Williams Parker Attorneys at Law

08/25/2026

We were delighted to welcome Golden Retriever Rescue of Southwest Florida to the firm, along with visitors Simba and Colby!

This visit was in recognition of The Burruss Foundation as a Best of Show Sponsor, supporting the organization's mission to provide care and find loving homes for rescued golden retrievers.

We are pleased to recognize The Burruss Foundation's support of this important work to our community.

08/20/2026

Attorney Emily J. Lethbridge explores the potential unintended consequences of adding an adult child as a joint owner on a bank account in the latest Industry Insights article in the Business Observer.

From creditor exposure and tax considerations to estate planning implications, Emily highlights important factors to consider and alternatives that may better align with financial and estate planning goals.

Read the full article below.

As people age, many look to simplify financial affairs. One common approach for parents is to add an adult child as a joint owner on a bank account. However, joint ownership, particularly outside the context of married couples, can create significant unintended consequences.

Read more about the convenience at a cost from Williams Parker Attorneys at Law:
businessobserverfl.com/news/2026/aug/14/joint-ownership-convenience-at-a-cost

08/03/2026

Congratulations to Nicole F. Cromie on earning Board Certification in Real Estate Law by The Florida Bar!

Board certification is the Bar's highest recognition of an attorney's skill, ethics, and experience. Only a small percentage of Florida attorneys achieve this distinction. It reflects Nicole's deep expertise navigating the complexities of Florida real estate law.

Nicole's practice covers a broad range of transactions, representing individuals, developers, lenders, and investors through purchases, sales, and the development of subdivisions, condominiums, and mixed-use projects.

We are proud that more than 40% of Williams Parker attorneys are Board Certified — a reflection of our century-long commitment to excellence.

Congratulations, Nicole, on this well-earned and deserved achievement!

07/30/2026

We are proud to see attorney Sarah Ferlazzo sharing her knowledge with the local real estate community. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss Risk of Loss and Force Majeure provisions and their impact on Florida real estate transactions. We appreciate the chance to support continuing education for industry professionals.

07/10/2026

On June 25, 2026, in Mullin v. Doe, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the preliminary injunctions that blocked the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) from implementing its decisions to terminate Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) designations for Haiti and Syria. This decision cleared the way for the DHS to proceed with termination of TPS designations for Haiti and Syria.

Read the full article from Marisa Agganis here: https://www.williamsparker.com/insights/us-supreme-court-reversed-tps-termination-injunctions-for-haiti-and-syria-extension-of-employment-authorization-documents/

Thanks to Piper Wilson, Williams Parker Summer Associate, for her research and drafting support on this article.

07/09/2026

Our Summer Legal Support Specialists–Madelyn Crouch, Charlie Hugill, Michelle McLeod, Malakai Stears, and Allessia Ukmar–powered up their potential at SPARK: Intern & Young Professional Summit.

Hosted at the New College of Florida Harry Sudakoff Conference Center, SPARK brought together emerging professionals from across the region for a half‑day of skill‑building, connection, and career development.

We’re proud to support opportunities that help our young professionals grow and continue building the foundation for a successful career.

07/08/2026

Big changes for Florida nonprofits.

As of July 1, 2026, HB 797 modernizes Chapter 617 – now the "Florida Nonprofit Corporation Act" – marking the first major update in more than 15 years.

Lorenzo Fernandez and Mallory Osteen break down what's changing and why it matters.

If it's been a while since your last governance review, now's the time.

Read the full article here: https://www.williamsparker.com/insights/florida-rewrites-the-nonprofit-playbook-what-hb-797-means-for-chapter-617-and-for-you/

07/01/2026

Mike Wilson, President of the Firm, begins his term as Chair of The Tax Section of The Florida Bar.

A respected business and tax lawyer and longtime leader within the Tax Section, Mike has dedicated years of service to advancing the practice of tax law in Florida. His appointment reflects a deep commitment to professional excellence, education, and the continued development of the legal community.

Please join us in congratulating Mike on this well-deserved leadership achievement.

Read the full announcement: https://www.williamsparker.com/news/michael-j-wilson-begins-term-as-chair-of-the-florida-bar-tax-section/

06/23/2026

Florida voters will soon decide on a proposed constitutional amendment that could significantly reshape property tax relief for homeowners and non‑homestead property owners.

Real Estate attorney Kyle Elliott breaks down what the “Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes” amendment would change–including phased increases to the homestead exemption, a reduced cap on non‑homestead assessment growth, and a waiting period for new residents.

Read the full article here: https://www.williamsparker.com/insights/what-you-need-to-know-about-floridas-save-our-homes-from-excessive-property-taxes-proposed-constitutional-amendment/

06/16/2026

Connecting our summer associates to the Sarasota legal community is an important part of Williams Parker's summer associate program.

Through opportunities both inside and outside the office, we encourage our summer associates to build meaningful professional relationships and gain a deeper understanding of the community we serve. Recently, Elizabeth Brown, Alejandro Mont, and Piper Wilson joined attorneys Marisa Agganis, Amanda Fantauzzo, Sarah Ferlazzo, Lorenzo Fernandez, Emily Lethbridge, and Christopher Nigro at the Summer Associate Social for an evening of networking and connection with members of the local legal community.

Thank you to the Sarasota County Bar Association for another great event.