ORLANDO – November 4, 2010 – Legendary trial attorney W. L. “Bud” Kirk, one of the founding partners of RumbergerKirk, has been named “Trial Lawyer of the Year” by the Central Florida Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).

Kirk and Judge John Kest, ABOTA’S “Trial Judge of the Year,” were honored at the organization’s judicial luncheon at the Embassy Suites in Downtown Orlando on November 4.

Each year, ABOTA seeks attorneys who display skill, civility and integrity to help younger attorneys achieve a higher level of trial advocacy and to educate the public about the vital importance of the Seventh Amendment. The association fosters improvement in the ethical and technical standards of practice in the field of so that individual litigants may receive more effective representation and the general public be benefited by more efficient administration of justice consistent with time-tested and traditional principles of litigation.

Kirk concentrates his practice in the areas of product liability, commercial litigation and professional liability. A significant portion of his practice is devoted to the representation of clients in commercial litigation matters including those involving claims of contract breach, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, and professional malfeasance.  His commercial litigation clients are local and nationally known companies in the fields of law, accounting, real estate development and communications.

Kirk’s product liability defense has centered on high profile, catastrophic injury cases such as domestic and foreign manufacturers of passenger cars and trucks throughout the United States, as well as manufacturers in the aviation and heavy equipment industry. The defense of professionals in the legal and accounting fields against malpractice claims is a substantial part of Kirk’s practice. 

In 1996, The National Law Journal recognized Kirk’s prowess in the courtroom in its annual edition of "Winning," which highlights ten top litigators in the country.  He shared his strategies for achieving success in the courtroom in the feature article, "In Hostile Territory, Show You Trust the Jury." 

In 1999, The National Law Journal recognized Kirk again, this time as one of the "Top Litigators” in America. He has since been honored for his advocacy skills in numerous articles, including designation by Florida Trend magazine as one of the "Top Defense Counsel" every year from 2004 and one of the magazine’s "Florida Legal Elite" 2004 to the present.

Kirk was appointed by former President George H. W. Bush in 1991 to serve a three year term on the Board of Directors of the Legal Service Corporation that administers nearly a half billion dollars to programs throughout the United States rendering legal services to the poor. 

Kirk is currently a member of the Product Liability Advisory Council, Defense Research Institute, Florida Defense Lawyers Association, American Board of Trial Advocates and the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel.  He has served on the Board of Directors of the Florida Defense Lawyers Association and is a former member of the International Association of Defense Counsel.  Kirk has been a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar since the program’s inception. 

Within the firm, Kirk formally served on the Executive Committee and as Managing Partner for thirteen years.  In addition to his professional activities, he is active in the community in the After School Outreach program at Howard Middle School children.  He is also a member of the Board of Trustees for WMFE, the local public radio and television stations and a member of the Board of Directors of the University Club.

Kirk attended the University of Florida College of Law receiving his Juris Doctorate in 1968.  A member of Florida Blue Key and Executive Editor of the Florida Law Review, he remained at the College of Law following graduation.  Before going into private practice, Kirk was an assistant professor at the law school teaching courses in real property, legislation and water law.  He practiced with a prominent firm in Orlando before forming RumbergerKirk with Thom Rumberger and Dick Caldwell in 1978.

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RumbergerKirk provides litigation and counseling services in a wide range of civil practice areas including products liability, commercial litigation, intellectual property, environmental, employment, insurance, professional liability, health care and administrative law. Offices are located in Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Tallahassee and Birmingham, Alabama.