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Top-Ranked Local Government Lawyers in West Palm Beach, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.217 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked local government lawyers in West Palm Beach, Florida are Keith W Davis (LexRank 84.00), Christy Lyn Goddeau (84.00) and Melissa Page Anderson (82.60).

This ranking lists 17 local government lawyers in West Palm Beach, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. All 17 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in City, County and Local Government Law by The Florida Bar, a credential held by 4.9% of Florida lawyers in any field. Their experience ranges from 11 to 36 years in practice.

Lawyers ranked
17
Fully verified
17 of 17

The ranking

Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank

  1. No change

    Keith W Davis

    Independent practice · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.3)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  2. No change

    Christy Lyn Goddeau

    Torcivia, Donlon, Goddeau & Rubin, P.A. · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 30 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.3)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  3. No change

    Melissa Page Anderson

    City of West Palm Beach · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 35 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.40 points behind #2, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.3)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.40 points behind #2 (Christy Lyn Goddeau): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  4. No change

    Hollie N Hawn

    Independent practice · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.3)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  5. No change

    Judith Wolfson Levine

    Independent practice · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 36 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.3)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  6. No change

    Amy Taylor Petrick

    Independent practice · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.3)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  7. No change

    Leonard Gary Rubin

    Torcivia, Donlon, Goddeau & Rubin, P.A. · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 36 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.3)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  8. No change

    Roger Brian Shutt

    Independent practice · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.3)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  9. No change

    Anne Gardner Helfant

    Independent practice · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 24 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 81.40: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.20 points behind #8, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 25.3)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.20 points behind #8 (Roger Brian Shutt): Experience −1.2.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  10. No change

    Jennifer Dominique Cockcroft

    Independent practice · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 22 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 with 80.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Experience (26.4/30); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.00 points behind #9, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.3)
    • Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 25.3)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.00 points behind #9 (Anne Gardner Helfant): Experience −2.4.

  11. No change

    R Max Lohman “Max”

    Independent practice · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 22 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 80.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Experience (26.4/30); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.3)
    • Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 25.3)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  12. No change

    Kimberly L. Rothenburg

    City of West Palm Beach · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 21 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 79.20: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.20 points behind #11, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.3)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.20 points behind #11 (R Max Lohman “Max”): Experience −1.2.

  13. No change

    Elizabeth Vail Lenihan

    Torcivia, Donlon, Goddeau & Rubin, P.A. · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 19 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 76.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20). 2.40 points behind #12, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.3)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    2.40 points behind #12 (Kimberly L. Rothenburg): Experience −2.4.

  14. No change

    Kathryn Barkett Rossmell

    Independent practice · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 14 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 70.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (16.8/30). 6.00 points behind #13, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.3)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 25.3)

    6.00 points behind #13 (Elizabeth Vail Lenihan): Experience −6.

  15. No change

    Janice Dawn Rustin

    Independent practice · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 14 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 69.40: strongest in Local relevance (5/5) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (16.8/30). 1.40 points behind #14, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 20)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 25.3)

    1.40 points behind #14 (Kathryn Barkett Rossmell): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  16. No change

    Amity Rainey Barnard

    Independent practice · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 12 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 68.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (14.4/30). 1.00 points behind #15, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.3)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
    • Experience 14.4/30 (ranking avg 25.3)

    1.00 points behind #15 (Janice Dawn Rustin): Experience −2.4.

  17. No change

    Seth C. Behn

    Independent practice · West Palm Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 11 years experience
    • Local Government
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #17?

    Ranks #17 with 67.20: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (13.2/30). 1.20 points behind #16, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.3)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
    • Experience 13.2/30 (ranking avg 25.3)

    1.20 points behind #16 (Amity Rainey Barnard): Experience −1.2.

Data sources behind the scores

Every score on this page is calculated from facts backed by these sources. Each profile shows which source supports which fact and when it was last checked.

  • floridabar.org · Official / regulatory · 17 profile pages180 facts for 17 lawyers

Local Government market in West Palm Beach

LexRanked tracks 17 lawyers and 2 law firms in local government law in West Palm Beach, Florida. 17 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 22, 2026.

Lawyers
17
Law firms
2
Verified professional data
17 of 17
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
24 years17 lawyers

Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld. All lawyers in West Palm Beach

What sets these West Palm Beach lawyers apart

All 17 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in City, County and Local Government Law by The Florida Bar, which only about one in twenty Florida lawyers achieves in any field. Florida Bar board certification requires at least five years of practice, substantial involvement in the field, peer review by other lawyers and judges, continuing legal education and a written exam, and it must be renewed every five years. The figures below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.

Fact about the 17 ranked lawyers Figure
Board Certified in City, County and Local Government Law 17 of 17
Years in practice 11 to 36 (median 24)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law (8 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a West Palm Beach office address and local government as a practice area on record. It compares 17 local government lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. How we rank.

Florida rules to know

Florida cities and counties must meet in public and open their records to anyone, and injury claims against them are capped at $200,000 per person and must first be presented in writing.

Rule What it means
Open meetings Meetings of a board or commission where official acts are taken must be open to the public, with reasonable notice and promptly recorded minutes (Fla. Stat. § 286.011)
Public records Any person may inspect and copy public records, subject to the exemptions in the law (§ 119.07)
Damage caps A city, county or other public body pays no more than $200,000 per person or $300,000 per incident (§ 768.28(5))
Notice of claim A claim must be presented in writing to the agency within 3 years after it accrues, before any lawsuit (§ 768.28(6))
Lawyer fees Fees on these claims may not exceed 25% of the judgment or settlement (§ 768.28(8))
Court Where cases are heard
State court circuit Palm Beach County is in Florida's Fifteenth Judicial Circuit

How to choose among these lawyers

Confirm the license, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing before you sign.

  1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
  2. Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
  3. Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

Are city and county meetings open to the public in Florida?

Yes. Under section 286.011, meetings of a board or commission at which official acts are taken must be open to the public at all times, with reasonable notice, and minutes must be promptly recorded.

How do I get public records from a Florida city or county?

Ask the agency's records custodian. Under section 119.07 any person may inspect and copy public records, subject to the exemptions the law lists.

How much can I recover from a Florida city or county?

Under section 768.28(5), a city, county or other public body pays no more than $200,000 to one person or $300,000 for all claims from the same incident.

How long do I have to bring a claim against a Florida city or county?

The claim must be presented in writing to the city or county within 3 years after it accrues, and a lawsuit may be filed only after the claim has been presented and denied as section 768.28(6) requires.

Who certifies local government lawyers in Florida?

The Florida Bar certifies lawyers in City, County and Local Government Law after at least five years of practice, peer review and a written exam.

What does Board Certified in City, County and Local Government Law mean?

It is a credential from The Florida Bar for lawyers with substantial experience in the field who have passed peer review and a written exam. 17 of the 17 lawyers in this ranking hold it; 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

Which court handles cases in West Palm Beach?

State court cases in Palm Beach County are heard in Florida's Fifteenth Judicial Circuit.

How is this ranking ordered?

By the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Payment never changes a position.

Do client reviews affect the LexRank score?

Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Reviews are shown on profiles for information only, and Reputation counts only awards on record, such as board certification. How we rank

Which lawyers are verified?

17 of the 17 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Keith W Davis, Christy Lyn Goddeau, Melissa Page Anderson, Hollie N Hawn and Judith Wolfson Levine and others.

About this ranking

Last updated
Methodology
LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review
LexRanked editorial team,
Independence
Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.

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