1 You went to law school at the University of Miami. How did that shape you into the attorney you are today? By attending law school at UM, I formed lasting relationships with others who have gone on to become successful attorneys, state and federal judges, co-counsels, referring attorneys and friends. I am celebrating my 30th anniversary as a lawyer and I still enjoy my work. I learned about our community and strive to make it a better place. In my practice, I work with and against some of my fellow students; the bond from law school is still with us as we represent our respective clients.
2 How is Panter, Panter & Sampedro different from other firms? Panter, Panter & Sampedro is dedicated to protecting Florida’s families. “Let our family help you and your family” is more than a slogan—it is what we believe in. We work as a family. We treat our clients as family. We respect and communicate with our clients. We pride ourselves on carefully reviewing cases prior to selecting our clients. We have developed a reputation for being hardworking, honest, ethical and effective in our representation of people injured due to the negligence of others.
3 You were a co-founder of the Pinecrest Business Association. Tell us how that happened and why you thought it was important. We were approached by Grant Miller to make a difference in our community. When we formed the PBA, our goal was to develop a group that would represent the business community. Over the years, PBA has raised more than $250,000 to help our schools. We have also helped countless businesses with issues in the village and have formed a long-lasting, respectful relationship with the Village Council. Our goals are to work with the village toward a common goal of success and respect, to help our schools and other organizations within the village, and to enable our business members to form lasting relationships.
4 How do you spend your spare time? What are your passions? One of my passions is traveling. My family and I have a goal to conquer all the continents and to see places that are off the beaten path. We recently traveled to Antarctica on a small ship to visit the penguins, whales and icebergs. We are planning an adventure to Africa to trek with gorillas. By traveling to exotic locations, we get to experience life from a totally different perspective. Seeing how others live in different environments under different conditions helps us to really appreciate the world—our similarities and differences. We also go on biking trips through neighborhoods and small villages to see the people, shops, back roads and real experiences of various communities.
5 Tell us something not many people know about you. I love to garden. I have a garden and I grow herbs, tomatoes, vegetables and fruits, including oranges, grapefruits, avocados and Caribbean cherries. I recently planted guanabana trees. I love to go out into the backyard, pick some fruits and herbs and use them in our meals. We live in such a great place, and we take advantage of the environment.
6 You are very active in the Pinecrest community. What causes are your primary focus? When my children were young, I was very active in their lives. I was an assistant coach for the [Temple] Beth Am basketball teams, JCC teams and other sports activities. I have been actively involved at various schools as a mentor and coach for Mock Trial, We the People competitions and other law-related classes and activities. We sponsor several scholarships for high school students and are very proud of the recipients who have gone on to great achievements. My favorite activity is the PBA. We have made a difference in the community. Our recent involvement with the computer lab at Pinecrest Middle School is a great attribute to our community and will enable many students and teachers to learn and succeed.
7 What’s the best part of working in Pinecrest? We recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Village of Pinecrest. Panter, Panter & Sampedro was excited and honored to be an active participant in the celebration. We have been located on the corner of Kendall Drive and U.S. 1 since Pinecrest became a village. We have participated in our community and will continue to grow with the village. We strive to make our community a better place to live, work and play.
