ORLANDO, FL – January 5, 2015 – Chief Judge Frederick J. Lauten issued an amended order for the recently formed Ninth Judicial Circuit Court Local Professionalism Panel, amending the original order to clarify members and length of terms. Jeffrey D. Keiner, shareholder in GrayRobinson’s Orlando office, was appointed by Chief Judge Belvin Perry, Jr., is currently chairperson and has been on the panel since May 2014. Per the newly issued order, he will serve a three year term ending June 30, 2017. R. Lee Bennett, also shareholder in GrayRobinson’s Orlando office, was appointed to the panel by Chief Judge Frederick J. Lauten in the amended order and will serve a three year term ending June 30, 2017. Bennett has served on the Orange County Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee since 2000. The Local Professionalism Panel receives, screens, evaluates and acts upon reasonable complaints of unprofessional conduct that is referred to the Panel, asserting improper behavior of attorneys who may have conducted themselves in disregard for the standards they are upheld to.
Keiner, a commercial trial lawyer, arbitrator and certified mediator, has practiced in Orlando since 1974 and has held an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell for over 30 years, an AV Preeminent® rating for over 20 years and has been recognized as a best lawyer in his field on numerous occasions by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and Florida Trend’s Legal Elite. He has handled hundreds of jury, nonjury, arbitration, summary proceeding and administrative matters, including complex commercial litigation, banking, patent, trademark and trade name litigation; estate and high-stakes trust/probate litigation; professional malpractice, construction, environmental claims, including Endangered Species Act, RCRA, CERCLA, power plant and industrial process systems, USFWS and DEP permitting; proceedings before the water management districts; architect and engineer, land use and real estate litigation, water, wastewater and storm water management law, computer software licensing, legal, medical and accounting malpractice, intellectual property and ADA/Fair Housing Act litigation, numerous "bet the company" matters, and large exposure personal injury, products and wrongful death cases.
Bennett, a former president of the Orange County Bar Association, delegate to the American Bar Association, and recipient of the Orange County Bar’s Professionalism Award, handles transactional matters for his clients, including a variety of business contracts, and trademark and copyright prosecution. He has considerable experience in drafting contracts involving proprietary technology, trade secrets, copyrights, and trademarks, and has handled the purchases and sales of businesses and loan closings involving millions of dollars. Bennett is a member of the GrayRobinson Technology Team, which serves the special needs of technology companies. Bennett’s diverse background serves him well in counseling his business clients and in negotiating commercial transactions. He also has been recognized by Martindale-Hubbell as AV Preeminent®, by Best Lawyers in America, and is the recipient of numerous other professional awards.