Patricia A. Leonard

Education

• University of Miami School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1995
  • Senior Articles Editor, University of Miami Law Review
  • Moot Court Board
  • Vice President, Phi Delta Phi Honorary Legal Fraternity
  • The Order of Barristers
  • Order of the Coif
  • Recipient, Dean’s Honor Scholarship and Zbar Scholarship
• University of Virginia, B.A., English Language and Literature, 1988

Bar Admissions

• Florida

Court Admissions

• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
• U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida

Professional Affiliations

• Member, Federal Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel for the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, appointed by Chief U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore for term December 23, 2016 through May 1, 2017
• Fourth District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission, October 2011 to July 2016
  • Co-Vice Chairperson, September 2013 to August 2014
• Committee Member, Southern District of Florida 2017 Bench and Bar Conference, appointed by Chief U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore
• Palm Beach County Bar Association, 1995 to present
  • Business Litigation CLE Committee, 2021-2023 (Co-Chair 2022-2023)
  • Judicial Relations Committee, 2002-2003; 2008 to 2015 (Chair 2009-2010)
  • Independence of the Judiciary Committee, 2006 to 2009 (Co-Chair 2006-2008)
  • Professionalism Committee, 2002 to present (Co-Chair 2003-2005 and 2023-2024)
  • Young Lawyers Division, 1996 to 1998
  • Bench-Bar Committee, 2019
• Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Palm Beach Chapter, 1995 to present
  • Co-Chair, Pro Bono Committee, 2002 to 2003
  • Co-Chair, Judicial Reception Committee, 2003 to 2005
• Florida Bar Association, 1995 to present
• Executive Women of the Palm Beaches, 1999 to 2019
  • Membership Committee, 2001 to 2004 (Co-Chair, 2003-2004)
• Host Committee member, Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County's annual Brooks Brothers fundraising event, 2013-2019
• 15th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, July 1, 2011 to July 1, 2014, and August 1, 2018 to July 31, 2021
  • Chairperson, September 2013 to July 1, 2014, and August 1, 2018 to July 31, 2021
• Florida Bar Client's Security Fund Committee, 2009-2012; 2016; 2019-2021
• Economic Council of Palm Beach County, 2005 to 2011
• Former Editorial Advisory Board member, American Academy of Medical Entrepreneurs (AAME)

Civic Activities

• Board of Directors, The Armory Art Center, 2021 to present
• Executive Board, University of Virginia Alumni Club of the Palm Beaches, 1995 to present
  • President, 2002 to 2004
  • Vice President, 1999 to 2002
• Host Committee, Anti-Defamation League's 2018 Palm Beach Jurisprudence Awards Dinner
• Executive Cabinet, American Heart Association's “Go Red for Women” campaign, 2015-2016
• Board of Directors, Bak Middle School of the Arts Foundation, 2012-2015
• Overtures: Young Friends of the Palm Beach Opera (Steering Committee, 2006 to 2008)
• Member, Craig S. Barnard American Inns of Court, 1997 to 2005
  • Group Leader, 2002 to 2003
  • Emeritus Member, 2004 to 2005

Presentations

• “Why Female Lawyers are Leaving Law Firms and the Practice of Law – and How to Effect Change,” Panelist, Webinar hosted by the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism and the Florida Bar Standing Committee on Professionalism, April 25, 2024

• “Career and Life Series: Milestone 3: Partner, Single, or Status Quo,” Panelist, Palm Beach County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, April 11, 2024

• "Riding the Rocket Docket: Meeting the Fast-Track Mandate of the Florida Supreme Court," Panelist, Palm Beach County Bar Association Business Litigation CLE Committee, February 8, 2024
• "Judicial Internship Academy," Panelist, Palm Beach County Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, June 20, 2023
• "Road to the Bench Academy," Panelist, Palm Beach County Bar Association Committee for Diversity and Inclusion Seminar, March 7, 2023

• “Advancing Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Within the Legal Community,” Palm Beach County Bar Association Committee for Diversity and Inclusion CLE Seminar, February 23, 2023

• "Hot Topics Affecting Women in the Legal Profession," Florida Association for Women Lawyers 2022 Fall Conference, September 23, 2022
• "Getting Diverse and Young Lawyers into Trial – Business Litigation Perspective,” Palm Beach County Bar Association Business Litigation CLE Committee, January 20, 2022
• "Working through COVID-19: Legal Issues for Businesses,” North Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce, May 14, 2021
• “Federal Court Litigation,” Moderator, Palm Beach County Bar Association Bench-Bar Conference, August 28, 2020
• "Business Marketing for Female Attorneys," Martin County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers CLE Luncheon, February 18, 2020
• "The Pros - Business Trials from Beginning to End," Panelist, Palm Beach County Bench-Bar Conference, February 22, 2019
• "Women Trial Lawyer Leaders," Moderator, Palm Beach County Bar Association Young Lawyers' Sidebar Series, November 5, 2018
• "Deposition Strategies," Federal Boot Camp Seminar, Pincus Professional Services, September 28, 2017
• "Commercial Litigation," Palm Beach County Bar Association Bench-Bar Conference, February 9, 2016
• "ADR in 2016 - Challenging Old Paradigms," Panelist for "What Do ADR Consumers Want?," Palm Beach County Bar Association ADR Committee CLE Seminar, February 8, 2016
• "Dealing with Difficult Attorneys in Depositions," Palm Beach County Chapter of Florida Association for Women Lawyers CLE Seminar, September 10, 2015
• "Labeling Litigation: Strategies for Marketing Products While Avoiding the Courtroom," Natural Products Expo West, Anaheim, CA, March 7, 2015
• "Young Lawyers' Sidebar Series: Uniform Motion Calendar Hearings," Palm Beach County Bar Association, April 15, 2014
• "Commercial Litigation," Palm Beach County Bar Association Bench-Bar Conference, March 7, 2014
• "Networking and Rainmaking," Palm Beach County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers Mentoring Lunch, October 16, 2013
• "Avoiding HR Nightmares with Employees and Staff," The Medical Entrepreneur Symposium, Delray Beach, FL, April 19,2013
• "Avoiding Pitfalls with Employees, Human Resources, Payroll and Payroll Services," The Medical Entrepreneur Symposium, Delray Beach, FL, March 30, 2012
• "Commercial Trial Advocacy," Palm Beach County Bar Association Bench-Bar Conference, March 9, 2012
• "Ethics and Professionalism," CLE Seminar: Hot Topics in Employment: What you Must Know Now, Palm Beach County Bar Association, May 13, 2011
• "'Bringin' In the Rain: Successful Strategies from Women Rainmakers," Florida Association for Women Lawyers, March 17, 2011
• "Commercial Litigation and Commercial Trial Advocacy," Palm Beach County Bar Association Bench-Bar Conference, November 7, 2008
• "Making a Good Name for Yourself as a Lawyer," Palm Beach County Bar Association Bench-Bar Conference, October 12, 2007 and November 7, 2008
• "Making a Good Name for Yourself as a Lawyer," Palm Beach County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Seminar, October 26, 2007
• "Litigation Skills in Florida: Offers of Judgment/Proposals for Settlement," Lorman Education Services, June 2000

Publications

• "Use of the Constructive Knowledge Standard when Evaluating 'Evident Partiality' Challenges to Arbitration Awards in Florida," Florida Bar Journal (July/August 2023), co-authored with Ella A. Shenhav
• "We Are All in This Together," Palm Beach County Bar Association Bulletin (April 2022)
• "Addressing Unprofessional Deposition Conduct," Palm Beach County Bar Association Bulletin (December 2015)
• “Do Extraterritorial RICO Claims Still Exist in a Post-Morrison World?” The Federal Lawyer (2012), co-authored with Gerardo Rodriguez-Albizu
• “Re-examining the Presumption in Favor of Arbitration in Complex Commercial Cases,” Florida Bar Journal (2010), co-authored with Robert Hauser and Raymond Kramer
• “Is Expert Testimony Really Needed in Attorneys' Fees Litigation? Island Hoppers' Call For Change and Other Ways to Reduce the Burdens of Fees Hearings,” Florida Bar Journal (2003), co-authored with Robert Hauser and Raymond Kramer
• “Reasonable and Realistic Assessments: Nominal Offers of Judgment in Florida after Eagleman v. Eagleman,” Florida Bar Journal (1997), co-authored with Roy Fitzgerald
• “The Clean Air Act's Mandate of Employer Trip-Reduction Programs: Is this a Workable Solution to the Country's Air Pollution Problems?” University of Miami Law Review (1995)

• Featured in Attorney at Law magazine, “Attorneys to Watch in 2014,” Ft. Lauderdale/Palm Beaches edition, January 2014

News & Speaking Engagements