About Fred
Fred Cunningham built his academic foundation at Belmont Abbey College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1985. He moved on to the University of North Carolina School of Law and received his Juris Doctor in 1988. Those years shaped an interest in courtroom work and the mechanics of civil litigation.
Shortly after law school he set his sights on Florida. By 1992 he was a partner at Cunningham Whalen & Gaspari, a role he still holds. That partnership followed years of developing practical courtroom skills and learning to manage the demands of trial practice. His career path has been steady and rooted in trial work rather than in transactional practice.
Cunningham is board certified as a civil trial lawyer by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education. That credential marks a formal recognition of trial competence under the state’s certification standards. He is active in professional groups that center on trial and civil justice issues. He maintains membership in the American Association for Justice and the Palm Beach County Bar Association. He serves on the executive committee of the Florida Justice Association and holds a seat on the board of the Palm Beach County Justice Association, where he is treasurer.
His courtroom work has been shaped by hands-on experience and by the standards that come with certification. He prepares cases, examines witnesses and handles jury trials in state courts. Colleagues describe him as pragmatic in approach and persistent in preparation. He balances trial time with responsibilities at the firm, including mentoring younger attorneys and helping oversee litigation strategy for complex matters.
Outside of courtrooms and committee meetings, Cunningham’s practice remains focused on civil trial litigation in Florida. He helps clients navigate trial procedures and the strategic choices that come with complex civil disputes. He continues to practice as a partner at Cunningham Whalen & Gaspari and concentrates his work on civil trial matters in Florida courts.
