July 28, 2022 – Four Clark Partington attorneys were recently recognized in the 2022 edition of Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite™. This peer-reviewed resource listing of the best lawyers in the state represents just over 1% of the active Florida Bar members. Firm honorees include Doug Bates (Pensacola), Scott Campbell (Destin), Mark Davis (Santa Rosa Beach) and Lee Strayhan (Destin).
In a Florida Trend press release recognizing this year’s honorees, former President of the Florida Bar, Michael G. Tanner, had this to say about the honor:
“Florida Trend’s Legal Elite program is an opportunity to celebrate Florida Bar members from a wide range of practice areas who have earned a high level of respect and esteem from their peers. The Florida Bar applauds those who were selected for this prestigious honor, which reflects their commitment to excellence and professionalism in the field of law.”
We congratulate Doug, Scott, Mark and Lee on receiving this select recognition, and thank them for their commitment and service to the legal profession, and to the firm.
2022 Florida Legal Elite | Clark Partington
Douglas A. Bates, Shareholder & Commercial Litigation Department Chair
Doug is a shareholder and Chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation department. His practice is focused on commercial and real estate litigation, with a large focus on bankruptcy and creditors’ rights cases. He has handled insolvency matters, distressed business situations, and special asset cases across the state of Florida and the United States.
In addition to consistently being selected to Florida Trend’s Legal Elite and Florida Super Lawyers, since 2012 Doug has received annual recognition and ranking by Chambers USA for his legal knowledge, experience, and client service in the area of “Bankruptcy Restructuring for North and Central Florida.” Doug is also a member of the Clark Partington bankruptcy team that consistently receives recognition by Best Law Firms as Metropolitan Tier 1 firm in Bankruptcy & Creditor-Debtor Rights/Insolvency & Reorganization, and has been recognized annually in the “Best Lawyers in America” publication.
On July 1, 2022, Doug began his term as Chair of the Business Law Section of The Florida Bar, an organization that serves over 5000 Florida lawyers. In 2019, he was recognized as the Section’s Member of the Year, and has proudly served for over 15 years on the Section’s Executive Council. Doug is the President-Elect of Pensacola Sports Board of Directors, and the past President of Pensacola State College Foundation Board of Governors. He also stays active in numerous other local, statewide, and national organizations.
Scott M. Campbell, Shareholder & Destin Managing Partner
Scott Campbell is a shareholder and managing partner of the firm’s Destin office. Scott is an AV rated, Board Certified Real Estate attorney, and his practice focuses on all areas of real estate law, banking law, condominium and planned development, transactional and corporate law.
His practice includes representation of financial institutions, builders, developers, associations, businesses and individuals in a wide variety of real estate, corporate, and financing matters. These include commercial and residential real estate transactions, condominium and association formation, secured loans, complex loan workouts, entity formation, residential and commercial leasing, and planned development matters.
Scott serves on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity in Okaloosa County and has served on the school board for the Seaside Neighborhood School in Seaside, FL.
Mark D. Davis, Senior Attorney
Mark Davis is a senior attorney in the firm’s Santa Rosa Beach office. He has been practicing law in Walton County for over 30 years, both in private practice and as In-House counsel for the county. His practice areas include governmental affairs, real estate, probate, family law, criminal defense and general litigation.
Mark is a current member of the Board of Directors for Legal Services of North Florida, Inc., and the General Counsel to the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce. Mark is also an active member of the Walton County Bar Association. He previously served on the First Circuit Bench Bar Professionalism Committee and chaired The Florida Bar Grievance Committee 1-B, First Circuit.
Mark is actively involved in the community and was a member of the Walton County School Board for over 20 years. He is also a past president of the Kiwanis Club, a former volunteer basketball coach and former chair of the Cope Center. Mark is currently an elder and choir member at First Presbyterian Church of DeFuniak Springs.
H. Lee Strayhan, III, Shareholder
Based out of Clark Partington’s Destin office, Lee Strayhan has over 20 years of legal experience in litigating complex cases. Lee began his practice in Louisiana in 2000 and then expanded it to Florida in 2006. Although his practice places an emphasis on commercial, business and real estate litigation, he is also experienced in handling a wide variety of matters, including general litigation, personal injury litigation, representing financial institutions, and handling appellate litigation, successfully briefing and/or arguing appeals in state and federal court. In addition to being named as a Florida Legal Elite, Lee is an AV rated attorney in Martindale-Hubble, the highest rating by peers, and has served as both past President and Vice-President of the Walton County Bar Association.
About Clark Partington:
Clark Partington is a preeminent law firm in the Florida panhandle with offices in Pensacola, Destin, Santa Rosa Beach & Tallahassee. Since 1976 Clark Partington is proud to serve the people and businesses of Florida through an innovative and collaborative approach to practicing law. Our lawyers are consistently recognized for their service to the profession and excellence in the courtroom. More information about the firm’s practice, its attorneys, and recognitions may be found at www.clarkpartington.com.
