Orange County Bar Association celebrates its 2026 Professionalism Awards – The Florida Bar

Orange County Bar Association celebrates its 2026 Professionalism Awards

The Orange County Bar Association recently honored three members of the legal community, whose conduct and career distinguish them as models of professionalism and success, with the presentation of its annual Professionalism Awards.

The recipients for 2026 are:

David Cannella

David Cannella, a partner specializing in complex business litigation at Holland & Knight in Orlando, received the William Trickel, Jr. Professionalism Award, OCBA’s highest honor. Cannella currently serves on the board of the George C. Young American Inn of Court has served as president of the Legal Aid Society of the OCBA, chair of The Florida Bar’s Ninth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee as well as other Florida Bar committees. He has also served as an adjunct professor of business law at the University of Central Florida and as a faculty member of the Kessler-Eidson Program for Trial Techniques at Emory University School of Law. Canella is the third Holland & Knight partner to be distinguished with the honor, with previous recipients Suzanne Gilbert (2021) and Glenn Adams (2018). The Trickel Award is given to attorneys who have been in practice for at least 15 years.

Judge Gisela Laurent

Judge Gisela T. Laurent, of the Ninth Judicial Circuit, received the James G. Glazebrook Memorial Bar Service Award, which is given to a state or federal jurist who “best demonstrates service to and support of the legal profession and the Legal Aid Society of the OCBA, is dedicated to professionalism both in and out of the courtroom, and is a leader in promoting professionalism, including civility, integrity, and respect for the legal system.”

C. Andrew Roy

C. Andrew Roy, of Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman in Winter Garden, is the recipient of the Lawrence G. Mathews, Jr., Young Lawyer Professionalism Award, which is given to lawyers who have been practicing for less than 15 years.

Recipients of the Trickel and Mathews awards are nominated by their peers and selected based on service to the community and to the profession, consistently ethical conduct, courteous demeanor, high moral standards, and professional behavior.

For more about the annual awards, including a list of past winners, visit https://orangecountybar.org/page/professionalism-awards.

The OCBA Professionalism Awards ceremony was held March 26 at the Marriott Downtown in Orlando.