The Executive Committee of the St. Petersburg Bar Association is the governing body of the association. Officers and Executive Committee members are selected by a vote of the association. The Nominating Committee is charged with creating a slate of Officers and Executive Committee members each year, and welcomes input from the membership. Elections are held in April/May of each year and the new officers and execuitive members are installed during the month of June at an Installation Ceremony.
The current Officers and Executive Committee members are listed below.
2009-2010 Executive Committee Officers
James D. Thaler, Jr.
President 2009-2010
Jim practices in the areas of Business Law, Real Estate and Estate Planning. He is a Visiting Assistant Professor and the Associate Director of Graduate Business Programs at the Stetson University School of Business Administration, overseeing the J.D./M.B.A. Program on Stetson's College of Law campus. He is a member of the State/Federal Court Liaison Committee, Business Law Section of the Florida Bar and is a Certified Diversity Trainer through the Center for Professionalism. Jim has served as Secretary of the SPBA, Chair of the Solo, Small Firm and Practice Management Section and President of the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation. He received a B.S. degree from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky and an M.B.A. degree and a J.D. degree from Stetson University.
John W. Biesinger, III
President-Elect 2009-2010
John is the Senior Vice President and Managing Director for the Private Wealth Management division of Raymond James Trust with his main office located in Carillon. In addition to serving as Secretary of the St. Petersburg Bar Association, John has served as Committee Chair for Annual Judicial Appreciation Award. He is Past President of the Kiwanis Club of St. Petersburg and Suncoast Estate Planning Council and is a member of the Suncoasters of St. Petersburg.
Sarah E. Williams
Treasurer 2009-2010
Sarah is a practicing attorney in the areas of estate planning and probate and trust administration. Sarah holds a Master of Science Degree in Speech Pathology from the University of South Florida, a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from Northwestern University, and a J.D. Degree from Stetson University College of Law, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. While at Stetson, Sarah was a published member of the Law Review and received numerous academic awards.
After practicing with a small law firm for nine years, Sarah opened her own office in September 2004 and is now a solo practitioner. She has served the St. Petersburg Bar Association on the Nominations Committee, Executive Committee, as Chair of the Probate and Guardianship section, Chair of the Professionalism Committee and Chair of the Fund Development Committee. Sarah also serves on the Board of Bay Area Legal Services and provides services for the Community Law Program.
Prior to becoming an attorney in 1995, Sarah was a Research Speech-Language Pathologist, specializing in aphasia and head and neck cancer and has authored and published over thirty articles in scientific journals and books.
Kimberly J. Gustafson
Secretary 2009-2010
Kimberly Gustafson is an attorney with Carlton Fields, P.A. specializing in commercial/civil litigation matters. Kim is a "double Gator" having graduated from the University of Florida with her Bachelors of Arts in 1996 and her Juris Doctor in 1999. Kim has been active with the bar association for a number of years, serving as the Law Day Chair, Judicial Reception Chair, on the Oktoberfest Planning Committee, and involved in various other Young Lawyers projects. Kim's present duties include serving as the Young Lawyers Chair and on the Executive Committee. She also serves on the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors.
Jeannine S. Williams
Immediate Past-President
Jeannine graduated from Florida A & M University with a B.S. in Economics in 1996 and from the University of Florida College of Law in 1999. In law school, she was a member of both the trial team and moot court board. Employed as an attorney for the City of St. Petersburg, Jeannine is a member of the American Bar Association and Florida Bar Labor and Employment Law and Young Lawyers sections. She is also a 2004 graduate of Leadership St. Pete. In addition to her past service as Treasurer, Jeannine has been very active in the St. Pete Bar, previously serving as Secretary, co-chair of the Diversity Committee and Scholarship Chair for the Young Lawyers Section. She is also past president of the Fred G. Minnis, Sr. Bar Association. Jeannine Williams can be contacted by email at
jeannine.williams@stpete.org.
2009-2010 Executive Committee Members
David Blum
Term expiring 2011
David is a practicing attorney representing clients in litigation matters involving contract disputes, real estate, probate, and landlord/tenant matters. He received his J.D. from Stetson University College of Law in December of 2002, where he graduated Cum Laude. He is a recipient of the Community Law Program 2008 Young Lawyers Pro Bono Award and in 2009 he received the “Rockin” Chair Award from the St. Petersburg Bar Association for his service as Law Day Chair. He is currently a member of the Probate & Guardianship, and Real Property Sections of the St. Petersburg Bar Association and the Treasurer for the Community Law Program. From 2008-09 David was the President of the Barney Masterson Inn of Court and continues to be a member of the Inn.
Jeffrey M. Goodis
Term expiring 2011
An honors graduate of the Stetson University College of Law and a member of the school's prestigious trial team (ranked the best trial team in the United States by U.S. News and World Report), Jeff Goodis is an American Trial Lawyers Association, State of Florida Champion Trial Advocate. Upon graduation from law school he was honored by The Order of Barristers. Jeff has been recognized by his peers with Martindale-Hubbell’s coveted “AV” rating. In 2006 he was recognized as one of "Florida's Legal Elite" by Florida Trend Magazine. In 2006 he was selected by his peers to be included in the 2007 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the specialty of Medical Malpractice law.
His trial practice includes the successful defense of suits at the trial and appellate levels including personal injury, professional (medical, dental, legal, insurance, E&O) negligence and products liability claims. He concentrates his practice in the areas of medical/dental negligence defense, and the defense of allegedly catastrophic losses. Jeff has successfully defended catastrophic injury claims brought against various defendants in state and federal courts across the country. He is admitted to practice in all State Courts and the Federal Court for the Middle and Northern Districts of Florida. Additionally, he has argued successfully before the Multi-District Litigation Panel in medical products cases and before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeal on maritime issues. Jeff is a member of the Florida Defense Lawyers Association and the Defense Research Institute.
Frank W. McDermott
Term expiring 2011
Frank enlisted in the United States Air Force and served from 1986 to 1990. He achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. He graduated from the University of Florida BS/BA in 1992. He was with the Nestle Food Company as a Field Account Executive from 1992 to 1996. In 1998 he graduated cum laude from Stetson University College of Law and was admitted to The Florida Bar in April 1999. Frank is Senior Partner of McDermott Law Firm, P.A. since 1999. He is a member of the Young Lawyers Section (YLS) of the St. Pete Bar; former Chair of the YLS Social Committee; twice former Chair of the YLS Judicial Reception; former Chair of the Stetson Liaison Committee; former Chair of the Nomination Committee and past and present Chair of the Criminal Law Section of the St. Pete Bar Association Frank is a member of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys.
Timothy A. Miller
Tim is a sole practitioner focusing on wills, trusts, estate planning, and probate litigation. He received both his Bachelor's degree in Journalism and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida. He is active in the Florida Bar's Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section, serving on the Probate and Trust Litigation Committee as well as the Trust Law Committee.
He previously served on the St. Pete Bar Association Executive Committee from 1992 to 1994, and he has chaired the Workers Compensation Section and the Social and Athletic Committee. He is a member of the Probate and Guardianship Section and has enjoyed serving on the Law Week Committee for many years.
David D. NeiserTerm expiring 2010
David practices primarily in the area of Insurance Law providing claim representation to policyholders across Florida. He received his undergraduate degree from Furman University and law degree from Stetson University College of Law. David is "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is a board certified civil trial attorney. He is also a former Secretary of the SPBA and serves as the current chair of the Trial Practice Section.
John W. Williams, Jr.
Term expiring 2010
John is a sole practitioner who limits his practice to representing plaintiffs in medical malpractice actions. He received his J. D. degree from the University of Florida College of Law. He is a member of the Bench and Bar Committee, the Trial Lawyers Section of the St. Petersburg Bar and Barney Masterson Inn of Court. His other memberships include Florida Justice Association, American Association for Justice and American Board of Trial Advocates. He is currently serving on the Executive Council of The Trial Lawyers Section of the Florida Bar, and is an instructor at the Advanced Trial Advocacy Program held annually at the University of Florida College of Law.
Robyn FeatherstonYLS Representative
Term expiring 2009
Robyn is an attorney with Brasfield, Fuller, Freeman, Goldis & Cash, P.A., practicing in the area of civil litigation. Robyn received her B.S. in Business from Colorado State University in 1996 and her J.D. from Stetson University College of Law in 2006, where she graduated Cum Laude. While at Stetson, Robyn interned with Federal Magistrate Judge Mary S. Scriven and at the Pinellas County State Attorney’s Office in the Child Welfare Division, was Magister and Exchequer of Phi Delta Phi, Cardozo Inn, and Treasurer of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Stetson Chapter. Her present activities include Chair of the Young Lawyer Section of the St. Petersburg Bar Association, President of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Pinellas Chapter, and serving on the Oktoberfest Planning Committee.
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