FRANK W. McDERMOTT, ESQUIRE - Highest Attorney Rating (AV^®)-Martindale Hubbell  Member of McDERMOTT LAW FIRM, P.A.  Member Florida Bar, Member St. Petersburg Bar.  Three time Chair of Criminal Law Section.  Experienced Criminal Lawyer.   Handling DUI, DWI, Traffic, Drug, Felony and Misdemeanor cases in St. Petersburg, Largo, and Clearwater Florida.  Pinellas County.  Also available for representation in Hillsborough, Manatee, and Sarasota County.

            Education 

            1998- Degree of Law (J.D.) Stetson University College of Law.  With Honors (Cum Laude).  With Awards.

            1992- Business Degree (Marketing) University of Florida.           

            Life Experience

• 1992 - 1996 Field Account Manager Nestlé Food Company.

• 1986 - 1990 United States Air Force.  Non Commissioned Officer.

  Legal Experience  

• 1998-Present Private Practice. Member McDERMOTT LAW FIRM, P.A.  Frank has worked on over 5,000 criminal cases.  This work includes pretrial motions, research, and Plea Negotiations.  Experienced in the handing of Criminal Jury Trials.  Admitted to practice in all Florida State Courts as well as the U.S. Middle District Court, Tampa, Florida.  Frank, like his father, is devoted to representing Clients in the area of Criminal Defense/Criminal Law in St. Petersburg, Largo, and Clearwater, Florida.  Pinellas County.

•  1996-1998 Legal Intern Hebert Law Group, P.A.  Worked extensively with attorney drafting motions and research on complex criminal cases including DUI, DWI, Drug Cases, Homicide, Racketeering (RICO).  Worked as a Law Clerk on the Reverend Henry Lyons Racketeering Defense Team.

•  1996-1998 Legal Intern JOSEPH F. McDERMOTT, ESQUIRE.  Worked with veteran attorney on various Felony cases including Murder, Rape, Arson, Burglary, and Drug Cases.  Sat in on a total of 10 trials and assisted in the preparation and research of over 50 criminal cases as an intern.  In addition to working on Felony Cases, worked with attorney handling research and writing motions for DUI, DWI, Traffic, and other various misdemeanor cases.

•  1997 Pinellas County Public Defender’s Office, Legal Intern.  Participated in clinic where law students represent clients who cannot afford to hire an attorney.  Recipient of the Paul Barnard Ace Award for outstanding achievement. 

             Recognition and Organizations 

• Awarded an “AV^®” rating by Martindale-Hubbell.  An “AV^®” rating by Martindale-Hubbell reflects an attorney who has reached the heights of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest level of skill, integrity, and ethical standards.  McDERMOTT LAW FIRM enjoys an “AV^®” rating as a result of Mr. Frank McDermott’s “AV^®” rating.  Martindale Hubbell Rating

• 1998 Recipient of J.D. Degree (With Honors and Awards) Stetson University College of Law.

• 1997 Awarded the Paul Barnard Ace Award for outstanding representation of clients at the Public Defender Clinic, Public Defender’s Office, Pinellas County, Florida.

• 1997 Awarded Certificate of Merit in recognition of service to the community by participation in the Public Defender Clinic, Public Defender’s Office, Pinellas County, Florida.

•  Member St. Petersburg Bar Association.  Frank is active in the local bar association.  Three time Chair of Criminal Law Section.  Member of Small Firm Section, Young Lawyers Section, Law Week Committee, and the Trial Section.

•  Member Pinellas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

•  Member Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

•  Member Florida Bar.

•  1990 Distinguished Graduate Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Military Education for outstanding achievement.

• 1987 Honor Graduate Air Force Technical School.  Certificate of Achievement.

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REID M. HART, ESQUIRE – Member Florida Bar, St. Petersburg Bar Association, and Pinellas County Trial Lawyers Association.

Education

• 2009 – Law Degree (J.D.), Stetson University College of Law with Honors (Cum Laude)

• 2006 – Political Science Degree, University of North Florida

Legal Experience

• 2009-Present – Associate Attorney with McDermott Law Firm, P.A. Reid is a passionate attorney who strives to zealously represent and counsel our firm’s clients in the important matters they are facing in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Sarasota counties.

• 2008 – Legal Intern for the Florida Defense Group, a criminal defense firm in Tampa, FL. Reid worked close with experienced attorneys to draft several Motions to Suppress, Dismiss, and other motions as required to be filed with the Court. He also performed research on complex criminal matters that were both familiar and novel to the firm.

• 2008 – Legal Intern for McDermott Law Firm, P.A. Worked with ambitious veteran attorneys on various case files and drafted multiple motions to be filed with the Court.

• 2007 – Legal Intern for The Cypress Company LLC, a commercial real estate acquisition Company. Reid was responsible for drafting multiple lease agreements to be utilized in future acquisitions of The Cypress Company. He also had the opportunity to research various geographical areas to find the best opportunities for future commercial assets.

Recognitions and Organizations

• Recipient of J.D. Degree (Cum Laude) Stetson University College of Law, 2009

• Member Florida Bar

• Member St. Petersburg Bar Association

• Member Pinellas County Trial Lawyers Association

• Member Phi Delta Phi Honors Fraternity

• Awarded Victor O. Wehle Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy, Stetson College of Law

• Awarded William F. Blews Award for Pro Bono Service, Stetson College of Law
   

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In Memory

JOSEPH F. McDERMOTT, ESQUIRE † (1933-2009)- Highest Attorney Rating (AV^®)-Martindale Hubbell. Member of Florida  Bar since 1961.  Handled DUI, DWI, Traffic, Drug, Felony and Misdemeanor cases in St. Petersburg, Largo, and Clearwater Florida.  Pinellas County.

            Education 

            1961- Degree of Law (J.D.) University of Florida School of Law.  Executive Editor, Law Review.

            1958- Business Degree (B.S.B.A.) University of Florida.  With Honors.           

            Experience

• Former Chief Assistant Public Defender, Pinellas County.

• Former City Attorney, Indian Shores, Florida.

• Former President McDermott Law Firm.  Over 300 jury trials.  Mr. McDERMOTT devoted his life to representing individuals charged with DUI, DWI, Traffic, Felonies and Misdemeanors.  Mr. McDERMOTT had extensive experience handling all Criminal Cases.  His career was devoted to representing Clients in the area of Criminal Defense/Criminal Law in St. Petersburg, Largo, and Clearwater, Florida.  Pinellas County. 

•  Was experienced in all Felonies, Misdemeanors, DUI, DWI, Traffic, Drug Cases and all Criminal Cases.

•  Plea Negotiations and Plea Bargaining.

•  Admitted to practice in all Florida State Courts.  Also admitted to practice in the U.S. Middle District Court, Tampa, Florida, The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Atlanta, Georgia, and the United States Supreme Court.

             Recognition and Organizations 

• Awarded an “AV^®” rating by Martindale-Hubbell.  An “AV^®” rating by Martindale-Hubbell reflects an attorney who has reached the heights of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest level of skill, integrity, and ethical standards.  McDERMOTT LAW FIRM enjoys an “AV^®” rating as a result of Mr. McDermott’s “AV^®” rating.  Martindale Hubbell Rating

• Winner, Robert Hindman Award for Criminal Justice.  This award is given annually by the Pinellas County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.  The members vote for the winner who has demonstrated meritorious contributions to the field of criminal justice. 

•  Member St. Petersburg Bar Association. Three time chair of the Criminal Law Section (organized numerous seminars for fellow criminal defense lawyers in Pinellas County).

•  Member Pinellas County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

•  Member Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyer.

•  Member Florida Bar since 1961. 

His dedication to the law and his clients is an inspiration that carries through in the representation of all current clients at the McDermott Law Firm.

 

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Serving the areas of Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, New Port Richey, Largo, Palm Harbor, Pinellas Park, Tarpon Springs, Seminole, Brandon, Dunedin, Spring Hill, Safety Harbor, MacDill Air Force Base and all communities of Pinellas County, Hillsborough County and Pasco County.

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