David H. Walkowiak

David H. Walkowiak is one of the approximately two percent of Florida attorneys to hold Board Certification in Real Estate Law from The Florida Bar. Over nearly three decades of practice, he has guided Floridians through purchases, sales, foreclosure defense, mediation, and the civil courtroom with a steady hand and a commitment to the people he represents.

Roots and training

Born and raised in upstate New York and Jesuit educated, David earned his undergraduate degree from the State University of New York in 1988 before moving to Florida. He has been a Hillsborough County resident since 1989. He received his Juris Doctor with honors from St. Thomas University School of Law in 1997, during which he also completed a summer program at Oxford, England studying with law students from across the country. He was admitted to The Florida Bar the same year.

Before he built his private practice, David served as an Assistant Public Defender. That experience shaped his courtroom instincts and his refusal to let a client feel unseen. He also holds a Florida real estate broker’s license and formerly practiced as a mortgage broker, experience that gives him a working understanding of every side of a real estate transaction.

Board certification and mediation

Board certification is The Florida Bar’s formal recognition of special legal knowledge, skill, and proficiency. David earned the Real Estate Law certification through written examination, peer review, and documented experience. It is a credential held by only a small fraction of Florida lawyers. He is also a Supreme Court of Florida Certified Circuit Civil and Family Law Mediator, allowing him to serve as a neutral in disputes he might otherwise litigate.

How he practices

David’s clients tend to come to him during the hardest weeks of their lives. The bank has filed, the accident has happened, the marriage has ended. He meets each one with the candor he’d expect from his own lawyer: the most likely outcome, the alternatives, the cost, and the time. He does not promise results. He does make clients understand their options.

Outside the office, David is a Florida sports agent and a founding member of the USF Ice Bulls hockey team, coaches high school hockey, and serves on the church council at All Saint’s Lutheran Church.