Luis Viera
Luis Viera is a mediator who was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2003. Since his admission, he has practiced extensively in the areas of insurance defense litigation, automobile litigation, premises liability litigation, and general civil litigation.
Luis graduated from Stetson College of Law in 2003 and is a former partner at the law firm of Ogden & Sullivan in Tampa. He also previously worked at Banker Lopez and continues to practice in civil litigation at Pennington, P.A. Luis presently serves on Tampa City Council, a part-time position, and is a former chairman of Tampa City Council and present chairman of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) Board.
As a mediator, Luis believes in a calm and focused collaborative process in which the parties respectfully listen to one another and hopefully reach an agreeable conclusion. Mediation is all about accessibility: making sure the parties see the mediator and other side as accessible with mutual respect.
Luis has always been very active in his local legal community. He is the former chairman of the Hillsborough County Bar Association Diversity Committee, a former president of the Tampa Hispanic Bar Association and presently serves on the Tampa Hispanic Bar Association’s Foundation Board.
Professionally, Luis has received the following professional awards and citations:
- Florida Super Lawyers (2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015)
- Florida Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” (2012, 2013)
- Florida Trend Legal Elite (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015)
- Best Lawyers in America (2020-2021-2022)
- Tampa Bay Business Journal “40 Under 40” Up and Comers
- 2012 Recipient of Equal Opportunities in the Profession Award from the Florida Bar Equal Opportunities Law Section
- 2013 Recipient of the Civic Involvement Award from Tampa Hispanic Heritage, Inc.
- 2014 Recipient of the Tampa Hispanic Bar Association President’s Award for Service
- 2015 Recipient of Florida Association for Women Lawyers Leaders in the Law Award
- 2016 Recipient of the Tampa Hispanic Bar Association Luis Cabassa Award.
Luis has also received the Keeping the American Patriotic Spirit Alive Award (2018-2020) from the Hillsborough County Veterans Council, the Community Champion Award (2020) from the Hillsborough County Veterans Treatment Court Mentors, and the Patrick Henry Patriotism Award from the Military Order of the World Wars.
Luis is also a co-founder and former president of Lawyers Autism Awareness Foundation and previously served on the Board of Tampa Bay Best Buddies, an organization which assists and advocates for persons with special needs and developmental disabilities.
Luis lives in New Tampa with his wife, Colleen O’Brien (also an attorney), and his son, Luis Viera II.