Lee Stapleton

Lee Stapleton has left K&L Gates to join Carlton Fields Jorden Burt as a shareholder in the firm's business litigation and white-collar crime practices.

“It's wonderful to be joining Carlton Fields, a firm that has great lawyers in every practice area — litigation, corporate, real estate, and tax — and a wide variety of subspecialties in those areas,” said Stapleton. “I'm also very happy to be joining a group of friends — people who I've known for years and admire for their legal skills, dedication to the community, and graciousness.”

Stapleton has been practicing in South Florida for over 30 years. She spent 16 years as prosecutor in the U.S. attorney's office in Miami during the city's peak in crime in the 1980s. In 2002, she moved to Baker McKenzie, where she handled white-collar defense and complex commercial litigation for 14 years before going to K&L Gates in 2016.

“Lee's unique relationship-driven approach and her talent as a legal strategist are a boon to our growing Miami office,” Amy Furness, Miami co-office managing partner, said in a statement. “Her addition is part of the office's strategic hiring in our litigation and white-collar practice areas.”

Outside of work, Stapleton served as the 2015 president and chairwoman of the Orange Bowl Committee and oversaw the national college football playoff semifinal game in the first year of the current postseason system.

Stapleton has also served for many years as a board of trustees and directors member for Baptist Health Enterprises, Baptist Health South Florida Medical Arts Surgical Center, and Baptist Outpatient Services.