ABOUT CHRIS GRIFFIN

Chris Griffin received his undergraduate and law degrees from Florida State University in 1976 and 1978, respectively.  He finished first in his class as both an undergraduate and law student, and both of his degrees were conferred with highest honors.  Mr. Griffin has practiced civil litigation in state and federal courts throughout Florida and the United States since 1979.  His experience reaches all aspects of commercial, business, employment, real estate, and other related fields of litigation. Chris is a Florida Supreme Court, and Federal Court Certified Mediator, providing civil litigation mediation services throughout Florida.

Mr. Griffin has tried cases in virtually every circuit of the State of Florida and in the state’s Southern, Middle, and Northern Federal  District Courts.  He also has argued appeals in all of Florida’s District Courts of Appeal, the Florida Supreme Court, and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Because of Mr. Griffin’s extensive litigation experience, he has participated in hundreds of mediations, including those ordered by trial courts as well as those agreed to by parties prior to litigation.

Mr. Griffin was a four-year football letterman at FSU, and in 1974 was named the University’s Student-Athlete of the Year.  He served as President of the Tampa Chapter of the National Football Foundation, was a member of the founding Board of Directors of Tampa’s Outback Bowl, and served as Bowl Chairman in 1999.  Because of his sports and litigation background, Mr. Griffin has had a long career of service to the National Collegiate Athletics Association (“NCAA”).  He was the public member of the NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee (“IAC”) from 2002-2011, and chaired that Committee from 2006-2011.  Upon completion of his maximum three terms on the IAC, Mr. Griffin was appointed to serve as a public member, and Appeals Coordinator, of the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions (“COI”).  During Mr. Griffin’s tenure on the COI, he was involved in the Committee’s review and amendment of the NCAA’s bylaws and regulations.  On several occasions, Mr. Griffin has spoken on these and related subjects, including at the 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2017 NCAA Regional Rules Seminars, Duke Law School, Florida State University Law School, and the 2013 Marquette University Law School Sports Law Symposium.

Mr. Griffin also has participated in many national and local service and pro bono activities.  He has a long and distinguished career of service to the American Bar Association, including service on the governing council of the ABA’s Section of Litigation.  Mr. Griffin also has served on the Hillsborough Constituency For Children, on the Board of Directors of Southern Legal Counsel, and as Chair of the Board of Directors of The Spring Of Tampa Bay, which operates the community’s domestic violence shelter.

RESUME

Employment:

Owner and Principal - Griffin Mediation LLC (2017-present)

Foley & Lardner LLP (2001-2018)
Professional Responsibility Partner

Annis, Mitchell, Cockey, Edwards & Roehn (1991-2001)
Hiring Partner

Carlton, Fields, Ward, Emmanuel, Smith & Cutler (1979-1991)
Member, Board of Directors
Hiring Partner

Education:

J.D., 1978
College of Law, Florida State University
Summa Cum Laude
Class Rank: 1

Articles Editor, Law Review
Order of the Coif

B.S., 1976
Florida State University
Summa Cum Laude
Class Rank: 1

Professional Associations and Activities:

American Bar Association

Board of Directors, American Bar Endowment
President, 2012-2014
Member, 1996-present

Member, Diversity Center Council (2009-2012)

Chair, Standing Committee on Substance Abuse (2000-2003)

Member and Chair, Committee on Scope and Correlation of Work (1999-2005)

Co-Chair, Commission on Domestic Violence (1994-1997)

Member, Commission on Women in the Profession (1991-1994)

At-Large Delegate, House of Delegates (1992-2001)

Litigation Section

Co-Chair, Task Force on Children (1991‑1994)

Co-Chair, Membership Committee (1991‑1993)

Young Lawyers Division Liaison to Section Council (1989-1991)

Young Lawyers Division

Chairperson (1988‑1989)

Chairperson‑Elect (1987‑1988)

Secretary (1986‑1987)

Meetings Coordinator (1985‑1986)

District Representative, Division Executive Council (1984‑1987)

Member, Long Range Planning Committee (1985‑1988)

Chair, Finance Committee (1985‑1986)

The Florida Bar

Member, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee (1996-1999)

Co-Chair, Florida Bar Special Committee for Gender Equality (1995-1996)

Member, Trial Lawyers Section

Presenter, Constitutional Implications of "Politically
Correct" Speech, 1992 Media Law Conference

Presenter, Basic Libel Law, 1984 Media Law Conference

Member, Special Committee to Create Internal Grievance
Appeals Process in Florida's Corrections System (1985-1987)

Hillsborough County Bar Association

Chair, Centennial Committee (1994-1996)

Chair, Program Committee (1992-1993)

Chair, Law Week Committee (1991-1992)

President, Young Lawyers Section (1984‑1985)

Member, Board of Directors (1985‑1987)

Chair, Public Information Committee (1986‑1987)

Member, Law and Media Committee (1985‑1986)

Member, Young Lawyers Section Board of Directors (1981‑1984)

Most Productive Young Lawyer Award (1987)

 

Sports-Related Associations and Activities:

NCAA Division I Infractions Committee

Public Member and Coordinator of Appeals (2011-2014)

NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee

Chair (2006-2011)
Public Member (2002-2006)

NCAA Vice President of Enforcement Search Committee

Member (2010)

Outback Bowl Association

Chairman (1999-2000)
President (1995-1997)
Member, Board of Directors (1988-2002)

Tampa Chapter, National Football Foundation

President (1990-1991)
Member (1980-1994)

 

Civic Associations and Activities:

The Spring of Tampa Bay (Domestic Violence Victims Shelter)

Chair, Board of Directors (2006-2008)
Member, Board of Directors (2003-2008)

Hillsborough Constituency for Children

Member, Board of Directors (1985‑1988)
Member, Executive Committee (1984‑1986)

Florida State University Alumni Association

Regional Vice‑President (1980‑1984; 1992‑1995)
President, FSU Seminole Club of Hillsborough County (1983‑1984)

Leadership Tampa (1990‑1991)

Tampa Connection (1989‑1990)