Laura L. Ferrante, Esq., Corporate Legal Counsel for Paul Davis Restoration, Inc., has been named among Jacksonville Business Journal’s Women of Influence 2014, according to a press release. Ferrante was recognized along with 27 other honorees and will be officially honored on August 28 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville in Jacksonville, FL.

Nominated by Malcolm Stone, Paul Davis’ Director of Marketing and Communications, Ferrante’s recognition was based on an online submission outlining the businesswoman’s professional, civic, and personal accomplishments.

Some of Ferrante’s key accomplishments include strong leadership skills and a diverse background in insurance defense litigation, contract negotiation and preparation, mediation, construction law, and employment law. She also has experience in regulatory compliance and audit oversight in highly regulated industries. As Corporate Legal Counsel for Paul Davis, Ferrante brings valuable counsel to help lead the Paul Davis franchise system. Most recently, Ferrante assisted in the merger with Paul Davis Canada to add more than 60 franchises to the Paul Davis network. She has also implemented a new mediation program for the Paul Davis network to resolve internal disputes.

Ferrante is also a founding member of the CHILD Cancer Fund, a 501c(3) non-profit organization in Jacksonville that provides educational, financial and support services for northeast Florida families dealing with a child’s cancer diagnosis and treatment. As a parent of a young child with cancer, Ferrante was instrumental in starting the CHILD Cancer Fund to help guide families through the process of childhood cancer. The grassroots organization celebrates its 20^th anniversary this year and continues to provide assistance to families in the north Florida and south Georgia area.

Ferrante is a Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator and is certified by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) as a facilitator Trainer in advocacy skills. She is rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell for more than 10 years, receiving a 5 out of 5 Peer Review Rating, the highest rating conferred for legal ability and ethical standards of conduct.  She is a Honorary member of the Robert E. Williams Inns of Court and an active member of the Florida and American Bar Associations. She maintains her Board Certification Emeritus in Workers Compensation Law. Ferrante holds a Juris Doctor degree, conferred in April, 1985 from the Florida State University College of Law in Tallahassee, Florida. She was admitted to the Florida Bar and United States District Court, Middle District, October in 1985. She also holds a B.A. degree in Psychology from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.

“Laura Ferrante is everything you want in a corporate attorney and a person,” said Tim Robinson, CEO of Paul Davis Restoration Inc. “She has the highest integrity, is intelligent, hardworking, has good values and cares about people. She is very deserving of this honor. On behalf of Paul Davis, I congratulate her for this recognition.”

 For more information, visit www.pauldavis.com.