(954) 953-0061
(954) 827-0674 (FAX)
lhicks@fhsslaw.com

Lisa B. Fernandes Hicks – Managing Partner

Ms. Lisa Fernandes Hicks received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Mississippi College in 1994. Following completion of her undergraduate studies, she continued her education at the University of Florida, where she earned her Juris Doctorate with honors in 1997. She also was awarded a Book Award in Legal Drafting while in Law School. She has devoted nearly 25 years to her primary area of practice, workers’ compensation insurance defense. She specializes in the representation of self-insured employers, PEOs, municipalities, and Insurance Carriers. Ms. Fernandes Hicks is also a member agent of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Florida Bar and a Member of Biltmore’s Who’s Who.

In 2002, Ms. Fernandes Hicks was a founding partner of her previous law firm, a minority-owned, insurance defense firm. In 2017, she created the Fernandes Hicks Law Group another minority-owned workers’ compensation insurance defense law firm in her hometown of Plantation, Florida, and she is currently the Managing Partner of Fernandes Hicks Law Group. While in Law School, Ms. Fernandes Hicks interned at both the Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami Law Departments. Prior to her acceptance to the Bar, she worked at the City of Miami Risk Services Department, handling worker’s compensation matters. She conducts seminars throughout Florida for employers, servicing agents, and carriers. Ms. Fernandes Hicks is a regular speaker/instructor for the Board certified Workers’ Compensation Certification Program for industry professionals.

Ms. Fernandes Hicks is a former college athlete, who lettered in basketball and softball. While attending Mississippi College, she earned Academic All American Honors and was named the Gulf South Conference Female Athlete of the Year. She still enjoys spending her leisure time away from the everyday responsibilities of her law practice by trying to keep up with the busy activity schedules of her two (2) teenage children, which has included coaching many of their various sports teams. As her son grew up, she helped coach many of his youth baseball teams, and even as head coach on several of his youth flag football teams, serving as the only female coach in the flag football league. To this day, she still coaches her daughter’s 14U TNT travel softball team. She loves spending as much time as she can with her children, and is excited in knowing that they also enjoy joining her in cheering on her favorite teams, the Miami Dolphins, Florida Gators, Miami Heat, and Boston Red Sox. As a proud member of “Gator Nation”, she still considers teaching her children, at a young age, how to perfect the Gator chomp to be one of her all-time greatest  accomplishments!

Jamie Freedman – Associate

Ms. Jamie Freedman received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Nova Southeastern University with a major in Legal Studies and a minor in Marketing, where she was on the Dean’s List and Scholar Athlete all 4 years. Following completion of her undergraduate studies, she continued her education at Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad College of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctorate and graduated with Cum Laude honors. She is a recent inductee into the Florida Bar.

While in Law School, Ms. Freedman served at several South Florida law firms as a Law Clerk, Summer Associate, and Legal Intern to broaden her legal experience in conjunction with her academic studies. Her responsibilities included conducting legal research, drafting legal arguments on family law issues, and drafting preparation of motions, subpoenas, and correspondence to clients and other attorneys as needed. Ms. Freedman is a big sports fan, particularly when it comes to her favorite football team, the hometown Miami Dolphins. Her personal fitness includes a fondness for Pilates and Soulcycle, and she considers herself to be an “avid amateur golfer”. However, that description of her golf prowess is a significant understatement. While in high school at American Heritage School, she finished her senior year with a 72-stroke average per round, finishing 8th in the State Tournament and leading Heritage to the Class 2A State Championship.

She continued her dominance on the links while at Nova Southeastern. Her accomplishments there are too numerous to cite, but here are a few highlights. Ms. Freedman was named An All-American Scholar in 2015, 2016, and 2017 by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) and in 2015 was the recipient of the WGCA Kim Moore Spirit Award. She earned First Team Sunshine State All-Conference honors and WGCA All-Region recognition on numerous occasions. In 2018, she was a WGCA Division 2 First Team All-American selection. In that same year, Ms. Freedman was selected to represent the U.S.A. at the Arnold Palmer Cup in Evian-Les Bains, France. In 2021, she made the Round of 16 in the Women’s U.S. Golf Association Mid-amateur Championship. Her list of accolades is endless, but one thing is certain. If you need a ringer for your next championship foursome, she is definitely the one to call!

Shornalee Charles – Associate

Ms. Shornalee Charles received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida A&M University in May of 2016. Her undergraduate major was Political Science, with a concentration in Law. Ms. Charles continued her education at Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctorate Degree.

While in Law School Ms. Charles served as a legal intern in the Felony Division at the Hillsborough County Public Defender office, and interned at St. Michael’s Legal Center, handling family, bankruptcy, foreclosure, wills, and immigration law cases.

Following her graduation from law school, Ms. Charles began her legal career as a document review attorney for Consilio LLC, a global leader in eDiscovery. During her time at Consilio, she reviewed countless discovery documents relating to a wide range of legal categories, including medical malpractice, employment law, personal injury, and insurance.

Ms. Charles continued her law career at the Florida Department of Children and Families, serving as a Junior Attorney in the Intake Department. She was responsible for reviewing emergency reports relating to children who had been abandoned, abused, and neglected. She would then implement case plans for parents or identify suitable homes for the children. Her job tasks included conducting legal research, drafting petitions/motions, participating in court
hearings, and completing negotiations with opposing counsel.

Ms. Charles is a member of the Florida Bar. Currently, she is an Associate Attorney at the Fernandes Hicks Law Group, specializing in workers compensation insurance defense.

Ms. Charles is a member of the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association and the Caribbean Bar Association. In her leisure time, she enjoys travel, and spending quality time with her toddler son. She also has a passion for indulging in the culinary arts.

Diesha Cole – Associate

Ms. Diesha Cole received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Florida in May of 2016, with a major in Linguistics. As an undergraduate student, she was inducted into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and served as a Parliamentarian. After completing her undergraduate studies, she continued her education at Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C, earning her Juris Doctorate in May of 2020.

While in Law School, Ms. Cole served as judicial intern at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and legal intern at the D.C. Office of the Attorney General. Ms. Cole exceeded expectations by serving on her Class Council for each year of law school; working as Research and Teachers’ Assistant to her constitutional and contractual law professors; studying constitutional and international human rights implications in South Africa; facilitating the first visit of a presidential candidate to the law school; and being invited to join the Charles Hamilton Houston National Moot Court Team. Throughout law school, she juggled her educational, practical, and extracurricular activities graciously. In each of these roles—separately and together—Ms. Cole conducted legal research, advised colleagues on legal standards, fine-tuned her legal writing, communicated effectively, and collaborated regularly with small to large groups of people.

After law school, Ms. Cole was inducted to the Florida Bar. She began her law career with Olivero Law, a firm in her hometown focused on Family Law. In her role as Associate Attorney, she was able to negotiate with opposing counsel, advise clients, conduct legal research, and draft legal motions and client correspondence. Currently, Ms. Cole practices at the Fernandes Hicks Law Group as an Associate Attorney, specializing in workers’ compensation insurance defense. Through all her endeavors, Ms. Cole has found enjoyment in maintaining an open mind, pursuing an honest life, and uplifting family and community. She is able to embrace these simple features of life through travel, experience, and meditation.