New Contact Info
Bhavsar Law Group,
Inc.
5728 Major Blvd.
Suite 607
Orlando, Florida 32819
407-425-1202
www.kiblawgroup.com
Ms. Bhavsar is one of only fifty lawyers to be Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Florida Bar. As a Board Certified lawyer, Ms. Bhavsar has been recognized by the Bar and her peers as an Expert maintaining the highest level of knowledge, and professional and ethical standards, in the practice of Immigration and Nationality Law. She was also recently named one of Florida’s Super Lawyers in the 2008 edition of Florida’s Super Lawyers Magazine, whose candidates are chosen by their peers and through the independent research of law & politics.
Born in Gujarat, India, Ms. Bhavsar emigrated to the United States when she was only one year old. Ms. Bhavsar grew up in the Orlando area, and graduated from the University of Central Florida in 1992 with a B.A. in Legal Studies.
Ms. Bhavsar then graduated from Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, in 1996 with a Juris Doctor degree. While in law school Ms. Bhavsar was a member of the award-winning Moot Court team, and worked as a law clerk intern for Immigration Judge Elisa Sukkar, Department of Justice, Executive Office of Immigration Review. During law school Ms. Bhavsar also worked at the Nova Southeastern University Law Clinic providing legal services to the economically disadvantaged.
After graduation, Ms. Bhavsar worked for a short while in a large law firm, but left in 1998 to form her own law practice. Although she focuses primarily on Immigration and Nationality Law, Ms. Bhavsar also practices in the areas of Real Estate and Corporate Law. In addition to practicing law, from 2001 to 2004, Ms. Bhavsar was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Central Florida, where she taught Immigration Law and Law Office Practice and Procedure.
Ms. Bhavsar is a member of the Florida Bar and the United States Bar for the Middle District of Florida. She is a past Board Member of the Central Florida Chapter of American Immigration Lawyers Association and President/Group Coordinator of the American Immigration Lawyers Association from the Indian Sub-Continent Interest Group. She is a member of the Indian American Chamber of Commerce, British American Chamber of Commerce, Caribbean Chamber of Commerce, Maitland Chamber of Commerce, Orlando Regional International Council, Central Florida Real Estate Council, and Central Florida Vacation Manager’s Association.
Publications and Speaking Engagements
- “Employment Law Update in Florida,” Seminar Speaker, Sterling Education Services, LLC, March 2009
- “Immigration Law,” Seminar Speaker, League of Women Voters of the Space Coast, Feb 2009
- “Changes to Obtaining U.S. Citizenship” Article, East West Times, December 2008
- “2008 Florida Real Property Tax Reform” Article, East West Times, May 2008
- “International Real Estate,” Seminar Speaker, British American Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, March 2008
- “Immigration Law & Employer Compliance,” Seminar Speaker and Article, Sterling Education Services, LLC, January 2008
- “Employment Law Update in Florida,” Seminar Speaker and Article, Sterling Education Services, LLC, December 2007
- Representative of the Central Florida Real Estate Council, on behalf of Attorneys Title Insurance Fund, at the 2007 Florida Association of Realtors Convention and Trade Expo, August 2007
- “It's Time For Indians to Speak Up on Immigration Issues,” East West Times , May 2006
- “Hot Topics in Immigrant Visas, ” Seminar Discussion Leader, 19th Annual AILA Central Florida Chapter Seminar, Immigration in the 21 st Century , September 2005
- “Immigration Issues, ” Seminar Speaker, Orange County 's Fourth Annual Neighborhood Families Conference, April 2004
- “Legal Justice – Brilliant Legal Minds, ” Participant in a Television Special on Immigration Law, One Studios , March 2004
- “Ethics for Immigration Law in the Workplace," Seminar Speaker and Article, Sterling Education Services, LLC , November 2003
- “Special Registration for Pakistanis, ” East West Times , January 2003
- “The Importance of Informing INS of Your Address Change,” East West Times , December 2002
- “Immigration Help for Children Over 21, ” East West Times , October 2002
Born in Danville, Indiana, Ms. Gifford and her family settled in the Central Florida area while she was in grade school where they have remained since. After graduating from Oak Ridge High School in Orlando, Ms. Gifford attended the University of Florida where she graduated in 1997 with a B.A. in Political Science. She then attended and graduated from Stetson University College of Law in 2000 earning a Juris Doctorate. During law school, Ms. Gifford clerked for various Central Florida law firms and title companies setting the stage for her interest in Real Estate Law.
After graduation from law school, Ms. Gifford worked for an Orlando law firm practicing in the area of insurance defense litigation. Two years later, Ms. Gifford was hired by another Orlando law firm to develop their practice in the areas of personal injury and insurance litigation, medical malpractice, general civil litigation, real estate and corporate law. While developing the firm's practice, Ms. Gifford also served as a City Board Member for the City of Orlando Vehicles for Hire Appeals Board. After four years with the same firm, Ms. Gifford made the decision to start her own practice with fellow attorneys Kashmira Bhavsar and Peter Hagood. Although Ms. Gifford focuses her practice primarily in real estate transactions and litigation, she also practices in the areas of personal injury and insurance litigation, general civil litigation and corporate law.
Ms. Gifford is a member of the Florida Bar, the Orange County Bar Association, the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, the American Trial Lawyers Association and is also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Publications and Speaking Engagements
- “Short Sales of Distressed Properties,” Article, Orlando Regional Realtors Association Newsletter, March 2008, and the East West Times, April 2008
- Representative of the Central Florida Real Estate Council, on behalf of Attorneys Title Insurance Fund, at the 2007 Florida Association of Realtors Convention and Trade Expo, August 2007
Mr. Hagood attended Florida State University where he graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. He then earned his Juris Doctorate from St. Thomas of Villanova School of Law in 1995.
During law school, Mr. Hagood clerked for the Chief Judge of Volusia County. After graduation from law school Mr. Hagood began his legal career with a national law firm in their south Florida office, practicing primarily insurance defense. After several years with that same firm, Mr. Hagood relocated to the Central Florida area and continued his insurance defense practice as an associate with an Orlando firm. In early 2002, Mr. Hagood left the defense firm and began his practice with another Orlando firm focusing primarily on Plaintiff's personal injury and insurance litigation, medical malpractice, general civil litigation, real estate transactions and corporate law. Mr. Hagood has successfully represented personal injury victims as well as claims against insurance companies and big businesses. Having previously represented insurance carriers, Mr. Hagood brings a valuable and unique perspective to Plaintiff representation and litigation.
In early 2006, Mr. Hagood decided to start his own practice with partners, Kash Bhavsar and Amanda Gifford, focusing primarily on personal injury, wrongful death, breach of contract, business disputes, real estate transactions, insurance litigation, general civil litigation, health care clinic registration & licensure compliance and corporate law. Mr. Hagood currently serves as corporate counsel to a number of health care clinics, physicians and diagnostic testing facilities and handles claims against insurance carriers throughout the State of Florida.
In 2001 and 2003, after the Florida Legislature made substantial changes to Florida's No-Fault Law, Mr. Hagood and his partner, Amanda Gifford, authored, presented and sponsored numerous seminars in the central Florida area to educate both clinics and patients on the insurance laws and how to properly comply with same to maximize their insurance benefits. Mr. Hagood is a member of the Florida Bar, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the Orange County Bar Association, the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, the American Trial Lawyers Association and the Orange and Seminole County Personal Injury Protection ("PIP") Steering Committees.