Jacksonville lawyers continue to receive 'elite' honors

News

by Joe Wilhelm Jr.

Staff Writer

Two publications that utilize peer review to select the best lawyers in Florida recently hit the newsstands and Jacksonville was well represented.

“Florida Super Lawyers” is a magazine published by Minnesota-based “Law & Politics” that recognizes the top legal talent in more than 60 practice areas based on peer review and 12 indicators including experience, verdicts and settlements, transactions, clients, honors and awards. The pool of nominees are then evaluated by an elite panel of peers within their primary area of practice. Prior to final selections, lawyers are divided by firm size and the top lawyers are chosen from each group.

This criteria helps the publisher compile a list of the top 100 lawyers in Florida, and seven from Jacksonville made the list. One of those seven was included in the list of top ten lawyers in the state.

“I’m very honored to be on a peer-reviewed list like this with so many fine attorneys from Jacksonville and across the state,” said Jeptha Barbour, an attorney with Marks Gray and past Jacksonville Bar President.

Barbour was among a distinguished list of lawyers from Jacksonville who made the top 100 including, Stephen Busey of Smith, Hulsey & Busey; Hank Coxe and John DeVault of Bedell, DeVault, Pillans & Coxe; John Mills of Mills, Creed & Gowdy; Robert Spohrer of Spohrer & Dodd; and David Wells of Gunster.

“I feel honored to be in with such a distinguished group of lawyers,” said Wells, who also submitted a ballot. “I think (when filling out a ballot) you are looking for lawyers that are upstanding and ethical, and when you look at lawyers like Hank Coxe and Stephen Busey, and the rest of the lawyers on the list, that’s what you are getting across the board.”

Coxe was among the top ten lawyers in Florida according to the “2009 Florida Super Lawyers” nomination, research and “blue ribbon” review process. This recognition was bestowed on DeVault in 2008, and he wasn’t upset by being unseated by his fellow partner.

“I’m happy as long as one member of the Bedell Firm is in there,” said DeVault.

The honors weren’t only for the men. Lynn Pappas of Pappas, Metcalf, Jenks & Miller was the only woman lawyer in the Florida Super Lawyer list of the top 50 woman lawyers.

“I am honored to have been included with such a fine group of professionals,” said Pappas. “It has been my good fortune to serve an outstanding group of clients over the years to whom I credit much of my success.”

Some were pleased with the recognition, but felt “at the end of the day” the award doesn’t mean much.

“It’s always gratifying to have professional recognition by your colleagues,” said Spohrer. “However, as a practical matter I don’t know that it means much. I wish those of us that are selected would, instead of spending money promoting it, I’d rather that we would make contributions to Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.”

Spohrer dislikes what the awards have become.

“It has become a cottage industry,” said Spohrer. “It’s a way to get lawyers to spend money on promoting themselves, and at the end of the day, I think the designation probably means very little in terms of attracting potential clients.”

The fine print at the end of the explanation of how “Super Lawyers” are chosen gives merit to Spohrer’s statement.

“We strive to maintain a high degree of accuracy in the information provided, but make no claim, promise or guarantee of the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in this magazine or linked to superlawyers.com and its associated sites.”

There is also some information that recent or past award winners should read on the superlawyers.com.

“Super Lawyers is a registered trademark and we take pains to make sure the term is used properly. A lawyer on our list is not a “Super Lawyer,” or, for that matter, a “Rising Star.” Rather, proper usage would be he or she “has been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers–Rising Stars Edition 2008.” Used properly, the term is not descriptive, comparative or self-aggrandizing (which in some jurisdictions could raise ethical concerns). It is simply a verifiable fact and, as such, is protected speech.”

Some supported Spohrer’s stance, but remembered a response from an award winner.

“It’s flattering to be recognized by your peers,” said DeVault. “I agree with (Spohrer) that they don’t mean a lot, but I’d rather be on the list than not.”

DeVault has won many awards since being admitted to the Bar in 1967 and he will add to the list as a member of the inaugural Florida Trend Legal Elite Hall of Fame.

Florida Trend Magazine’s Florida Legal Elite has a similar selection process, relying on peer review. In order to be selected for the new Hall of Fame, candidates must have been a Legal Elite winner for each of the past five years and a panel of lawyers was consulted to evaluate the list and make the final selections. There were 48 lawyers chosen and four were from Jacksonville: Coxe, DeVault, Wayne Hogan of Terrell Hogan and George “Buddy” Schulz Jr. of Holland and Knight.

The Top 10 Florida Super Lawyers from Jacksonville

Hank Coxe — Bedell, Dittmar, DeVault, Pillans & Coxe

The Top 50 Women Florida Super Lawyers

Lynn Pappas

The Top 100 Florida Super Lawyers from Jacksonville

Jeptha Barbour — Marks Gray

Stephen Busey — Smith, Hulsey and Busey

Hank Coxe — Bedell, Dittmar, DeVault, Pillans & Coxe

John DeVault — Bedell, Dittmar, DeVault, Pillans & Coxe

John S. Mills — Mills, Creed & Gowdy

Robert Spohrer — Spohrer & Dodd

David M. Wells — Gunster