TAMPA, FLA., November 10, 2025 – Trenam is pleased to announce that Erin Aebel, Lara Fernandez and Alicia Koepke were named to the 2025 Florida Trend Legal Elite Notable Women Leaders in Law list. The award recognizes women in the legal industry who excel both inside and outside of the office. Nominations outlined their excellence as legal professionals, demonstrating leadership and dedication to civic and community service initiatives. Honorees have practiced law for a minimum of 15 years and served as mentors or sponsors for fellow attorneys, promoting professional practices in the workplace.
“We are incredibly proud of Erin, Lara and Alicia for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the Tampa Bay community and to their clients that led to their recognition as Notable Women Leaders in Law,” said Nelson Castellano, Trenam Law’s Managing Shareholder. “Each of these women consistently go above and beyond for their clients and have demonstrated leadership and professionalism, both at the firm and beyond their practices, through substantial contributions to professional organizations and community initiatives.”
Erin Smith Aebel
Erin Smith Aebel is a shareholder and co-chairs the firm’s Florida Health Law Practice, advising health care clients on transactional, compliance and regulatory matters. Those matters include nonprofit hospital sales, HIPAA breach responses and facility licensure ventures. She also leads multiple initiatives within the Health Law Section of The Florida Bar.
Widely recognized in the health care industry, Aebel is a board-certified health law specialist by the Florida Bar. She was the 2016 Lexology Client Choice Award Winner, nominated by clients and awarded for excellent client service in health law in the state of Florida. She has been named to Tampa Magazine’s Top Lawyers (2016, 2019, 2021–2025), listed in The Best Lawyers in America for health care law (2019–2025), and included in Florida Super Lawyers (2008–2014, 2017–2025).
In the community, she serves on the board of Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, Brain Expansions Scholastic Training (pro bono general counsel), Ruth’s List State Advisory Board, Athena Society, Planned Parenthood of Southwest & Central Florida, and the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg.
Lara Fernandez
Lara Roeske Fernandez serves on the firm’s Executive Board and is a former practice group leader for the firm’s Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights Practice Group. She is board certified in business bankruptcy and frequently advises financial institutions, fiduciaries and trustees. She also serves as both a Chapter 11 and liquidation trustee.
She is consistently recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, and Florida Super Lawyers, where she has appeared in the Top 100 Florida, Top 50 Tampa Bay, and Top 50 Women lists. She is also a Lawdragon 500 honoree and a past BTI Client Service All-Star. Additional accolades include Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, Tampa Magazine’s Top Lawyers, and Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Woman of the Year in 2016, reflecting her excellence in bankruptcy and restructuring law.
Fernandez has held multiple leadership roles in the legal and civic community, serving on the board of directors for the American Board of Certification and the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. She is a past chair and president of the Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association and serves on the Local Rules Advisory Committee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. She is well known for her mentorship of young lawyers and her efforts to advance women in the legal profession. Fenandez has also given back to the community through her work with Tampa Bay united, Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, Emory University Alumni Association and the “Ask a Lawyer” program at Christ the King.
Alicia Koepke
Alicia Koepke serves as leader of the Employment Law Practice Group and previously served as co-leader of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group. She advises businesses on employment compliance and litigation, conducts workplace investigations and training and represents clients before agencies, in court and in arbitration.
Koepke was recognized as Volunteer of the Year twice (2023–2024 & 2024–2025) by The Florida Bar Labor & Employment Law Section, where she also served on the Executive Council and as legal education director. She is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale‑Hubbell and regularly appears in The Best Lawyers in America (2021–2025) and Florida Super Lawyers (2023–2025), including Top 100 Florida, Top 50 Tampa Bay and Top 50 Women recognitions. Koepke has also been featured in Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, Tampa Magazine’s Top Lawyers and recognized as a Tampa Bay Business Journal “Up & Comer.”
She is actively engaged in both professional and civic leadership, serving on the executive council of The Florida Bar’s Labor and Employment Law Section. In the community, she has served on the board of fellows for The University of Tampa, the board of directors for Tampa Connection, the advisory board for A Brighter Community and was part of Leadership Tampa Bay Class of 2010. promoting volunteerism.
