Katherine Eastmoore "Kathi" Giddings - Lawyer in Tallahassee, FL

A formidable appellate litigator, Kathi Giddings has represented companies in numerous high-stakes civil and administrative appeals and bar ethics issues in state and federal courts nationwide. She has twice been named Lawyer of the Year for Appellate Practice by Best Lawyers in America and is ranked one of the Top 250 Women in Litigation in the United States by Benchmark Litigation. Chambers USA notes that she is regarded as one of the premier appellate attorneys in Florida and peers describe hear as ?very prominent and an ?excellent lawyer.

Kathis diverse appellate work ranges from a sanctions appeal arising out of an oil and gas venture, in which claimed damages were $1.15 billion, to one disputing the legality of the Florida Department of Revenues statewide tax on commercial leasehold improvements. Kathi has represented market leaders from numerous sectors in appellate matters, including satellite television, retail, insurance, real estate, and healthcare.

In conjunction with her appellate practice, Kathi monitors in-house counsel and related litigation management issues nationally. This includes issues governing the tripartite relationship between insurers, insureds, and defense counsel, bad faith, and the unauthorized practice of law. She also serves as national ethics counsel for a number of major insurance companies and has appeared throughout the country in cases involving ethical issues impacting her insurance clients.

Before entering private practice, Kathi served as a staff attorney to Florida Supreme Court Justice Ben F. Overton for seven years. She is a past chair of the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration Committee, which governs administrative matters in all Florida appellate and trial courts. Kathi is also a past chair of the Appellate Court Rules Committee, served as a steering committee member for several editions of The Florida Bars Appellate Practice CLE Manual, is a trustee of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals Historical Society, and previously served a four-year term on the First District Court of Appeals Judicial Nominating Commission via appointment by the governor.