December 4, 2024
PENSACOLA, Fla. – GrayRobinson is proud to announce its expansion into the Pensacola market with the opening of a new office and a team of board-certified attorneys. Coming from a local Pensacola law firm, the five new attorneys joining the firm include John H. Adams, B.C.S., Robert L. Jones, III, B.C.S., Joseph A. Passeretti, B.C.S., Carllee J. Godwin, and Hannah Blount McDonough. Adams will serve as the managing shareholder of the Pensacola office located in the Downtown Pensacola Historic District at 601 South Palafox Street.
“This expansion into the Pensacola market marks a key milestone in our firm’s growth strategy,” said GrayRobinson President and CEO Dean Cannon. “We’re not only adding five experienced attorneys, but we’re also reinforcing our commitment to strategically delivering legal and lobbying services for our clients in all corners of the state. We’re excited to welcome this team of talented attorneys under the guidance of John Adams and look forward to being a part of the Emerald Coast community.”
John H. Adams, B.C.S., Litigation, Pensacola Managing Shareholder
“We are beyond excited to open an office for GrayRobinson in Pensacola,” said Adams, a life-long resident of Northwest Florida who has practiced law in the Pensacola and Destin markets for nearly two decades. “Joining GrayRobinson presents us with a tremendous opportunity to become part of a full-service law firm that is highly regarded in the legal and lobbying space throughout the state of Florida and our nation’s capital. This greatly strengthens our ability to bring a depth of resources, expansive network of talented and experienced attorneys, and robust infrastructure to our clients unlike any other in Northwest Florida.”
Adams is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in both Civil Trial Law and Business Litigation, a distinction held by less than 70 of the over 112,000 members of the Florida Bar. Serving clients across Northwest Florida and Southern Alabama for nearly two decades, Adams has a versatile practice frequently handling litigation disputes in the areas of real estate, business, trusts and estates, guardianships, creditor’s rights, bankruptcy, non-compete agreements, tax, and contract proceedings. In addition to litigation, Adams assists clients in real estate and business transactions, has served as a personal representative and curator in several complex estates, and serves as legal counsel for multiple nonprofit organizations in Northwest Florida.
Adams holds an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University and received his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida (UF) Levin College of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting from the University of West Florida. He is admitted to practice in Florida before all state courts and the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts, Alabama before all state and federal courts, and the U.S. Tax Court.
Robert L. Jones, III, B.C.S, Private Client Services, Shareholder
A sixth-generation Floridian, Jones is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Tax Law. He represents corporate entities, nonprofit organizations, and charitable foundations on all aspects of business law matters, including tax, mergers and acquisitions, and business planning, guiding clients through every stage of the business and board lifecycle, from formation to succession planning. Additionally, he provides probate, wills, trusts, and estate planning services for high-net-worth individuals.
Jones received his LL.M. in Taxation from the UF Levin College of Law, Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas Little Rock School of Law, and Bachelor of Arts from UF. He is admitted to practice in Florida before all state courts and the U.S. District Court for the Middle and Northern Districts, and the U.S. Tax Court. Jones has served as chair of the First Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission and is actively involved with The Florida Bar, Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association, Estate Planning Council of Northwest Florida and Emerald Coast, Baptist Health Care Foundation, and Pensacola Youth Soccer. Additionally, Jones is a former adjunct professor of Federal Income Taxation at the Florida Coastal School of Law and Wills, Trusts and Estates at the University of West Florida (UWF).
Joseph A. Passeretti, B.C.S., Litigation, Shareholder
Passeretti is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Construction Law and focuses his practice on commercial and construction-related litigation, including employment matters, complex civil lawsuits, and multi-party litigation at the state, federal, and appellate levels, as well as in the alternative dispute resolution forum.
He regularly represents clients in significant construction disputes, including claims related to mechanic’s liens, schedule or delay, contract default, improper workmanship, errors and omissions, construction defects, and payment and performance bonds.
Passeretti earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Huntingdon College. He is admitted to practice in Florida before the U.S. District Court for the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Passeretti is an active member of The Florida Bar and Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association.
Carllee J. Godwin, Private Client Services, Associate
Godwin focuses her practice on corporate law, including taxation, mergers and acquisitions, and private client services. She assists high-net-worth individuals with estate and tax planning and probate matters, and works with nonprofits, charitable foundations, and private corporations on business strategies through to succession planning.
Godwin received her LL.M. in Taxation, Juris Doctor, and Estate Planning Certificate from the UF Levin College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies Pre-Law from the University of West Florida. She is admitted to practice in Florida and Alabama, as well as before the U.S. District Court for the Middle and Northern Districts of Florida and the U.S. Tax Court. Godwin is actively involved with The Florida Bar, Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association, and the UWF Legal Studies Advisory Board. She also holds board positions with the Community Foundation of Northwest Florida and the Estate Planning Council of Northwest Florida.
Hannah Blount McDonough, Litigation, Associate
McDonough focuses her practice on complex commercial, construction, and real estate litigation. McDonough also litigates matters involving estate, trusts, and guardianships.
McDonough holds a Juris Doctor from the UF Levin College of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Troy University. She is admitted to practice in Florida and before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District. She is also an active member of the C. Roger Vinson Inns of Court Chapter and the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association.
Rounding out the new group in the Pensacola office are paralegals with a combined experience of more than 60 years specializing in litigation, real estate, probate, tax, and estate planning. With the addition of the Pensacola office, GrayRobinson will now serve clients nationally from a total of 16 offices, including Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Key West, Lakeland, Melbourne, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Pensacola, Tallahassee, Tampa, Washington, D.C., and West Palm Beach.
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ABOUT GRAYROBINSON
GrayRobinson is a multidimensional team of attorneys, advisors, and consultants recognized as one of the most influential firms in Florida. Its nearly 300 professionals partner with successful businesses and enterprising individuals to resolve disputes, anticipate industry shifts, and harness forward momentum. The firm serves clients nationally from 16 offices across Florida and Washington, D.C. Learn more at Gray-Robinson.com.
CONTACT
Kristen Bridges, kristen.bridges@gray-robinson.com, 850.545.1917