Leighton Yates

Leighton Yates has served on the board of Camaraderie Foundation since 2012.  Leighton served Camaraderie as Board Chair from January 2015 through January 2017, as Vice Chair from January 2013 through January 2015, and as Secretary until he was elevated to Vice Chair.   Leighton practiced law for 44 years prior to his retirement in January 2018.  He was a partner in Holland & Knight LLP, a national law firm with about 1,300 lawyers, and for many years he served as co-practice group leader of his firm’s 70 lawyer Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions National Practice Group.  Leighton’s other volunteer activities include:  34 years as a director of Florida’s Blood Centers, including 15 years as Chairman and 15 years as Vice Chairman; eight years of active service and 19 years of active emeritus service as a member of the Florida Board of Bar Examiners, including terms as both Chair and Vice Chair; and ten years of service to Orlando Opera Company, including terms as Chairman and Vice Chairman.  During his time as a practicing lawyer Leighton was listed in Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite Hall of Fame, in The Best Lawyers in America, in Florida Super Lawyers, and in Legal 500 USA.  Leighton also enjoyed the highest ability and ethics ratings from Martindale-Hubbell for more than 35 years.  He is a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.  In the business community Leighton served as a director of Hubbard Construction Company for 20 years and as an Administrative Director of SunTrust Bank for 24 years.  Between college and law school Leighton spent three years in the U.S. Army, including a tour of duty as an infantry lieutenant in Vietnam.