAWM Law
Heather M. Ramos
GrayRobinson
Sandra G. Rennick
Gould Cooksey Fennell
Rebecca Rhew
Pike & Lustig
Elizabeth Ricci
Rambana & Ricci
Mindi M. Richter
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick
Sabrina Weiss Robinson
Stearns Weaver Miller
Melissa López Rogers
Greenberg Traurig
Margaret A. Rolando
Shutts & Bowen
Traci H. Rollins
Gunster
Kimberly L. Rothenburg
City of West Palm Beach
Jennifer V. Ruiz
Cole, Scott & Kissane
Suzette L. Russomanno
Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel
Erica Rutner
Cozen O’Connor
Michelle Saporito
Community Legal Services
Denise Schneider
Gladstone, Weissman, Hirschberg & Schneider
Beatriz Schachter
CABA Pro Bono Legal Services
Stacie Schmerling
Justice for Kids Division at Kelley Kronenberg
Katherine C. Scott
Harris, Hunt & Derr
Daniella Genet Silberstein
Greenberg Traurig
Ghada Skaff
Lieser Skaff
Schuyler A. Smith
Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel
Jennifer J. Smith
Kuhn Raslavich
Alessandra Stivelman
Eisinger Law
Debra J. Sutton
Sutton Law Firm
Carolina Sznajderman Sheir
Eisinger Law
Karen E. Terry
Searcy Denney Scaraola Barnhart & Shipley
Elissa A. Tisdahl
Weisberg I.P. Law
Michelle Otero Valdes
Law Offices of Michelle Otero Valdes
Adele Valencia
LSN Partners, LLC and LSN Law
Kristen M. Van Der Linde
Boyd & Jenerette
Joan M. Vecchioli
Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns
Diane A. Vidal
Chiumento Law
Laura M. Walda
Lowndes
Sasha Watson-Sankey
HAWM Law
Danielle R. Whitley
Foley & Lardner
Trisha Widowfield
Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm
Marisa Rodriguez Wilson
Polsinelli
Jennifer J. Wioncek
Bilzin Sumberg
Grace H. Yang
GrayRobinson
Laura Minton Young
Dean Mead
Eleanor M. Yost
Carlton Fields
Jung Yoon
Donnelly + Gross
Methodology: Individuals did not pay to be included. Profiles were written from nomination materials submitted. This list is not comprehensive. It includes only individuals from whom nominations were received and accepted after a review by editors. Nominations required a letter of recommendation by senior management. To qualify for the list, nominees must be in good standing with The Florida Bar; be based in Florida; be a practicing attorney with at least 15 years’ experience; and have made a significant impact in the field of law. Nominees must mentor or act as a role model for others, show leadership in professional organizations and in civic/community service initiatives.













Leticia Diaz