New Jacksonville Bar Association leadership takes office

The Jacksonville Bar association’s 2022-23 board of governors took office July 1. They are:

Fraz Ahmed

Fraz Ahmed, JBA president, is a stakeholder at Coker Law.

He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and Florida Coastal School of Law.

Ahmed practices personal injury law including vehicle accidents, wrongful death, premises liability and insurance disputes and is board-certified in civil trial practice by The Florida Bar.

Blane Mccarthy

President-elect Blane McCarthy is a neutral and mediator at Atlanta-based Miles Mediation’s office in Jacksonville.

A certified circuit mediator and board-certified in civil trial practice, he graduated from Stetson University as an undergraduate and from Stetson University College of Law.

McCarthy is a past president of the Christian Legal Society and director of the Pro Bono Legal Project legal aid ministry at City Rescue Mission.

Brian Coughlin

Brian Coughlin, JBA board secretary, is a director at the Bedell Firm.

His practice includes criminal defense, government investigations, personal injury and professional licensing.

Coughlin graduated from the University of Michigan and the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

A former assistant state attorney in the 4th Judicial Circuit, Coughlin also is a member of the board of directors for the Community Hospice & Palliative Care Foundation, the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation and the board of trustees for Daniel Kids.

Christian George

Board Treasurer Christian George is managing partner of the Akerman law firm’s office in Jacksonville.

A business litigator, George is a double graduate of the University of Florida, with a bachelor’s in political science and a J.D. from the Levin College of Law.

He is a past president of The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division and past president of the Jacksonville Bar Association Young Lawyers Section.

Jamie Karpman

Jamie Karpman is an attorney-adviser with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of General Counsel.

A graduate of Indiana University Bloomington and Florida Coastal School of Law, Karpman is a past president of the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association.

Tim Miller

Tim Miller practices criminal law, family law and civil litigation at Harris Guidi Rosner.

He is a graduate of the University of Alabama and Florida Coastal School of Law and chair of the JBA Criminal Law Committee.

James Poindexter

James Poindexter is a partner at Delegal & Poindexter, where he practices labor and employment law.

He received a bachelor’s in political science from Rollins College, an MBA from Jacksonville University and a J.D. from Florida Coastal School of Law.

Poindexter is president of the JBA Young Lawyers Section and president of the Florida Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association.

Adina Pollan

Pollan Law founder Adina Pollan practices bankruptcy law and commercial litigation.

She graduated from Emory University and the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

Shannon Schott

Shannon Schott is a partner at Plata Schott Attorneys and Counselors at Law.

She graduated from the University of Florida and Stetson University College of Law. 

Schott is board-certified in juvenile law and president of the Florida Association of Criminal Lawyers Northeast Chapter.

Asghar Syed

Gunster shareholder Asghar Syed practices labor and employment law and business litigation.

He received a bachelor’s from the University of Massachusetts at Boston, an MBA from the University of Florida and a J.D. from the UF Levin College of Law.

David Thompson

Coker Law attorney David Thompson practices personal injury law.

He received a bachelor’s and a master’s in criminal justice from the University of North Florida and a J.D. from Florida Coastal School of Law.

John Weedon

John Weedon is a partner with Hinshaw & Culbertson, where he defends clients with personal injury, other liability and criminal matters.

Weedon is a former assistant state attorney in the 4th Judicial Circuit and a member of the Jacksonville Association of Defense Counsel.

Vacated . . . LindSay Tygart Ahmed

Board member Lindsay Tygart Ahmed was elected unopposed to the 4th Judicial Circuit Court and vacated her seat on the board. The appointment of her successor will be on the agenda when the board of