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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
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Miami, Fl. – Bahamian-born trial attorney Robert L. Parks has a strong respect for history and deep roots in his native country. With a distinguished career stretching back nearly five decades – including many cases involving the Bahamas – Parks was a natural choice for HistoryMiami’s 11th Judicial Circuit Historical Society’s 2015 Legal Legend Award.
"My family came to The Bahamas in the 1700s, my grandparents lived in Eleuthera and Spanish Wells, and I was born in Nassau," said Parks, who maintains dual U.S. and Bahamian citizenship. While Parks grew up in Miami, he came back to The Bahamas every summer, and as an adult he has invested in several businesses in Harbour Island.
"I was proud to serve as plaintiff's lead counsel in the 2005 crash of a Chalk's International Airlines seaplane, and represent Bahamian families who lost their loved ones on that flight," said Parks, who is principal and founding partner of The Law Offices of Robert L. Parks.
"This Legal Legend Award is a tremendous honor, as it recognizes members of the legal community who have made significant contributions to the law, legal system or the administration of justice in the 11th Judicial Circuit for at least 25 years or more," added Parks, who was one of seven recipients honored with this prestigious award at a special ceremony last month in Miami.
A nationally recognized trial attorney and one of the world’s leading authorities on forum non conveniens jurisdiction, Parks is a highly respected advocate in the courtroom and a leader in the South Florida and Bahamian communities. Since being admitted to the Florida Bar in 1964, Parks has represented plaintiffs in hundreds of personal injury, wrongful death, aviation, offshore resort litigation, and watercraft cases, many of which were initiated in the Bahamas.
Long considered an authority on aviation matters, Parks has been involved in most major airline disasters and has handled over 200 general aviation crashes. His career highlights include product liability cases against large pharmaceutical companies as well as serving as Florida Counsel in the Antitrust Class Action against Microsoft.
A consummate legal professional, Parks is past president of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and past chair of its Florida Access to Justice Committee. He was an original appointee by the Florida Bar to the Florida Supreme Court Commission of Professionalism and served as chair of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Air & Space Law.
Parks is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, a Fellow of the American Board of Trial Advocacy, a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers, and a member of the American Law Institute. He also serves on the 11th Judicial Circuit Court Historical Society Board of Trustees, he is Chairman of the Board of Visitor’s for the National Judicial College, and is on the Dean’s Advisory Board for Florida International University’s College of Law.
He is past president of the Dade County Bar, a former member of the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission, past president of the Florida Bar Young Lawyers, and he served for six years as a member of the Board of Governors of the Florida Bar. Parks is Board certified in Aviation Law by the Florida Bar and was the first chair of the Florida Bar’s Aviation Law Certification Committee. Parks is also a member of the Lawyer Pilots Bar Association, the International Society of Air Safety Investigators, and co-author of two chapters in Kreindler’s Aviation Accident Law for Matthew Bender & Company, Inc., on “Military Accidents” and “Air Traffic Control Negligence.”
In 2011, Parks received the prestigious War Horse Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Southern Trial Lawyers Association in recognition of extraordinary contributions to the cause of justice. In 2012, Parks received the prestigious Perry Nichols Award from the Florida Justice Association. This lifetime achievement award recognizes a Floridian who has fought with distinction for justice throughout his life.
A longtime environmental advocate, Parks serves as Litigation Chair and is on the Executive Committee of The Everglades Foundation, which is dedicated to a restored Everglades, creating relevant and creative solutions to complex restoration issues without burdening taxpayers.
Parks served as volunteer chairman of Florida's Environmental Regulation Commission from 1978 to 1986 under Governor Bob Graham. In that role alone, he gave 100 hours of volunteer service each year, in meetings, discussions of key issues and in holding public hearings around the state. For his dedicated leadership, Parks was named The National Audubon Society’s Environmentalist of the Year. In keeping with his commitment to protect the environment, Parks was an original member of 1,000 Friends of Florida, where he served as litigation chair for 13 years.
A leader in the South Florida community, Parks served for nearly 20 years under three governors in leading efforts to restore the Miami River culminating in him serving as the first chair of the Miami River Commission in 1998.
Parks has been named one of the ‘Best Lawyers of America’ every year since its inception in 1983. Out of the estimated 30,000 ‘Best Lawyers of America,’ only 1,397 have been consecutively named since 1983. Parks has been included in Florida Super Lawyers listing for the past ten years, earned the distinction from his peers as a ‘Top Lawyer’ in South Florida Legal Guide every year since 2003, and was designated as a member of the 2010/2011 Lawdragon Top 3000. In addition, Robert L. Parks and his firm are listed in the U.S. News & Best Lawyers® list of “Best Law Firms” rankings.
© Copyright 2015 by thebahamasweekly.com
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