UWWM Shareholder and Mediator Bob Cole
Mediator
Robert A. "Bob" Cole co-presented a program on civility and professionalism that was right up his alley on Friday, May 6, 2016. Speaking for the annual Fund Assembly (run by
Attorneys' Title Fund Services LLC) at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek in Florida, Mr. Cole and the rest of the panel added ethics credit to the conference's popular CLE lineup, designed for real estate attorneys, legal assistants and title agents.
Michael Rothman of Rothman and Tobin in Miami was the moderator, and Greg Martini of the Coral Gables firm of Sacher, Martini & Sacher P.A. and Harold "Hal" Downing of Downing Law Offices, Winter Park -- both Florida real estate attorneys -- joined Bob on the panel. Mr. Rothman explained the conference is now in its 52nd year and is part of Attorneys' Title Fund Services' promotion and facilitation of the real estate practices of its members, "comprising the vast majority of Florida's real estate attorneys. Upwards of 1,000 real estate professionals annually attend the Fund Assembly," he said.
Mr. Cole's familiarity with materials from
"Civility Matters," created by the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Foundation, added greatly to Friday's panel discussion. (He along with others active in ABOTA were instrumental in getting The Florida Bar to incorporate civility language into its attorney oath in 2011. The pledge now simply includes: “To opposing parties and their counsel, I pledge fairness, integrity, and civility, not only in court, but also in all written and oral communications.”)
The showing of a "Civility Matters" video opened the presentation. "This was followed by a panel discussion of the topics raised in the video, such as the importance of mentorship and the value -- both reputationally and financially -- for practicing law in conformity with the standards of professionalism promulgated by the Florida Supreme Court and The Florida Bar," Mr. Rothman said. "The presentation was well received; I personally received multiple comments from conferees to the effect that law schools should adopt and expand upon the points addressed as part of its curriculum."
Mr. Cole adapted the full FLABOTA Code of Professionalism for The Fund presentation; to view the document, click
here. At this writing, The Fund had not yet posted highlights from its assembly, but they are promised at
www.thefund.com/Education/Assembly.aspx.
