Caroline Black Sikorske

Shareholder and Partner

Areas Of Practice – 100% of Practice Devoted to Family Law

CONTACT
Caroline@sessumsblack.com
Phone: (813) 251-9200 Ext. 118

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Caroline Black Sikorske is admitted to the prestigious International Academy of Family Lawyers, a worldwide association of practicing attorneys who are recognized by their peers as experienced and skilled family law specialists in their respective countries. She is a diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, a select group of 100 top U.S. family lawyers who practice sophisticated and complex family law matters. Caroline was named to the list of Top 10 2021 Florida Super Lawyers, attorneys who received the highest points during the Super Lawyers nomination, research and review process. She has been included in The Best Lawyers in America© in family law since 2006. She is Florida Bar Board Certified in Marital and Family Law, is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent® Peer-Review rated.

Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ serve as objective indicators that lawyers have demonstrated ethical standards and professional ability. This honor is a reflection of an attorney’s skill, experience, integrity, and overall professional excellence. By earning an AV Preeminent® rating by Martindale Hubbell, an attorney is part of a select group of Tampa area lawyers recognized for their legal abilities and professional ethical standards.

After graduating with her Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law in 1984, Caroline was an Assistant State Attorney for Hillsborough County before devoting her practice 100% to marital and family law in 1989.

Caroline has served in numerous positions, including leadership positions, in national, state, and local professional legal organizations in her pursuit of excellence.

In addition to being the 2002 – 2003 Chair of the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar, Caroline has served on the Executive Council from 1995 to 1999 and chaired the Family Law Section Continuing Legal Education committee in 1997 – 1998.

Caroline was the 2012 – 2013 President of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), served on the AAML Board of Managers from 2006 to 2014 and was the Chair of the Annual Institute Committee in 2009.

On a local level, Caroline was the 2007 – 2008 President of the Hillsborough County Bar Association (HCBA), 1999 – 2000 Chair of the Family Law Section of HCBA and co-chaired the new Collaborative Divorce Section from 2017 to 2019. Caroline chaired a Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee in 1996.

Caroline is both an accomplished writer and speaker on family law issues. In addition to authoring a chapter on Equitable Distribution in the Florida Bar’s Dissolution of Marriage book, Caroline has authored numerous articles about a variety of family law issues for the HCBA Lawyer magazine, the Florida Bar Journal, and the Florida Family Law Section Commentator. Caroline has also spoken on family law issues to various groups including the AAML, HCBA, and the Florida Bar.

Professional Associations and Memberships:

American College of Family Trial Lawyers, Diplomate 2015 to Date

  • Diplomate, 2015-present

Hillsborough County Bar Association, Member 1989 to Date

  • Foundation President, 2021-2022
  • Association President, 2007-2008
  • Member, Board of Directors, 2003-2009
  • Member, Judicial Evaluation Committee, 1990-1993
  • Executive Council, Family Law Section (Member, 1991 – 2001; Chair 1999-2000).
  • Chair, Pig Roast Committee (2005)
  • Long-Range Planning Committee
  • Chair, Judicial Bar Relations Subcommittee
  • Board member, Trial Lawyers Section, 2001-2002

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Florida Chapter, Member 2002 to Date

  • President, Florida Chapter, 2012-2013
  • Board of Managers, Florida Chapter, 2006-2014
  • Chair, AAML Institute, Florida Chapter, 2009
  • Chair, Collaborative Law Committee, National AAML, 2015-2017

The Florida Bar

  • Member, Florida Family Law Rules Committee, 2016-present
  • Chair, Family Law Section 2003-2004 (Member 1994 to present)
  • CLE Committee Family Law Section (Chair, 1997 -1998)
  • Long Range Planning Committee, Chair 1998-1999
  • Liaison to Florida Bar Commission on the Legal Needs of Children, 1998
  • Member, Family Court Steering Committee, 1999-2001

Tampa Bay Academy of Collaborative Professionals, Member 2011 to date

  • Chair, 2011-2013
  • Co-Chair, 2017-2019
  • Member, Board of Directors, 2011-present

13th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, Member, 1993-1996

  • Member, 1993-1996
  • Chair, 1996

International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, Member 2007 to date

  • Member, 2007-present

CEO Council of Tampa Bay

  • Member, 2018

Athena Society, Member 2008 to date

  • Member, 2008-present

Centre for Women

  • Board of Directors, 1992-1997
  • President, 1994-1995

Lectures:

  • “Psycho-Social Issues as they Impact Co-Parenting and Attorney Case Management Techniques,” AAML Annual Institute, May 2018
  • “Unique Business Valuation Issues,” American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, November 2017
  • “Proactive Management of the Family Law Practice,” HCBA Marital and Family Law Section, September 2015
  • “Time Management for Lawyers,” Stann W. Givens Inns of Court, April 2015
  • “Introduction to Collaborative Law,” Naples Estate Planning Council, March 2015
  • “Evidence in Practice:  How to Choose, Organize and Present,” Florida Bar, CLE, March 2014
  • “Taking Care of Business:Managing your Parenting Case”, Florida Bar, CLE, September 2011
  • “Attorneys Fees and Costs,” American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Institute, April 2010
  • “Taxation Issues in Equitable Distribution & Alimony,” Florida Bar Cert Review, February 2010
  • “Professionalism” Stetson University College of Law, January 2009
  • “Mission Impossible: Overcoming the Negative Custody Evaluation Recommendation,” AAML – May 2007
  • “Agreements,” Florida Bar Family Law Certification Review Course,
    February 1996 – 1998, 2002-2004
  • “Family Law Practice and Procedure,” Florida Bar Family Law Certification Review Course, Spring 2006
  • “Tactics to Consider in Custody Cases,” Hillsborough County Bar Association, January 2002
  • “Alimony, Child Support and Temporary Issues in Divorce,” Basic Family Law Seminar sponsored by the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, April 2001, Spring 2004, Spring 2006
  • “The Best Interests of the Child,” 13th Judicial Circuit Town Hall Meeting, Participant, April 2001
  • “Modifying Agreements (Prenuptials/MSAs”),” Family Law Support Modification Seminar, Florida Bar, September 21-22, 2000
  • Television Show “Legally Speaking”, September 11, 1996, Jones Intercable, Tampa, Florida
  • Television show “Florida Justice Files,” Spring 2006, WUSF, Tampa, Florida
  • “Drafting and Litigating Prenuptial Agreements,” National Business Institute, Speaker, December 1995
  • Shared Parental Responsibility, February 1995, Stetson College of Law, Speaker Presentation
  • 1994 Bridge the Gap Seminar, Family Law, Speaker Presentation
  • “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Divorce,” seminar presentation, September 1993, Hillsborough County Bar Association
  • “Litigation Support” November 1993, Tampa Bay Chapter, Institute of Business Appraisers
  • “Help! I’m a Single Parent”, November, 1992, Idlewild Baptist Church
  • “The Role of the CPA in Divorce”, January, 1992, to the Pinellas County CPA Club

Published Works:

  • “Attorneys’ Fees and Costs,” American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Institute, April 2010
  • Chapter 3, Marital Settlement Agreements, in DRAFTING MARRIAGE CONTRACTS IN FLORIDA, The Florida Bar, 4ed, 1997
  • “Family Law Rules”, Lawyer, Hillsborough County Bar Association, December 1995
  • “An Affair to Remember…or Not,” Lawyer, Hillsborough County Bar Association, April,1995
  • Chapter 15, Equitable Distribution, in FLORIDA DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE, The Florida Bar, 4d ed., 1993
  • “Professionalism,” (Co-Authored with Mark A. Sessums), Family Law Section of The Florida Bar Commentator, Spring, 1993
  • “Ethics and The Role of the Attorney,” provided written materials for American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers on Family Law in Florida, 1991 and Board Certification Review Course, 1992
  • “The Other Marital Misconduct: Dissipation of Marital Assets,” Lawyer, Hillsborough County Bar Association, February 1991

Honors and Awards:

  • Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
  • Top 10 Florida Super Lawyers, 2018 – 2021
  • Top 50: Tampa Bay Super Lawyers, 2013, 2015 – 2024
  • Top 50: Women Florida Super Lawyers, 2007 – 2013, 2015 – 2024
  • Top 100: Florida Super Lawyers, 2015 – 2024
  • The Best Lawyers in America© in family law 2006 – present
  • Florida Legal Elite by Florida Trend magazine 2004 – 2021
  • Rated AV® Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Board Certified Marital & Family Lawyer, The Florida Bar, 1985 – present
  • Voted #1 By Peers in Family Law: General category, Top Lawyers listing, Tampa Magazine, 2019
  • Recognized in Law & Leading Attorneys (Florida Consumes Guidebook 1996 – 1997)
  • Received Red McEwen Award from Hillsborough County Bar Association, 2004
  • Received Jimmy Kynes Award for pro bono service from Hillsborough County Bar Association, 2009
  • Recognized by the National Law Journal as one of the 2011 Tampa Lawyers of the Year

Education:

  • Stetson University College of Law, St. Petersburg, FL 1984
    J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
    Honors: Association of Trial Lawyers of America Trial Team, 1983-1984
  • Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 1982, B.S., Bachelor of Science

Certification/Specialties:

Bar Admissions:

  • Florida, 1985
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 2007

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Caroline Black Sikorske, Top Lawyers, TAMPA Magazine
AAMLTampa Magazines' Top Lawyer List 2021