Jeffrey Leonard Burns

After law school, I devoted a decade to forging a fruitful career as a commercial/real estate litigator and as a trusted adviser to many corporate and governmental clients. At my old firm, I worked alongside extraordinary thinkers and leaders. My old firm has produced eight trial court judges, one sitting appellate judge, the previous U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, a sitting Congressman, a city councilman, and two sitting Okaloosa County Commissioners – all in the last twenty years!

These experiences, with remarkable people surrounding me, provided valuable context when I took the bench as a Circuit Court Judge. 

I have been both a buyer and seller of legal arguments.  My time on the bench gave me a unique view of the whole picture of a legal dispute as I presided over thousands of hearings listening to hundreds of attorneys sell arguments to me on behalf of their clients.  Before that I spent time as a litigator selling legal arguments for my clients. With the picture complete, I realize there is a tremendous cost to litigation that at best impedes small businesses and individuals from efficient growth, and at worst, financially destroys main street Americans unaccustomed to litigation.

I want to help clients save money by doing their best to avoid the courtroom altogether; through prudent proactive planning.