About Us
Mediating and Arbitrating Cases with Decades of Experience
Ms. Newman is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell achieving the highest legal and ethical rating from her peers. Ms Newman is also a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals. She has been voted as one of Orlando’s “Top Lawyers” as featured in Orlando Home and Leisure Magazine.
Our Team
Brenda J. Newman, Esq.
Neutral | Mediator | Arbitrator
Brenda Newman, Esq. is a dynamic Mediator and Arbitrator with over 30 years of complex litigation experience serving clients throughout Florida. Ms. Newman is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator, Certified Appellate Court Mediator, Federal Court Mediator in the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, and a Florida Supreme Court qualified Arbitrator. Ms. Newman is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell achieving the highest legal and ethical rating from her peers. Ms. Newman is also a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals. She has been voted as one of Orlando’s “Top Lawyers” as featured in Orlando Home and Leisure Magazine.
Brenda believes the best mediators and arbitrators have a breadth of experience which comes with practical experience in the various areas of civil litigation matters.
Case Experience
- Appellate
- Automotive
- Aviation
- Banking & Finance
- Bankruptcy/Creditors
- Class Actions
- Commercial/Business
- Condominiums
- Construction Defect
- Construction (general)
- Consumer Fraud
- Contract Disputes
- Debt Collections
- Discrimination
- EEOC
- Elder Abuse
- Employment
- Family Businesses
- Franchise
- Health Care
- Insurance (first and third party)
- Landlord/Tenant
- Legal Malpractice
- Lemon Law
- Libel & Slander
- Media & Communications
- Medical Devices
- Medical Malpractice
- Mortgage Foreclosure
- Natural Disasters
- Nursing Homes
- Partnerships
- Personal Injury
- Pharmaceuticals
- Premises Liability
- Probate
- Product Liability
- Professional Fees
- Professional Liability
- Professional Malpractice
- Professional Negligence
- Property Damage
- Railroad & Trucking
- Sexual Harassment
- Shareholder Disputes
- Title Disputes
- Torts
- Transportation
- Trusts / Estates
- Unfair Competition
- Wage & Hour/FMLA
- Wrongful Death
Biographical
With over 30 years of litigation and trial practice, Brenda now dedicates her full time efforts to helping others reach amicable resolutions to their litigation and pre-suit issues. Brenda believes the best mediators have a breadth of experience, and this experience and knowledge helps each side understand the strengths and weakness of a client’s position.
Brenda was born in Kirksville, Missouri, but considers herself a native Floridian, as she has lived in Florida for most of her life. Brenda’s father was a family physician. Her mother was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brenda’s first language was Portuguese.
After obtaining her law degree, Brenda worked for a large corporate bank in South Florida. She moved to Orlando to start her family, and it was there she found her passion in the courtroom. Brenda gained her litigation and trial experience in state and federal courts while a young associate working with the late Norman Hull (of Russell and Hull, P.A.) and with the late O.B. McEwan (of Sanders, McEwan, Martinez, Luff and Dukes). Brenda was of counsel to Killgore, Pearlman, Stamp, Ornstein and Squires, P.A. for nearly 14 years, a partner with Alvarez, Winthrop, Thompson and Storey, P.A. and the highest level trial attorney for the Construction Defect Division of Nationwide Insurance in Orlando.
Brenda speaks conversational Portuguese and Spanish.
Education
- Bachelor of Arts ~ University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla.,1986. Major: Philosophy. Minor: Political Science.
- Recipient of the Anne Popiel Scholarship for Academic Excellence.
- Juris Doctor ~ University of Miami School of Law, 1989.
- Recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award in Legal Ethics.
- Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator
Memberships & Affiliations
- AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator
- Florida Supreme Court Certified Appellate Mediator
- Certified U.S. District Court Mediator, Middle District of Florida
- Adjunct professor at Rollins College (Legal Studies), 1994-19
- The Florida Bar, 1989
- U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida, 1990
- United States Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, 1993
- Supreme Court of the United States, 1993
- Orange County Bar Association (Chair of Construction Litigation Section, 2018-2019, Co-Chair 2019-2020; CLE guest speaker for Young Lawyers Section)
- Numerous CLE presentations for Mediation and Arbitrations
- Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers
Rose Mercado
Case Manager | Office Adminstrator
Rose is a dedicated professional who works hard with you and all counsel of record to schedule mediations and arbitrations and to accommodate dates and times which work for all parties. Rose will work diligently to make the process of scheduling as seamless as possible. She is available to answer questions and inquiries regarding mediations and arbitrations with Ms. Newman.
- Accomplished professional skilled at building client loyalty and developing strong relationships with attorneys, administrative staff and associated professionals.
- Detail-oriented individual with excellent organizational and interpersonal skills in a leadership role, managing day to day administration and widespread firm functions while providing immediate response to client inquiries, calendar availability and scheduling.
- Diverse in managing multiple client accounts.
