Manatee FAWL

06/11/2026

Please join us in congratulating Manatee FAWL Board Member Daniela Gomez on her election to the 2026–2027 Manatee County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Board of Directors! 🎉⚖️

We are proud to see Daniela continuing to serve the legal community through leadership, collaboration, and advocacy.

Manatee FAWL values our strong partnership with the MCBA Young Lawyers Division and encourages our younger members and newer attorneys to get involved with both organizations. Participation in YLD and FAWL provides incredible opportunities for mentorship, professional development, networking, and lifelong friendships.

Congratulations, Daniela, and congratulations to the entire 2026–2027 MCBA YLD Board! We look forward to working together to support the next generation of leaders in our legal community. 💙💛



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06/11/2026

It’s always inspiring to see members of our Manatee FAWL community giving back through pro bono service and helping expand access to justice in our community. 💙⚖️

Please join us in congratulating our Immediate Past President, Whitney Glaser, on receiving a Gold Pro Bono Pin for contributing more than 100 hours of service, and our Board Member, Lisa Bell, on receiving a Pro Bono Lapel Pin in recognition of her dedicated service to Legal Aid clients.

Their commitment to serving those facing financial hardship embodies the spirit of our profession and reminds us of the profound impact lawyers can have beyond the courtroom.

Congratulations to Whitney, Lisa, and all of this year’s deserving honorees. Thank you for using your talents to make justice more accessible for everyone. 💐✨

06/10/2026

06/10/2026

✨⚖️ A New Board, A New Year of Service ⚖️✨

Manatee FAWL was proud to install its 2026–2027 Board of Directors at our annual Board Installation Luncheon last week. Surrounded by friendship, laughter, and a shared commitment to supporting women in the legal profession, we officially welcomed our new leadership team and celebrated the year ahead.

Please join us in congratulating our 2026–2027 Board:

🌷 Anne Hunter – President
🌷 Hon. Jacqueline Steele – Vice President
🌷 Sara Jones – Secretary
🌷 Dana Gerling – Treasurer
🌷 Daniela Gomez – Director
🌷 Lisa Moore – Director
🌷 Lori Dorman – Director
🌷 Lisa Bell – Director
🌷 Hon. Susan Malucci – Director

Thank you to our outgoing leaders and to everyone who joined us to mark the occasion. We look forward to another year of mentorship, community, professional development, and celebrating the incredible women of our local legal community.

Here’s to the 2026–2027 term! 💙💛

06/02/2026

⚖️🌟 Celebrating a Historic Day for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit 🌟⚖️

Congratulations to the Honorable Hillary Ellis on her investiture as a County Court Judge in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit!

Manatee FAWL was honored to participate in Judge Ellis’s investiture ceremony and present her with a crystal vase in recognition of this remarkable achievement. 💐

With Judge Ellis’s swearing-in, our circuit now has more women judges than men — a milestone worth celebrating and a testament to the talent, leadership, and service of the women who have helped shape our judiciary.

Judge Ellis affectionately referred to the county bench as “The Fab Five,” and we couldn’t agree more. ✨ Pictured here are the five women currently serving on the county bench, representing excellence, dedication, and leadership in our courts.

Please join us in congratulating Judge Ellis and celebrating this exciting moment for our legal community. 💙

05/20/2026

05/20/2026

📚☕ That’s a wrap on Books & Brews… for now! ☕📚

We wrapped up our final Books & Brews meeting before our summer break with great conversation, good company, and another wonderful season spent connecting through books and community. 💙

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us throughout the year and helped make these mornings such a meaningful part of Manatee FAWL.

We’ll be taking a summer pause, but stay tuned — our summer reading list is coming soon! 📚☀️ We look forward to reconvening in the fall and diving into our next chapter together.

See you in a few months, book lovers! 💙

05/13/2026

Last week, several Manatee FAWL members attended the 12th Judicial Circuit Bench Bar Conference, joining judges, attorneys, and legal professionals from across our community for a day of education, collaboration, and connection. ⚖️

This year’s conference, “Changing Tides: How AI and the New Rules Are Reshaping the Legal Profession,” sparked important conversations about the future of the practice of law and the evolving role of technology in our profession.

We love seeing our members continue to show up, learn, lead, and support one another throughout the legal community. 💙