Current Employment Position:
Senior Attorney, Hill & Ponton, P.A.
Prior Employment:
Baker & Hostetler, LLP
Area of Practice:
Social Security Disability Law
Veterans Law
Bar Admissions:
Florida Bar
Bar Association Memberships:
Florida Bar Association
Orange County Bar Association
Education:
Florida A&M University, B.S., Summa Cum Laude, Golden Key International Honor Society, Presidential Scholarship Recipient
Florida State University, J.D., Magna Cum Laude, Order of the Coif,
Florida State University Law Review, Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity
Memberships:
Former Member – National Organization of Social Security Claimant Representatives
National Organization of Veterans’ Advocates
Book Awards:
Book Award – Business Association, Federal Jurisdiction, Healthcare and Civil Rights Seminar, Securities Regulation
Other:
-Essay selected to appear in the Florida Bar Examination Study Guide as a Sample Answer
-Dean’s Scholarship, FL Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Scholarship, Katzentine-Simone Scholarship
-Legal Writing & Research, Assistant to Professor JoLen Wolf
Personal Note :
Leslie was born in Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. She is the daughter of a career Army man and mental health professional. She graduated from law school with top honors and did so well on the Bar Exam that her bar exam essay was published in the Bar Exam Study Guide as a sample answer. This is a rare honor for any graduating lawyer.
Leslie joined our firm after practicing law with one of the large business law firms in Orlando for a year. In that firm, she was primarily involved in business practice for large companies. She found that she wanted to transition to a different practice area, so she made the decision to leave the corporate practice and begin representing Social Security Claimants with Hill & Ponton.
Leslie is a wife and mother of two. When not practicing law, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and playing with her dog.
Read Leslie’s blogs here and see her Avvo rating here.
Leslie Gaines’s Avvo Reviews
Leslie Gaines is superb
It was our great good fortune to be represented by Leslie Gaines, esq.
We have tried, for years, to received disability from the VA.
Ms. Gaines has been diligent, brilliant, hard working and compassionate.
We run out of superlatives when we think about her.
What a superb attorney!
Diane
May 2016
VA Disability
I applied for disability with the VA in 2009 and was denied. Ms Gaines was able to get me a favorable rating with the VA in 2016 and all of the back pay and benefits I was entitled to. She did an awesome job, kept me fully informed about my case. I would highly recommend her.
Pat
March 2016
Superb Lawyer!
In mid-2012, I met Attorney Leslie D. Gaines, a practicing lawyer with the firm of Hill&Ponton, P.A., Daytona Beach, Florida. During our initial conversation, I was very impressed of her in-depth knowledge of military law and veteran’s VA claims issues. So impressed that during our conversation I asked and she accepted to act as my representative on VA matters regarding my claim for service connected disability. Attorney Gaines diligently worked on my case, kept me advised along the way, and patiently waited for VA’s action. After over 4 years, this August 2016, VA’s decision finally came. I was granted maximum benefits, 100%, along with retroactive award from years back. I give credit to Ms Gaines’ for the favorable decision of my VA disability claim. It is a life changer. Attorney Leslie D. Gaines’ has my full trust and confidence. She is my lawyer and I strongly recommend her to any veteran needing a representative involving military law and/or VA disability claim issues. Attorney Leslie D. Gaines is a consummate professional. She is a credit to her profession, bar none.
Donald McFarland
August 2016
Excellency at its best‼️
While searching the Internet for a credible, worthy representative to fight for my rights at the VA, I came across the Law Office of Hill & Ponton. I made the phone call, explained my situation, and was immediately assigned Lawyer Gaines. From start to finish, Lawyer Gaines provided the utmost professional knowledge, patience, empathy regarding my rights, the VA process, and how my situation may result in a favorable action for VA compensation. After I signed on to have Lawyer Gaines as my VA representative, she went to work on my case immediately. In the end, the results were favorablly reached in an expedient manner. With the expertise of Lawyer Gaines, VA compensation was rewarded with retroactive pay. If you are still reading this, perhaps you too should seek help from Lawyer Gaines. She has the ability to represent veterans with the utmost respect, with a deep desire for satisfaction. Kudos to Leslie Gaines at the law office of Hill & Ponton!
Sherry Wright
August 2016
