The law firm of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt (www.henlaw.com) has announced that stockholder Alane C. Laboda has been named Florida marketing chair for the Defense Research Institute (DRI).

DRI is the national organization of defense trial lawyers and corporate counsel that provides educational and informational resources to members, and offers many opportunities for liaison among defense trial lawyers, corporate America, and state and local defense organizations.

DRI has an international presence, seeking to enhance understanding of the law among members of the defense community who have reason to be concerned with the expanding globalization of litigation defense.

Laboda focuses her litigation practice in the areas of auto, premises and professional liability, defense of medical and legal malpractice actions, general federal and state criminal defense and civil, white collar and fraud litigation. She is currently a member of the Federal Bar Association, Florida Prosecuting Attorney’s Association, Renew’s National Council of Women Advisors to Congress, Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Florida Defense Lawyers Association, the Defense Research Institute, and the Judicial Administration and Evaluation Committee for the Florida Bar.

She also presently serves on the board of directors for the Lee County Alliance for the Arts and serves on the parent Advisory Board for Lee Memorial Health Systems.

Laboda received her undergraduate degree from George Washington University in 1989 and law degree from the University of Miami in 1992.