Jones Foster is pleased to announce the addition of three attorneys to its West Palm Beach office.
Lainey R. Williams has joined the firm as an Associate in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Land Use & Governmental practice groups; Rachel L. Sears is an Associate and member of the Corporate & Tax and Private Wealth, Trusts & Estates teams; and Associate Melanie R. Skenian has joined the firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice group to focus on probate litigation and trust litigation.
“Lainey, Mel, and Rachel distinguished themselves as accomplished law students, and we’re excited to bring such promising legal talent into the firm,” said Joanne O’Connor, Litigation Shareholder and chair of Jones Foster’s DE&I Committee. “We are proud to empower and support young women to become skilled lawyers and leaders in the community through our strong mentoring program and team-oriented culture.”
Rachel Sears is a member of Jones Foster's Corporate & Tax and Private Wealth, Trusts & Estates practice groups. Her practice focuses on transactional corporate law, probate and trust administration, and estate planning.
Rachel earned her Juris Doctor degree and graduated cum laude from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law, where she served as the executive editor for the Nova Law Review. During her studies, Rachel was a pupil of the Craig S. Barnard American Inn of Court, the director of operations for the Real Property, Probate, & Trust Law Society, and an active member of the Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity.
She gained valuable experience as a Jones Foster Summer Associate and a Law Clerk, a judicial intern for both U.S. Circuit Judges David A. Haimes and Keathan B. Frink at the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, and a research assistant for a law professor.
Melanie Skenian is a member of Jones Foster's Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice group. She will focus her practice in the areas of probate litigation and trust litigation.
Melanie graduated cum laude with a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. She received a CALI Book Award for Federal Income Taxation and was awarded the Fredric G. Levin Ethos of Excellence Scholarship. During her studies, Melanie served as a research assistant and was an active member and coach of the Florida Moot Court Team. Melanie gained valuable experience as an intern for Judge Michael G. Williamson of the United States Middle District Bankruptcy Court.
Lainey Williams is a member of Jones Foster's Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Land Use & Governmental practice groups. She represents clients in matters involving commercial litigation, governmental litigation, municipal law, land use, and zoning.
Lainey graduated cum laude with a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where she served as a managing editor of the Florida Law Review and vice president of the Law College Council. She was elected by her peers to serve as law school senator for UF Student Government and was selected to be a member of Florida Blue Key.
While attending law school, Lainey gained valuable experience as a Jones Foster Summer Associate and Law Clerk, a judicial extern for Magistrate Judge Bruce E. Reinhart of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and a certified legal intern for the 19th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office
Jones Foster is a commercial and private client law firm headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida. Established in 1924, the Firm has served as an integral part of South Florida’s growth and prosperity for nearly a century. Through a relentless pursuit of excellence, Jones Foster delivers original legal solutions that help clients, colleagues, and the community to move forward. The Firm’s attorneys focus their practice in Real Estate, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Private Wealth, Trusts & Estates, Corporate & Tax, and Land Use & Governmental. For more information, please visit www.jonesfoster.com.
