WEST PALM BEACH, FL (Jan. 25, 2024) – The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners recognized Jones Foster with a proclamation in celebration of its 100th Anniversary as a private and commercial law firm based in West Palm Beach. County Commissioner Michael Barnett presented the honor to the firm at the January commission meeting.
During his presentation, Commissioner Barnett reflected on the important role attorneys play in society, “And last but not least, we must first kill all the lawyers…if you want to live in a society that is devoid of peace and order and filled with chaos. Being a lawyer myself and a proud member of the Bar, it is an honor to honor some really great lawyers in our community who have upheld what it means to be a great lawyer and an advocate for clients.”
Jones Foster Chairman Scott G. Hawkins, Vice Chair Theodore S. Kypreos, and Board Member Steven J. Rothman accepted the proclamation on behalf of the firm. “It’s an honor for us to be recognized in this manner. One hundred years is a long period of time for an institution to exist in Florida,” Mr. Hawkins said upon thanking County Mayor Maria Sachs, Vice Mayor Maria Marino, Commissioner Barnett, members of the board of the commission, and County Administrator Verdenia Baker. “We are Palm Beach County-centric and we appreciate very much the opportunity to be a part of this robust, dynamic, and wonderfully diverse county.”
Jones Foster’s deep roots in Palm Beach County trace back to 1924. The firm has since expanded into a full-service 40-attorney firm with offices in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, and Jupiter, providing counsel on complex legal matters including corporate and tax law; wills, trusts and estates; high-stakes litigation and trust and estate litigation; real estate; land use and zoning; and governmental law.
Over the past century, the firm’s attorneys have served as legal advisors to Palm Beach County in various capacities, including the firm’s namesake partner R. Bruce Jones, who 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, and General Counsel and Special Land Use Counsel to several community redevelopment agencies, all of which have contributed to the growth, infrastructure, and operation of the county today. Six attorneys who began their legal careers at Jones Foster went on to serve on the bench in circuit, federal, and appellate courts.
Vice Mayor Marino shared a few thoughts as the presentation concluded. “In a previous life, I used to run a children’s foundation, and Jones Foster was always a supporter of that foundation,” she said. “It’s important when our private businesses support our local foundations because that money – as you’ve seen today – all the good work that gets done, we can’t do it alone, so when there’s a partnership with private businesses supporting nonprofits, we greatly appreciate it. Thank you.”
The firm’s commitment to the county goes beyond legal services to a century-long culture of service supporting community nonprofits, institutions, and foundations. Many of the firm’s attorneys have served as presidents and founding board members of the Meals on Wheels of the Palm Beaches, the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Kiwanis Club of West Palm Beach, HomeSafe, the Children’s Place and Connor’s Nursery, the Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County.
The firm’s attorneys also have and continue to serve in leadership roles to strengthen the local legal community in its practice of law, including as presidents of The Florida Bar, the Palm Beach County Bar Association and its Young Lawyers Section, and the Palm Beach County chapters of the Federal Bar Association and the American Board of Trial Advocates.
Jones Foster is celebrating its Centennial year as a commercial and private client law firm headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida. Tracing its roots back to 1924, the firm has served as an integral part of South Florida’s growth and prosperity. Through a relentless pursuit of excellence, Jones Foster delivers original legal solutions that help clients, colleagues, and the community to move forward. A significant number of shareholders have received the designation of Board-Certified Specialist by The Florida Bar in their specific practice area. The firm’s practice groups include Complex Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Corporate & Tax, Land Use & Governmental, Private Wealth, Wills, Trusts & Estates, Real Estate, and Trust & Estate Litigation. For more information, please visit www.jonesfoster.com.
