Jupiter Mayor Recognizes Jones Foster Centennial with Town Proclamation

Jones Foster was recognized by the Town of Jupiter in celebration of its 100^th Anniversary at a recent Town Council meeting.

Jones Foster shareholder and Jupiter Town Attorney Thomas J. Baird opened the meeting by discussing the firm’s deep roots in Palm Beach County. He followed with an introduction of Jones Foster attorneys in attendance who have worked closely with the Town on a variety of matters, including shareholders Joanne M. O’Connor, Michael J. Gore, and Travis J. Foels, senior counsel Stanley D. Klett, Jr., and associate Lainey W. Francisco. Mr. Baird concluded his remarks by introducing Chairman Scott G. Hawkins, a Florida Bar Board Certified Business Litigation attorney, who has spent his nearly 40-year legal career at the firm representing public and private companies in a wide variety of industries.

Following Mayor Kuretski’s reading of the proclamation, Mr. Hawkins accepted the honor on behalf of the firm and addressed the Town Council, “We are deeply honored to have the opportunity to work with the Town of Jupiter and greatly appreciate your commitment to conservation to preserving the natural habitat, and frankly, running one of the most dynamic towns in the state if not the Eastern Seaboard. We are very proud of the work that Tom has done here and are grateful for the opportunity to be part of the public service in this manner... Thank you very much on behalf of the board of directors at Jones Foster.”

Mr. Baird, a Florida Bar Board Certified City, County, and Local Government attorney, has served as Jupiter Town Attorney for 32 years and is certified as a Professional Planner by the American Institute of Certified Planners. In his role as Town Attorney, Mr. Baird has provided counsel on matters that continue to grow and shape the Town, including the Town of Jupiter’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations for Abacoa, Indiantown Road, U.S. 1/Intracoastal Waterway, and the Scripps Florida Bio-Science Overlay Zoning Plans.

In addition, the firm’s attorneys have provided legal representation for the Town of Jupiter in significant lawsuits brought against it and handled real estate transactions and land use matters that have shaped the town by preserving land for conservation and authoring laws to manage the growth in the town.

Over the past century, the firm’s attorneys have held esteemed leadership roles within the legal community and state and federal government, including as presidents of The Florida Bar, the Palm Beach County Bar Association and its North County Section and Young Lawyers Section, and the Florida Senate; as a member of the U.S. Congress; and as judges in circuit, federal, and appellate courts. The firm’s namesake partner R. Bruce Jones, headed the county’s legal department as County Attorney in the late 1960s. Other notable roles include Palm Beach County Zoning Attorney, Town Attorney to several municipalities, Port of Palm Beach Commissioner, a gubernatorial appointment to the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, and General Counsel and Special Land Use Counsel to several community redevelopment agencies.

The firm’s attorneys also have supported local advocacy in the community through various nonprofit organizations and have contributed to the development of the county through leadership positions with the Economic Council of Palm Beach County, the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, and Roger Dean Stadium.