by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
When Hank Coxe takes over the presidency of the Florida Bar June 23, the Jacksonville criminal defense attorney will add another chapter to his firm’s distinguished history.
Over 140 years practicing law, the names on the letterhead have changed at Bedell, Dittmar, DeVault, Pillans & Coxe, but the firm’s reputation in Florida hasn’t wavered. Despite a roster that has rarely exceeded a dozen lawyers, the firm boasts three lawyers elected to the presidency of the Florida Bar. Coxe becomes the third, following Chester Bedell and John DeVault.
“I don’t know of any Florida firms that have had as many,” said Charles Pillans, a partner since 1972 and firm historian. “Certainly none this small. There are firms with 800 lawyers that haven’t had three.”
The firm is generally known as “the Bedell firm,” in tribute to the late partner Chester Bedell, whom former American Bar President Chesterfield Smith once called the “overwhelming choice” as the best trial lawyer in Florida. But the Bedell name hasn’t always been affixed to the firm.
Col. Horatio Bisbee started the firm in Jacksonville after closing his service in the Civil War. Chester Bedell’s father, George, joined Bisbee as partner in 1898. It wasn’t until 1925 that Chester joined his father’s practice.
Chester Bedell cemented the firm’s reputation in criminal defense.
“The first case he tried after he passed the bar was a murder case,” said Pillans. “He was only 19 or 20 years of age and he quickly became known as a criminal lawyer.”
Since Bedell became partner in 1927, the firm has added a substantial civil practice focused on commercial and business law. But Coxe continues Bedell’s legacy not just as Florida Bar president, but as one of Florida’s best known criminal attorneys.
Coxe’s reputation has benefited from a long line of highly-publicized cases. If there’s a murder trial in the headlines, Coxe is often the lawyer in the front-page photo.
“Coxe is unique in his ability to attract high-profile clients and media attention,” said Pillans. “The rest of us here enjoy in varying degrees reputations in the legal community, but none of us get the kind of publicity he does outside the Bar.”
Coxe’s reputation is built first on courtroom results. But Coxe also possesses a brand of charisma that draws people to him, said Pillans.
“First and foremost, it’s the quality of the work he does,” said Pillans. “But Hank has a personality that has a way of attracting people to him. People just feel comfortable around him.”
Coxe’s firm has been comfortable for more than a decade inside its 101 E. Adams St. offices. The old public library provides fitting surroundings for a firm that reveres its history.
“George Bedell was one of the first members of the library’s board of trustees, so history was absolutely a factor for us choosing the building,” said Pillans. “We wanted to preserve the history of the building and the firm, so the old library was a natural fit for our firm.”