Ft. Lauderdale, FL, June 3, 2025 – National insurance defense firm Tyson & Mendes, LLP announced today the certification of two of its Florida attorneys as Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyers, a certification bestowed on less than 1% of Florida lawyers. In achieving the highly prestigious certification, Southeast Regional Managing Partner Holly Howanitz and Ft. Lauderdale Managing Partner Robert O’Malley have joined the ranks of the most highly regarded civil trial lawyers in Florida.

As originally sanctioned by the Supreme Court of Florida, the Florida Board of Legal Specialization and Education only awards board certification to those attorneys upon which the public can rely to have preeminent competence and ethics. To achieve board certification as a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, civil trial lawyers must meet rigorous standards of conduct and professionalism in civil trial law which include at least five years of law practice, three years of which must include significant involvement in civil law, handling a minimum number of contested civil cases before juries as lead counsel, peer review, and passing a written examination.

Howanitz opened the firm’s Jacksonville office in April 2023 and was then elevated to Southeast Regional Managing Partner, overseeing the firm’s Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Tampa, and Atlanta offices. O’Malley joined the firm in August 2023 and was then elevated to Managing Partner of the Ft. Lauderdale office. Both have enjoyed tremendous trial success at the firm, routinely delivering defense verdicts and wins on behalf of clients.

“Both Rob and I are committed to excellence, and this acknowledgment of our work and dedication is incredibly meaningful. We look forward to continuing to put our trial skills to work on behalf of our clients in defending them against Nuclear Verdicts®, and are grateful to the Board for this honor,” said Howanitz. O’Malley agreed: “Florida is one of the toughest venues in the country for civil defendants, and this certification signifies to our clients the level of expertise they can expect.”

Founding Partner Robert Tyson added, “Holly and Rob are exceptional trial lawyers, and this certification underscores and acknowledges their significant experience and unparalleled skill. Our clients benefit from their expertise every day, and we are thrilled to see them acknowledged by this rare distinction.”

For more information and to view career opportunities, visit www.tysonmendes.com.

About Tyson & Mendes LLP

Tyson & Mendes LLP is a nationwide, AV-rated litigation and trial firm specializing in insurance defense and protecting its clients from Nuclear Verdicts®. Founded in 2002 by Robert Tyson and Patrick Mendes, the firm has experienced tremendous growth, with offices across the United States. Tyson & Mendes is known for its expertise in defending corporations, insurance companies, and their clients against Nuclear Verdicts®.

Serving 22 states nationwide, Tyson & Mendes is one of the fastest-growing civil defense firms in the U.S. and is proud to offer one of the fastest and clearest paths to partnership for its attorneys of any mid-sized law firm in the U.S. The firm is honored to be recognized as a 2024 Best Law Firm by Best Lawyers, named a 2024 Best Company to Work For: Law Firms edition by U.S. News & World Report, awarded the 2023 Liberty Mutual Insurance External Law Firm Partner of the Year Award, awarded the No. 1 “Ceiling Smasher” in Law360’s 2022 Glass Ceiling Report for female equity partnership, and shortlisted for Financial Times’ 2022 Innovative Lawyers North America Award.

For more information, visit www.tysonmendes.com.

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