Alan Wagner
A civil trial lawyer since 1983, Alan Wagner brings an unusual skill set to his partnership in the firm. True to the firm’s dedication to plaintiffs’ rights, Alan’s experience plays a vital role in helping clients.
Alan has distinguished himself as a trial lawyer, gaining extensive experience in handling claims of professional negligence, products liability, bad-faith litigation, complex commercial disputes, toxic torts, and legal and medical malpractice. One of Alan’s key areas of expertise is in the examination of expert witnesses — frequently a critical component in personal injury litigation — which he has perfected while honing a reputation for general excellence in trial advocacy.
Alan became a partner in the firm in 1994 and today serves as President of Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore. His exceptional skills and competence have refueled the practice’s growth and success.
At Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore, Alan’s practice continues to focus on representing those who have been injured through others’ negligence or wrongful conduct, be it the careless driver, manufacturer of defective products, or the negligent doctor, lawyer, hospital or other professional. Alan has also developed a contingency fee based practice for intellectual property disputes involving copyright, patent, and trademark infringement cases, to preserve clients’ intellectual property rights and obtain compensation for their infringement. Alan’s proficiency and skill are reflected in his professional honors and memberships. He is board-certified as a Civil Trial Lawyer by both The Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. In 2005, Alan was inducted as a fellow of the prestigious and distinguished American College of Trial Lawyers, considered the premier professional trial organization in America. Additionally, Alan serves on the board of the Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association and was appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to serve for two terms on the Florida Standard Jury Instructions Committee (Civil).
On the personal side, Alan holds both single and multiengine pilot’s licenses and is a dedicated husband and father of two. His wife, Deborah, is the founder and director of Tampa Bay’s Child, Inc., a local nonprofit organization linking impoverished children with sponsors from the community (www.tampabayschild.org). His son and daughter have recently graduated from Rice University in Texas. Alan and Deborah have two grown children, Alex and Natalie.
Accomplishments
- Board Of Directors, Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association
- Graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1980
- Earned J.D. with high honors from the Florida State University College of Law in 1983
- Admitted to The Florida Bar in 1983
- Admitted to practice before all Florida State Courts, The United States Supreme Court, The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, The U.S. District Court, Northern, Middle, and Southern Divisions
- Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, The Florida Bar (www.flabar.org)
- Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate, The National Board of Trial Advocacy (www.NBTAnet.org)
- Board Certified Civil Pretrial Practice Advocate, The National Board of Trial Advocacy and The National Board of Civil Pretrial Practice Advocacy (www.nblsc.us)
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers (www.ACTL.com)
- Member, American Law Institute (www.ali.org)
- Associate, American Board of Trial Advocates (www.abota.org)
- Board of Directors 2011-Present, Florida Justice Association (www.floridajusticeassociation.org)
- Sustaining member, American Association for Justice (www.justice.org)
- Appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to serve on the Florida Standard Jury Instructions Committee (Civil)(2006-2012)
- ‘AV’ rated by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
- Former adjunct professor of legal writing and appellate advocacy, Stetson University College of Law
