Home :: News and Events
News & Events
Farr Law Firm Welcomes New Attorneys To Its Team - PUNTA GORDA, FL. (September 29, 2009) – The law firm of Farr, Farr, Emerich, Hackett and Carr, P.A. is pleased to announce that Forrest J. Bass and Natalie C. Lashway have recently joined the firm as associates in the firm’s Punta Gorda office. Mr. Bass and Ms. Lashway were sworn in as members of The Florida Bar by the Honorable James Shenko, 20th Circuit Judge, on September 25, 2009 at the Charlotte County Courthouse. “We are pleased to add two exceptional young lawyers to our team of attorneys and staff” noted firm president and managing partner David Holmes. “With Forrest and Natalie, we will add depth to our well established estate planning, probate, martial and family law practices.”
Mr. Bass earned his law degree from Stetson University College of Law. There he served as the Recent Developments Editor for the Stetson Law Review where he earned the Outstanding Worker Award and has had his work published. He also received the Suzanne Armstrong Award for Excellence in Legal Writing and Professional Conduct and the St. Petersburg Times Award for Best Write-On Competition Paper with the Stetson Law Review. While in law school, Mr. Bass worked as a Federal Judicial Intern with the Honorable Mark A. Pizzo with the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida as well as a Research Assistant to Dean Theresa J. Pulley Radwan and a Teaching Fellow with the Stetson Research & Writing Department. He also was inducted into the Phi Delta Phi International Honors Legal Fraternity.
Ms. Lashway earned her law degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, cum laude. There she worked as a certified legal intern at the Virgil Hawkins Civil Clinic in Gainesville where she represented clients in a variety of marital and family law matters. She also participated in an externship with the Family Law Division of the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court where she worked with the Pro Se Case Manager. In addition, Ms. Lashway volunteered her time with Three Rivers Legal Services in Gainesville in the Pro Se Divorce Clinic and with the Homeless Program.
Mr. Bass practices estate planning and Ms. Lashway practices family law in the firm’s Punta Gorda office.
Farr Law Firm Named As A Fund 25 Member Firm By Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund - Orlando (April 20, 2009) –Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund, Inc. (The Fund) today announced that Farr, Farr, Emerich, Hackett and Carr, P.A., of Punta Gorda and Englewood, has been named a Fund 25 member firm. Fund 25 comprises the company’s top 25 member firms. Fund 25 members are selected based on a formula that takes into account the level of business firms have conducted with The Fund from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008.
“We are pleased to announce that the Farr Law Firm has been designated as a Fund 25 member firm,” said Charles J. Kovaleski, president of Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund, Florida’s leading title insurance underwriter. “With The Fund 25 designation, they rank among an elite group of legal professionals within the real estate industry.”
Fund 25 members are determined by the level of business they have conducted with The Fund the prior year.
“We are proud that the Farr Law Firm has been in the top 25 of the more than 6,000 Fund members for the last 12 consecutive years and 16 of the last 18 years,” said David A. Holmes, president of Farr, Farr, Emerich, Hackett and Carr, P.A. “We are pleased that in these uncertain times, we have held our position as one of the top real estate law firms in the State of Florida, and as the top Fund title insurance agent in our local market. These accomplishments are a direct result of the skill, experience and reputation of our attorneys and the outstanding service they and the rest of our team consistently provide to our clients and to buyers and sellers in real estate transactions.”
Charlotte County's Largest and Oldest Law Firm Names New President - Farr, Farr, Emerich, Hackett & Carr is pleased to announce that David A. Holmes has been elected the fifth president of the firm in the 85 year history. With 13 lawyers, Farr, Farr, Emerich, Hackett & Carr P.A. has been providing quality legal services to Southwest Florida since 1924. In addition to the Punta Gorda location, the firm also has an office in Englewood.
Holmes succeeds Jack O. Hackett II, who decided to step down as firm president after serving the role for three and a half years. "David is an accomplished attorney and counselor and will be an excellent leader for the firm," Hackett said. Mr. Hackett has practiced law with the Farr Law Firm for almost 30 years and will remain an officer, director and shareholder of the firm. "I will continue my full time practice of law specializing in real estate matters and also assisting business clients of the firm in their legal needs," Hackett said.
Holmes, 40, was born and raised in Port Charlotte and graduated from Port Charlotte High School. He joined the firm in 1993 after receiving his Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from Stetson University and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History from the University of Florida. His practice focuses primarily in asset protection and civil litigation with specialization in business, commercial and construction disputes, corporate and business law and real estate. He is also certified as a mediator by the Florida Supreme Court. Holmes is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and the U.S. Tax Court.
Mr. Holmes is a member of the Charlotte County Bar Association and served as Chairman of the 20th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee "C" for Charlotte County. He also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Charlotte Regional Medical Center, The Board of Directors of the Charlotte Community Foundation, and the Florida Gulf Coast University Charlotte Center Advisory Board. He is also a founding organizer and director of Calusa National Bank.
"Now is an exciting time at our law firm" Holmes said. "Our diversity of practice areas and strong client base have enabled us to weather the recent economic downturn, and we are poised to expand on our solid foundation as the economy turns for the better. Following in the footsteps of my predecessors as leader of the Firm is a tremendous honor, and I look forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead."
The Farr Law Firm Secures Win For Kingsway Country Club Against Former Members - Farr, Farr, Emerich, Hackett and Carr is pleased to announce that DeSoto County Court recently entered final judgment in favor of its client, Kingsway Country Club, Inc., in the case of Aiken, et al. v. Kingsway Country Club, Inc. Through a written final judgment, acting Circuit Judge Don T. Hall determined that Kingsway is not obligated to reimburse former members who voluntarily resigned from the club after Hurricane Charley. The judgment recognized that Kingsway's Board of Directors acted within its authority in re-valuing all membership certificates as part of the club's hurricane recovery financing plan.
Farr Law Firm partner, David A. Holmes, argued the case on behalf of Kingsway. "We are pleased that the Court has upheld the authority of the Board of Directors to take the action necessary to perpetuate the club and preserve its golf course and other amenities", said Holmes.
A group of 84 former members brought suit against Kingsway, claiming that after their resignation, their membership certificates could not be re-valued by the Board of Directors. The Court denied this claim, stating that under the authority of its bylaws, the club could set the value of membership certificates.
Located in Lake Suzy, Kingsway boasts an eighteen-hole championship golf course and features an 18,000 square foot clubhouse with amenities for members such as an elegant dining room, pro shop and game room.
The former members of Kingsway were represented by David K. Oaks of Punta Gorda
Farr Law Firm Welcomes New Attorney To Its Team - Farr, Farr, Emerich, Hackett and Carr, P.A. is pleased to announce that Eric M. Decker recently joined the firm as an associate in the firm's Punta Gorda office. Mr. Decker was sworn in as a member of The Florida Bar by the Honorable Keith R. Kyle, 20th Circuit Judge, on October 1, 2008 at the Charlotte County Courthouse.
Farr Law Firm named as a "Fund 25 Member Firm" by Attorneys' Title Insurance Fund. With The Fund 25 designation, the Farr Law Firm ranks among an elite group in the industry and the legal profession. The Fund is Florida's leading title insurance underwriter and title information provider.
The readers of the Charlotte Sun Herald voted Farr, Farr, Emerich, Hackett and Carr, P.A. the "Best Law Firm" and Guy S. Emerich the "Best Attorney" in Charlotte county.
The Farr Law Firm Announces Three New Shareholders – The law firm of Farr, Farr, Emerich, Hackett and Carr, P.A. is pleased to announce that attorneys Jennifer R. Howell, Roger H. Miller III and Dorothy L. Korszen have been named shareholders in the firm effective January 1, 2008.
Partner Guy S. Emerich, a shareholder and director of Farr, Farr, Emerich, Hackett and Carr, P.A., was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2007 in the field of Trusts & Estates. Because Best Lawyers is based on an exclusive peer-review survey in which more than 25,00 leading attorneys cast almost two million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in there specialties, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.
Partner Guy S. Emerich has been elected to the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). ACTEC is the country's leading association for attorneys specializing in trusts and estates with approximately 2,700 attorneys nationwide who have been affirmed by their peers as having made outstanding contributions to the practice of estate and trust law.
The Farr Law Firm is pleased to announce that attorney Jennifer R. Howell has achieved Florida Bar Board certification in Elder Law. Certification identifies her as a lawyer with special knowledge, skills and proficiency in elder law, and distinguishes her as a specialist in the area.
David A. Holmes, certified circuit court mediator, who practices in the areas of litigation and business law, has recently been awarded an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell. The AV rating identifies lawyers with very high to preeminent legal ability and in expertise, experience, integrity and overall professional excellence.
Attorney Charles T. Boyle, who practices in the areas of real estate and marital and family, was recently awarded an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell. The AV rating identifies a lawyer with very high to preeminent legal ability and is a reflection of expertise, experience, integrity and overall professional excellence.
