A graduate of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where she was invited to write for The Denver Law Review, Peggy began her Fort Lauderdale career at the prestigious law firm of Fleming, O’Bryan & Fleming. As a young associate, she was taught basic and creative litigation skills by more than 20 partners. This invaluable education formed the foundation of a successful litigation and trial judge career. Litigating at the highest trial levels, she opposed many Florida and national attorneys also practicing their A-Game. Ethics and professionalism were at the top of FOF’s teaching and training education as well.

Civil litigation, probate litigation, and family law made up the bulk of her 13-year private practice during which she developed a keen attention to detail, strong writing skills, and aggressive debate. Commencing her judicial career as a family, guardianship and mental health magistrate, Judge Gehl served in both criminal and civil divisions after her appointment to the county bench. After retirement, she served the Circuit in Probate, Family, and Domestic Violence divisions as a Senior Judge. She retains her Senior Judge status to this date, maintaining Florida Supreme Court designation for service in any of Florida’s 20 Judicial Circuits.

Certified Civil Mediator & Arbitrator

Upon retirement from the bench, Peggy earned her certification by the Florida Supreme Court as a Circuit/Civil Mediator and County Mediator. She then returned to her roots in civil litigation, where she has developed an expertise in civil mediations and arbitrations, with a focus on probate, guardianship, trusts, real property, elder law, and estate disputes. She also has built a thriving practice in insurance mediations and arbitrations–both in medical claims and property damage, as well as condominium disputes.

Certified Family Mediator

In addition to her certification in circuit/civil and county, Peggy is a Florida Supreme Court certified Family mediator–an area where she has broad experience both as a private practitioner and member of the judiciary. Serving as a Florida Supreme Court designated Senior Judge immediately after retirement, she sat in both the family and domestic violence divisions. Earlier, as a Broward County General Magistrate, she sat in Child Support and Family Law, Domestic Violence, Guardianship and Mental Health divisions. With a breadth of experience few family mediators can offer, Peggy is able to bring compassion and practical resolutions to family mediations, reflecting her years on the bench resolving family and guardianship disputes.

Legal Educator

A seasoned educator, Peggy has taught at various bar associations and Judges’ Conferences, imparting her legal insights on professionalism, ethics, criminal sentencing, jury instructions, and attorneys fees to judicial colleagues and fellow attorneys throughout her career.

Personal Life

The mother of two grown daughters, one who leads a fund-raising organization, and the youngest who works as a merchant in a Fortune 500 company in Virginia Beach, Peggy’s latest obsession is her grandson, Logan, born in 2020.

She and Logan share a mutual love of books and toys! Having earned a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Florida, she has recently completed her first middle-grade novel, “Otto” about a hurricane in the Florida Everglades.