Ponte Vedra Lawyers

Famed lawyer Robert Shapiro once called John, “the best lawyer in America.” He may not be there yet, but he works to be the best for his clients daily. He graduated from the University of Alabama, which is the highest ranked public law school in the southeast and was ranked 25th in the nation in a recent U.S. News Survey. He has obtained many million-dollar and multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients, including one 2019 jury verdict over $495 Million dollars, as well as changed the way that companies and governments operate. Although he has represented celebrities...

Clay Smith has a very diverse background, having grown up in Florida, California, and Iran. Clay attended high school in Stockton, California (Benjamin Franklin) and in Jacksonville, Florida (Ed White and Douglas Anderson School of the Arts). After high school he joined the United States Marine Corps, where he served honorably for 5+ years until his humanitarian discharge to provide living assistance for his younger brother, also a Marine, who broke his neck and was rendered quadriplegic. During the period shortly after his discharge, Clay performed a variety of jobs, including ditch digging. Along the way, he...

Michelle Kalil Taylor is a native and lifelong resident of Jacksonville, Florida. After graduating from Wolfson High School in Jacksonville, Michelle received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida. Michelle continued her education at University of Florida where she also attended law school and obtained her Juris Doctorate degree. While in law school, Michelle was a highly active and recognized member of the nationally competitive Moot Court team. For the past 13 years, Michelle has dedicated her practice defending those accused of crimes. Michelle began her criminal defense practice by immediately serving as an assistant public defender in...