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Edward K. Cheffy is certified by The Florida Bar as a specialist in both Civil Trial Law and Business Litigation Law. He is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers as well as a Fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.

Since 2006, Mr. Cheffy has served as Chair of The Florida Bar’s annual Board Certification Review Course for Civil Trial Law, and at that course he lectures on “Ethical Issues Facing the Civil Trial Lawyer.” He frequently lectures throughout the state on Professionalism and Ethics, including at the FLABOTA Annual Conventions in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Mr. Cheffy has been voted by his peers as one of “The Top 100 Super Lawyers” in Florida, and he is included in Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite Hall of Fame.” He is also included in Best Lawyers in America, and that publication has named him as Lawyer of the Year for the Naples/Fort Myers area on thirteen occasions: in 2011, 2015, and 2023 for “Bet-the-Company Litigation”; in 2012, 2019, 2021, and 2024 for Construction Litigation, and in 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023 for Real Estate Litigation. In 2000, he received the Donald E. Van Koughnet “Lion of the Law” Award for Professionalism from the Collier County Judiciary.

Mr. Cheffy served two terms as Chair of the Judicial Nominating Commission for the 20th Judicial Circuit, and he has served on the Executive Council of The Florida Bar’s Trial Lawyers Section. He has chaired the Collier County Bar Association’s Trial Lawyers Section and the local chapter of the Inns of Court.

He has also chaired The Florida Bar’s Grievance Committee 208 and the Grievance Committee for the Fort Myers Division of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. In 2011, he served as Co-chair of The Florida Bar’s Hawkins Commission, which reviewed The Florida Bar’s disciplinary system, and in 2022 he served on The Florida Bar’s Special Committee for the Review of Professionalism. In 2015 and in 2021 he served on Merit Selection Panels, which investigated, interviewed and recommended candidates for U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Middle District of Florida.

His community service has included serving as Chair of the Board of Hospice of Naples (n/k/a Avow Hospice) and serving on the Board of The Community School of Naples. From 2000 to 2002, he, along with Andrew Reiss, coached Community School’s mock trial team, which won three county championships, three regional championships, and two state championships. In 2003, he and John Passidomo were selected as laureates in the Jr. Achievement of Southwest Florida Business Leadership Hall of Fame. In 2023, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Barnesville [Ohio] Area Education Foundation.

Mr. Cheffy graduated with honors from Harvard University with a degree in History and Literature and received his law degree, with honors, from the Ohio State University College of Law. The cases he handles include commercial, business, construction and real estate disputes, as well as probate, product liability, and personal injury litigation.

Bar Admissions

  • Ohio, 1978 (inactive)
  • The Florida Bar, 1984
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 1985
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 1988
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida, 2015
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 2005

Education

  • The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law, J.D., with Honors, 1978
  • Harvard University, B.A., Cum Laude, 1975

Board Certifications

  • Certified as a specialist in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education, 1994 – Present
  • Certified as a specialist in Business Litigation Law by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education, 1996 – Present

Awards & Recognition

  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers, 2009 – Present
  • Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2013 – Present
  • Donald E. Van Koughnet “Lion of the Law” Award for Professionalism, Collier County Judiciary, 2000
  • Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite Hall of Fame”
  • The Top 100 Super Lawyers in Florida
  • Lawyer of the Year for Naples/Fort Myers in “Bet-the-Company” Litigation, Best Lawyers in America, 2011, 2015, and 2023
  • Lawyer of the Year for Naples/Fort Myers in Construction Litigation, Best Lawyers in America, 2012, 2019, 2021, and 2024
  • Lawyer of the Year for Naples/Fort Myers in Real Estate Litigation, Best Lawyers in America, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023
  • AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell

Memberships & Service to the Legal Profession

  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2012 – Present
  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2009 – Present
  • Grievance Committee for the Fort Myers Division of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Chair, 2006 – 2014
  • The Florida Bar, Faculty and Steering Committee for Board Certification Review Course for Civil Trial, Chair, 2006— Present
  • The Florida Bar, Executive Council, Trial Lawyers Section, 2002 – 2008
  • Twentieth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission, 1998-2001; Chair, 2000 – 2001
  • The Florida Bar Grievance Committee 20-B, Chair, 1992 – 1993
  • Collier County Bar Association (CCBA); President, Trial Lawyers Section, 1991
  • Inns of Court, Thomas S. Biggs Chapter, President, 1997 – 1998
  • The Florida Bar’s Hawkins Commission (to review The Florida Bar’s disciplinary system), Co-Chair, 2011
  • Merit Selection Panel for U.S. Magistrate Judges in the Middle District of Florida, 2014 – 2015

Speaking Engagements

  • Mr. Cheffy has served as Chair of The Florida Bar’s “Annual Civil Trial Update and Certification Review” Seminar since 2006, and he has lectured at that seminar on “Ethical Issues Facing the Civil Trial Lawyer“ since 1996.
  • Mr. Cheffy has lectured and participated in programs throughout the State of Florida on issues relating to ethics and professionalism.

Community Service

  • Chair, Board of Directors, Hospice of Naples (nka Avow Hospice)
  • Member, Board of Directors, Community School of Naples
  • Member, Board of Directors, Naples Depot
  • Member, Board of Directors, TheatreZone Professional Theatre Company
  • Coach, State Champion high school mock trial teams at Community School of Naples
  • Interviewer, Harvard College
  • Laureate, Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida Business Leadership Hall of Fame