Biography:
For over 50 years Larry Stewart represented clients in trials throughout Florida and many other states, such as California, Louisiana, Maryland, New Mexico, Ohio and Texas. Until he retired from active practice in 2016, his cases focused on catastrophic injuries, particularly ones involving victims of defective products and medical malpractice. He also tried many other types of cases including libel, construction claims, commercial disputes and other non-personal injury cases. Highlights of his career include over sixty verdicts or settlements of a million-dollars or more and many precedent-setting appellate opinions. Larry Stewart was born and raised in Florida, attending the University of Florida for both and undergraduate and law degrees. In undergraduate school he was active in student government and Florida Blue Key. He graduated from law school with honors and as the number one graduate in his class. Law school honors included Order of the Coif, Law Review and Moot Court. In 1984 he formed Stewart Tilghman Fox & Bianchi, P.A., where he practiced until his retirement in 2016. Larry Stewart is a “hall of Fame” trial lawyer having been selected in Lawdragon’s inaugural class. During his career he was one of the leading trial lawyers in the U.S. and was inducted into all five of the leading national professional trial lawyer organizations: The American College of Trial Lawyers, The American Board of Trial Advocates, The International Academy of Trial Lawyers, The International Society of Barristers and The Inner Circle of Advocates. He was also listed in “Best Lawyers in America” and the “Who’s Who” series of publications and was certified by The Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a civil trial advocate. Larry Stewart is also widely known as a legal expert. He was named to academic conferences on topics such as automobile insurance, products liability and medical malpractice. He testified before Congress and state legislatures and frequently appeared on radio and television shows. He was selected for membership in the American Law Institute where he served as a special consultant to its tort law projects. He also served on the Boards of RAND Corporation’s Center for Catastrophic Risk Management and Compensation and the RAND Institute for Civil Justice. For 10 years Larry Stewart served on the Florida Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases. Additionally, during his career he testified as an expert witness in legal malpractice and bad faith insurance cases, was a frequent lecturer at continuing education programs throughout the United States and authored numerous professional articles. In 2001, Larry Stewart founded and served as the first President and CEO of Trial Lawyers Care, Inc, the national pro bono program for victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. In that capacity he oversaw the creation of and directed the largest pro bono program in history, delivering free legal services to thousands of victims and victim’s families. The work of Trial Lawyers Care was recognized with numerous awards and Larry Stewart individually was awarded The Florida Bar’s G. Kirk Hass Humanitarian Award, the ATLA-NJ Gold Medal for Distinguished Service and a Special President’s Award from the American Board of Trial Advocates, Florida Federation of Chapters (FLABOTA). Larry Stewart has also been active in a number of professional organizations. He served as President of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (now known as the American Association for Justice) in 1994-95, was on its Executive Committee for six years and a member of its Board of Governors for 11 years. Within ATLA, Stewart served in a number of capacities including chairing many committees. And in 1999-2001, Larry Stewart served as President of the Roscoe Pound Institute, where he led the reorganization of the Institute into an academic think tank for civil justice issues. He is also a Lifetime Fellow of the Institute. Larry Stewart has also been an active member of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers (now known as the Florida Justice Association) and served as its President in 1978-79 and on the Board of Directors for 21 years. Additionally, he was been active in The Florida Bar and is a former chair of its Trial Lawyers Section and formerly served on the Board of Governors of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. On numerous occasions Larry Stewart has been recognized for his professional activities and accomplishments. He received the highest award given by the Association of Trial Lawyers of American, the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers and FLABOTA: in 2002 he received the ATLA Champion of Justice award; in 1995 he received the AFTL Perry Nichols Award and in 1993 he received the FLABOTA Florida Trial Lawyer of the Year award. In addition he received the AFTL President’s Award in 1980 and the AFTL A. J. Cone Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992. In 1994 he received the ATLA New Lawyers Section Joe Tonahill award. And in 1983 and 1989, Trial Lawyers for Public Justice selected him for honorable mention as Trial Lawyer of the Year. Even though retired from the active practice of law, Larry Stewart continues to serve as an “of counsel” consultant to the firm and is actively involved in law reform, helping to shape the law for the coming years, through his activities with the American law Institute. He currently serves on the ALI Council and is a member of its Executive Committee.
