Legal Elite Awards 2018

8 US BUSINESS NEWS / 2018 Legal Elite Awards , gun owners. U.S. Lawshield policy holders have 100% or their legal fees covered, excluding costs, if they are ever forced to use a weapon they legally own in a place they have a right to legally carry the weapon, in both criminal and civil cases arising from the use of their weapon or other self-defense situations. The program is about 5 years old in Florida and insures more than 35,000 Floridians and hundreds of thousands throughout the United States. David Katz, James Phillips, and their team of attorneys have spoken at gun law seminars and seminars on surviving an active shooter situation hundreds of times throughout the state of Florida. In addition, David Katz and James Phillips, are the authors of the leading book on firearms law in the state of Florida, now in its second edition, Florida Gun Law: Armed and Educated is available in book stores, gun stores, ranges and on amazon. In addition to their full work schedules, David and James always make time to serve the community and both serve on the Board of Directors for Dancing with Diabetes, a local charity whose focus is raising money for Diabetes education and research. Katz & Phillips, P.A. has also given thousands of dollars in scholarships to law students and continues to make financial contributions to their local law school to support various programs such as Moot Court. David Katz is an Attorney, and partner at Katz & Phillips, P.A. He began his professional career upon graduation from college as a chef and restaurant owner, successfully operating his restaurants in Gainesville and Altamonte Springs, Florida, but in 1995 switched gears and headed to law school. After graduating, he began his legal career as a Prosecutor in Seminole County, Florida, but then decided to move in a different direction and opened his own law firm with a law school class mate. In 2010, David joined with his current partner, James Phillips, and opened Katz & Phillips, P.A. At the beginning of his career as a criminal defense attorney and managing partner of Katz & Phillips, David largely focused his portion of the legal practice on DUI defense. Only five years after becoming an attorney, David’s expertise in DUI defense Criminal Defense Firm of the Year - North Central Florida & Best DUI Defense Attorney 2018 - Orlando Katz &Phillips is anOrlando based lawfirmoffering a range of services. We profile the firm and Partner David Katz to gain a fascinating insight into the work they undertake. was recognized when he became one of less than 50 attorneys in the country and one of only three attorneys in Florida to achieve Board Certification as a DUI Defense Expert from the National College of DUI Defense, which is accredited by the American Bar Association. Since then, Mr. Katz has been selected to the faculty of the National College for DUI Defense and holds a seat on its Board of Directors as a Regent. Mr. Katz continues to represent clients and has also participated in cases in the Central Florida area, often as the lead attorney, the result of which has been the suppression of breath test evidence for his firm’s clients or for all DUI defendant’s county wide for many years. David has quickly become a nationally known DUI defense attorney. David has authored or co-authored eight books on DUI Defense including manuals used to teach other attorneys how to defend their clients in DUI and criminal cases and is frequently invited to speak at DUI and criminal defense seminars across the country, teaching other attorneys how to defend their clients charged with DUI. Further, David has been included by leading national publications such as Newsweek magazine on their list of national leading DUI or criminal defense attorneys. Further, David has a preeminent AV rating (the highest rating possible) from Martindale Hubbell, the oldest and most respected lawyer rating organization. At Katz & Phillips, P.A., Mr. Katz and his group of highly skilled attorneys handle cases as a team. Mr. Katz is almost as proud of being recognized as Orlando’s Best DUI attorney for 2018 as he is of his firm receiving recognition for being North & Central Florida’s Best Criminal Defense Law Firm for 2018. David and Partner James Phillips, who is also a Board-Certified DUI Defense attorney have built a team of lawyers who work together on cases to achieve the best possible results for their clients. The firm primarily focuses on two areas of the law – DUI Defense and the Defense of firearms cases and the Second Amendment rights of their clients. Mr. Phillips, also has a large sex crimes practice and handles Federal cases throughout the country. It is not unusual at Katz & Phillips, P.A. to have two or three attorneys reviewing a case together. It is this team approach that really sets the firm apart from other criminal defense firms. Both Mr. Katz and Mr. Phillips have a hand in every case the firm handles; closely supervising the work of their associates and participating the handling of the firm’s clients matters. Katz & Phillips, P.A. are also the Florida attorneys for U.S. Law Shield, an insurance program for LE180013