Legal Services & Lawyers

Pi Sigma Alpha; Pi Gamma Mu. Recipient, Chester H. Ferguson Scholarship. Certified Family Law Mediator, 2000-2006. Co-Editor: "Modification of Child Support," Florida Proceedings After Dissolution of Marriage," Ninth Edition (2008). Speaker, "Working With Divorce Clients and Opposing Counsel," Half Moon Seminars, (2002). Member, Family Law Inn of Tampa, American Inns of Court, (2000-2005). Member, Board of Directors, Vetmade Industries, Inc.

The Law Office of Ama N. Appiah represents those seeking assistance in immigration, representation in domestic or international adoption cases, child advocacy, and state or immigration appeals.

Ms. Appiah earned her Bachelor of Science degree at the State University of New York College at Buffalo, cum laude. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Appiah worked as a legal assistant and paralegal for the U.S. Small Business Administration - Disaster Assistance Office in Niagara Falls, NY. The Disaster Assistance Office provided federal loans and grants to those who suffered physical damage to their homes and physical and/or economic injury to their businesses as a result of a natural disaster.

Attorney Appiah earned her law degree from Albany Law School in Albany, NY, in 2003. It was there that she gained extensive appellate experience. She interned for a substantial amount of time for the Albany County District Attorney's Office Criminal Appeals Division. Ms. Appiah also interned for the Hon. Thomas J. McAvoy in the U.S. Northern District Court of New York, as well as the Corporations Division of the New York State Department of State.

Upon moving to Florida in 2003, Ms. Appiah worked for a solo practitioner whose practice focused on criminal and civil litigation. Since 2005, Ms. Appiah has contracted with the Tenth Judicial Public Defender's Office as a Special Assistant Public Defender on felony criminal appellate cases.

In 2005, Ms. Appiah also became a Program Attorney for the Sixth Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program. The Guardian ad Litem Program represents the best interests of children in cases alleging abuse, abandonment, and/or neglect. Ms. Appiah represented the Program in the juvenile dependency division of the circuit court in cases resulting in reunification, permanent guardianship, termination of parental rights, and adoption. Ms. Appiah worked as an Appellate Senior Program Attorney for the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Program from 2007 to 2009. She represented the Guardian ad Litem Program in District Courts of Appeal throughout the state of Florida.

Ms. Appiah has participated in several pro bono services throughout central Florida for those who are indigent and low income. She has participated in a number of family law clinics at Florida Legal Rural Services in Polk County. She has participated in a number of "Community Day" law clinics, as well as a "Citizenship Day" immigration law clinic in Pinellas County. Additionally, Ms. Appiah has been trained in human trafficking representation by the Orange County Bar Association in Orange County.

The focus of the Law Office of Ama N. Appiah is immigration cases, family law cases involving dependency and/or adoption, and international law cases involving child advocacy or adoption-related issues. However, we also represent parties in state and immigration appellate cases. The Law Office of Ama N. Appiah is particularly equipped to accommodate the representation of non-English speaking clients that speak Spanish, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Twi, and Vietnamese, through the use of interpreters.

Professional Experience

Adam gained valuable investigative experience while working for the Department of Labor in Washington, DC. Among other responsibilities, he investigated and researched numerous categories of illegal transactions involving employer-funded health and welfare benefits plans. Adam was recognized for his leadership of a multi-office effort to determine compliance with federal health benefits laws.

Adam brings these investigative skills to the private sector. He works diligently to ensure that the interests of his clients are protected in all family law and business litigation matters.

Biography

Adam was born and raised in Miami, Florida, where he attended Miami Killian Senior High. Adam founded and served as President of the Temple Israel Federation of Temple Youth.

Adam graduated from the University of Florida, where he was a leader in the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity, Student Government Cabinet for Student Advocacy, Jewish Student Union, and Chabad-Lubavitch Student Center.

Adam attended law school and graduate school at American University in Washington, D.C., where he received a Juris Doctor and Master of Arts in International Affairs.

Service

Adam's commitment to giving back to the community began at an early age. As a youth, Adam volunteered at a local feed the homeless program. He also served as a leader in Camp Jenny, a program designed to give underprivileged youth an opportunity to spend a week in Georgia, where participants engaged in summer camp activities including kayaking, canoeing, hiking, and arts and crafts. At the University of Florida, Adam was a fundraiser for Stop! Children's Cancer. In Washington, Adam promoted the 9/11 Unity Walk, a gathering to commemorate the tragedies of 2001 and build trust and encourage dialogue between members of different faith communities.

Since Adam returned to Florida, he has taken pride in serving the Tampa Bay community. Adam is a regular volunteer at Bay Area Legal Services, where he assists victims of abuse petition for restraining orders. Adam also helps indigent, unrepresented litigants complete family law forms. Additionally, he is active with the Hillsborough County Bar Association's Community Service Committee, where he has donated his time to Faith Cafe's feed the homeless program, Mayor Iorio's Hillsborough River and Waterways Clean up, and the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital. Adam is currently training to become a Guardian Ad Litem through Voices for Children.

The Hillsborough County Bar Association recently recognized Adam in The LAWYER Magazine for his service to the community.

I am an attorney in my 25th year of law practice in the Tampa Bay area. My practice concentrates in the areas of marital and family law, personal injury and wrongful death, estate planning, probate and elder law.

Attorney Wheelock has been in private practice since 1986, he provides services in numerous areas of law. With his military background Mr. Wheelock represents service personnel around the globe in military law, divorces with miliatry issues and in military justice matters.

Dedicated to the representation of Family Law clients.