Maria Bates

I work with the dreamers and believers who have an idea they want to see come to life - whether that's starting a family, a nonprofit, a business, a community project, or a movement. I am a licensed Florida and DC attorney but much of my work extends beyond these borders and my clients come from all over the world. I have offices in Tampa Bay and DC. My degrees are in human development from Eckerd College (a small liberal arts school in St. Pete, FL), a JD from Stetson University College of Law, and a LLM in Business Law from Florida State University. I love school and continued education. My life and world view has been inexplicably shaped by my educational opportunities and the various volunteer work I have done along side them. I am a very proud single mom through adoption of my 4 wild and wonderful children. Together we have been to almost all 50 states. We find ways to travel - by car, train, plane, our travel trailer and love seeing new places, experiencing new cultures and languages, and meeting incredible people. I love helping people along their journeys, which is why building families, organizations, and communities (even when the task may seem daunting) is my life's work.