With over 40 years of legal experience, Thomas C. Saunders brings a wealth of knowledge, skill, and dedication to every mediation.

 

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and raised in Miami, Tom earned his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Notre Dame in 1980, followed by his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida College of Law in 1982.

 

Admitted to practice in Florida since 1984, Tom’s career began as an Assistant City Attorney in Tampa, later transitioning to insurance defense, where he gained deep insight into how insurance companies handle claims. In 1991, he moved to Polk County, focusing on personal injury, commercial litigation, and family law — trying cases ranging from medical negligence to complex business disputes.

 

Tom is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in both Civil Trial and Business Litigation — a distinction held by less than 2% of Florida attorneys, with even fewer certified in more than one specialty. Over the years, he has served as President of the Polk County Trial Lawyers Association, chaired multiple Florida Bar committees, and received the prestigious AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell for his legal skill and ethical standards.

 

A lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Tom has been recognized in Who’s Who and is an invited member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil and Family Law Mediator, offering clients an alternative path to resolving disputes that is often more cost-effective and timely than litigation.

 

Today, Tom focuses exclusively on mediation, drawing on decades of litigation experience to help parties find fair, practical resolutions. He lives in Polk County with his wife and enjoys time with their two adult children.