Theodore W. Small

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Law Office of Theodore W. Small, P.A., Practicing Attorney, 2004 - Present
o Represent West Volusia Hospital Authority, an independent special taxing district, as its outside general counsel on local government, Florida Sunshine Law and Florida Public Records Law matters (2007-Present).
o Appear on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants as lead counsel for hearings, mediations and settlement negotiations in civil litigation matters pending in state courts (Volusia, Marion and Seminole counties), federal court (Middle District of Florida), and before administrative agencies (EEOC and Florida Commission on Human Relations).
o Provide business and employment law counsel on a variety of practice areas including:
discrimination and harassment claims; wage and overtime claims; exempt/non-exempt misclassifications; executive employment and severance agreements; non-compete-non-solicitation-confidentiality agreements; human resource and personnel policies; personnel training; outside neutral workplace investigations; employment terminations; employment mediation or arbitration; contract disputes; partnership disputes; operating agreements and by-laws; general business law; elder law; local government; and Florida Sunshine and Public Records Law matters.

Council on African American Affairs, Inc., President, 2001 - 2004
The primary mission of the Council on African American Affairs (CAAA) was to harness the intellectual talents of African American students affiliated with the Ron Brown Scholar Program and to engage these Scholars in quantitative and qualitative research projects designed to address the most pressing social problems.
o Coordinated with benefactor and founding board members to conceptualize and manage the start-up of a new DC-based research organization.
o Recruited and supervised clerical, research, accounting, legal and construction assistance for program with over a half-million dollar annual budget, including the location and build-out of new office space and launch of quantitative policy research initiatives.
o Managed annual meetings of Scholars and board members who traveled to Washington, DC from universities across the nation and residences around the world.
o Designed and managed a policy selection process which guided Scholars towards reaching consensus based on the importance, ripeness and potential for CAAA to make a difference.
o Mentored Scholar researchers to further their college, graduate school and professional career goals.

Holland & Knight LLP, Litigation Partner, 2000 – 2001; Litigation Associate, 1993 - 1999
o Represented firm clients in commercial litigation (appellate, construction, media, employment, ERISA, government contracts) and pro bono matters in the Tampa, Washington, DC and Orlando offices.
o Represented firm clients in appellate matters; was primarily responsible for preparing briefs and handling oral arguments in appeals.
o Appeared at hearings and served as the primary associate in complex civil litigation matters pending in Washington, DC and Maryland trial courts (federal and state).
o Appeared at hearings and served as the primary or secondary partner on commercial litigation matters pending in Florida trial courts (federal or state).
o Provided general employment counsel to dozens of business clients ranging in size from multistate Fortune 100 companies to regional and local small businesses.

Holland & Knight LLP, Community Services Team Associate, 1995 - 1997
o Appeared as a responsible lawyer in pro bono matters pending in the state of Florida and Washington, DC, including two major civil rights cases, one involving race and gender discrimination claims and the other involving claims related to lead-based paint in public housing.
o Developed and managed the firm's Adopt-A-Neighborhood project which encompassed corporate, tax, legislative and litigation assistance to non-profit groups in DC's Shaw Urban Renewal Area.
o Represented survivors and direct descendants of the 1923 massacre in Rosewood, Florida concerning the 1994 Claims Bill and the Rosewood Justice Center, Inc.

U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Joseph W. Hatchett, 1992 - 1993
o Assisted federal judge with research and drafting as he prepared for oral arguments, decided cases and wrote opinions on the wide range of civil and criminal appeals. Learned from a judge who demonstrated by his example the importance of maintaining the highest standards of integrity, professional excellence and judicial fairness.


BAR ADMISSIONS
The Florida Bar
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
District of Columbia Bar
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida

University of Virginia School of Law
Juris Doctor, 1992