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Chair's Message

Dear Business Law Section Members,


Labor Day is just around the corner, and there is still time to register for the Retreat at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples. We’re also looking for our last five players to fill the Charity Poker Tournament table, so if you’re interested, please join us by emailing Diana.


On the AI front, as AI continues to reshape our profession, we’ve launched the new BLS AI Advantage news feed to keep members up to date on important developments. I also encourage you to read Mark Zuckerberg’s recent essay on the future of AI. Particularly, his thought experiment involving lawyers and litigation and the broader questions it raises about fundamental rights, the balance of power, and the role of the law in the regulation of AI.


I look forward to seeing many of you in Naples and throughout the year.


Sincerely,

Peter F. Valori

Damian | Valori | Culmo

Labor Day Retreat Updates

Registration: It is not too late to register! However, the room block is now closed.


Schedule: Be sure to review the Retreat website for the full schedule of events.


Guests: All attendees—including guests and children—must register in advance. There will be no onsite registration.


Kayaking: There are still plenty of spots left!


Sunday Dinner on the Town: Sign up here.


Charity Poker Tournament: Email Diana if you'd like to be part of BLS's first ever Charity Poker Tournament! If you win, players will donate to your charity. If you lose, you will donate to theirs.

 

Peter Valori - Damian | Valori | Culmo - Educate Tomorrow

Rick Gross – Carlton Fields - FIDF; Friends of the Israel Defense Force

Amir Isaiah - Morgan & Morgan - Dr. Phillips Little League, Inc

Leslie Wager Hudock - Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC - Stageworks Theatre Company

Woody Pollack - Shutts & Bowen - Feeding Tampa Bay

View from the Bench 2026

Registration is now open for this interactive panel discussion between a number of sitting bankruptcy judges and a seasoned practitioner moderator, the only program of its kind in Florida.


This program will not be recorded, in person only. Register soon because it will sell out!

Legislative Update 2026

Join the Business Litigation Committee of The Florida Bar Business Law Section for the 2026 Legislative Update CLE. This program highlights the latest legislative, judicial, and regulatory developments affecting Florida business law. Featured sessions include a keynote by Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Couriel, updates on the 2026 legislative session, voluntary trial resolution, nonprofit corporations, trademarks, case law, AI governance, and Florida business courts.

BOLO! Business Law Section Trip to Tuscany

Details and registration coming soon!

Additional Updates

Make sure we've got it right!

With the new bar year, please take a moment to:

  • Make sure that the BLS box is checked when you renew your bar dues!
  • Update your profile on the BLS website here.
  • Verify you are on the committee lists that you want here.



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.

Why Sponsor the Business Law Section of The Florida Bar?

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. 

 
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