Congratulations Ramon Malca

The Florida Bar Workers' Compensation Section presented a novel and significant recognition at the 2025 Forum. The MALCA ("Mentorship, Advocacy, Leadership, and Champion Award") was presented to its namesake, Ramon Malca.

Mr. Malca has practiced Florida workers’ compensation law since 1975. He has been Board Certified since the inaugural class in 1988. Mr. Malca has twice served as Chair of the Executive Council of the Workers' Compensation Section of The Florida Bar (1989-1990 and 2005-2006), and has served extensively on the Council. He is a founding member of Florida Workers’ Advocates and a past president of FWA. 

He is a recipient of both the W.L. Bud Adams (1992) and Frierson/Colling Professionalism awards (2013). He served on the first dedicated Judicial Nominating Committee (1990-1994).

Ray was inducted in the inaugural class of the Florida Workers' Compensation Institute Hall of Fame in 2012. He is a Fellow of the College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers, and served on the College's Board.

Ray was one of the innovators involved when collective-bargaining opt-out came to Florida in 1994. Since then, he has served as an arbitrator regarding workplace claims by Miami Dolphin players.

Mr. Malca was instrumental in founding the Workers’ Compensation Trial Advocacy Workshop, which first convened in 1990, He went on to chair, conduct, and manage that program in Miami for 34 years. The program has variously been annually and biennial, and was limited to 24 participants, providing ample opportunity for hands-on experience and active mentoring. According to Judge Jeffrey Jacobs, Ray was persistent in stressing "the importance of actually saying the words and asking the questions, not just thinking about it."

At the conclusion of the 2024 Workshop, Mr. Malca stepped down as chair and passed the torch for this program to Judge Jeffrey Jacobs, Mark Touby, and Glen Wieland.

When Ray was inducted into the Florida Workers' Advocates Hall of Fame. It noted that one of his "most enduring legacies is in Ray’s organizing and chairing the Trial Advocacy Workshop on behalf of the Workers Compensation Section of the Florida Bar." 

Ray Malca's service to the workers' compensation community, the Section, and the Workshop were appropriately and gratefully acknowledged at the 2025 Forum with an award noting: