William B. Barnett
Bill Barnett is 66 years old, married to the former Noel Maxwell, and has 5 grown children and 5 grandchildren.
Bill graduated from the University of Florida in 1964 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and from Florida Law School in December, 1966 with a J.D. degree. He has practiced law in Orlando for 43 years.
Bill has been honored to be the State President of the Criminal Law Section of the Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers, is recognized as one of the top lawyers in domestic and criminal law in Florida by inclusion in the "Bar Book of Pre-eminent Counsel". He is a frequent lecturer on legal matters.
Bill is well known in criminal defense circles and has been featured in programs on Court TV several times in the past several years and has been a guest and the subject of interviews on criminal law on Inside Edition, televisions longest running nationally syndicated news magazine show.
Bill is also a member of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar and has frequently lectured on family law matters. He is the President of Barnett & Barclay, P.A., a 2 man law firm practicing primarily family law and criminal law. The greater part of his practice is in complex family law litigation.
Bill has been an active member of the community having been a past Kiwanis Club President, the Past President of the Orlando Touchdown Club, Board Member of the Florida Citrus Sports Association, Chairman of the Board of Fairview School for Learning Disabled Children, and a former Vestry Member of his church. He is the Past President of the Central Florida Gator Club, Past Member of the Board of Directors of Gator Boosters, a Member of Florida Blue Key and was a 10 year Board Member of the University of Florida Alumni Association.
Bill has recently been appointed to the board of the "Center for Children and Families" at the University of Florida. Also, he has been recognized as a "leading Florida attorney" by the "Leading Attorney Network, Inc." as a family lawyer who top family lawyers and judges would recommend to a family member or close friend in need of legal services. As one of the attorneys most often selected in The Network's polling, Bill has been appointed to the advisory board of the Family Law Section of The Network.
Areas of Practice
- 70% Domestic Relations, Family Law, Custody
- 30% Criminal Defense State and Federal
Litigation Percentage
- 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
- Florida, 1967
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1970
Education
- University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida
- J.D. - 1966
- University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
- B.A. - 1964
- Major: English
Published Works
- Child Custody and Visitation in Florida, National Business Institute, 1995
- "Pro Bail Reform: A Case for Article I, §24", The Florida Bar Journal, Volume 52, Number 8, October, 1978
- "DWI and Other Traffic Offenses Manual", The Florida Bar, 1986
- Lecturer, "Representing The Father in Child Custody Cases", Orange County Bar Association, December, 1981
- Defense of Misdemeanor Cases, AAJ, Atlanta, August 29, 1976
- Legal Ethics, Orange County Bar Seminars, 1977 and 1978
- "Defense of Driving While Intoxicated and Certain Traffic Related Cases", Continuing Legal Education Committee, Florida Bar, Tampa, September 19, 1977
- "Seminar for the Criminal Law Specialist", Orange County Bar Association, Orlando, Florida, August 15, 1979
- Criminal Law, Annual Educational Conference of Florida County Judges, 1979
- "Representing The Corporate President Before A Federal Grand Jury", Orlando Chapter of The Federal Bar Association, 1982
- Lecturer, "The Dream Team II"
Honors and Awards
- Martindale-Hubbell's Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
- Florida Law and Leading Attorneys: Consumer Guidebook
- Best of the Bar in Criminal Law and Family Law, Orlando Business Journal, 2007
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Florida Bar Association, 1967 - Present
- Orange County Bar, 1970 - Present
- Orange County Bar Association, Chairman, Criminal Law Committee, 1977
- Orange County Bar Association, Member, Executive Council, 1981 - 1991
- The Florida Bar, Member, Criminal Law Committee, 1974 - 1975
- The Florida Bar, Criminal Law Section, Executive Committee, 1977 - 1981
- Central Florida Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, President, 1984 - 1985
- Congressman McCollum on Criminal Code Legislation, Member, Advisory Committee, 1981
- Barry University School of Law, Chairman Advisory Board
- Barry University School of Law, Director, 1975 - 1981
- Barry University School of Law, Chairman, 1979
- Consumer Guidebook, Criminal Advisory Board Member
Past Employment Positions
- Office Public Defender 9th Circuit Orlando, Assistant Public Defender, 1967 - 1969
- Hanlon & Partners, Partner, 1969 - 1971
- Carter & Bernett, Partner, 1971 - 1974
Pro Bono Activities
- Recipient, Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award, 9th Circuit of Florida, 1983
- Probono Award from Orange County Florida Legal Aid Society, 1983
- President, Maitland Kiwanis Club, 1971
- President, Orlando Touchdown Club, 1989 - 1990
- Committee Chair, Florida Citrus Sports Association, 1992
- Board Chairman, Fairview School for Learning Disabled Children, 1986
- Chairman, Florida Citrus Bowl Balloon Race, 1986 - 1989
- Founder and Chairman, Give Kids the World Balloon Race, 1990
- Vestry Member, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Maitland, 1983 - 1985
- Florida Citrus Sports Board of Directors
Fraternities/Sororities
- Theta Chi
- Phi Alpha Delta
