Martindale-Hubbell® AV® rating – the highest available – which indicates “very high to preeminent legal ability: reflecting “expertise, experience, integrity and overall professional excellence,” and “the highest professional and ethical standards.” (2001-present)
Legal counsel for clients in administrative, regulatory, licensing and enforcement matters before state agencies; and before the Florida Cabinet (Board of Executive Clemency), the Florida Legislature, the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH), and in state courts. (1990-present)
Member of the Florida Bar (1985-present). Admitted and qualified to practice in U.S. District Court, Northern and Middle Districts of Florida (1988-present). Presented oral arguments and wrote briefs in appellate proceedings, including: before the Supreme Court of Florida, Birnholz vs. The 44 Wall Street Furd, Inc. (559 So. 2d 1128); and the Third District Court of Appeal (537 So. 2d 591) and Supreme Court of Florida (541 So. 2d 1173), Winkelman vs. Florida Department of Banking and Finance.
Member of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) Board of Arbitrators, and arbitrator for the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE); completed training by the NASD and NYSE for arbitrations involving public customer disputes such as claims of unsuitable recommendations, excessive trading, misrepresentation, failure to execute, lack of supervision and expungement issues; and employment disputes that arise out of the employment or termination of an associated person (2002-2007).
Appointed by three Florida Insurance Commissioners of both political parties as arbitrator in property and casualty insurance, and commercial insurance rate increase denial binding arbitration proceedings (1997-2009).
Partner, Tampa law firm of Gibbons, Melendi & Garcia, P.A.; managed Tallahassee office (1993-2001).
Member, Florida Bar’s Professional Ethics Committee (2000-2003; 2004-2007), and the Judicial Nominating Procedures Committee (1998-2000). Past chairman of the Florida Bar’s Government Lawyer Committee. (1989-1990).
Appointed attorney ad litem by numerous Circuit Court Judges in mortgage foreclosure cases (1995-present) and guardianship matters (2005-present) in the Second Judicial Circuit of Florida.
Member: Tallahassee Bar Association, includes providing pro bono legal services. (2003-present)
“Chairman’s Recognition Award” by former Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth for outstanding service to the Government Lawyer Section of the Florida Bar (1992).
Legal counsel and campaign manager for former U.S. Rep. Sam M. Gibbons (1990-1993).
Senior Attorney for the Florida Department of Banking and Finance, handled administrative, enforcement and appellate cases involving the regulation of financial institutions, securities dealers, issuers and brokers, investment advisors and mortgage lenders and brokers (1988-1990); assistant general counsel (1987, 1988).
Member, Florida Penny Stock Task Force, and legal counsel to the International Banking and Trade Study Commission, created by the Florida Legislature (1988-1990).
Executive director and legal counsel for the Florida Senate President’s Fund led by former Senator Ken Jenne (1985, 1986).
Campaign assistant for the late State Senator George G. Kirkpatrick, Jr., of Gainesville (1982).
Law Clerk, McGalliard Mills DeMontmollin and Monaco, P.A., in Gainesville (1985).
Legal Intern, Eighth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office in Gainesville, certified by the Florida Supreme Court to practice law through UF Law School’s Criminal Clinic (1985).
EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE
Juris Doctor (law degree) from the University of Florida (1985); Honors, UF Law School Legal Research and Writing; Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity; John Marshal Bar Association (1983-1985).
President of Florida Blue Key; member of Omicron Delta Kappa; Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities; and the University of Florida Hall of Fame (1983-1985).
Bachelor of Science in Journalism (major in public relations) from the University of Florida (1982).
Winn-Dixie Foundation Academic Scholarship (1980-1982).
Tampa Catholic High School: Editor of TCHS Crusader Yearbook, member of the National Honor Society and voted Most Likely to Succeed (1978).
High School and College Work Experience: Consultant, Florida Medical Association Political Action Committee (1984); Door-to-door book salesman, Southwestern Publishing Company (1981); Legislative Intern, Florida Senate (1980); Legal Intern, Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office (1979); Crime Lab Intern, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (1977); Bagboy, Stockman and Cashier, Kash ‘n’ Karry Grocery Store (1975-78).
PUBLICATIONS, MEDIA INTERVIEWS AND SPEECH PRESENTATIONS
Speaker, the Florida Clemency Process during a panel presentation with the Secretary of Corrections, Deputy Secretary of Juvenile Justice and other criminal justice leaders at the FCBSL’s Issues Conference in Orlando (November 2009)
Author, Clemency 101: Seeking Justice for Felons, the Hillsborough County Bar Association Lawyer magazine, Vol. 18, No. 2 (October 2007) and Vol. __ , No.__ (November 2007)
Author, Clemency 101: Seeking justice for Felons: the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Florida Defender magazine, Vol.19, No. 3 (Fall 2007)
Author, Clemency 101: Seeking justice for Felons, the Florida Justice Association Journal, Number 523 (September 2007)
Author, Clemency 101: Seeking Justice for Felons, the FortReport online public affairs and business news commentaries (January 2007; updated July 2007).
Author, Summary of 1998 Auto PIP Insurance Law, the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers Journal; No. 432, (September 1998).
Author, Government Lawyer Committee Summary; Annual Report, Section and Committee Updates, the Florida Bar Journal, Vol. LXIV, No. 6 (June 1990).
Speaker, Florida Legislative Restoration of Civil Rights Workshop and Job Fair presenting Expunction and Sealing of Criminal History and Full Pardons in Jacksonville, Florida. (February 2008)
Featured “Member in the News” by the Tallahassee Bar Association Bar Bulletin recognizing publication of clemency article. (December 2007)
Speaker, 1-hour CLE course on Florida Clemency to the Tallahassee Bar Association. (October 2007)
Speaker, Florida Bar Media and Communications Law Committee’s Reporters’ Workshop on the “Defamation and False Light” Legal Doctrines at the Supreme Court of Florida (October 2007).
Speaker, Florida Clemency Process on FAMU TV-20, NAACP Speaks. (February 2007)
News Media interviews with various Florida television and radio stations (including NPR/Florida Public Radio), the Associated Press, and the following newspapers: St. Pete Times, Tampa Tribune, Orlando Sentinel, Gainesville Sun, Miami Herald, Tallahassee Democrat, Pensacola News Journal, Ft. Myers News Press, Florida (Cocoa) Today (1985-Present).
Public Testimony before Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Public Hearing: Occupational and Income as Auto Insurance Rating Factors in Tallahassee, Florida (February 2007)
Public Testimony before various of the Florida Legislature’s Senate and House councils and committees regarding banking, securities, mortgage, re-districting, reapportionment, legal, health care, education, arbitration, budget, property and auto insurance, Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, and other legislative issues. (1987-present)
Speaker, Clemency and Civil Rights Restoration in Florida: Florida Conference of Black State Legislators, 6th Annual Statewide Issues Conference in Tampa (2002); Regional Issues Conference in St. Petersburg (2005), and 9th Annual Issues Conference in Tallahassee (2005); Opportunity/Second Chance Job Fair in Orlando (2005).
Speaker, Ronald McDonald House Charities in Tallahassee, Inc., Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resource (HACER) Scholarships: North Florida Hispanic Association Annual Festival; 3d Annual North Florida Multicultural Marketing Symposium; Leon County Council of High School Principals; Leon County Principals and Guidance Counseling Department Chairs; Greater Tallahassee Advertising Federation, in Tallahassee (2004); Big Bend Foreign Language Teachers Association; The Governor’s Mansion Event, in Tallahassee (2005).
Speaker, Hispanic Heritage Month: Celebration of the Anniversary of Salvador Dali’s 100thBirthday, hosted by Florida’s First Lady Columba Bush, The Governor’s Mansion; “Celebrating Our Legacy, Defining Our Future,” sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Correctional Institution, in Tallahassee (2004); Keynote Speaker: Florida Department of Children and Families – Multicultural Council Lunch series in Tallahassee (2005).
Speaker, Panels on Legal Advertising, and Florida’s “Pirate Radio” Law, Florida Association of Broadcasters 69th Annual Convention in Longboat Key (2004); Speaker, Florida’s “Pirate Radio” Law, the Florida Sheriff’s Association Annual Summer Conference in Hollywood and the Florida Prosecuting Attorney’s Association Annual Education Conference in Panama City (2004); National Alliance of State Broadcasters Association (NASBA) in Philadelphia (2005); update on Florida’s “Pirate Radio” Law Enforcement, FAB Conventions in Palm Beach (2005), Orlando (2006), and Palm Beach (2007).
Speaker, Panel of Colleges and Universities Diversity, Florida Conference of Black State Legislators Regional Issues Conference in Gainesville (2003).
VOLUNTEER PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Special Assistant Public Defender (pro bono), appointed by Hon. Nancy Daniels, Public Defender of the Second Judicial Circuit of Florida (2004-2006).
Board Member, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Big Bend (2009-2010)
Member, Florida Consumer Council, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, appointed by Commissioner of Agriculture Charles H. Bronson (2004-2010).
Board Member, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tallahassee (2003-2008).
Chairman, Hispanic-American Commitment to Educational Resources (HACER) Scholarship Committee; raised approximately $250,000 including matching funds for college scholarships(2003-2008).
Board Member, Emergency Care Help Organization (2003-2006).
Board Member, UF Florida Blue Key Alumni Advisory Council (2003-2005).
Member, Second Congressional District Military Service Academy Nomination Board, appointed by U.S. Rep. Allen F. Boyd Jr. (2002-2005).
Board Member, Charleston Ridge Condo Association; Country Oaks Townhome Association (2005-2006).
Member, MacDill Air Force Base Response Team during the U.S. Department of Defense Base Review and Closure Commission (BRAC) proceedings (1991-1993).
Member, UF Law School Alumni Council (1985 – 2005).
Graduate, Leadership Tampa (1992); Affiliate Member, Leadership Tallahassee (2003-2010).
President, Boys and Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay Alumni Association (1989-1990).
Big Brother Volunteer, Leon County Big Brother/Big Sisters (1988-1990).
Reggie is an AV Preeminent®-rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, achieving the rating agency’s highest marks for both competency and ethics.
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