GrayRobinson's Mayanne Downs Honored as a Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" and One of Super Lawyers Top 50 Women in Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. -- December 13, 2012 -- Mayanne Downs, a shareholder in the Orlando office of GrayRobinson, P.A., has been honored with two top recognitions within the legal profession: Best Lawyers in America's 2013 Orlando Family Law "Lawyer of the Year," and one of Super Lawyers' 2012 "Top 50 Women in Florida." Each year, both Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers select attorneys for these honors using a rigorous, multiphase rating process based on peer nominations and professional achievement.

"Mayanne has always demonstrated an outstanding sense of leadership through her extensive commitment to the community and continues to impress us with her accomplishments and depth of legal knowledge," said GrayRobinson President Byrd F. "Biff" Marshall, Jr. "We are very proud of her successes and continue to support her in all her future endeavors."

Downs has practiced law for more than 25 years, with a concentration in state and federal trial work, including shareholder and business disputes, legal defense and law firm disputes, complex commercial matters and family and domestic matters involving high net worth and high-profile individuals.

As an Orlando native she contributes greatly to the community and has served as The City of Orlando's City Attorney since 2007. She is currently co-chair of the firm's complex litigation group, and previously served as President of The Florida Bar. Her leadership also includes serving as a former president of the Orange County Bar Association, the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association and the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers. Downs served in the ABA House of Delegates and was recently selected to serve on the prestigious State of Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission.

Downs has achieved a peer-based reputation for excellence in both legal management through recognition by Martindale-Hubbell, Florida Trend's Legal Elite, Florida Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America and Orlando Magazine's Best Lawyers. Downs was also recognized as one of Central Florida's "Top 50 Most Powerful" individuals in 2012.

She received both her law and undergraduate degrees from the University of Florida - graduating with high honors from the University of Florida Law School. She also served in two senior editorial positions for the law review, was the Chancellor of the Student Honor Court and a member of Florida Blue Key. She was inducted into the University of Florida Hall of Fame, and Order of the Coif.