After working in serviced office space at 4651 Salisbury Road since it was founded in February 2019, the Cobb & Gonzalez law firm is building-out and moving into leased space in the building next door.
It’s not a long-distance move.
“We’re moving from The Quadrant I building to the Quadrant II,” said Christopher Cobb, founding partner.
The firm started with four attorneys and has grown to six, along with four support staff.
Cobb & Gonzalez practices construction and real estate law, administrative law and licensing and corporate formation and transactions.
Cobb, who is board-certified in construction law, said the new 4,000-square-foot space is designed to continue growing the firm to more than 10 attorneys.
The interior design includes stand-up desks and Cobb commissioned a local glass-blowing company to create custom light fixtures and accessories for the offices.
After the COVID-19 work-from-home experience, shared offices for part of the professional staff also are part of the design, Cobb said.
“I think some attorneys will want to work at home part of the time,” Cobb said.
The firm plans to move in mid-July.
“I’m picking out furniture now,” Cobb said.
Jacksonville attorney Michael Fox Orr, founding partner at Orr Cook, was elected May 15 to The Florida Bar Board of Governors Executive Committee.
The committee comprises the president, president-elect and the chairs of the Budget, Legislation, Communications, Disciplinary Review and Program Evaluation committees, as well as the Young Lawyers Division president, two members selected by the president, and three members selected by the board.
Unless otherwise limited by rule, the Executive Committee has the authority to “exercise the function of the Board to the extent authorized by the Board on any specific matter, and on any other matter which necessarily must be determined between meetings of the board.”
A commercial litigation specialist, Orr was re-elected to the board this year to represent the 4th Judicial Circuit.
Military spouses who are lawyers may work as certified legal interns while they wait to pass the Florida Board of Bar Examiners character and fitness review to practice in Florida under the Bar’s new Military Spouse Rule, according to a news release from The Florida Bar.
The amendment is effective July 20.
The state Supreme Court on May 21 approved an amendment to Chapter 21 of Bar rules that allows for the military spouses who are licensed in other jurisdictions but stationed in Florida to practice for up to five years in the state, under the supervision of a Bar member, without taking the Bar exam.
The new rule reads:
“[Rule] 21-4 (c) Temporary Certification. A military spouse who has made application under this rule may be certified by the Supreme Court of Florida to act as a certified legal intern while the application for certification as a military spouse lawyer is pending.
“A military spouse applicant certified as a legal intern must be a member of an out-of-state bar in good standing, employed by or in a mentorship relationship with a member of The Florida Bar who is eligible to practice law in Florida, and submit to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Florida for disciplinary purposes.
“Certification as a legal intern will terminate on certification of the applicant as a military spouse lawyer or on denial of certification as a military spouse lawyer.”