Richard Britton is an attorney with an independent practice in Riverside. He began sharing space with the appellate law firm of Mills & Carlin in June.
HIS STAFF?
Britton and one part-time legal assistant.
WHAT TYPE OF LAW DOES HE PRACTICE?
“It’s kind of a conglomeration of wills, trusts, estate planning, some probate, real estate, corporate and elderly law. I do have some small civil cases going on as well.”
WHY SPECIALIZE IN
THESE AREAS?
“I learned a lot about City issues through the General Counsel’s Office. Plus, my father is an attorney in Venice, Fla. He practices wills, trusts, estates, probate and corporate law. It’s nice to have a father/mentor. That’s how I fell into these things.”
WHY NOT GET HIS
OWN BUILDING?
“When you’re not well-established, it helps to be around other attorneys, especially when we can refer things back and forth to each other. I enjoy old buildings. [Attorney] Arnold Tritt owns this one. They used to be apartments.”
EDUCATION
Britton holds a law degree from Florida Coastal School of Law. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from East Carolina University.
WHY GO INTO LAW?
“I was going through the MBA program at UNF when I decided I’d rather go to law school. I wanted to go to law school so I could work for myself. What appeals to me most is resolving issues.”
WHAT IS MOST CHALLENGING?
“Keeping all aspects in control — not only my law practice but running a business while keeping everything in perspective.”
WHAT IS HIS GOAL FOR
THE FIRM?
“To stay small. I don’t have plans to expand. In the future, a goal may be to create a law office building where you can get attorneys that are not in the same firm together in a common space with access to a law library and other legal resources. They’re separate businesses but can refer things to each other, kind of like a legal department store.”
GLIMPSE OF GLORY
“I played baseball at the University of Florida on the team that went to the 1991 [College] World Series. In my last year, I transferred to East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. and made all-American. That’s actually where I got my degree. I played with the Baltimore Orioles and the Minnesota Twins for a little bit in the minor leagues. It was brief because I had to have reconstructive shoulder surgery from playing third base.”
HIS LEGAL EXPERIENCES?
During his last semester in law school, Britton interned at the General Counsel’s Office. From his connections there, he was able to land a job with JEA, handling real estate and corporate law. He became an independent contractor last September and for a brief period, he was a partner in the firm of Carson, Edwards and Britton. The partnership dissolved when Sam Edwards moved to Mississippi, but Britton still co-counsels cases with Carson, a former FBI agent.
HOMETOWN
Venice, Fla.
WHAT BROUGHT HIM
TO JACKSONVILLE?
“Job and family. My brother is here. After I graduated college, I moved up here and went to work for Holmes Lumber, now Builders First Source. Venice is a very small town. I needed to go somewhere else to get started. At the lumberyard, my economics degree came into play because I did a lot of computer and business analysis, programming and business management. But I didn’t go out and become a stock broker.”
AT HOME?
“I bought the old Ortega schoolhouse that was built in 1903. It was a one-room schoolhouse until the 1930s. Ortega is getting ready to become an historic district and that will be a national landmark.”
GUILTY PLEASURES
When he’s not billing hours, Britton is playing golf, flag football or using his private pilot’s license for some recreational, fair-weather flying.
BRITTON’S RECOMMENDATIONS
“Pirates of the Caribbean” was the last movie Britton watched. When it’s time to eat out, he prefers the Mossfire Grill. “Red Dragon,” a psychological thriller, ranks high on his reading list. To escape, he enjoys weekend excursions or spending time with his three dogs: two boxers and a pug.
— by Monica Chamness