Giselle Carson featured in local publication

Marks Gray Shareholder and Immigration Attorney Giselle Carson subject of Florida Coastal Spotlight section in latest Attorney at Law magazine 

To read the full article about Giselle's wonderful career accomplishments, click here. 

Congratulations, Giselle! We are proud to have you as a vital part of the Marks Gray team. 

Giselle Carson to speak at Jacksonville's Inaugural Women Forward Event May 19th

Marks Gray Shareholder Giselle Carson will speak on panel of local businesswomen presented by Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP

Giselle Carson, Shareholder at Marks Gray

Marks Gray Shareholder Giselle Carson will be a featured panelist at Jacksonville’s Inaugural Women Forward Panel Discussion, “How to Drive Business Development Forward: A Female Perspective” presented by Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP on May 19 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. The breakfast panel, also featuring Jacksonville’s Renee Parenteau of Renee Parenteau Photography and Kristin Keen of Rethreaded, is designed to enhance business development understanding and skill, with a specific emphasis on the challenges facing women in the business development realm. The topics of conversation will be key business development essentials for women such as managing others, understanding value and growing relationships.

Event registration is now open. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from several businesswomen in local and national leadership positions as they share their insights on women helping women. To register visit the Eventbrite registration site.

About Giselle Carson, Esq.

Giselle Carson is a Shareholder at Marks Gray, P.A. in Jacksonville, FL. Her primary areas of practice are business immigration, sports immigration, I-9 compliance and audits and litigation. Giselle is an author and frequent speaker on immigration matters. She has been honored as Lawyer of the Year by the Financial News and Daily Record. She is “AV” rated through Martindale-Hubbell, and a Top Rated Immigration Lawyer by the American Lawyer & Corporate Counsel. She is currently serving as the Jacksonville Bar Association President.

Additional information about the event can be found on The Women Forward website. 

Edward L. Birk Appointed to Florida Bar Media and Communications Law Committee

Edward L. Birk, Shareholder at Marks Gray, P.A. begins another term on the Media and Communications Committee

Marks Gray Shareholder, Edward L. Birk

Edward Birk, a First Amendment and media partner at Marks Gray, P.A., has been appointed to another term on the Florida Bar Media and Communications Law Committee.  The committee provides attorneys a forum for exchanging information and educating the public about free speech, free press, and the ever-developing world of electronic communications.  Committee members often represent news organizations as well as government agencies involved in public records and open government issues.  The committee engages in activities touching the full spectrum of communications methods, including print, broadcast, cable, the internet, and emerging technologies. The committee also promotes better understanding among members of The Florida Bar, the news media, and the public. The committee plans the annual Media Law Conference, Reporters' Workshop, Media Awards and produces and updates the Reporter’s Handbook.

Mr. Birk has served on the committee for several years, including in the positions of vice-chair and chair.  Before entering the practice of law, he worked as a reporter and editor for The Associated Press in Massachusetts and Florida. For nearly twenty years, he has been representing clients in matters related to the First Amendment, privacy, open government, access to courts, news gathering torts, copyright and trademark infringement.  Clients call on him during all stages of newsgathering, from conception of story ideas, to source development, research, writing, script and story review, broadcast and publication to post-broadcast responses and defenses against legal action when the arise. 

Mary Bland Love featured in Jacksonville Daily Record

"Our Legal Community Needs More Lawyers Like Mary" 

Mary Bland Love was the recipient of the 2016 Raymond Ehrlich Award, given annually to a lawyer whose career has embodied qualities to which litigators aspire. Ehrlich was a Florida Supreme Court chief justice and a role model to many. The award recognizes traits such as professionalism, discernment, thoroughness and preparedness, mentorship and a willingness to help those in need. Love is a former president of the Jacksonville chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and is the first woman trial lawyer to win the Ehrlich award. Melissa Nelson, litigation chair of the Jacksonville Bar Association, interviewed Love and shared her insights about the practice of law.

The original article was written by Melissa Nelson, Jacksonville Bar Association Litigation Section Chair and published in the Jacksonville Daily Record on March 28, 2016. 

Marks Gray, P.A. ranked among 2016 "Best Law Firms"

Marks Gray, P.A. has been named a "Best Law Firm" in multiple practice areas by U.S. News - Best Lawyers® in 2016

Marks Gray, P.A., has been recognized by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” 2016 rankings. Marks Gray is ranked regionally in eight practice areas.

“As one of Jacksonville’s oldest law firms, we take great pride in our partnerships with our clients and providing them access to the most experienced and knowledgeable legal counsel,” said Marks Gray President, Jerry Weedon. “It’s an honor to be once again included in this prestigious list and acknowledged for our hard work, dedication, and experience.”

Firms included in the 2016 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.

Ranked firms, presented in tiers, are listed on a national and/or metropolitan scale. Receiving a tier designation reflects the high level of respect a firm has earned among other leading lawyers and clients in the same communities and the same practice areas for its abilities, its professionalism and its integrity.

Marks Gray received the following rankings in the 2016 U.S. News – Best Lawyers®

 "Best Law Firms":

Metropolitan Tier 1

Jacksonville

• Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants 
• Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants 
• Product Liability Litigation - Defendants 

Metropolitan Tier 2

Jacksonville

• Employment Law - Management
• Real Estate Law

Metropolitan Tier 3

Jacksonville

• Banking and Finance Law
• Commercial and Litigation 
• Employment Law - Individuals 

ABOUT “BEST LAW FIRMS”

The U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. To be eligible for a ranking, a law firm must have at least one lawyer listed in the 21st Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© list for that particular location and specialty.

ABOUT U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

U.S. News & World Report is a digital news information company that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affection their lives. Focusing on Education, Health, Personal Finance, Travel, Cars and News & Opinion, www.usnews.com provides consumer advice, rankings, news and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. 30 million people visit www.usnews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, DC.

Mary Bland Love Receives 2016 Justice Raymond Ehrlich Trial Advocacy Award

Mary Bland Love of Marks Gray, P.A. receives recognition from Jacksonville Bar Association; becomes first woman to win Justice Raymond Ehrlich Trial Advocacy Award 

Mary Bland Love, center, receives the 2016 Justice Raymond Ehrlich 

Trial Advocacy Award at the Jacksonville Bar Association (JBA) 

Annual seminar on February 25, 2016. Presenting the award is 

Melissa Nelson, JBA Litigation Section and Seminar and Selection 

Committee Chair, left, and JBA President Giselle Carson.

Marks Gray, P.A. attorney Mary Bland Love received the 2016 Justice Raymond Ehrlich Trial Advocacy Award at the Jacksonville Bar Association’s annual Justice Raymond Ehrlich Trial Advocacy Seminar held on February 25 at the Wells Fargo Auditorium. The Justice Raymond Ehrlich Trial Advocacy Award recognizes a lawyer from the local legal community whose career has embodied those qualities to which trial lawyers aspire. This honor has been presented to many local attorneys, but Ms. Love is the first woman to ever receive the award.

The Award committee evaluates applicants based on the qualities that made Florida Supreme Court Justice Ehrlich a legal role model including professionalism, steadfast obedience to ethics, discernment, mentorship and willingness to help those in need. Ms. Love was nominated by a team of peers for her exemplary commitment to these ideals. Throughout her career Ms. Love has continually demonstrated the highest ethical and professional standards while also generously giving back to the Jacksonville community through various philanthropic endeavors.

Mary Bland Love graduated from the University Of Virginia   School Of Law in 1978. She served as an associate attorney and ultimately partner at the Mathews, Osborne, Ehrlich, McNatt, Gobelman & Cobb law firm from 1978-1988. She then co-founded the law firm of Gobelman and Love in 1988. She has served as Of Counsel at Marks Gray, P.A. since 2011.

Congratulations, Ms. Love! 

Marks Gray Elects Four New Shareholders for 2016

Meagan L. Logan, Jill F. Bechtold, Michael D. Kendall and Crystal T. Broughan
elected as newest Shareholders at Marks Gray, P.A.

Marks Gray, P.A. is pleased to announce four new shareholders; Meagan L. Logan, Jill F. Bechtold, Michael D. Kendall, and Crystal T. Broughan. Each attorney has underscored the firm’s capabilities in insurance and professional liability litigation, in addition to its growing intellectual property practice.

“These attorneys have achieved outstanding results for our clients and have differentiated themselves as leaders,” said firm Chair Gerald Weedon. “Their practices support the firm’s core mission of integrity and superior service to our clients. They’re an important part of Marks Gray’s continued success and exciting future.”

Meagan L. Logan 

Meagan L. Logan handles matters involving municipal liability, civil rights, appellate litigation, and general liability defense. She is a Martindale-Hubbell AV^® Preeminent^™ rated attorney, and a skilled defender with experience managing multi-defendant litigation matters. Ms. Logan represents municipalities, public and private business organizations, and corporate entities. She is licensed to practice throughout the state of Florida, including the U.S. District Court for the Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Florida, the U.S. Court of Appeals, the Eleventh Circuit, Georgia State, and Superior Courts, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, as well as the Georgia Court of Appeals. She is also a member of the Florida Bar Association, the Georgia Bar Association, Jacksonville Bar Association, the Florida Defense Lawyers Association (FDLA), and the Jacksonville Association of Defense Counsel (JADC). Additionally, she has been selected as a Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2010 – 2016. Ms. Logan earned her law degree from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2005, and joined Marks Gray in 2008. She can be reached at mlogan@marksgray.com.

Jill F. Bechtold

Jill F. Bechtold practices in the areas of medical and professional liability defense, products liability and general civil litigation defense. She has been recognized as a top lawyer by Florida Super Lawyer and Florida Trend magazines, has an AV Rating by Martindale-Hubbell, and is a member of the Defense Research Institute (DRI), Chester Bedell Inn of Court, and the Florida Defense Lawyers Association.  Ms. Bechtold represents both individual and enterprise clients. She is a member of the Leadership Jacksonville Class of 2015 as well as a Jacksonville Business Journal 2015 Woman of Influence. She also serves the community as the President of the Board for Girl’s Inc. of Jacksonville. Ms. Bechtold earned her law degree from the University of Florida and joined Marks Gray in 2013. She speaks nation-wide before defense lawyers on the Reptile Strategy and related topics. She can be reached at jbechtold@marksgray.com.

Michael D. Kendall

Michael D. Kendall is the Chair of the workers’ compensation practice area and has been practicing law since 2000. His work focuses primarily on representing insurance carriers and employers in Workers’ Compensation matters.  He counsels insurance companies, hospitals, government entities, and individuals in all aspects of civil litigation. Mr. Kendall has served as adjunct professor at Florida Coastal School of Law, Judicial Staff Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit, and past President of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville. Today, he still has significant influence with the charity as a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Kendall is a 2000 cum laude graduate from the University of Dayton School Of Law. He is a top rated civil litigation attorney and was selected as a Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2010-2015. He can be reached at mkendall@marksgray.com.

Crystal T. Broughan 

Crystal T. Broughan leads the Intellectual Property Law practice, handling complex matters in trademark, trade secret, and copyright legal advocacy to clients ranging from start-ups to international corporations.  She represents clients before the Trademark Trials and Appeals Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, as well as managing infringement litigation for all types of intellectual property matters in federal and state courts. An AV rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, Ms. Broughan is a member of the International Trademark Association’s (INTA) Law Firm Committee and the former chair of the Jacksonville Bar Associations Franchise Intellectual Property and Technology Law Committee.  In addition, she manages insurance fraud investigations and litigation on behalf of the special investigation units for insurance companies.  During her more than 25 years of practice, she served as the Chief Assistant Statewide Prosecutor in Jacksonville for the Florida Office of the Attorney General and as an Assistant State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit.  In 2012, she was awarded the Insurance Lawyer of the Year award by the Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee (FIFEC).  She is a Master in the Chester Bedell Inn of Court, a member of the Jacksonville Women’s Network, a graduate of Leadership Jacksonville, Class of 2010 and Leadership Orlando, Class of 1984.  Ms. Broughan graduated from the Florida State University College of Law in 1990.  She can be reached at cbroughan@marksgray.com.

Congratulations!