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**Family Law Attorneys**
**Schedule a Consultation**
941-499-8154
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Address
1605 Main Street,
Suite 1110,
 Sarasota, FL 34236
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# Colleen Norman
**Senior Counsel**
* Profile
* Credentials
* Associations
* Community Involvement
**Bio**
Colleen was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and has lived in Sarasota, Florida since early childhood where she attended elementary, junior high and high school. After graduating from Riverview High School in Sarasota, Colleen worked as a paralegal prior to and during undergraduate school. Colleen graduated cum laude from Manatee Community College and later graduated from University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, and a minor in Philosophy. Colleen attended law school and obtained her Juris Doctor from Florida Coastal School Law in Jacksonville, Florida. While in law school, Colleen was a member of the Moot Court Honor Board where she accomplished great success in appellate procedures. Colleen received advanced legal writing and research recognition in law school. Colleen worked as a law clerk all through law school in the area of insurance defense litigation. After admission to the Florida Bar, Colleen remained in Jacksonville for several years where she practiced law in the areas of criminal defense and insurance defense litigation, until she returned home to Sarasota where she has focused her practice exclusively on all aspects of matrimonial and family law.
Colleen represents a vast number of clients in complex family litigation matters to include high net worth/large marital estate divorces, high conflict custody disputes; paternity; custody crossing state lines and involving jurisdictional disputes; UCCJEA/jurisdictional litigation; collaborative divorce; guardian ad litem; relocations, high net worth divorces; the unique area of custody by extended family members; and post judgment modifications, enforcement and contempt actions.
Colleen is Certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Family Law Mediator. She is also a member of the Sarasota County Bar Association, the Family Law Section of the Sarasota County Bar Association, the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar and the Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals.
Colleen has been an active participant in law week, educating youth about our country's legal system. While residing in Jacksonville, Colleen was inducted into the distinguished E. Robert Williams Inns of Court. She is also a former member of Manatee County Inns of Court. Colleen has been the current chair of the Family Law Section of the Sarasota County Bar Association since August 2018.
Colleen is a member of the Florida Bar and she is also admitted to practice law in Federal Court in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Colleen is a 2017 graduate of the National Family Law Trial Institute in Houston, Texas, and is also a 2016 graduate of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Institute for Associates, Advanced Training in Chicago, Illinois. Colleen is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Family Law Mediator is can effectively assist with these types of matters.
The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys lists Colleen as one of the 10 Best Female Attorneys in Florida in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys also lists her as one of the 10 Best Attorneys in Florida in 2018, 2019, and 2020. In both 2019 and 2020, Attorney and Practice Magazine lists Colleen as one of the Top 10 Family Law Attorneys in the state. She was selected for inclusion in the list of Super Lawyers in 2020,2021, and 2022.  She also has been awarded the AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Colleen has received her certificate for being a Qualified Parenting Coordinator by Conflict Solutions Group, LLC (2020).Being a qualified parenting coordinatormeans you are certified in the areas of parenting coordination concepts and ethics, the parenting coordination process and techniques, family dynamics in separation and divorce, child and adolescent development, family systems theory and application, and Florida Family Law Rules and Procedures.
Colleen supports and encourages clients to consider a collaborative or cooperative approach. But when those options are not viable she is well accomplished in and ready to engage in complex litigation.
Outside of the courtroom, Colleen's personal passion is baseball. She is an active supporter of children in USSSA youth travel baseball and Sarasota Little League, the latter of which she actively sponsors. Her favorite professional baseball teams include the Cincinnati Reds and the Tampa Bay Rays.
### Bar Admissions
* Florida, 2009
* U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
### Practice Areas
* Collaborative Law
* Complex Marital/Family Law
* Child Custody
* UCCJEA/Jurisdictional Litigation
* Guardian Ad Litem
* Domestic Violence
* Stalking Injunctions
* Relocation in Custody
### Honors
* Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent 2020
* Rated by Super Lawyers 2020, 2021
* 10 Best Female Attorneys, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
* 10 Best Attorneys, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
* Selected 10 Best by Attorney & Practice Magazine, 2019, 2020
* Avvo Rating Top Attorney 10.0
**Education**
* **University of North Florida**
  Major: Psychology | Minor: Philosophy - University
  B.A.
* **Florida Coastal School of Law | Jacksonville, FL**
  Honors: Dean's List; Moot Court Honor Board, Member - University
  J.D.
**Awards**
* **2024 Martindale-Hubbell® Award**
  !
* **Super Lawyers 2022**
* **Super Lawyer 2021**
* **Super Lawyers - Colleen Norman**
* **Martindale-Hubbell 2020**
**Community Involvement**
### Professional Associations
* Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals, Board of Directors, 2018 to Present
* Sarasota County Bar Association, 2011 to Present
* Family Law Section of Sarasota County Bar, 2014 to Present
* Family Law Section of the Florida Bar
#### Contact Schipani, Norman & McLain, P.A.
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**Local Office**
1605 Main Street
Suite 1110
Sarasota,
FL
34236
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# G. Rob McLain, Jr.
Attorney Rob McLain is an experienced legal professional whose main focus is on litigation. Before attending college, Mr. McLain worked in IT for an AMLAW 100 law firm. From there, he did the same for a computer forensics firm, and he published an article on how the Fourth Amendment relates to computer search and seizure. In 1998, Mr. McLain earned his BA in philosophy and English at the University of Florida. His path eventually took him to law, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude from the George Mason University School of Law. He continued to contribute to the school as an editor for their *George Mason Law Review*.
Mr. McLain’s legal career started at a Washington, D.C. office of a New York-based law firm. A member of their fraud litigation team, Mr. McLain represented clients in both civil and criminal court. His clients included corporations to individuals. Mr. McLain used his knowledge to advise them on computer security compliance.
In 2010, Mr. McLain returned to his hometown of Sarasota, Florida and joined another firm, continuing his litigation and advisory work for companies and individuals. Broadening his practice, Mr. McLain has since represented clients in personal injury, malpractice, sexual harassment, probate matters, business and contract disputes, and tort lawsuits. Also continuing his criminal defense work, Mr. McLain has defended his clients from all manner of allegations. These include DUI and driving with a suspended license, fleeing the scene of an accident, unlicensed contracting, battery, fraud and embezzlement, conspiracy, money laundering, and wire fraud.
Mr. McLain has since joined our team at Schipani & Norman, P.A. We are honored to have the skills of this experienced attorney.
* Florida
* District of Columbia
* Virginia
* U.S. District Court
* Middle District of Florida
### Distinctions
* Articles Editor, *George Mason Law Review*, 2007-2008
* Author, *United States v. Hill: A New Rule, But No Clarity for the Rules Governing Computer Searches and Seizures*, 14 Geo. Mason L. Rev. 1071, 2007.
### Affiliations
* Florida Bar
* Virginia State Bar
* D.C. Bar
* Manatee County Bar Association
* Family Law Section, Florida Bar
* Sarasota County Bar Association
* Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (state and Sarasota chapter)
* John M. Scheb American Inn of Court (Master)
# Kayla Tipple, Esq.
**Associate**
Kayla Tipple was raised in Englewood, Florida and attended Florida State University, where she graduated with a B.A. in 2007 in communication and religion. Tipple later went on to pursue a career in law and graduated in 2010 among the top 20th percentile from Florida Coastal School of Law. During her time as a law student, she served as the social chair of the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Club. In 2010, Tipple was admitted to the Florida Bar.
## Legal Experience
Attorney Tipple began her career as an attorney in Jacksonville, Florida, working for Legal Aid. She focused her attention on probate, guardianship, and family law matters. Tipple was also part of a private practice firm in Putnam County where she frequently handled cases pertaining to commercial litigation, family law, and estate planning.
As the newest addition to the team at Schipani, Norman & McLain P.A., Tipple continues to follow her passion – litigating family law matters and estate planning. Serving the community that she was not only raised in, but still resides in brings Tipple great satisfaction and a high level of dedication and commitment that benefits every client who seeks her guidance.
# George R. McLain, Sr.
**Of Counsel**
Attorney George McLain has five decades of exemplary experience with the law, beginning his practice in 1972. He became a Florida Board Certified civil trial lawyer when the program began in 1983. This certification represents an evaluation of an attorney’s experience and expertise at the highest level. Very few attorneys receive this honor. Florida Bar certifies only 7% of eligible applicants, and of that number, only 25% receive civil trial law certification. Martindale-Hubbell also awarded Mr. McLain their highest possible rating: an AV Preeminent. Only 10% of all attorneys hold this designation, a mark of strong legal ability. Currently, Mr. McLain holds the office of President of the Sarasota/Manatee Chapter of the Florida Board of Trial Advocates.
Before beginning his practice, Mr. McLain earned his bachelor’s degree in 1966 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Afterward, he began law school, attending the University of Miami School of Law. He received his J.D. three years later in 1969. He then served with a Captain’s rank as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate with the United States Air Force from 1969 – 1972.
An active community leader, Mr. McLain has been a member of the Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota since 1972. He even served two terms as their President. Working with youth, he has been President of both the Sarasota Boys Choir and the Sarasota Concert Band. A faithful church goer, he has served as deacon (chairman and vice-Chairman), Sunday school teacher, choir director, and music leader. He has lent his vocal talents to the Sarasota Players, various churches, public theatrical productions including the annual Sarasota Christmas Pageant, and various local dance and jazz bands. Mr. McLain’s musical experience extends to his tenor saxophone talents, playing with the Sarasota Concert Band, Sarasota Baptist Church Orchestra, and Sarasota Jazz Ensemble.
Attorney George McLain is a true Renaissance man, and his vast experience speaks for itself. We are thrilled to have him on our team.
### Bachelor of Arts
* University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1966
### Juris Doctor
* University of Miami School of Law, 1969
* Florida (1969)
* California (1972 - inactive)
* Middle District of Florida (1972)
* Board Certified in Civil Trial Law since 1983
* Martindale Hubbell AV Rating
* Captain U.S. Air Force (Asst. Staff Judge Advocate (1969-1972)
* State Bar of California (inactive)
* American Association for Justice
* Florida Justice Association
* American Board of Trial Advocates (President, Sarasota-Manatee Chapter)