Education

University of Florida Levin College of Law, J.D., cum laude

Tulane University, B.A., cum laude

Bar Admissions

Florida
District of Columbia

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Martha Barnett

Partner
Tallahassee
t: 850-425-5620

Martha W. Barnett is a partner in the law firm of Holland & Knight. Her primary areas of practice are administrative, governmental law, and public policy.

Ms. Barnett has extensive associations in the American Bar Association and The Florida Bar. She was president of the American Bar Association in 2000-2001. She also served as the chair of the American Bar Association House of Delegates, the first woman to serve in this position.

Relevant Experience

  • Chair of Florida Commission on Ethics (1986 -1987), and member of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission (1997 – 1998), the Florida Taxation & Budget Reform Commission (1990 – 1994) and (2007 - 2008), the Governor's Select Committee on Workforce 2000, and the Florida Sales Tax on Services Study Commission (1986 – 1987)
  • Lobbyist on behalf of the survivors of the Rosewood Massacre as pro bono counsel before the Florida Legislature
  • Lobbyist on behalf of industries and governments on a broad array of legislative issues ranging from taxation to technology and education to appropriations
  • Neutral Arbitrator in commercial disputes
  • Regulatory and administrative representation related to insurance, taxation, ethics, elections and campaign finance, education, telecommunications and procurement
  • Frequent lecturer and speaker

Professional Honors & Awards

  • Medal of Honor, The Florida Bar Foundation, 2002
  • National Woman of Distinction, Girl Scouts of the USA, 2002
  • National Legal Aid & Defender Association Award, 2000
  • National Association of Public Interest Law Award, 1998
  • Hillary Clinton Glass Cutter Award, 1996
  • Arabella Babb Mansfield Award, National Association of Women Lawyers, 1996
  • Rosemary Barkett Award, Florida Association of Women Lawyers, 1996
  • Kate Stoneman Award, Albany Law School, 1996
  • Arthur J. Goldberg Award, Touro College, 2001
  • Distinguished Alumnus Award, University of Florida, 2006
  • Distinguished Alumni Award, Tulane University, 2001
  • Outstanding Alumna, Newcomb College, Tulane University, 1999
  • Alumna of Outstanding Achievement Award, University of Florida, 1997
  • Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend magazine, 2007
  • The 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America, The National Law Journal, 2006
  • The 50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in America, The National Law Journal, 1998, 2007
  • Who's Who In America
  • Who's Who in American Law
  • Who's Who in the South and Southwest
  • Who's Who in Emerging Leaders in America
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2008-2010
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Administrative Law; Government Relations Law, 2007-2010
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Commercial Litigation, 2006-2010
  • Florida Super Lawyers magazine, 2006-2009
  • Florida Legal Elite Hall of Fame, Florida Trend magazine, 2009
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Tax Law, 1995-2010
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Administrative Law, 2007-2010

Memberships

  • American Bar Association, President (2000-2001)
  • American Bar Association, Chair of ABA House of Delegates (1994-1996)
  • American Bar Association, Member Executive Board and Chair (2006 - present), CEELI (Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative)
  • American Bar Association, Past Member of ABA Board of Governors and life member of House of Delegates
  • American Bar Association, Past Member Board of Editors, ABA Journal
  • American Bar Association, Chair of Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities
  • American Bar Association, Member Board of Rule of Law Initiative
  • American Bar Association, Member Executive Council, Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar
  • American Bar Association, Chair of Commission on Public Understanding About the Law and Consortium on Legal Services and the Public
  • American Bar Association, Member of several ABA committees including Commission on Women in the Professions, Commission on Legal Problems of the Elderly, Standing Committee on Legal Aid to Indigent Defendants, Standing Committee on Prepaid Legal Services, American Bar Endowment
  • American Bar Endowment, Life Fellow
  • American Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • The Florida Bar, Legislative Committee
  • The Florida Bar, Commission on Access to Justice
  • The Florida Bar, Executive Council of the Tax Section and Public Interest Law Section
  • The Florida Bar, Florida Lawyers Prepaid Legal Services Corporation, past member of the Board of Directors and past President
  • Tulane University, Member Board of Administrators
  • American Law Institute, Member
  • National Association of Women Lawyers
  • United States Supreme Court Historical Society
  • Florida Tax Watch, Inc., Board of Trustees
  • Florida Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors
  • University of Florida Levin College of Law, Trustee
  • Tallahassee Women Lawyers Association
  • Community Foundation of North Florida, Board of Trustees
  • Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists

Court Admissions

  • All State Courts in Florida
  • All Courts in District of Columbia
  • United States Supreme Court

Speaking Engagements

  • Commencement Address, University of Florida Levin College of Law, 2000, 2003, 2007
  • Terrorism, Technology, and the Changing Reality of Personal Privacy, Yale Law School, Preiskel-Silverman Lecture, 2003
  • Technology and Terrorism, Stetson College of Law Annual Law Review Speaker, 2003
  • Commencement Address, Wake Forest University School of Law, 2003
  • Commencement Address, Touro College of Law, 2001
  • Commencement Address, DePaul University School of Law, 2001
  • Commencement Address, St. Louis University School of Law, 2001
  • Commencement Address, Indiana University School of Law, 2001
  • Commencement Address, Duke University School of Law, 2001
  • Commencement Address, California Western School of Law, 2000
  • Commencement Address, Nova Southeastern University Shephard Broad Law School, 2000
  • Commencement Address, Stetson Law School, 2000
  • Commencement Address, Florida Coastal School of Law, 1999, 2008
  • Commencement Address, Center for American Law Studies at Warsaw University, Poland, 1999
  • Commencement Address, Florida State University College of Law, 1999
  • Commencement Address, Newcomb College at Tulane University, 1997
  • Commencement Address, Flagler College, 1995

Published Articles & Books