Get Your Vote in for Florida Bar President Elect!

Did you know that only a small percentage of Florida Bar members participate in the election of the next Florida Bar President? Read the candidate platforms here. Voting begins February 27 and ballots must be received prior to midnight (EST), March 15.

Opinion Standards Committee

The Opinions Standards Committee of The Florida Bar Business Law Section is pleased to provide you with a composite report (the “Composite Report”) in Word format which integrates the “Report on Third-Party Legal Opinion Customary Practice in Florida” that was adopted in December 2011 by both the Legal Opinion Standards Committee of The Florida Bar Business Law Section and the Legal Opinions Subcommittee of the Real Property Finance and Lending Committee of The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section (the “2011 Report”) with the “First Supplement to the Report on Third-Party Legal Opinion Customary Practice in Florida,” dated July 24, 2021, as adopted by the respective Sections (the “First Supplement”) as one cohesive document.

Read the full update

Read the Composite Report

Litigating and How to Avoid Litigation under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

February 10, 2026

Register here.



In 1995, Congress enacted the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA) which was designed to deter frivolous and meritless securities claims. The PSLRA implemented several key procedural reforms in private securities litigation actions. This CLE focuses on practical considerations at the transactional and litigation stages to help plan for future securities lawsuits and how to navigate them once filed.

Federal Securities Institute

February 26-27, 2026

Tampa Marriott Water Street

Join us in Tampa for the 42nd Annual Federal Securities Institute and M&A Conference, the premier conference for securities regulation. Senior members of the SEC Staff, the Delaware judiciary, major investment bankers and leading Wall Street law firms will share their practical knowledge for structuring acquisitions and capital-raising transactions, handling litigation and regulatory enforcement issues, and addressing corporate governance and cybersecurity.

Includes 17.5 hours of CLE, including technology and ethics as well as cocktail reception and networking opportunities.

Full brochure

Sponsorship Opportunities

• Past Chair Doug Bates and long time member Alan Crane are recipients of the The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Awards. Read about it here.
• Executive Council member Judge Darren Farfante is the recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Judicial Service Award. Read about it here.
• Past Chair and Long Range Planning Chair Gregory C. Yadley Receives Hillsborough County Bar Association’s 2025 Outstanding Lawyer Award. Read about it here.
• Terry Sanks authors a chapter in a new book, Leveraging AI for Business Innovation. The chapter is titled “Intersection of Generative Artificial Intelligence with Intellectual Property Rights,” explores the evolving legal landscape surrounding generative AI and intellectual property (IP).

Do you have news to share? Send it to us!

Immediate Past Chair Manny Farach and Pro Bono Committee Chair Tara Trevorrow with Alan Crane and Doug Bates

Business Law Section Fellows Program

The Fellows application for the 2026–2028 term is now available. We encourage all Business Law Section members to share this opportunity with individuals who meet the qualifications and are seeking active involvement in a bar section.

The Section has a longstanding commitment to the recruitment of a broad spectrum of young lawyers to join, participate and ultimately serve in leadership positions of the Section. To facilitate its goals, the Section has created a Fellowship Program to provide a two-year subsidy to six qualified applicants who express an interest in becoming active in the substantive work and leadership of the Section. The Fellowship Program is designed to assist a multifaced and embracing group of lawyers in becoming better leaders within our profession and the Section, while enhancing their leadership skills.

BLS Email Lists

Are you getting the committee emails you want? You can check your subscriptions here.

Updated Reimbursement Forms

If you are entitled to travel reimbursement from The Bar, please note that the forms have been updated for 2026.

CLE on Demand

Need CLE? Miss a program? Many of our past programs are available on demand.

Planning a CLE

Do you have an idea for a great CLE? Learn more here.

Florida isn’t just a state—it’s a global economic powerhouse. If it were an independent nation, Florida would rank among the top 15 largest economies in the world, boasting a GDP that rivals many major countries. The Business Law Section of The Florida Bar plays a critical role in shaping the commercial legal landscape of this economic titan. Our members are not only top-tier business lawyers—they’re the very individuals Florida legislators turn to when drafting or revising key commercial statutes. Sponsoring Business Law Section events like the Labor Day Retreat puts your organization directly in front of the thought leaders, power brokers, and policy shapers who influence business law and practice statewide—and often nationally.

This is more than a networking opportunity. It’s your chance to engage with the legal professionals guiding Florida’s economic future. In addition to the Labor Day Retreat, there are plenty of other sponsorship opportunities that provide year-round exposure through our Section’s ongoing programming, communications, and events. If your brand wants to be seen, respected, and remembered by the attorneys who help write the laws that govern business in one of the world’s most dynamic markets, this is where you need to be.

Please reach out to Will Blair and Bob Charbonneau for sponsorship opportunities.