Leslie Wulfsohn Loftus

Leslie Loftus, an accomplished divorce attorney based in Sarasota, shares insights into her flourishing career.

family law attorney leslie loftus located in sarasota florida

Award-Winning Family Law Attorney in Sarasota

Ms. Loftus offers a concierge approach to her clients. She begins with the assumption that each case calls for special handling, since no two family law cases are alike. After the initial consultation, she works with her clients closely, to provide them with a basic understanding of Florida family law proceedings. Ms. Loftus and the client are then able to work together to ensure that there are articulated, agreed-upon, legitimate and realistic goals. After goals are established, Ms. Loftus provides her clients with a range of options designed to meet those objectives. She reviews the advantages and disadvantages of each option and provides her recommendations. Ms. Loftus believes strongly in this approach as the best means of seeing that the client is empowered and fully-informed, and that if significant sums are to be spent on legal fees, the client understands why and knows ahead of time that significant fees will be incurred.

Attorney Leslie Wulfsohn Loftus recently completed training to become qualified to serve as a Guardian Ad Litem in the Court’s volunteer program in family law cases. Leslie intends to use her years of experience working in contested, oftentimes emotionally-charged custody battles to inform her role, on a pro bono basis, as the “eyes and ears of the Court.” Acting as a Guardian Ad Litem, Leslie will be charged with looking at and making recommendations about what might be in the best interests of minor children, and the Court will ultimately make the decision. Her compassion, keen understanding of the law, and desire to serve pro bono in the public interest make her well-suited to this new undertaking.

About | Child welfare advocates protecting the rights of children. (guardianadlitem.org)

Because of the vicissitudes inherent in the family law court system, Ms. Loftus believes it is in her clients’ interests to resolve family law issues if possible outside of the courtroom. No lawyer can guarantee what results might be obtained after a hearing or trial before the court. Should efforts at a reasonable collaboration or mediation be unsuccessful, however, Ms. Loftus works with clients to see that their legal objectives are pursued in court through motion practice and trial. At all times, Ms. Loftus presents her clients’ positions in a vigorous, thorough manner designed to achieve success without sacrificing professionalism.

Legal Career

Upon obtaining her juris doctorate and passing the Illinois Bar exam, Ms. Loftus began her first two years of practice by accepting a federal court clerkship. She went on to private practice at a large, established Chicago law firm, at which she was made partner. Ms. Loftus represented both plaintiffs and defendants in complex commercial litigation at both the trial and appellate court levels, in both state and federal courts. She was a member of the Chicago and Federal Bar Associations.

While in Chicago, Ms. Loftus handled cases presenting issues of international law, and was an active member of the International Bar Association. Ms. Loftus gained a global perspective towards legal issues, by attending IBA annual meetings in Paris, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Cannes, Vancouver, Strasbourg and elsewhere.

After ten years, Ms. Loftus took the Florida Bar and transferred her practice to a satellite office of the Chicago law firm. She continued her work on complex commercial and international litigation while there. She was active in the local Palm Beach County Bar Association, and served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Palm Glades Girl Scouts Council.

Ms. Loftus began her career as a commercial litigator over 40 years ago, and began devoting her time to representing clients in family law matters exclusively since moving to Sarasota. In 2002, Ms. Loftus moved to Sarasota and joined the Icard, Merrill firm as a partner. Upon moving to Sarasota in 2002, Ms. Loftus became active in the local community, and was honored by the local Bar. In 2013, after working with Kirk-Pinkerton since 2008 to establish a family law department, Ms. Loftus opened her own law offices, doing business as “Loftus Law.”

Martindale-Hubbell “AV” Rating

Over 25 years ago, in 1996, Ms. Loftus received the coveted “AV” rating – the highest rating available – from Martindale-Hubbell. According to Martindale-Hubbell, “an AV certification mark is a significant rating accomplishment …. a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.”

The rating is based on the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell explains that “knowledge and skill derived from extensive experience are usually prerequisites for an AV rating.” The “AV” rating covers legal ability, and is the equivalent of “Very High to Preeminent.”

Bar Activities

2003: Served on the Sarasota County Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee.
2004-2005: Served as the Chair of the Sarasota County Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee, for two consecutive years.
2005: Received the “C.L. McCaig Award” (bestowed by the Sarasota County Bar Association each year to a Bar member) in recognition of “extraordinary service in promoting the Association’s goals, programs or functions.” Ms. Loftus received the Award for the work accomplished by the Professionalism Committee of the Bar, during the two years Ms. Loftus served as its Chair.
2006-2009: Served a three-year term on the Sarasota County Bar Association’s Board of Directors.
2006: Assigned as the SCBA’s Board of Directors’ “goal champion” for promoting diversity committee objectives.
April, 2006: Began participating as an active member of the 12th Judicial Circuit Family Law Collaborative Professionals Group.
2007-2009: Served as a member of the Sarasota County Bar Association’s Diversity Committee.
Spring, 2007: Began participating as a member of the 12th Judicial Circuit’s Family Law Advisory Group and Domestic Violence Task Force.
October, 2007: Appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to serve three one-year terms on the 12th Judicial Circuit’s Grievance Committee.
2007: Appointed to the 12th Judicial Circuit court administrative post of Chair of the Family Law Advisory Group’s Domestic Violence Committee.
December, 2007: Became a Fellow of the Florida Bar Foundation.
2009-2010: Served as the Chair of the 12th Judicial Circuit’s Grievance Committee (12A).
December, 2010: Appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to a three-year term on the 12th Judicial Circuit’s Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee; presently serving a second three-year term.
2014 – 2021: Appointed to the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court’s inaugural Local Professionalism Panel; presently serving second term as Chair.
2019 – 2022: Served on the Florida Bar’s Grievance Committee 12C
2023 – Present: Voted on to the Board of Directors, Twelfth Circuit Family Court Professional Coalition

Community Participation

2003-2008: Member of the Sarasota Bay Rotary Club.
Ad hoc speaker for the Women’s Resource Center and local chapter of the Hadassah women’s group.
Active member of the Sarasota Tiger Bay Club, a non-partisan group which meets monthly to keep members apprised of issues affecting the local community.
Member, Sarasota Women’s Alliance; 2009-2010: Served on the Board of the Sarasota Women’s Alliance.
2006-2009: Served as President of the Board for the Avondale Neighborhood Association, working with a group of approximately 70 homeowners.
2006-2007: Southside Elementary School Community Awareness and Resources for Education (C.A.R.E.) program sponsor, to enhance classroom learning by contributing to the purchase of items outside of those budgeted.
2008: Recognized by the Sarasota City Commissioners – graduate of the “Citizens Academy,” administered by the City of Sarasota’s Neighborhood Partnership Office.
2009: Featured speaker to discuss family law on the local Channel 20 television program, “Law in Sarasota.”
2010: Committee member for Children First’s 50th Anniversary Gala luncheon, honoring the Junior League; committee member for Children First’s annual fundraiser, “Moonlight Regatta,” and Committee Chair for “Little Black Dress” luncheon sponsored by Children First.
2012: Served on the Van Wezel Executive Council.
2012: Served on the NAMI Board of Directors.
2011 – 2018: Ringling Library Town Hall series “Platinum Sponsor.”
2009 – 2020: Elected to the Board of Directors for the Sarasota Tiger Bay Club; served as Secretary 2013 – 2015.
2014 – 2020: Member of the International Society of Collaborative Professionals.
2015 – 2017: Elected to the Board of Directors for the Ringling College Library Association “Town Hall” series. Served as Secretary.
2017 – 2019: Elected to the Board of Trustees of Florida House on Capitol Hill, a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

Publications

2015: Wrote chapter “Maintaining the High Road: Helping Florida Clients Successfully Navigate Their Family Law Disputes” which was published in “Strategies for Family Law in Florida,” a Thompson Reuters (Aspatore) publication, part of its “Inside the Minds” series.