MIAMI, FL. – Rennert Vogel Mandler & Rodriguez, P.A. (“RVMR”) Partner, Thomas S. Ward, has been admitted to practice law in New York. The experienced appellate attorney and commercial litigator can now practice in New York’s state courts, District of Columbia’s state courts, Florida’s state courts, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (“Eleventh Circuit”), and the U.S. District Court in Florida’s Southern, Middle and Northern Districts.
For RVMR, Ward’s New York Bar admission positions the firm to accommodate clients with matters in that jurisdiction. Many of the firm’s real estate clients have investments and projects in Florida and New York, for instance. Ward has served as primary or lead counsel in appeals and lawsuits involving virtually every type of civil matter throughout his 14-year career with RVMR.
The New York Bar admission comes shortly after Ward was admitted to practice in the District of Columbia.
Ward focuses on commercial litigation and appeals. He has authored appellate briefs that have been filed in the Eleventh Circuit, Florida’s Supreme Court and all five of Florida’s District Courts of Appeal. Ward has also argued before the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta and Florida’s First, Third and Fourth District Courts of Appeal.
Accordingly, he has many published opinions to his credit, including 14 over the past year. One thing that separates Ward from many other appellate attorneys is his experience as a trial lawyer in both state and federal court, having successfully first-chaired trials, argued dispositive hearings (evidentiary and otherwise) and taken countless depositions. This attribute provides significant additional value to his clients when handling commercial litigation cases. He is always preparing and laying the groundwork for a successful appeal.
Beyond the courtroom, Ward is currently serving as President of the Third District Court of Appeal Historical Society. Ward is also active with the Florida Bar’s Appellate Practice Section, having handled 11 pro bono appeals for its Pro Bono Committee. In those appeals, Ward represented guardians ad litem who had been appointed to represent the best interests of children in “termination of parental rights” cases wherein the parents were deemed unfit. Ward concluded his second consecutive three-year term with The Florida Bar’s Appellate Court Rules Committee (“ACRC”) last year, having served his last two years as its Vice Chair. The ACRC is responsible for proposing new appellate rules and revising its current rules. Prior to entering private practice, Tom interned for the former Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court, the Honorable R. Fred Lewis.
