frank@franksheplaw.com
PRIVATE
LAW FIRM
Specializing in Appeals, Mediations, Arbitrations, Umpire Appointments, Court Appointments, Co-Counsel, Mock Oral Arguments, Consultations & Expert Witness Assignments
About Me
Principal/Arbitrator/Mediator/Advocate
Frank A. Shepherd is a life-long Floridian with decades of experience in both the private and public sectors. After graduating from the University of Florida, obtaining a graduate degree from the University of Massachusetts, and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School, Mr. Shepherd engaged in the private practice of law in Miami, Florida for more than 19 years at the same law firm. His “bosses” during those nearly two decades were practicing lawyers who served in World War II in Patton’s Army or the Army Air Corps dropping bombs over Germany – members of what has more recently been called “The Greatest Generation.” The values inculcated in Mr. Shepherd during those years – hard-work, integrity, respect, clients’ interest before personal largesse and comfort, and fearlessness in advocating for a client’s interest, even if that interest was unpopular—form much of the core and inspiration of his present-day professional practice.
Mr. Shepherd has been engaged in his profession for over fifty years. There is nary an area of legal practice in the State of Florida in which he has not been involved, whether it be commercial, product liability, insurance coverage, class actions, private property rights, land use, municipal law, or state and federal constitutional issues. He has litigated at all levels of the courts of this state from the Florida state trial and appellate courts to the federal district courts and United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
For more than 13 years from 2003 to 2017, Frank Shepherd served as an appellate judge on the Florida Third District Court of Appeal, rising to the level of Chief Judge during the course of his service. More than 900 cases crossed his desk for decision each year in all areas of the law. Judge Shepherd wrote more than 500 signed opinions. Many of his opinions – including contract, tort, class action and all types in between – are regularly cited and guide the law in the State of Florida to this day. He has sat as a trial judge in this state court and as an associate judge on five of the district courts of appeal in Florida.
Mr. Shepherd continues to maintain a full-time practice of the law in this state. He handles appeals in all district courts of appeal in the state and the Florida Supreme Court. He is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator and an approved American Arbitration (AAA) Arbitrator. He is frequently appointed by trial judges to serve as Special Master in discovery disputes, partition proceedings, or as the neutral “umpire” in insurance appraisal proceedings. He consults with trial counsel in all areas and appears in court with them when requested. He offers his services in trial support as an expert witness in attorneys' fee disputes, and frequently assists counsel to prepare for appellate proceedings through mock oral arguments.
Mr. Shepherd is licensed to practice in:
The State of Florida
The District of Columbia (inactive)
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
The United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
RECENT CASES
PRACTICE
AREAS
With over 50 years of practicing law in the State of Florida, there is no area of legal practice that Judge Shepherd has not had experience in – whether it be bad faith, banking, commercial & business, condominium, construction, corporate, insurance coverage, personal injury/wrongful death, probate, trusts & estates, real estate, or property insurance & adjustments.
He has litigated at all levels of the courts of this state from the Florida state trial and appellate courts to the federal district courts and United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
OUR VISION
The legal industry has changed substantially in the last half century from relatively small, local based law firms and partnerships to national and global behemoths. We do not begrudge the movement. At various times, we have been part of it. We have represented companies, large and small, and individuals in those environments. We know that oftentimes, the pressures of the “big firm” place the law firm or lawyer’s personal largesse or comfort ahead of the client’s interest or needs.
We strive to be different. We seek to place the client’s interest ahead of personal largesse and comfort. We also seek to align our fee structures with our values. Our principal has represented Fortune 100 companies, auto, chemical and finance to name a few, as well as mid-level companies and individuals for decades. We remain available to do so. We believe the breadth of experience in the law and the courts of this state will exceed expectations.
