What Verdica's 796 score means for Gregory C. Starkey
Gregory C. Starkey's composite score of 796 out of 850 places him in the "strong" band (740–799), indicating a legal provider with solid regulatory standing and a clean disciplinary record. This score reflects two key things: he meets Florida's baseline licensing and conduct standards, and his disciplinary history shows no significant violations that would trigger regulatory action.
A score in this range signals that a business owner or consumer can reasonably expect compliance with professional obligations. However, it is not in the "excellent" band (800–850), which means there may be some areas—such as practice profile breadth or complexity—where performance is less comprehensive than top-tier providers. For practical purposes, a 796 score suggests a provider worth considering, provided you verify other factors relevant to your specific legal needs.
How the sub-scores break down
Bar Standing (790/850): This sub-score reflects Starkey's current license status and any compliance issues tracked by the Florida Bar. A 790 indicates his license is active and in good standing with no major red flags in his enrollment or registration. Minor deviations from a perfect score in this category can stem from administrative matters, continuing education variations, or practice restrictions that do not rise to disciplinary level. For most users, a bar standing score above 750 is reassuring.
Disciplinary History (850/850): This is a perfect score, meaning the Florida Bar's disciplinary records show no substantive complaints, sanctions, or violations on file. In the legal industry, this is a strong signal: it means no ethics complaints have been sustained, no fines imposed, and no practice limitations ordered by regulators. A perfect disciplinary score is common among compliant practitioners and is a baseline expectation rather than exceptional performance.
Practice Profile (700/850): This sub-score assesses the scope, consistency, and verifiable nature of Starkey's practice history as recorded by the bar. A score of 700 is in the acceptable range but notably lower than his other metrics. This could reflect limited public practice data, a narrower area of specialization, fewer years in practice, or reduced visibility in state bar records. It does not indicate misconduct; rather, it suggests either a more focused practice or less extensive documentation in public registries. This dimension typically improves with practice longevity and broader case involvement.
What regulators in FL track for legal providers
Florida's state bar maintains disciplinary records that capture ethics violations, client complaints, and enforcement actions. These include breaches of professional conduct rules (such as conflicts of interest, fee disputes, or inadequate representation), misuse of client funds, and false statements to regulators. The bar also tracks bar standing through active membership, licensing compliance, and any practice restrictions or conditions.
Practice history—the other data source Verdica uses—encompasses information from bar registration, case involvement, and public records. Regulators and data aggregators monitor whether a provider's stated practice areas align with documented activity, the consistency of their licensing across jurisdictions, and how long they have maintained active status. High practice profile scores typically correlate with extensive, verifiable, and stable practice records over time. Lower scores may indicate emerging practitioners, restricted practices, or limited public documentation, none of which inherently reflects misconduct.
Bottom line
Starkey's 796 score indicates a lawyer with solid regulatory compliance and a clean disciplinary record—a baseline for trustworthiness in Florida. Before engaging, verify that his practice areas match your needs, request references or case examples, and confirm any specific certifications or expertise relevant to your matter. The practice profile sub-score suggests you should also ask about his experience level and track record in your particular legal issue.