Hala A. Sandridge

Hala A. Sandridge focuses on all facets of civil appeals and has directly handled hundreds of appeals in both state and federal appellate courts. Hala serves as co-office head of Buchanan’s Tampa office. Board Certified in Appellate Practice, member of the firm’s Board of Directors and chair of the firm’s Appellate Practice Group.

With 30 years of appellate experience, Hala has produced some of Florida’s most significant appellate decisions, including cases certified by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals to the Florida Supreme Court and in the United States Supreme Court. She routinely serves as appellate counsel against multi-million dollar jury verdicts with weighty legal issues. A sought-after lecturer, Hala enjoys an exceptional reputation for her first-rate advocacy skills. Hala is a past chair of the Appellate Practice Section of the Florida Bar, a tribute to her leadership in her practice area.

Hala is a frequent lecturer and moderator on hot appellate topics, post-trial motions, state and federal appellate rules and procedure, appellate jurisdiction and preserving error for appeal, among others. She has taught sections of the Florida board certification review class for appellate practice.

Hala often speaks to in-house counsel, trial lawyers and law students. In addition to her speaking engagements, Hala has authored many appellate articles for law reviews, handbooks, legal periodicals and newsletters on a wide-range of appellate topics.

As a strong supporter of pro bono legal services, Hala has spent countless hours providing free appellate legal services to the poor and has championed their cause through her participation in local and statewide legal aid organizations. She was also instrumental in creating the courthouse assistance project at the Hillsborough county courthouse, which assists pro se litigants in navigating the court system and has garnered statewide praise.

For her dedication, Hala has received numerous pro bono awards, including the prestigious Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award, the Hillsborough County Jimmy Kynes Pro Bono Award and Bay Area Legal Service’s Distinguished Pro Bono Advocate Award.

Education:

• Florida State University College of Law, J.D., 1984, with honors; Law Review; Intern, Florida Supreme Court, the Honorable Leander Shaw
• University of Florida, B.A., 1981

Affiliations:

• University Club of Tampa, Board of Directors
• Gubernatorial Appointee to the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission, 2014-2018
• The Florida Bar Foundation: Vice President, 2017; Director, 2011-2014; Fellow
• American Bar Foundation: Fellow
• The Litigation Counsel of America: Fellow