Salesia V. Smith-Gordon, Esq.
Founder & Managing Attorney
Salesia V. Smith-Gordon, Esquire
Law Office of Salesia V. Smith-Gordon, PA
As founder of her boutique personal injury law firm, Salesia Smith-Gordon has multiple layers of success. Her background as a pharmacist and trial lawyer has won several million-dollar awards for injured clients. Yet, her community and philanthropic interests in education, arts, politics, rescued animals and mentoring reflects her natural characteristics of strength and compassion.
Salesia has been recognized as a Lawyer of Distinction.
Her compilation of works as a strategist, litigator, advocate, and community servant have been recognized professionally and civically with honors and awards to include:
- 2024 Distinguished Leadership Award at My Teacher, My Hero Gala
- 2024 President’s Award of Exellence
- 2023 National Diamondback Pharmacy Alumni Council Service Award
- 2023 PBC- FAWL Justice Ruth Bader Gingsberg Workplace Diversity Award
- 2022 FSU College of Law Alumni Service Award
- 2022 FSU Alumni Association Service Award
- 2022 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., L.E.A.D. Award Recipient
- 2021-Present National Black Lawyers Top 100 Lawyers
- 2021 ICABA Woman of Impact Award
- 2020 FAWL-PBC Legal Legend Award
- 2020-Present Ambassador-Lawyers of Distinction
- 2018-2020 FL 10 Best Attorneys for Client Satisfaction in Personal Injury
- 2020 Urban League PBC “Trailblazer”
- 2020 PBC Women’s Chamber – Giraffe Award Nominee
- 2019 & 2020 Lawyers of Distinction “Power Lawyer”
- 2019 Eta Phi Beta – Justice Award
- 2018 Legacy Award- So FL Most Influential Black Women in Business
- 2017 & 2018 Legal Elite – Best Boutique Injury Firm – Premises
- 2018 WPB Illumination Award -Philanthropy
- 2017 FL Best Boutique Injury Law Firm in Premises Liability
- 2017 The Salesia V. Smith-Gordon Faculty Office at FSU College of Law
- 2015 Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Women in Leadership Award (Private Sector)
EDUCATION
Florida State University
College of Law, 1992 JD
Florida A&M University
College of Pharmacy,
1989, B.S. Pharmarcy
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Law Office of Salesia Smith-Gordon, PA
Managing Attorney
(1993 to Present) - Florida Registered Pharmacist, Ret.
(1989-2015)
COURT ADMISSIONS
- United States Supreme Court
- Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeal
- Florida State Courts:
- Florida Federal District Courts
- Northern District
- Middle District
- Southern District
CERTIFICATIONS
- Florida Supreme Court Certified Civil Circuit Mediator
- Qualified Arbitrator
HOBBIES
White Water Rafting, Horseback Riding, Cooking, Travel
FAMILY: Salesia and her husband Lawrence Gordon reside in Haverhill, FL with her rescued cats, Samantha & Vicki.
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
- President: Sheree Davis Cunningham Black Women Lawyers Association (2024-2025)
- Outreach Committee Chair: FSU College of Law Almuni (2024-2025)
- Board of Directors: Florida Justice Association Women’s Caucus (2024-2025)
- Committee Chair: Palm Beach County Bar Association (2023-2024
- First Vice President: Sheree Davis Cunningham Black Women Lawyers Association (2023-2024)
- Legal Advisor: Zeta Tau Omega Chp (West Palm Beach) Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (2023-2024)
- Membership Chair: FSU Law Executive Board: Membership Chair (2023-2024)
- Board of Visitors: FSU College of Law (2022-Present)
- Cornerstone Class XL: Leadership Florida (Fall 2022-2023)
- TV Legal Analyst: Dan Abram’s Law & Crime Trial Network Legal Analyst (2022- Present)
- Chair: Town of Haverhill ARPA Committee (2022-Present)
- President: FSU College of Law Black Alumni Network (2020-2022)
- Board of Directors: FSU Law Alumni (2016-Present)
- Trustee: Chamber of Commerce – Palm Beaches (2019-Present)
- Chair: Haverhill, FL Infrastructure Surtax Committee (2018-Present)
- Business Advisory Board Member: Sea Coast Bank (2017-Present)
- Host: International Career & Business Alliance Book Club (2020-2021)
- Chair: Social Justice Committee PBC Justice Assoc. (2020-2021)
- Board of Directors: Palm Beach Co. Justice Association (2017-2020)
- Co-Chair: 2020 Bench-Bar Conference PBC Bar Association (2019-2020)
- Chair: National Trends – West Palm Beach The Links, Inc. (2018-2020)
- Chair: Palm Beach Co. Commission on Ethics (2013-15)
- Chair: Palm Beach Co. Inspector General Committee (2013-15)
- Chair: Florida Bar Grievance Committee (2010-2013)
- President: Cunningham Bar Association (2011-2012)
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- Movant: US Supreme Court Admission Ceremony before the en banc Court (February 24, 2025)
- Panelist: Celebrating the Achievements of Black Women (February 27, 2025)
- Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation – Trailblazers Event: Black Heritage Breakfast – Celebrating the Achievements of Black Women
- CLE Moderator: Rooted Bridging Nation: US-Ghana Dual Citizenship, GenderEquities & Financial Impact (February 28, 2025)
- Palm Beach County Sheree Davis Cunningham Black Women Lawyers Association
- CLE Moderator: The Art of Storytelling for Lawyers: Power of Persuasion (January 29, 2025)
- Continuing Legal Education seminar presented by the Palm Beach County Bar Association Personal Injury/Wrongful Death Committee (Co-Chair)
- Keynote: Jewish Lawyers Association in PBC (October 2024)
- CLE: The Art of Storytelling for Lawyers: Power of Persuasion (October 2024)
- Navigating the Rough Seas: Trying to Achieve Work Life Balance Amidst Trauma Stress and Isolation (September 2024)
- Business Summit & Mixer: Business Succession Planning for PBC Black Business Chamber (August 29 2024)
- 2024 National Black Business Month at Riviera Beach
- CLE: Demystifying Federal Practice (June 2024)
- Webinar: Mediation & Settlement (May 24, 2024)
- Podcast: Mental Health Awareness (May 2, 2024)
- Keynote: National Junior Honor Society (April 29, 2024) at Jeaga Middle School
- Presenter: Florida HB-837 Tort Reform (March 8, 2024)
- Palm Beach County Bar Association Bench-Bar Convention
- Panelist: Branding in the Workplace and Solo Practice (October 2023)
- Speaker: 20 year Anniversary celebration honoring CEO Patrick Franklin at Urban League (April 2022)
- Keynote: PBC Law Association Bench Bar Conference (March 2022)
- Keynote: Reignite Florida – Small Business Leadership Summit (December 2021)
- Keynote: FSU College of Law BAN/BLSA Professional Networking (October 2021)
- Florida Bar – Trial Notebook
- Guest Lecturer Topics (CLEs): Mediations and Settlements, Tools to Start a Law Practice, Nuts and Bolts of a Personal Injury Case, 2 Legit to Quit (Business & Life), Branding in the Workplace – The Solo Practitioner
