Accomplished appellate attorney and commercial litigator expands firm’s geographic reach

Rennert Vogel Mandler & Rodriguez, P.A. Partner Thomas S. Ward has been admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia. The experienced appellate attorney and commercial litigator can now practice in District of Columbia’s state courts, Florida’s state courts, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the U.S. District Court in Florida’s Southern, Middle and Northern Districts.

For RVMR, Ward’s D.C. Bar admission positions the firm to accommodate clients with matters in that jurisdiction. Ward has handled over 55 appeals and hundreds of lawsuits involving virtually every type of civil matter ranging from class actions to punitive damages throughout his 13-year career with RVMR.

“Becoming admitted in the District of Columbia was a natural next step in the evolution of our Appellate Practice,” Ward said. “Our clients often have business interests in areas outside of Florida, so it is important for us to be geographically nimble to accommodate certain matters that may arise.”

Ward focuses on commercial litigation and appeals. He has authored appellate briefs that have been filed in the Eleventh Circuit, Florida’s Supreme Court and all five of Florida’s District Courts of Appeal. Ward has also argued before the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta and Florida’s First, Third and Fourth District Courts of Appeal.

Accordingly, he has many published opinions to his credit. One thing that separates Ward from many other appellate attorneys is his experience as a trial lawyer, having successfully first-chaired trials, argued dispositive hearings (evidentiary and otherwise) and taken countless depositions.

Beyond the courtroom, Ward concluded his second consecutive three-year term with The Florida Bar’s Appellate Court Rules Committee (“ACRC”) this year, serving the last two years as its Vice Chair. The ACRC is responsible for proposing new appellate rules and revising its current rules. Ward is also a long-term (since 2014) leader of the Third District Court of Appeal Historical Society, becoming President Elect this year.

Prior to entering private practice, Tom interned for the former Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court: the Honorable R. Fred Lewis.

Ward earned his Juris Doctor at the University of Miami School of Law.

About Rennert Vogel Mandler & Rodriguez:

Rennert Vogel Mandler & Rodriguez is a Miami-based law firm in its third decade of operation. The firm’s attorneys are trusted advisors to their clients and zealously represent them in their daily business operations, including complex real estate transactions, commercial and real estate litigation, mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, securities litigation and ad valorem taxation matters. Clients retain RVMR attorneys to develop practical solutions for their complex legal needs and the delivery of results in a cost-efficient and timely manner.