Jones Foster Announces Election of New Chairman and Vice Chair

WEST PALM BEACH, FL (Jan. 22, 2024) – Jones Foster, a full-service private and commercial law firm, is pleased to announce that Shareholder Scott G. Hawkins has been elected chairman by the firm’s shareholders after serving as vice chair for the past 18 years. Mr. Hawkins succeeds Larry B. Alexander who served as chairman since 2006 and will continue to head the real estate team as practice group leader.

In addition, Shareholder Theodore S. “Theo” Kypreos has been elected vice chair after previously serving on the board of directors for six years.

Both attorneys assume their new leadership roles immediately.

Upon being elected chairman, Mr. Hawkins expressed his deep appreciation stating, “Throughout my 38-year career at Jones Foster, I have been surrounded by an extraordinary group of attorneys whose impact on me, both professionally and personally, has been profound. I am grateful to Larry Alexander who is not only an exceptional attorney but a strategic leader whose skill and vision have contributed immeasurably to the firm’s sustained excellence and achievements.”

Mr. Hawkins, a Florida Bar Board Certified Business Litigation attorney, joined the firm as an associate in 1985 after earning a BSBA degree in economics from the University of Florida and a J.D. degree from the University of Florida College of Law. In addition, he earned an MBA from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland where he was a Rotary Foundation International Scholar.

Mr. Hawkins has since spent his nearly 40-year legal career at Jones Foster representing public and private companies in a variety of industries, including technology, medical, environmental, real estate, land use, insurance, and military. Mr. Hawkins focuses his practice in commercial litigation with an emphasis on intellectual property, trade secret disputes, trademark infringement, covenants not to compete, securities, real estate litigation, and claims arising under ERISA Plans. He also regularly serves as an attorneys’ fees counsel and expert witness and has been appointed by the courts as a receiver, trustee, statutory investigator (corporate derivative disputes), mediator, and special master given his experience, ethics, and judgment.

Mr. Hawkins has served in significant leadership roles in both industry and nonprofit organizations, including as president of The Florida Bar, chair of the board of trustees of the University of Florida Law Center Association, chair of the University of Florida Foundation, and chair of the board of trustees for Palm Beach Atlantic University. He currently serves as a member of the University of Florida College of Medicine Leadership Council and the council of advisors of the Bob Graham Center for Public Service.

Mr. Kypreos joined the firm as an associate in 2002 after earning his B.S. degree in accounting from the University of Florida and a J.D. degree from the University of Florida College of Law. “Working at Jones Foster for the past 21 years has been an extremely rewarding and enjoyable experience for me, and I look forward to serving the firm and its employees in my new role as vice chair,” Mr. Kypreos said following the installation.

Mr. Kypreos, a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), is an experienced trial and appellate attorney who focuses his practice in the areas of probate and trust litigation, trust and estate administration, guardianship law, and fiduciary litigation. He represents corporate and individual fiduciaries, beneficiaries, and heirs in all probate, trust, and guardianship settings including will and trust contests, breach of trust actions, trustee removal and accounting actions, will and trust reformation and modification proceedings, contested guardianships, elective share proceedings, Florida homestead disputes, exploitation and tortious interference litigation, and matters relating to probate creditors’ claims.

Mr. Kypreos has also held several notable leadership roles throughout his career at Jones Foster. He is a past president of both the Palm Beach County Bar Association and its Young Lawyers Section and is currently a member of The Florida Bar’s Real Property, Probate and Trust Law (RPPTL) Section’s executive council and chair of its Probate Law and Procedure Committee.

This year also marks Jones Foster’s 100th year serving the community as legal counselors in Palm Beach County. Reflecting on this milestone, Mr. Hawkins said, “Taking on the role of chairman during our Centennial year is especially meaningful. I feel a great sense of pride for the firm’s rich history, and I am truly grateful to our clients for their trust and support over the years and for the relationships we have built together.”