FUN FACT: Paul is a lawyer, nuclear engineer, farmer, surfer, and Pamplona bull-runner. He also has 19 dogs.

Professional. I have practiced law for over four decades as a civil litigator. For most of that time I worked at large law firms in Tampa. At those firms, I represented clients ranging from Fortune 50 companies to under-privileged individuals on a pro bono basis. Working at large law firms provides a lawyer with a wealth of experience that you cannot get elsewhere, such as working for large corporations with large amounts at stake. And that develops an attorney’s skills by pitting him against lawyers on the other side who are the best of the best. For example, I obtained a verdict of approximately $50 million against a major insurance company represented by a big New York law firm. No one intimidates me and I do not back down. When I turned 65, I began thinking about what I wanted to do with myself in the next stage of life (the old stage). Ultimately, it came down to retiring or continue the practice of law a little longer. I chose to continue to practice law because I still enjoyed it and looked forward to helping people with something I am good at. I did not, however, want to continue working in a large firm setting. I had about had it reporting to others and wanted to be free to do things my way. One of those things was to make available my skills to people and businesses who couldn’t afford to hire me while I was in a large firm (they charge a boatload). I wanted the flexibility to provide top legal help to average people in need. I wanted to give back in other words

While I am a general civil litigator, I have focused on insurance coverage litigation, admiralty/maritime litigation,  disability claims and ERISA litigation. (My experience in these areas is set forth in more detail in the links to those subject matters.)  I do not limit the cases I take to those areas, however. I will take on any matter where I feel that I can make a positive difference.  I am an experienced trial attorney and have no qualms about taking the appropriate case to trial. Trials, however, are expensive, time consuming, and do not happen quickly. For that reason, I initially make every effort to use my experience to negotiate an advantageous settlement before a lawsuit even gets filed. That is in keeping with my philosophy of achieving my clients’ legal goal as quickly and inexpensively as possible. But, if the other side is being unreasonable, I know what to do.

Personal. When selecting a lawyer, I believe it is important that the lawyer and client mesh on a personal level. I like to consider my clients as friends and vice versa. We are, after all, going into battle together. Having a good relationship is one key to winning that battle. So, let me tell you a little bit about the personal side of my life. I am married and have a 40-year-old son. My wife is also a lawyer, and my son is in the financial industry in California (but he is about tired of that place and is looking to move back to Florida, and sanity). I grew up in a military family. My father was a flyer in the Air Force. So, I got to see a lot of the country and the world. My father retired to Fort Walton Beach, Florida, which is where I went to high school at Choctawhatchee High School. From there, I went off to the University of Florida to become a Gator. I got a degree in Nuclear Engineering at UF. I remain a huge Gator fan. From there I went to Pittsburgh to work at a top-secret facility having to do with nuclear submarines. Can’t say much about that.  Later on, I decided to go to law school. I attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where I graduated Cum Laude. After graduating, I moved back down to Florida, choosing to work at a law firm in Tampa. I worked with Holland & Knight for about 24 years and was a partner in that firm. In 2010, I was offered an opportunity to help start up a branch office with the large Milwaukee law firm of Quarles and Brady. I took that opportunity and successfully started up their Tampa office, which is still thriving today. I was a partner in that firm as well.

In 2017, I decided to change things up a bit. I am a surfer and would travel to Brevard County any weekend in which there was decent surf. In 2007 I bought a house in Satellite Beach to serve as my surf pad. Then I bought some farmland in Mims and started a farm. I’d always wanted a farm. I used to serve as cheap labor during summers on my grandfather’s farm and I guess it got into my blood. Since I enjoyed life over here and wanted to do more work on the farm, I made the move from Tampa to Satellite Beach. I left Quarles and Brady and joined Gray Robinson, another large law firm, in their Melbourne office. Then, as I said above, I decided to start my own law firm. Chose the middle of the Covid pandemic to do that. Figured that was as good of a time as any. So, now I am an attorney during the week and a farmer on the weekends (and sometimes during the week when one of the animals decides to make a break for it). For me, it is a good mix. I immensely enjoy the practice of law and helping people with legal problems. But I also enjoy doing physical labor out in the sunshine and fresh air. I have goats, cattle, pigs, chickens, ducks, turkeys, and dogs on 70 acres out there. That keeps me out of trouble on the weekends.

If you think I might be able to help you, please feel free to give me a call. I’ll enjoy talking to you. And you will talk to me, not one of our staff. I do not charge for initial consultations, so you don’t have to worry about that. I’m a straight shooter. If I think your case has merit, I’ll tell you so. If I don’t, I’ll tell you that so that you don’t waste your time and money.