honoring eXCePtionaL serviCe anD ProfessionaLisM
Professionalism & Ethics Committee
Chairs: Joan Boles – Bay Area Legal Services & Lynn Hanshaw – Langford & Myers, P.A.
Congratulations to Joseph varner and Christopher Moody
on their recognition for a lifetime of service to others.
A
t the recent Bench
Bar Conference
in October, the
Thirteenth Judicial
Circuit Professionalism Committee
had the pleasure of presenting two
awards recognizing distinguished
careers of outstanding
professionalism. The award
subcommittee took pride in
reviewing numerous nominations
of our peers who have dedicated
their careers to excellence in the
law and to professionalism. In
fact, the impressive submissions
inspired the committee to create a
second award this year: one award
recognized an attorney in private
practice; the other recognized
an attorney in government or
public service.
Joseph Varner, admired by his
peers (including multiple opposing
counsel), has set an example in our
community for over three decades.
Within the profession, Mr. Varner
enjoys a successful law practice as
a partner at Holland & Knight and
has served others by mentoring
young lawyers and serving as
president of multiple groups,
including the HCBA YLD, HCBA
Trial Lawyers Section, Tampa
Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar
Association, and the J. Clifford
Cheatwood Inn of Court, among
numerous other roles in various
organizations. Mr. Varner also
chaired one of the Thirteenth
54
Christopher Moody and Judge Ficarrotta
Judge Ficarrotta, Joseph Varner and his law partner at Holland & Knight, Bradford Kimbro
Circuit Grievance Committees
and co-chaired the first HCBA
Committee on Professional
Courtesy. Mr. Varner is AV-rated
by Martindale Hubbell and board
certified in civil trial law.
Outside the practice of law, Mr.
Varner has served on the board
of Copperhead Charities, Visit
Tampa Bay, Leadership Tampa,
and University of Tampa Board of
Counselors. His involvement extends
to multiple organizations, including
Voices for Children, Leukemia
Society, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation,
and many others. The above list is
only a selection of his multiple
contributions and accomplishments.
Mr. Varner’s law partner
Bradford Kimbro relayed, “I can
Continued on page 55
JAN - FEB 2018
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HCBA LAWYER