Mary Ruth Hawk

Mary is an attorney and partner with the law firm of Porges, Hamlin, Knowles & Hawk, P.A. She is also a Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator; a Supreme Court Certified Appellate Mediator; and a Certified Arbitrator. She has been in practice since 1998 in the Sarasota/Bradenton area, and is the head of the Firm's Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department. Mary concentrates her mediation and litigation practice in the areas of commercial litigation, condominium and homeowner association law, probate litigation, landlord/tenant law, and mobile home law.  Mary has a Bachelor's degree from Florida State University (Fine Arts, cum laude), and from Georgia State University (Journalism, with honors), and she received her law degree from Georgia State University College of Law (magna cum laude).

Mary was the recipient of several academic awards in law school, and was a member of the Georgia State University Law Review, where two of her articles were published. She has volunteered as a judge for the Stetson College of Law annual International Environmental Moot Court Competition for many years, and this year judged the Arbitration competition. Mary has also served as a Coach for the St. Stephen'sCollegePreparatory School's Mock Trial Team in statewide competition. She has spoken widely on the topics of mediation, community association law and landlord-tenant law to civic and professional organizations in Manatee and Sarasota Counties, including The West Florida Chapter Community Associations Institute, of which the firm has been a member for many years.

Mary is currently the Vice-President of the Board of Directors for the West Florida Chapter Community Associations Institute. She is also President of the Board of Directors for the Friends of De Soto National Memorial, for which she recently secured a National Environmental Education Foundation grant funded by Toyota for board development. Mary is a member and past board member of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Manatee Chapter, and is a member of the Manatee and Sarasota Bar Associations. She is licensed to practice in Florida, Georgia, the Middle District of Florida (federal), and the federal 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.