Kimbel L. Merlin

Accomplishments Ms. Merlin has held several leadership positions in eminent domain during her career. These include: Chair of the ABA Condemnation, Zoning and Land Use Committee (1982 - 1985); Chair of the Florida Bar Eminent Domain Committee (1993 - 1994); Co-Chair of the Hillsborough County Bar Association Eminent Domain Committee (1997-1998) and member of the Florida Bar Eminent Domain Practice and Procedure Steering Committee (1999 - present). Her proudest career accomplishment is instituting the first-ever eminent domain program for the states' circuit judges at their annual education conference in July 1995. She co-chaired subsequent circuit judges' programs in September 1995, September 1996 and July 2000. Ms. Merlin has written numerous eminent domain articles, including a chapter on "Special Benefits" in the leading national condemnation treatise,Nichols on Eminent Domain, and the chapter on "Authority to Exercise Power" in the Florida Eminent Domain Practice & Procedure Manual - Florida's premier condemnation treatise. She is recognized in the Martindale Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers in the field of eminent domain and has been selected to Florida Trend Magazine's "Legal Elite" in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. She was also recognized in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 "Best Lawyers in America" publication and as a "Super Lawyer" by Florida Super Lawyers Magazine in 2006, 2007 and 2008..