CLAIRE A. DUCHEMIN earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology, magna cum laude, from The Florida State University in 1977.  She continued her education at the FSU College of Law and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree with high honors, in 1980.  Ms. Duchemin served as a Legal Research and Writing instructor during her second year of law school, and actively participated in Moot Court in both trial and appellate competitions.  During her law school tenure, Ms. Duchemin received multiple book awards and was honored at graduation with the Trial Practice award.  She was nominated for and accepted into the most prestigious legal honor society, the Order of the Coif.

 

Ms. Duchemin clerked for two large firms while in law school and accepted an offer of employment with one following her graduation.  She became a partner/stockholder in the firm in three years and was asked to lead the firm's litigation department in the firm's offices in Tallahassee and Naples, Florida.  Ms. Duchemin is admitted to practice at all levels of the state and federal court systems including the Supreme Court of the United States.  She is a member of The Florida Bar and a past member of the American Bar Association and the Tallahassee Bar Association.

 

After leaving the firm in 1988, Ms. Duchemin opened her own solo practice and also accepted a non-tenure track teaching position at the FSU College of Law in the Legal Research and Writing program.  In 1991, she decided not to renew her teaching contract and to pursue her law practice full-time.  After twenty years as a sole practitioner, Ms. Duchemin joined the Penson & Davis firm in January of 2009.

 

Ms. Duchemin has practiced in nearly every area of the law.  She has had many years of experience in dealing with commercial and residential real estate matters and developments, and she has devoted a significant amount of her practice over the last few years to the estate planning, probate, and guardianship areas.  She regularly teaches classes for her association clients on everything from construction liens to business entities.  She is currently general counsel to the Florida Surveying and Mapping Society.  Ms. Duchemin participates regularly in financial planning seminars as an estate planning panelist.  She handles matters related to business disputes, wills and trusts, property associations, professional and trade associations, contracts, and she is a certified circuit court mediator.

 

Ms. Duchemin enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.  She golfs, makes quilts, embroiders, and is an avid fan of any sport associated with water and the beach, particularly boating and sailing.  She participates in church activities, her son's high school booster club and parent/teacher organization, and her daughter's school activities.