The Johnson Chauhan Law Group is a newly-formed firm made up of attorneys Earl Johnson Jr. and Anjna Chauhan. All of their staff work is outsourced.
WHAT IS THEIR NICHE?
“We are a commercial law firm. Our clients’ needs range from the litigation end to the transactional, whether that may be incorporation, formation of partnerships, contracts or banking,” said Johnson. “My partner’s expertise is in intellectual property. What we do for clients — inventors and organizations — is to help move their product from design to the marketplace. That includes patent issues, trademarking, trade
secrets . . .”
“Anything associated with keeping that information proprietary,” added Chauhan.
WHAT CLIENTS DO THEY SERVE?
“Our emphasis is on small businesses,” said Johnson.
WHY JOIN FORCES?
“We thought the Jacksonville market was ripe for an innovative, responsive practice,” he said.
WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED?
The firm took over attorney Lynn Pappas’ old office on the 14th floor of the SunTrust building when she relocated her firm to Riverside. They intend to grow into the space.
WHAT IS HIS BACKGROUND?
“My last job was with Marks Gray,” said Johnson. “Before that I was in private practice briefly. The high of my short career was as a law clerk for Judge Henry Adams Jr. in Tampa. I left Holland & Knight to join him.”
WHAT IS HER BACKGROUND?
Draughon Professional Services, a boutique firm emphasizing intellectual property law, was her last employer. Previously, she had worked at Stoneburner, Berry & Simmons, representing lenders in commercial closings. Chauhan studied economics at New College of Florida and received her law degree from the University of Florida.
WHERE DID JOHNSON GO TO SCHOOL?
Florida State University is where he received his bachelor’s degree in political science. A Jacksonville native, Johnson earned his law degree from Stetson University.
GLOBE TROTTER
London-born Chauhan moved to Florida at the age of nine. Her parents, both entrepreneurs in the dry cleaning industry, are from Kenya but they are of an Indian heritage. “Going home exposes me to my culture more,” said Chauhan.
WHO INFLUENCED JOHNSON THE MOST?
“My father was an attorney, City Council president, counsel to Martin Luther King Jr. and advisor to President (John F.) Kennedy,” said Johnson. “He cut his teeth on civil rights law. In the 1950s, Brown v. the Board of Education was new law. Dad filed nearly every school segregation case in the state.”
WHY FOLLOW IN YOUR FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS?
“Growing up, it was clear to me that being a lawyer meant being able to help people. Watching my father use the profession and the judicial system, coupled with political leadership, I saw he had the ability to change people’s lives for the better.”
A FAMILY AFFAIR
Johnson’s younger sister is an attorney for the United Nations in New York.
WHY DID CHAUHAN STUDY LAW?
“Law is very expansive,” said Chauhan. “Law touches on a lot of different areas and you can incorporate business into law.”
TO WHAT GROUPS DOES JOHNSON BELONG?
He is chair of JCCI Forward, a HabiJax volunteer and a member of the Super Bowl Host Committee. On Feb. 20, Johnson will participate in a mock bipartisan political convention with 1,600 students learning about caucuses, building platforms and speech making.
OTHER ACTIVITIES?
Johnson is also on numerous boards, including the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, The Salvation Army and the Clara White Mission.
HOW IS THE MISSION’S COOKING PROGRAM GOING?
“The culinary program is doing wonders for the men,” said Johnson. “It provides them with skills in a marketable area, whether it is as a short-order cook or a sous chef. The training is provided right there on-site.”
TO WHAT GROUPS DOES CHAUHAN BELONG?
“I am a big sister in the Big Brother, Big Sister program,” said Chauhan. “It’s an opportunity to mentor someone who has so much potential but has no role model in her life. Plus, it gives me a chance to do activities and to go to places I wouldn’t ordinarily make time to do, like ‘The Nutcracker’ or horseback riding.”
— by Monica Tsai