WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 19, 2020) – Gunster, one of Florida’s oldest and largest full-service business law firms, is pleased to announce Joe Jacquot has joined the firm as a business litigation shareholder in the firm’s Jacksonville and Tallahassee offices. Jacquot is a legal veteran with a proven record of public service and private sector experience.
Jacquot most recently served as the general counsel to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a position he has held since the Governor’s inauguration in January 2019. Jacquot’s focus at Gunster will be representing clients in complex state matters involving litigation and appellate work, as well as counseling companies in regulatory issues. As the Governor’s general counsel, Jacquot was responsible for all litigation and legal matters of the Governor and state executive agencies. He handled cases on behalf of the Governor and his administration before federal and state courts, including five matters before the Florida Supreme Court on matters of statewide significance.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Jacquot drafted and implemented the Governor’s executive orders and oversaw all agency executive orders. He also defended litigation challenges to those orders in federal and state courts.
His experience in the Governor’s office extends to overseeing the judicial selection and appointment process for five justices to the Florida Supreme Court, as well as more than 100 judicial appointments to lower courts.
“Joe’s extensive knowledge and insight into the judicial system bolsters our litigation and appellate practices and strengthens our reputation as the go-to law firm for Florida’s top companies,” said Bill Perry, Gunster’s managing shareholder. “His broad experience in public service and the private sector brings a tremendous value to both to our attorneys and clients.”
From 2007-2010, Jacquot served as the chief Deputy Attorney General of Florida. He argued successfully before the U.S. Supreme Court in a Miranda rights case, Florida v. Powell. After this public service, and prior to his GC role with the Governor, Jacquot was a litigation partner at a national law firm, leading the firm’s State Attorneys General practice.
Earlier in his career, he served as the Deputy Chief Counsel for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, managing the confirmations of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito.
Jacquot earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia and his law degree at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. He also served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy.
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