Welcome to the Daily Business Review's annual Professional Excellence Awards, which spotlight the impressive work of South Florida legal industry leaders in 2017.

This special section introduces the three finalists for the Attorney of the Year recognition: Walter Andrews, Jaret Davis and Peter Prieto. For vastly different reasons — hurricanes, dealmaking and air bags — the three exemplify excellence in the legal profession.

The section introduces the lifetime achievements of three legal legends: retired Third District Court of Appeal Judge Melvia B. Green, K&L Gates partner Paul Hancock and former Akerman chairman and CEO Andrew Smulian. People familiar with their legal careers have written testimonials to give the readers special insights into the honorees.

The DBR also recognizes 15 distinguished legal professionals for their great performances on the legal front, the success stories of five problem-solving legal departments and the work of six midsize and small litigation departments that met with notable success last year.

For the first time, special categories recognize the work of real estate transaction attorneys and law firms with innovative practice areas.

This issue also recognizes 20 On the Rise honorees who are young legal overachievers. All were under 40 when the year began, and all are standouts in their fields.

All of the honorees will be called to the stage for recognition at an event set May 30 at the Rusty Pelican in Miami, where the Attorney of the Year will be announced.

Catherine Wilson
 Managing Editor

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Attorney of the Year

Three finalists are vying for the Daily Business Review's annual Attorney of the Year award:

• Walter Andrews: The head of Hunton Andrews Kurth's insurance recovery practice went into overdrive helping hurricane victims — both paying clients and pro bono people in need — in 2017.

• Jaret Davis: Davis has been heavily involved in recruiting Amazon's second headquarters to South Florida and top-dollar tech deals.

• Peter Prieto: The Takata air bag litigation preoccupied Prieto in 2017, consuming up to 80 percent of his time as vehicle owners landed settlements valued at $1.2 billion.

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On the Rise

Here are Q&As with leading young leaders in the law.

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Lifetime Achievement

Melvia B. Green: Role model, legal legend, pacesetter and trailblazer are words frequently and aptly used to describe the retired Third District Court of Appeal Judge Melvia B. Green. READ MORE

Paul Hancock: For nearly half a century, Paul Hancock has been the embodiment of justice — a government official pursuing civil rights violations, a mentor guiding scores of young lawyers and a successful private sector attorney defending Americans of all stripes. READ MORE