Our Mediator Team

Alan is a former 18-year Circuit Judge and lifelong Floridian. He has dedicated over thirty years to serving our community inside and outside of the courtroom.  He is a member of the Florida Bar since 1993.  Alan received his Juris Doctorate law degree from the Nova University Shepard Broad Law Center (1993) and Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry with Minors in Computer Science and Fine Art from the University of Miami (1989).  Prior to taking the bench he was a civil litigator at Gilbride, Heller, and Brown, P.A. (Plaintiff and Defense – personal injury, business litigation, real estate, creditor/debtor, nursing home, HOA, and malpractice) and as an Assistant State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit.  As a practicing lawyer he first-chaired more than 100 jury trials and more than 100 non-jury trials.  On the bench he presided over more than 100 jury trials along with countless non-jury trials and evidentiary hearings.  He served in every division – Civil/Probate/Guardianship/Mental Health, Family, Unified Family (UFC), Domestic Violence, and Criminal. He also had the privilege of serving as an Associate Judge at the Fifth District Court of Appeal (5th DCA).

Alan held positions of leadership in the statewide Florida Conference of Circuit Judges – Chair-Elect, Secretary, 5th DCA Representative, and Education Committee.  Also, a long serving faculty and lecturer for the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges (FCCJ) and Advanced Judicial Studies (AJS).  He is also a frequently requested speaker and instructor.  Throughout his thirty years on and off the bench he has taught and mentored his fellow local and statewide Circuit/County Judges and lawyers on a variety of legal topics including civil, ethics, criminal law, evidence code, family law, domestic violence law, and expert witnesses. And, through the years Alan has served and continues to serve on Florida Bar Committees.

Alan is a strong advocate for alternative dispute resolution – “Your case, your decision”™. He believes that mediation affords the parties an opportunity to fashion a creative result, more flexibility than going to court, and individual input in the result than litigation would afford them. In mediation, the parties will save money as opposed to litigating, but more importantly the parties will divert their energies in a more positive process that is calculated to bring closure and healing to their lives.

Outside of the legal profession Alan has dedicated himself to serving our community through various charitable and voluntary organizations. Throughout the years he has coached youth soccer, mentored our youth, mentored our young lawyers, and assisted our seniors through a variety of local non-profit organizations and activities. Alan is a huge sports fan who loves football, basketball, baseball, fishing, golf, and soccer. He keeps in shape by spinning and hiking.

Alan is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Circuit Civil Mediator, County Civil Mediator, Appellate Law Mediator, and Family Law Mediator.  He is also a Florida Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator and a Certified U.S. District Court Mediator, Middle District of Florida.