Thomas Edward Shafovaloff

I dreamed about becoming a lawyer, flying for the U.S. military and becoming an engineer while a little boy. I was raised in a Navy family. Recived a BA graduating from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama in 1976 with a major in Political Science and Minor in Russian Language Studies. God has been good to me! I served in the Coast Guard in Port Security (dangerous cargo security and inspection) in one of the largest ports in the U.S. - Baltimore, Maryland before the Coast Guard sent me to Naval Flight Training to fly transport aircraft on various missions including alien interdiction, drug smuggling interdiction and search and rescue missions and was stationed at the Coast Guard Air Station in Miami, Florida. I flew support for Cuban Exodus 1981 - the very first night mission in support of those risking their lives for a better one in the U.S. At one point before leaving my Port Security job in Baltimore I was ordered to seize a Soviet Bloc (Russian) ship in Baltimore...without support of other personnel. In 1982 I began law school at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama graduated and was admitted to practice in Florida after graduation in 1985. I am admitted to practice in Federal Courts in all Districts in Floira including the Trial Bar in Miami; admitted to practice in the Federal 11th Circuit of Appeal; admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and all Florida State Courts; admitted to practice in States outside of Florida through pro hac vice admissions previously in Puerto Rico and New York (without requirement of local counsel). I have jury trial experience along with major litigation experience including Multi-District Federal Court Litigation for mass disasters. My first state court jury trial was a success in 1972. :-)

I have been a licensed Florida lawyer continuously since having been admitted in 1985. I have maintained a Federal Aviation Administration license since receiving my Naval Aviator wings in 1979 which now includes an Airline Transport License or ATP with Commercial Privileges with special Type Ratings including Lear Jet and Convair aircraft. I have flown as a commercial airline passenger aircraft pilot (First Officer) and been a member of ALPA...a major pilot union, previously having been based at Miami International and at New Yorks' JFK. 

Though I rarely play golf today, I still have my sticks and chip around; enjoy sailing, flying (now) occassionally - but simulators all the time; photography (vintage camera collecting and repair in some instances - even without the repair manuals); and have aspirations to become "Registered" at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and have begun courses at UCF which eventually could result in an engineering degree. My Intellectual Property practice litigation experience includes a case against, on behlf of a client, prevailing in Federal Litigation against, a now President entitiy related individual owning "Mar-A-Lago" in one of my copyright cases. 

I love life and want all that I associate with to succeed and reep the most from their God Given Blessings!