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Pavese Law Firm attorneys recognized by the 2022 Florida Super Lawyers® Magazine

Pavese Law Firm attorneys recognized by the 2022 Florida Super Lawyers® Magazine

Pavese Law Firm is proud to announce attorneys Christopher Shields, Steven Hartsell, Neale Montgomery, Charles Mann, Christina Harris Schwinn, Charles Capps, and Chené Thompson have been named to the 2022 Florida Super Lawyers list. Mr. Shields, Mr. Mann, and Mr. Capps were named in the field of Real Estate; Mr. Hartsell, Ms. Montgomery and Ms. Thompson were named in the field of Land Use/Zoning; and Ms. Schwinn was named in the field of Employment & Labor. This honor is bestowed upon no more than five percent of lawyers statewide. In addition, Michael Lehnert has been named to the Rising Stars list as an up-and-coming attorney. Each year, only two-and-a-half percent of lawyers in Florida receive this acknowledgement.

Selections for the Super Lawyers list result from the extensive research efforts executed by the Thomson Reuters’ rating service of lawyers from more than 70 practice areas, all of whom have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The multi-phased selection process is rigorous and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.  

Chris Shields

Shields is Florida Bar Board Certified in both Real Estate Law and in Condominium and Planned Development Law. Shields is one of only 28 attorneys in the entire state of Florida to hold this dual distinction. He joined Pavese Law Firm in 1984 and became a partner in the firm in 1990. He specializes in creating and representing residential, commercial and mixed-use condominium, cooperative and homeowners’ association communities.

Hartsell is Florida Bar Board Certified in Condominium and Planned Development Law. He concentrates his practice in zoning, land use and development law as well as local government administrative law matters, representing clients in administrative matters before city and county commissions, councils and boards throughout Southwest Florida. Mr. Hartsell joined Pavese Law Firm in 1986 and became a partner in 1990.

Montgomery joined Pavese Law Firm in 1986 and became a partner in 1991. She has represented numerous prestigious home builders and developers throughout SW Florida for decades. Her practice continues to focus on zoning, land use as well as local government administrative law matters, representing clients in administrative matters related to all aspect of the entitlement process and development of land before city and county commissions, councils, and boards throughout Southwest Florida. 

Mann is Florida Bar Board Certified in both Real Estate Law and in Condominium and Planned Development Law. Mann is one of only 28 attorneys in the entire state of Florida to hold this dual distinction. He joined the firm in 2000, became a partner in 2005, managing partner in 2012 and co-managing partner in 2021. He represents local and national builders and developers in the acquisition and financing of raw land, negotiation of joint venture agreements, establishment of Ch. 190 Community Development Districts, and creation of property owner associations.

Schwinn joined Pavese Law Firm in 2005 and became a partner in 2009. Her primary practice areas are employment law, business transactions, community association law and real estate law.  Schwinn is an accomplished public speaker and regularly writes articles that have been published both locally and nationally in a variety of publications.

Capps is Florida Bar Board Certified in Real Estate Law and in Condominium and Planned Development Law. Capps is one of only 28 attorneys in the entire state of Florida to hold this dual distinction. He joined Pavese Law Firm in 2008, became a partner in 2013, and co-managing partner in 2021. He represents and advises clients including top national homebuilders, corporations, developers, community associations, non-profit organizations, contractors, lending institutions, and individuals on wide range of issues.

Thompson joined the Pavese Law Firm in 2013, became a partner in 2015, and co-managing partner in 2021. She brings to the firm her many years of experience as a litigator. She has served as lead counsel to national home builders and local developers in successful defenses of land use, zoning, comprehensive plan challenges and construction defect litigation. She is highly recognized for her courtroom ability and in 2019, became a member of Florida Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite. 

Lehnert joined the firm in 2021 and become a partner in 2022. He concentrates his practice area in real estate law, including assisting property owners, lenders, and developers with commercial and residential development, acquisition, financing, title, and leasing.