Christine L. Derr is a Florida Board Certified Expert in Marital and Family Law, a distinction she has held since 2013. She has devoted her entire career exclusively to the practice of marital and family law, and represents clients in complex and high-asset divorces, the preparation of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and custodial, modification, enforcement, and paternity matters. While Ms. Derr is recognized as a skilled and experienced litigator, she is equally adept at crafting creative, mutually beneficial resolutions through mediation and collaborative divorce.
Although Ms. Derr has extensive trial experience and takes pride in her courtroom success, her years of practice have taught her that the most advantageous way to resolve most family law matters is through thoughtful negotiation. She finds that the collaborative process is particularly well-suited for clients seeking a confidential, less adversarial resolution. Whether a case is collaborative or contested, Ms. Derr applies the same rigorous analysis and dedication to helping clients obtain clear answers and make informed decisions.
Ms. Derr believes that clients are in the best position to make decisions about their families and finances, and her role as counsel is to provide the insight, strategy, and advocacy necessary to help them navigate those decisions with confidence. She takes great pride in delivering the highest level of professional service and personalized attention to every client.
Christine was born in San Francisco, raised in California, and has lived in Tampa since 1999. She earned her B.A. with honors from the University of California, Berkeley, and her J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. During law school, Christine served as a judicial intern to the late Honorable Alexander L. Paskay, Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge Emeritus for the Middle District of Florida.
Christine began her legal career at Harris & Hunt, P.A., later founding her own firm, Derr Law Firm, which she led for nine years before merging her practice to form Harris, Hunt & Derr, P.A. in 2018.
Ms. Derr has been an active leader in the legal and civic communities throughout her career. She currently serves on the boards of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, Bay Area Legal Services, and the Tampa Bay Diaper Bank. She is a past president of the Rotary Club of Tampa, the Rotary Club of Tampa Foundation, and past chair of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission, Tampa Bay Academy of Collaborative Professionals, the Hillsborough County Bar Association Family Law Section, Collaborative Law Section, and Arbitration Section. She has been actively engaged with the Stann Givens Family Law American Inn of Court. She is also a long-time supporter of Lawyers for Literacy, contributing more than a decade of service to the program.
Education
- University of Florida Levin College of Law, Gainesville, Florida
- University of California, Berkeley
Processional Licenses:
- The Florida Bar
- United States Supreme Court
- Florida Bard Certified Specialist in Marital and Family Law (2013-current)
Professionals Recognition:
- Super Lawyers
- 2018-2025: Top 100: Florida Super Lawyers
- 2016-2025: Top 50: Women Florida Super Lawyers
- 2016-2025: Top 50: Tampa Bay Super Lawyers
- 2009-2013 Rising Star in Marital and Family Law
- 2018 Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers, Professionalism Award
- 2015 Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Leader in the Law Award
- Best Lawyers in America
- 2025 Family Law Mediation
- 2023 Family Law
- 2021, 2020 Collaborative Law
