TAMPA, FL – Shumaker announces newly elected leadership within the firm’s Florida offices effective January 1, 2021.
Ronald A. Christaldi has been named Managing Partner of the Tampa office, where he also serves as a Management Committee Member and President/CEO of Shumaker Advisors Florida, LLC. Ron is a prominent business lawyer in Florida known for his commitment to his clients and attributes his success to the fact he identifies his clients’ goals at the outset of the engagement and works collaboratively with them on the best, most efficient strategy to achieve their goals. He is proud and honored to give back to the community he loves and he has served a variety of organizations in a leadership capacity, including serving as the past chair of the Tampa Bay Chamber, past chair for the Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and Arts, and past chair of the 2018 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Light the Night Walk. He has been front and center in the effort to keep Major League Baseball and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tampa. Ron also has been involved in connecting Tampa Bay with the world with his work in international relations, including the process of normalizing the relations in Cuba and maintaining sister city relationships in Ireland and Italy.
“I am humbled and honored to have the opportunity to lead this group of prestigious and talented professionals,” said Tampa Managing Partner Ron Christaldi. “My predecessors have forged a commitment to our clients, our workforce, and our community that is unparalleled, and I intend to fully continue that commitment.”
“Ron’s commitment to the law and to the community, paired with his ability to make good judgements and act even where difficult, will truly and ably allow him to elevate our firm's future and lead our Tampa office into its next generation,” said Partner and past Managing Partner Mark Catchur.
Partner Jaime Austrich has been elected as a Management Committee Member. He will also serve on the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Well-respected by his peers in the Tampa legal community, Jaime is a top-notch litigator, who previously served as the firm’s Litigation Practice Co-Administrator for 11 years. His deep expertise in complex litigation includes representing national commercial landlords in all facets of their business, from complex contract and land use disputes to evictions and collections. Clients find value in his trial experience as well as his ability to identify the driving forces between parties and advocate practical solutions outside the courtroom. Jaime has extensive experience representing international corporations, REITs, and publicly traded companies, in complex commercial disputes, and multi-party litigation. He also regularly represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries in significant trust and estate litigation.
“As a first generation Cuban-American, my family's hardships always inspired me to do more, to give more, and to persevere,” said Jaime. “When I joined Shumaker over twenty years ago, it was clear I’d found colleagues who shared those values. I’m committed to securing that culture for my clients and partners, present and future.”
Sarasota Managing Partner Jennifer B. Compton has been named Vice Chair of Shumaker’s Management Committee to work alongside the Chair of the Management Committee, Thomas P. Dillon, in establishing and executing the overall goals, finances, priorities, and culture of the firm. Jennifer focuses her practice on employment law counseling and litigation. Jennifer is dedicated to the community, and through her involvement as secretary, executive committee member, and board member for the Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization, she has been instrumental in developing a master plan for 54 acres of city-owned land on the Sarasota Bayfront. In addition, Jennifer is a Founding Board Member and Vice Chair of Gulfside Bank, and a member of the Diversity Law Institute, International Women's Forum, and the Sarasota County Bar Association. Jennifer also previously served as a board member, executive committee member, and legal counsel for the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and on the board of Girls, Inc.
“Jennifer is not only a skilled and accomplished attorney; she is a highly respected and trusted leader in the community and firm. She brings character, integrity, clarity, and thoughtfulness to every leadership decision,” said Shumaker Chairman Tom Dillon. “Jennifer’s elevation to Vice-Chair is well deserved and I look forward to working with her closely to better serve our clients and the communities in which we live.”