Meet Our Attorneys

Seasoned Lawyers. Small Firm Advantage.

Fleet, Smith & Freeman — our attorneys have been helping Florida’s individuals, families and businesses resolve their most complex legal issues for more than 60 combined years.

H. Bart Fleet Esq.

Shareholder and Founding Member

H. Bart Fleet is a shareholder and founding member of Fleet, Smith & Freeman He received his B.A. degree from the University of West Florida in 1982, and received his law degree from Florida State University College of Law in 1986. Bart then went to the University of Florida College of Law where he received his LL.M. in tax in 1987.

Bart is a Certified Circuit Court Mediator and a Florida Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator. He is a member of the Florida Bar Association, Okaloosa Bar Association, Escambia Santa Rosa Bar Association, Bay County Bar Association, Ft. Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, Destin Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Florida Circuit-Civil Mediator’s Society. In addition to practicing law, Bart is an adjunct professor at North West Florida State College, teaching their Wills, Trusts and Probate course.

Bart and his wife, Tisha, have two children and two grandchildren and enjoy cooking, music, boating, fishing, and baseball.

Bart has been involved in the music industry for over forty years and is a member of The Moos Bros. and Side Project, local bands in Okaloosa County.

Areas of Practice
Bart practices in the areas of mediation/arbitration, estate planning, probate, business and tax and can be reached at bart@fleetsmithlaw.com.

Bar Admissions

Florida, 1986
U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida
U.S. Tax Court, 1987

Education

University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida
L.L.M. – 1987
Florida State University College of Law, Tallahassee, Florida
J.D. – 1986
University of West Florida
B.A. – 1983

Professional Associations and Memberships

Okaloosa-Walton Bar Association, Member
Okaloosa-Walton Bar Association, Treasurer, 1988 – 1990
The Florida Bar, Member
Florida Circuit-Civil Mediator Society, Member
Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, Member
Escambia – Santa Rosa Bar Association, Member
Walton Bar Association, Member
Destin Chamber of Commerce, Member
Pro Bono Activities

Kiwanis Club of Ft. Walton Beach, Member

P. Michelle Freeman

Shareholder

P. Michelle Freeman joined Fleet, Smith & Freeman in 2012 as an associate attorney and became a shareholder in January of 2020. She received her undergraduate degree from Furman University in 2005 and received her law degree in 2010 from Florida Coastal School of Law. Michelle grew up in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, and after working for a Jacksonville firm after law school, decided to come back to her hometown to further pursue her career as an attorney.

Michelle is a member of the Florida Bar Association, Okaloosa County Bar Association, First Judicial Circuit Bench/Bar Professionalism Committee, Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, Destin Chamber of Commerce and the Walton County Chamber of Commerce. She currently serves on the Board of the Northwest Florida State College Foundation, previously served on the Board of the Young Lawyers Division of the Okaloosa Bar Association and was President of that Board in 2014-2015. Michelle, whose father is a community banker, continues to be involved in the banking community by attending events and growing her relationships within the community.

Michelle enjoys traveling, water sports, fishing, getting involved in her community, and spending time with her family. Michelle recently got married in December 2019 and is excited for this next phase in her life with her husband, who is also an attorney.

Michelle concentrates her practice in the areas of real estate transactions and closings; evictions and landlord/tenant disputes, both residential and commercial; foreclosure defense; bank foreclosures; boundary disputes; probate; judgment collection; creditors’ rights; general business law, including formation of corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships; and general civil litigation. Michelle can be reached at michelle@fleetsmithlaw.com

Areas of Practice

General Civil Litigation
Collections
Corporate Law
Real Estate Closings & Transactions
Real Estate Law
Probate

Education

Florida Coastal School of Law, Jacksonville, Florida
J.D. – 2010
Furman University
B.A. – 2005

Professional Associations and Memberships

Okaloosa County Bar Association, Member
The Florida Bar, Member
Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, Member
Okaloosa County Bar Association – Young Lawyers Division, President, 2014 – 2015
First Judicial Circuit Bench/Bar Professionalism Committee
Walton County Chamber of Commerce, Member
Destin Chamber of Commerce, Member

Whitney Smith Esq.

Shareholder

Whitney Smith first joined Fleet, Smith & Freeman in 2005. She is currently a shareholder in the firm. Her practice mostly focuses on estate planning for families with children. However, she also takes on fiduciary disputes and will contests.

She grew up in Destin, Florida, and graduated from Fort Walton Beach High School. She received her B.S. degree with honors from the University of West Florida in 2002. Then, in 2005, she earned her law degree (Cum Laude) from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. After graduation, she decided that there was no better place to start her career and raise a family than back home!

At home, Whitney has two young children. Her husband is a chiropractor who also serves in the Army National Guard. They love their community and love being active members in it. Currently, Whitney Smith serves in the Florida Bar Association, Okaloosa Bar Association, Ft. Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, and the Mardi Gras Club of Ft. Walton Beach. Previously, she was a member of the Rotary Club of Ft. Walton Beach and American Business Women’s Association of Fort Walton Beach. In 2021, the Krewe of Bowlegs crowned her as their the sixty-sixth Queen.

Additionally, Whitney strongly supports the local military. She has previously been an Honorary Commander for the 36 EWS, 53 EWG and the 53 Wing at Eglin Air Force Base. Currently, Whitney Smith is the Honorary Commander for the 4^th Battalion at the 7^th Special Forces Group (Airborne.) She is also the Air Combat Command Civic Leader for the 53d Wing at Eglin Air Force Base.

You can reach her at whitney@fleetsmithlaw.com.

Areas of Practice

Estate Planning
Fiduciary, Wills and Trust Litigation
Bar Admissions

Florida, 2005

Education

University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida
J.D. cum laude – 2005
University of West Florida
B.S. – 2001

Professional Associations and Memberships

Okaloosa-Walton Bar Association, Member
The Florida Bar, Member
Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, Member
Rotary Club of Fort Walton Beach, Member
American Business Women’s Association, Member
Emerald Coast Marine Institute, Member

You have questions; our attorneys have answers. Call us today to schedule a consultation

For personalized attention, effective advice and counsel, and legal representation that is in your best interests, contact Fleet, Smith & Freeman, at 850-651-4006

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Fleet, Smith & Freeman | 1283 Eglin Pkwy, Ste A, Shalimar, FL 32579
Phone: 850.651.4006 | Fax: 850.651.5006 | Email: reception@fleetsmithlaw.com

Located in Shalimar, Florida, the law firm of Fleet, Smith & Freeman represents clients throughout the Florida Panhandle including Fort Walton Beach, Shalimar, Niceville, Destin, Valparaiso, Crestview, Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa and Bay counties.

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