Celeste F. Adorno, Esq.
Florida Bar #0698740 - AV Rated
United States Northern District Bar
Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator #08146R
Current Professional Experience:
Adorno Law Firm, PL. Founding Partner and Trial Attorney:
Eminent Domain, Inverse Condemnation, Business Damages, Real Property Law, Local Government and State Government Condemnation, Arbitration, and Mediation.
Previous Professional Experience:
Office of the Attorney General, State of Florida
Chief, Eminent Domain Bureau, 6/03 – 1/08
Statewide Chief of Eminent Domain Bureau since December 2004. Primary attorney handling cases throughout Florida. Clients include Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida State University, and Florida A&M University. Most cases involve multi-million dollar projects and acquisitions.
Penson and Padgett, P.A., Tallahassee, FL
Private Practice including Mediation, 12/01 – 6/03
Represented clients on issues involving real estate, boundary disputes, trespass, inverse condemnation, eminent domain, contracts and other areas of law. Represented clients in two jury trials, one as lead attorney and one as second chair in 2002.
Celeste F. Adorno, Esq., Tallahassee, FL
Mediation Services, 6/96 – 12/01
Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator. Involved in over 500 mediations as an attorney representing a client and/or as a mediator.
Leon County Attorney’s Office, Tallahassee, FL
Assistant County Attorney, 1/95 – 10/01
Successfully acquired over 150 parcels for road widening projects and storm water restoration projects. Represented Leon County in three jury trials and numerous bench trials. Also successfully defended 19 inverse condemnation suits and several appeals. Attorney to the Metropolitan Planning Organization for 7 years.
Office of the Attorney General, State of Florida
Assistant Attorney General, 5/92 – 1/95
Eminent Domain Attorney assigned to District III of DOT with a caseload of over 125 parcels and involved in 6 trials as lead or second chair. Handled 2 trials for District IV.
Celeste F. Adorno, Esq., Gainesville, FL University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Sole Practitioner, 05/91-05/92; Adjunct Instructor, 07/91-12/91
My practice was general civil with an emphasis on transactional real estate and contract law. During this same time, taught business law to finance and accounting students at the University of Florida and real property law, torts law and legal writing and research to paralegal students at Career City College in Gainesville.
City of Gainesville, Legal Dept., Gainesville, FL
Assistant City Attorney, 1/86 – 5/91
Assigned specialty areas with the City of Gainesville included conflict of interest questions; foreclosures; public records; code enforcement and environmental laws. Litigated over twenty-five actions including eminent domain and inverse condemnation and several labor arbitration and grievance cases. Drafted over thirty ordinances and worked with the Charter Review Committee to totally redraft the City of Gainesville Charter.
Education
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Juris Doctor, 1987
University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Bachelor of Arts, 1980
Professional Speeches and Presentations
September 2007 – Florida Bar Eminent Domain Committee – Presentation on Construction Plans
October 2006 – CLE International on Panel “The Women of Eminent Domain”
October 2006 – CLE International Moderator for Appraisal Panel Expert Witnesses
September 2004 – CLE International Business Damages Presentation
March 2003 – FSU LAW SCHOOL FAWL Presented Women Lawyers in Male Fields
January 2000 - ALI-ABA Presentation on Keeping Down Experts Fees and Costs
References
Gerald B. Curington
Deputy General Counsel
Executive Office of the Governor
400 S. Monroe St #PL-02
Tallahassee, FL 32399-6536
Judge Michael G. Takac
Fifth Judicial Circuit
550 W Main St Ste 12
Tavares, Florida 32778-3126
Tony Park
Director of Public Works
Leon County Florida
2280 Miccosukee Road
Tallahassee, FL 32308
