Douglas Oberdorfer is an independent attorney who established his own general practice in March downtown.
WHY NOT SPECIALIZE?
“It’s what I wanted to do. I do simple stuff like drafting agreements to things all the way up and down the line. Most law shows do not glamorize the general practitioner. Is it not enough just to be a lawyer anymore?”
Although he does operate a general practice, most of the cases he handles involve family law (such as adoptions and child support), property and estate (probate, wills, trusts), criminal law and some corporate law.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Oberdorfer shares office space, and a secretary, with his uncle, attorney Michael Edwards. Chuck, his deceased father, practiced for many years at Oberdorfer & Barry. Kirby, Oberdorfer’s bride, is a commercial litigation attorney at Akerman Senterfitt. Her father and two sisters are attorneys as well. He also has a few cousins who are lawyers.
“We can bore a lot of people if we’re all together and start talking about law.”
As far as other relations, the late Chuck Oberdorfer’s cousin Michael is a bigwig at the National Institutes of Health in Washington, D.C. Oberdorfer’s other uncle, Paul, is a doctor in town.
HOMETOWN
Oberdorfer is a fourth generation Jacksonville resident. A tight-knit group, his family often watch football games, especially the Florida Gators, under the same roof. They’re also big on sharing dinner and holidays together.
BIG SHOES TO FILL
“When my father passed away last year, everybody asked if I was going to take over his practice. I was getting married, and she was changing jobs. I had enough on my plate. I didn’t take over his practice, but a lot of his former clients come to see me. I grew up with a lot of my clients hearing about me because my dad was verbose in talking, especially about me.”
TALK ABOUT
YOUR CLIENTELE
“The thing about my practice I like is, if you’ve known your clients for a long period of time, you can handle a myriad of problems for them. So, the person that has an issue with the car repair shop may need you to do a will for them or may have a family member injured in a car accident. I do have some that don’t touch each other. But there is an interesting co-mingling in that they all seem to grow from one another.”
DO YOU HAVE A STAFF?
“I do a lot of stuff myself. I’m a pretty decent typist, so I’m capable of handling it.”
WHAT IS THE
FIRM’S GOAL?
“At some point I want my own space. Do I envision having a huge firm? No. I’m not going to foreclose the idea, but it’s not one I’m actively pursuing. I like being able to give personal attention. Clients place a level of trust in you to take care of their personal issues.”
WHERE ELSE HAVE
YOU WORKED?
Out of law school, Oberdorfer was hired by the Office of the State Attorney as a prosecutor. Subsequently, he joined the firm of Bullock, Childs, Pendley & Reed. His current practice operates out of the second story of a building owned by another attorney, Denise Watson, who runs her practice downstairs.
“At the State Attorney’s Office, the work you do is meaningful every day.”
SO WHY OPEN YOUR
OWN FIRM?
“I wanted to be my own boss.”
WHERE DID YOU
GO TO SCHOOL?
Oberdorfer earned his law degree from the University of Florida. His undergraduate degree is in American history from the University of North Carolina.
WHY BECOME A LAWYER?
“It was my father’s joke that, as an American history major, you can teach or open a store. It was a foregone conclusion when I was born that I would carry on the family tradition of being a lawyer like my dad.”
CAN YOU TAKE A HINT?
Before Oberdorfer (a Jew) ever popped the question to his beloved, Kirby’s mother (an Irish Catholic) had purchased linens in Ireland to be used at the chuppah (a tent used in Jewish weddings).
“She [his mother-in-law] said to Kirby, ‘I bought the Irish linen for the chuppah...should the day ever come.’ Stare, stare.”
HOBBIES
Still an avid history fan, Oberdorfer enjoys reading biographies on our Founding Fathers and other significant figures. Currently he is immersed in a book about John Adams. Sports are another passion of his. He plays softball regularly and describes himself as a huge baseball fan.
WHAT’S YOUR PET PEEVE?
“Bad drivers.”
— by Monica Chamness