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For more information, visit The Florida Bar Web site at Floridabar.org/certification or contact The Florida Bar’s Legal Specialization & Education Department at (850) 561-5842.

Florida Aviation Law

Florida Aviation Attorney Richard L. Richards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2008

CONTACT: Richard L. Richards, RICHARDS LEGAL GROUP, 232 Andalusia Avenue, Suite 202, Coral Gables, Florida 33134, Telephone: (305) 448-2228 Facsimile: (305) 448-2229, Email: rrichards@rgattorneys.com

or Lisa Garcia, The Florida Bar (850) 561-5769

RICHARD L. RICHARDS EARNS FLORIDA BAR BOARD CERTIFICATION IN AVIATION LAW

 

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — Richard L. Richards is one of two Florida lawyers whom The Florida Bar recently certified as legal specialists in aviation law, the practice of law dealing with ownership, maintenance, and use of aircraft, airports and airspace.

Certified attorneys are the only Florida lawyers allowed to identify or advertise themselves as specialists or experts. Richards is one of 207 attorneys who recently earned Florida Bar board certification in one of 22 specialty practice areas, and is one of only 32 Florida lawyers certified in aviation law.

“Florida’s board certification program is one of the leaders in the nation in maintaining the highest standards for excellence and professionalism while adding practice areas for greater public access to legal specialists,” said Florida Bar President John G. “Jay” White, III. “The program is predicated on experience and integrity, the foundations that are inseparable from our work as lawyers to advance the administration of justice.”

Certification is the highest level of evaluation by The Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in areas of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida. Board certification evaluates attorneys’ special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice. Florida currently offers 22 specialty areas of practice for which board certification is available — the greatest number of state-approved certification areas in the nation.

Richards is an aviation attorney with over twenty-six years of experience in the practice of law, and whose practice focuses on aviation and airport legal issues. Mr. Richards is Florida Bar Board Certified in Aviation Law whose practice focuses on aviation and airport legal issues. Mr. Richards’ extensive experience includes litigation, transactions, representation of fixed base operators and other airport tenants/developers in leases and land use/development on or near an airport, corporate restructuring and bankruptcy, airport counsel, aircraft sales and leasing, aviation fuel issues, aviation finance, repossessions and seizures, FAA and DOT regulatory compliance, aviation insurance and claims, airline general counsel, aviation labor and employment issues including defense of EEOC charges, and air carrier certification.

A lawyer who is a member in good standing of The Florida Bar and who meets the standards prescribed by the state’s Supreme Court may become board certified in one or more of the 22 certification fields. Approximately 4,200 of Florida’s 80,000 lawyers are board certified. Minimum requirements for certification are listed below; each area of certification may contain higher or additional standards. 

• A minimum of five years in law practice
• Substantial involvement in the field of law for which certification is sought
• A passing grade on the examination required of all applicants
• Satisfactory peer review assessment of competence in the specialty field as well as character, ethics and professionalism in the practice of law
• Satisfaction of the certification area’s continuing legal education requirements

Board certification is valid for five years, during which time the attorney must continue to practice law and attend Florida Bar-approved continuing legal education courses. Recertification requirements are similar to those for initial certification. Not all qualified lawyers are certified, but those who are board certified have taken the extra steps to have their competence and experience evaluated.