John was born in Chicago, Illinois, but raised in Jacksonville where he graduated from Bishop Kenny High School. John completed his undergraduate studies at Washington & Lee University where he earned a B.S. degree in accounting. John received his J.D. degree and LL.M. degree in taxation from the University of Florida College of Law where he was also a member of Law Review. John is a board-certified Wills, Trusts and Estates Attorney. He has been selected by his peers for inclusion in both Florida Super Lawyers and U.S. News & World Report’s Best Lawyers. Prior to joining Fisher, Tousey, Leas & Ball in 1990, John served 12 years as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. John has also worked as an attorney with the Internal Revenue Service and an adjunct professor at Florida Coastal School of Law, teaching wills, trusts, probate and tax law.
John has three children (and seven grandchildren) – Sarah, who works in the not-for-profit field; Joshua, a firefighter with St. Johns County Fire Rescue; and Mary, a pediatric hematology/oncology nurse at Nemours Children’s Specialty Care Clinic.
Areas of Practice
- Estate Planning
- Probate
- Trust Administration
Education & Credentials
- University of Florida (LL.M., Taxation, 1989)
- University of Florida (J.D., with honors, 1975)
- Washington & Lee University (B.S., in accounting, 1972)
- Member, Editorial board, Florida Law Review, 1975
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, Middle District of Florida, 1978-1989
- Estate Tax Attorney, Internal Revenue Service, 1975- 1978
- Florida Bar Board Certified Wills, Trusts, and Estates
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Florida Coastal School of Law
- AV Rated – Martindale Hubbell
Bar Admissions
- The Florida Bar
- U.S. Tax Court
- U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
Memberships
- The Florida Bar (Member – Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, and Tax Section)
- Jacksonville Bar Association
- American Bar Association (Member – Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section)
