Howard Conklin began practicing law in 1975 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he became a named partner in a 23 attorney law firm.  In 1996 he joined a Fortune 100 company and served as Vice President in the legal department.  In 2000, he established his own sole proprietorship law firm to serve the Fort Pierce and Vero Beach area.

His legal experience covers a wide variety of practice areas, including commercial litigation, business disputes, state a federal regulatory issues, trademark and copyright, consumer contracts, real property law and lien actions, wills and probate, tort law, government relations and lobbying in most of the 50 states, the United States House of Representatives and the Senate.  While representing a rental car company with national and international operations, he drafted rental contracts for use in all 50 states and reviewed international rental car agreements.  He also resolved legal issues and negotiated concession contracts at airports throughout the United States and Europe.  During his tenure with this nation's largest retail automotive corporation with revenues in excess of $20 billion dollars, he focused on state dealer franchise laws and other issues impacting the retail automotive industry nation-wide. His business background includes several years with Trans World Airlines in the Marketing Planning area and 3 years as a transportation analyst on Wall Street with a major brokerage firm.  He received his Masters in Business Administration at Syracuse University and attended courses in the PhD program at New York University School of Business before beginning his legal education and career.

He has been awarded the highest AV rating by Martindale Hubbell's Lawyer Rating System*, which rates legal ability and ethics of attorneys nationwide.   He appears in both Who's Who in American Law and Who's Who in America.

Community involvement has involved a wide array of service.  He served 3 years on the Board of Directors of the North Treasure Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross, which provides services to Indian River and St Lucie County, Florida.   He served as Chairman of the Fort Pierce Area Council of the Chamber of Commerce of St Lucie County for 2 years.  He is active in the Indian River Chamber of Commerce.   He was appointed to two committees by the St Lucie County Commissioners and was elected Chairman of the Investment Advisory Committee which advises the Board of County Commissioners on investment policy and allocation of over $250 million dollars of public funds.  He served as Vice Chairman and in 2007 was elected Chairman of the Fort Pierce Harbor Advisory Committee, which recommends actions and policies to the Board of County Commissioners relating to maritime operations and development of the deep water port of Fort Pierce.  He was an elected delegate to his party's National Convention to select the Presidential candidate for the 2004 election.

His military service includes 5 years active duty and 25 years ready reserve duty with the United States Air Force.  He volunteered for a one year tour of duty in the combat zone of Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star in recognition of his actions.   Later he was awarded the Legion of Merit and ended his career with 19 awards and decorations and the rank of Colonel.   He served in the intelligence community for over 22 years and lastly served 3 years at the Pentagon in the office the Secretary of the Air Force, Legislative Liaison.  He is an FAA licensed aircraft pilot and a USCG licensed Master Near Coastal Vessel Captain.

*CV, BV and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.

Areas of Practice

• Business and Commercial Law
• Contracts
• Probate and Estate Administration
• Real Estate Law
• Trade Regulation
• Trademark
• Wills

Litigation Percentage

• 40% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

• Florida, 1975
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 1975
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1978

Education

• Fordham University School of Law, New York, New York, 1974
  J.D.
  
  
• Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, US, 1969
  M.B.A.
  Honors: Beta Gamma Sigma
  Major: Business Management
  
  
• Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, New Jersey, US
  B.S.
  Major: Business Managment
  
  

Representative Cases

• Alamo Rent a Car v. Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority, 825 F.2d 367 (11th Circuit 1987)
• Highlands Insurance v. Gilday, 398 So.2d 834 (Fl. 4th Dist.)

References

• Executive Director, Indian River County Chamber of Commerce
• Executive Director, American Red Cross Treasure Coast Chapter

Honors and Awards

• Who's Who in America
• Awarded Legion of Merit, US Air Force, 1995
• Awarded Bronze Star, US Air Force, 1969
• AV Rating, Martindale Hubbell
• Listed in Who's Who in American Law

Professional Associations and Memberships

• US Air Force (Res.), 1964 - 1995
  Colonel
  
  
• Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport Advisory Board, 1994 - 1999
  Vice Chair
  
  
• American League of Lobbyists, 1994 - 2000
  
  
• Air Force Association
  
  
• Broward County Urban League, 1995 - 1996
  Director
  
  
• Army-Navy Club, Washington, D.C.
  
  
• Indian River County Chamber of Commerce
  
  
• St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce
  
  
• St. Lucie County Bar Association
  
  
• Indian River County Bar Association
  
  
• American Bar Association
  
  
• Fort Pierce Area Council, St Lucie County Chamber of Commerce
  Chairman
  
  
• St Lucie County Investment Advisory Committee
  Chairman (appointed)
  
  
• American Red Cross (NTCC)
  Board of Directors and Member
  
  

Past Employment Positions

• Auto Nation, Inc., Vice President, 1998 - 1999
• Alamo Rent a Car, Vice President, 1997 - 1998
• Tripp Scott Conklin & Smith, Partner, 1975 - 1997
• Paine Webber, Assistant Vice President, 1971 - 1974