Attorney Crystal Collins Spencer is the founder of Spencer Law, P.A., a law firm with offices in Pensacola, Ft. Walton and Sandestin providing assistance in family law, medical malpractice and personal injury from Pensacola, Ft Walton, Destin to Sandestin, Santa Rosa Beach and Panama City. With over 30 years of courtroom experience in Florida and throughout the U.S., Crystal is a dedicated, respected and aggressive advocate for her clients’ causes.
Crystal graduated from the University of Kentucky with high honors and earned her Juris Doctor law degree from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. She gained valuable courtroom skill and experience while serving as an Assistant State Attorney for the Office of State Attorney, First Judicial Circuit of Florida, before moving into private practice. Crystal spent years representing doctors and hospital groups and has knowledge and experience of medical malpractice matters from both sides of the case. As a distinguished family law attorney, she has handled high net worth and complex divorce matters. She has shepherded notable cases through trial and appeal, including arguing before the Florida Supreme Court.
Crystal is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell, denoting the highest level of legal ability, ethics and professionalism as evaluated by her peers. In addition, she is a Senior Fellow of the legal honor society Litigation Counsel of America. She has been named to the Florida Legal Elite by Florida Trend, as well as being recognized as a Florida Super Lawyer among her peers. Spencer has been profiled as a Leading Attorney by Town & Country, and recognized among Women Leaders in the Law by Fortune Magazine.
Crystal is an active member of The Florida Bar, belong to The Bar’s sections on Health Law, Trial Lawyers, and Family Law. She is also a member of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association, the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, the Litigation Counsel of America, the Trial Law Institute and the Diversity Law Institute.
As passionate about volunteering as she is about law, Crystal devotes tireless hours and focused leadership to the causes she champions. She is active in numerous national, regional and community organizations, and has received The Escambia Santa Rosa Bar’s Community Service Award. As Chair of the City of Pensacola Charter Review Commission, she was a primary drafter of Pensacola’s new charter, and spearheaded the adoption of Pensacola’s new form of government.
Special Qualifications
• Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator (2004-2013)
• Florida Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator
• Media Crisis Training (one-on-one) w/Clarence Jones, Author of “Winning with the News Media”
Honors and Recognition
• AV Preeminent Rating®, Martindale-Hubbell
• Client Distinction Award, Martindale- Hubbell
• Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers
• Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
• National Association of Distinguished Counsel (recognized as among the Nation’s One Percent of Attorneys)
• Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend (recognized by peers as among the top 2 % of Florida Lawyers)
• Florida Super Lawyer® (recognized as among the top 5% of attorneys)
• Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society (consists of less than 1% of American Lawyers)
• Lawyers of Distinction
• American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
• Best Attorneys of America, Lifetime Charter Member, Rue Ratings
• Barrister, Order of Justitia
• Barrister, Order of Certus
• Women Leaders in the Law, Fortune, October 2014
• Profiled in Town and Country, August 2014
• American Academy of Medical Malpractice Lawyers, Charter Member
• Junior Achievement Hall of Fame Laurate 2016
• Outstanding Community Volunteer/Community Service Award – 2011, Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association
• Annual Power List – 2010-2017 Pensacola Independent News (Area’s Top Most Influential & Powerful People)
• Outstanding Woman in Business – 2007, Pensacola Business Journal
• Best of Coast 2006 – voted Best Local Attorney, Pensacola Independent News
Reported Cases
• Chadbourne v. Chadbourne, 146 So. 3d 75 (Fla. 1st DCA 2014)
• Fleming v. FWBMC, 113 So. 3d 444 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013)
• McMahon v. McMahon, 108 So. 3d 1084 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013)
• Griffith v. Griffith, 860 So. 2d 1069 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003)
• Sayeh R., Matter of, 670 N.Y.S. 2d 377, 91 N.Y. 2d 206, 693 N.E. 2d 724 (N.Y. 1997) co-counsel
• Sayeh R., Matter of, 659 N.Y.S. 2d 590, 239 A.D. 2d 959 (N.Y.A.D.4 Dept., 1997) co-counsel
• Mott v. Rivazfar, 653 N.Y.S. 2d 760, 236 A.D. 819 (N.Y.A.D. 4 Dept., 1997), modified by
• Mott v. Rivazfar, 661 N.Y.S. 2d 417, 172 Misc. 2d 507, (N.Y.Sup., 1996) government
• Russenberger v. Russenberger, 669 So. 2d 1044 (Fla. 1996) (Relocation of custodial parent with minor children)
• Russenberger v. Russenberger, 654 So. 2d 207 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995)
• Russenberger v. Russenberger, 639 So. 2d 963 (Fla. 1994) (Psychological examination of minor child)
• Russenberger v. Russenberger, 623 So. 2d 1244 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993)
• M. Collins v. State of Florida, 626 So. 2d 991 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993)
Appointments
• AHA/ACC Guideline Writing Committee Lay Member, Guideline for the Management of Patients with Hypertension (2014-2016)
• AHA/ACC Guideline Writing Committee Lay Member, Guideline on Perioperative Cardiovascular Evaluation and Management of Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery (2013-2014)
• Lay Stakeholder Peer Review Committee, Basic Cellular 1, 2013, 2014
• Bioethics Committee, West Florida Hospital, 2014, 2015
• State of Florida Department of Health, Tobacco, Education, and Use Prevention Advisory Council, 2011-2013
• City of Pensacola Charter Review Commission, Chair, 2008-2009 – Primary drafter of City’s new Charter changing the form of government
• Believe in a Better Pensacola, 2010 (Led successful campaign for passage of the Pensacola Charter, changing form of government to strong mayor form)
Community Service
• American Heart Association National
• Writing Committee Member 2014, ACC/AHA Guidelines on Perioperative Cardiovascular Evaluation and Management of Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery
• Writing Committee Member 2017, ACC/AHA Guidelines for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults
• You’re The Cure on the Hill, April 2013
• Volunteer Training Task Force, 2013-2014
• Core Vitae, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
• Heart & Stroke Champion
• Paul Dudley White Legacy Society
• Greater Southeast Affiliate (FL, GA, AL, MS, LA, TN, PR)
• GSA Volunteer Executive Cabinet, 2013-2016
• Nominating Committee, 2015-2016
• Board of Directors, 2006-2014
• Immediate Past Chair, 2013-2014
• Cor Vitae Affiliate Chair, 2013-2014
• Chair, 2012-2013
• Chair-Elect 2010-2012
• Secretary/Treasurer, 2009-2010
• Business Operations Chair, 2009-2010
• Business Operations Committee Member, 2006-2013
• Florida Advocacy Subcommittee, 2008-2012
• Florida/Puerto Rico Affiliate
• Board of Directors, 2005-2006; Secretary/Treasurer, 2006
• Annual Meeting Committee Member, 2005-2006; Annual Meeting Go Red for Women Presenter, 2006
• Heart on the Hill Committee Member, 2005-2006; Business Operations Committee Member, 2005-2006
• Outstanding Freshman Volunteer, 2006;
• Learn & Live Visionary Speaker, 2006-2007
• Northwest Florida Division
• Heart Ball Executive Leadership Team
• Heart Ball Chair; Heart Ball Vice-Chair
• Heart Walk Executive Leadership Team; Heart Walk Team Captain
• Heart Walk Top Walker Award; Heart Walk Rookie Company Award
• Advocacy Volunteer; Fundraiser of the Year Award
• Presidential Award; Rookie of the Year Award
• Leadership Circle; Community Board Member
• Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation Trustee
• Pensacola State College
• Anna Society, Founding Member
• WSRE—PBS on the Gulf Coast
• Co-Chair, 40th Anniversary Celebration of Public Television, 2007
• Co-Chair, 19th Annual Food and Wine Classic, 2007
• Pensacola Bay Area IMPACT 100
• Member, 2004-2009, 2016, 2017
• Pensacola Little Theater/Pensacola Cultural Center
• Board Member and Numerous Chairs, 1992-2006
• Trustee Emeritus Lifetime
• United Way
• Alexis de Tocqueville Society Member
• University of West Florida
• WUWF Crystal Circle, 2013
• Nautilus Society, 2007-2009
• Covenant Hospice
• Ruby Society
• American Cancer Society—Escambia/Santa Rosa Chapter
• Committee Chair, Past Board Member & Various Chairs
• Volunteer Leadership Award
• National Society of Fund Raising Executives
• Recognized as Outstanding Volunteer
Professional Memberships
• The Florida Bar
• Health Law Section
• Trial Lawyers Section
• Family Law Section
• Escambia/Santa Rosa Bar Association
• Member, The Trial Law Institute
• Member, Diversity Law Institute
American Academy of Medical Malpractice Lawyers, Charter Member Florida Hospital Association/Florida Academy of Healthcare Attorneys Florida Defense Lawyers Association Defense Research Institute Escambia/Santa Rosa Bar Association Reported Cases:
Fleming v. FWBMC, (Fla. 1st DCA App. 2013) Opinion filed 4-15-13; McMahon v. McMahon, (Fla. 1st DCA App. 2013) Meszler v. PMI Employee Leasing, 877 So. 2d 726 (Fla. 1st DCA 2004); Griffith v. Griffith, 860 So. 2d 1069 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003); Mott v. Rivazfar, 653 N.Y.S. 2d 760, 236 A.D. 819 (N.Y.A.D. 4 Dept., 1997), modified by Mott v. Rivazfar, 661 N.Y.S. 2d 417, 172 Misc. 2d 507, (N.Y.Sup., 1996); Russenberger v. Russenberger, 669 So. 2d 1044 (Fla. 1996) (Relocation of custodial parent with minor children); Russenberger v. Russenberger, 654 So. 2d 207 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995); Russenberger v. Russenberger, 639 So. 2d 963 (Fla. 1994) (Psychological examination of minor child); Russenberger v. Russenberger, 623 So. 2d 1244 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993); T. M. Collins v. State of Florida, 626 So. 2d 991 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993)
