• Partner's Perspective: A Suite of Information at Your Fingertips
  • Jimerson Birr Named Among Top 100 Fastest-Growing Businesses in the World Led by UF Alumni
  • Register Now for the Construction Industry Webinar: 15 Critical Construction Contract Provisions
  • Registration is Open for the Banking & Financial Services Industry Webinar: Properly Handling Mortgage Foreclosures
  • Join the Inaugural Boss of the Sauce Festival in Downtown Jacksonville This April
  • Curiosities, Ruminations and Various Eccentricities of Firm Biz

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PARTNER'S PERSPECTIVE
Charles B. Jimerson - A Suite of Information at Your Fingertips
This may come as a shock to many of you, but I am momentarily taking a break from the cautionary commentary or reflective admonishment you may have come to expect from me throughout the last decade to share some utilitarian information and exciting updates of happenings at our firm. One of the biggest projects we prioritized and pushed to the finish line during the unusual year we just put behind us was our new Jimerson Birr website. If you have not been to it yet, please visit and browse around the website.

Our previous website, which served us well for a number of years, was award winning in its prime, but as our firm grew in size and capabilities, we needed a new digital presence to help us tell our evolving story. The new site includes a dynamic and responsive scrolling design that will make it viewable and friendly across all devices you may visit us on. Whether you’re on your desktop computer at work or checking out one of our blogs from your smart phone, we have considered your experience and optimized the site to make it as quick and easy for you to find what you need or get in touch with us.

One of the other key features of our new and improved home on the web is the back-end content organization and relationships. Our multi-disciplinary focus requires broad industry knowledge to deliver the tailored solutions our clients need. Because we advise business executives, department heads, entrepreneurs, investors and individuals on critical transactions, disputes, and regulatory matters within about 17 different industries, reflective of the Florida and U.S. economies at large, we have created industry relationships to each and every piece of content available on our site. This means within one click from our main page, business leaders from any of those industries can not only review a detailed summary of what we do for each industry with a listing of primary service offerings, supplemental service offerings, the specific attorneys involved in the group, and client testimonials, but they will also see a wealth of our firm’s original industry-specific content and thought leadership. To learn more about the industries we serve and how we help businesses in those industries, please visit our Industries & Services page.

Speaking of content, our site features a robust library of scholarly content produced by our team of attorneys in the form of blog articles, informative presentations, videos, and even written answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) all under the Blogs & Resources section. Plus, any of our upcoming events, like seminars, webinars, panel discussions, or conference presentations, along with our press coverage and monthly firm newsletters dating back to our humble beginnings can be found within our News section. If you just want to browse for certain types of content within these sections, the advanced search box will allow you to search by keyword, filter by attorney and/or industry, and sort by type.

If you are an old friend of the firm’s, you know our blogs have long been one of the most popular and widely searched and viewed resources on our site. They have been cited in many legal publications, referenced by judges in rendering legal opinions, and used by businesses around the world their decision-making process. We will continue to provide relevant and timely content, in addition to our ongoing tinkering to improve the user experience. Now, when viewing blogs or news articles on the new site, the total reading time estimated is presented at the top of each post. Additionally, we’ve made it exceptionally easy to share the content you find most valuable with your colleagues or networks through a number of digital channels at the top and bottom of each post. You will also notice the share icon conveniently placed on most pages throughout the site to facilitate engagement and collaboration; and, if you need to print a page, we’ve got you covered. You can quickly save a pre-formatted PDF of most every page on our website where you see the Adobe Acrobat icon.

One of our Seven Superior Service Commitments, which you can read more about under our About Us section, is accessibility. From the attorney profile pages, you can email any of our attorneys directly and download their Vcards. Beyond their experience, education, highlights, and representative matters, you can see the most recent blogs they’ve written, presentations they’ve delivered, news they’ve been featured in, upcoming events they may be leading, and more. If it has been a while since you’ve reviewed our roster, please take a moment to see some new faces and perhaps touch base with some old friends by visiting our Attorneys page.

Finally, as one of the “Best Companies to Work For” in Florida for the last six consecutive years, and a multi-year winner of Jacksonville Business Journal’s “Best Places to Work,” our new Careers section speaks to the award-winning culture at our firm. From viewing our current openings and applying online to learning more about who we are as an employer and what it takes to be successful on our team, we wanted to convey the message that here, there are no speed limits on a professional’s road to success. Please feel free to visit our Careers page and refer a friend if you believe they’d be a good fit. For those that may be interested in other firm happenings, stay tuned for future information on our JB FOR ME firm culture initiative that is focused upon creating professionally and personally fulfilled employees. We’re working hard on some new strategies and approaches on this front and will continue to pioneer employee benefits and engagement initiatives that separate us from our peers. Our JB FOR ME culture brand is designed to check every box that an employee should care about when considering professional affiliation, and when deployed will ensure that we recruit and retain well-balanced and high-performing talent to meet the needs of our clients.

In summary of this high-level rundown of key features and concepts, regardless of where you land on the site, whether on an industry page, a service page, a blog post, or even an attorney bio, we have tried to create an experience where the story of our well-rounded capabilities, experience and firm culture could be told. The work on our roadmap for ongoing development will continue for the next two years, but in the meantime, I invite you all to surf on in, dig around, share your feedback, and, by all means, subscribe to our scholarly content that interests you.

Very truly yours,
Charles B. Jimerson
Managing Partner
Jimerson Birr Named One of the Fastest-Growing Gator-Led Businesses in the World
Jimerson Birr has been named to the 2021 Gator100 list released by the University of Florida (UF), which recognizes the 100 fastest-growing businesses in the world led by its Alumni. This is the fourth year the Jacksonville-headquartered law firm has earned a spot on the list.

In coordination with an independent accounting firm, the University of Florida’s Alumni Association produces the annual list based on three defining qualities a business must embody to be considered for the award: character, leadership, and the duration and revenues of the organization. Eligible companies are required to have been in continuous business for five or more years, meet the verified annual revenue, be Gator-owned or Gator-led, and operate in accordance with the values and image of the University of Florida.

Managing partner Charles B. Jimerson and partner James O. “Joby” Birr, III received their respective Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Jimerson is an AV-Rated Preeminent, Florida Bar Board Certified attorney in Construction Law, and has been named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Attorneys in Law and Business in the United States, among a list of other honors. Birr is also Board Certified in Construction Law by the Florida Bar and AV-Rated Preeminent. The firm, founded by Jimerson in 2009, has been named one of the Best Law Firms in America, according to U.S. News & World Report, with both Jimerson and Birr receiving individual distinctions as Best Lawyers.

“As proud alumni, all of our Florida law attorneys feel a great sense of gratitude to the University of Florida for the foundation it provided for us as young, aspiring lawyers to establish and nurture our professional goals,” said Jimerson. “To be celebrated among the group of its fastest growing Gator-led businesses around the world is an honor we are extraordinarily humbled by. Go Gators!”

The firm’s official ranking will be released during a virtual premiere of Gator100 Awards on April 23, 2021.

Register Now: 15 Critical Construction Contract Provisions Webinar
Topic Overview

Construction project contracts have varied nuances and needs depending on the specific project and the scope of work to be performed. Some can be satisfied in concise, short proposals while others require more detailed sections. For good general contractors and subcontractors alike, understanding key contract provisions is vital to protecting both the project and the business's bottom line, but that guidance will differ depending on an entity's responsibility to the project.
 
You're invited to join one of our two free webinars led by two of the area's pre-eminent board-certified construction attorneys and a licensed general contractor/attorney. Learn how to effectively utilize 15 key contract provisions that can safeguard your project as well as your business.

Webinar Details
FOR GENERAL CONSTRACTORS
FOR SUBCONTRACTORS
Understand how to identify crucial contract provisions when negotiating contracts with owners or subcontracts with subcontractors.

Wed., March 3, 2021
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Online Webinar
Get tips and suggestions for managing risks and using key provisions when negotiating subcontracts with the contractor.

Wed., March 31, 2021
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Online Webinar

Meet the Presenters
James O. "Joby" Birr
Partner
Austin B. Calhoun
Partner
C. Ryan Maloney
Partner
Register Now: Properly Handling Mortgage Foreclosures Webinar
Registration is now open for our upcoming banking & financial services industry webinar, "Properly Handling Mortgage Foreclosure: Solutions for Streamlining the Process, Overcoming Obstacles & Maximizing Recovery," coming up on Tuesday, March 23, 2020 from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM. How to handle mortgage foreclosures properly the first time around requires attention to the details and specific knowledge. This webinar will highlight common problems encountered during foreclosures while offering effective solutions to each issue.

How to Properly Handle Mortgage Foreclosures:
Solutions for Streamlining the Process, Overcoming Obstacles and Maximizing Recovery
Virtual Webinar
Tuesday, March 23, 2021 from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM


This webinar will be presented by four Jimerson Birr partners and members of the Banking & Financial Services Industry legal team, including: Austin B. Calhoun, Austin T. Hamilton, Brandon C. Meadows and A. Hunter Faulkner.

Inaugural Boss of the Sauce Festival in Downtown Jacksonville This April
Downtown Jacksonville's River Front Park will be the home of The Boss of the Sauce Festival April 8-10, 2021. This three-day event will celebrate the growing barbeque culture, and will highlight talented BBQ chefs, local craft beer and bourbon distillers, include performances from top-rated county music talent, and of course, the barbeque cook-off competition.

The Boss of the Sauce BBQ Festival
Downtown Jacksonville River Front Park
April 8-10, 2021

This year's festival has gained citywide attention, and partners include The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, Visit Jacksonville, Downtown Jacksonville, City of Jacksonville, and more that 50 community leaders. Jimerson Birr managing partner, Charles B. Jimerson, is serving as a committee member for this year's event, and the firm is a dedicated sponsor.

The competition has been sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society, the largest association of its kind, making this event the first ever World Championship Qualifying BBQ Competition to be held in Northeast Florida. Registration is now open for teams to sign up to compete.

Stay tuned for when tickets go on sale. For more information about the festival or to learn how you and your organization can be involved, visit The Boss of the Sauce's website today.
Jimerson Birr Legal Blogs
Are you keeping up with the latest information in business and law? Jimerson Birr publishes weekly blog posts covering topics from construction law, real estate development, sales and leasing law, banking and financial services law, community association law, and everything in between. Click here to subscribe today and stay up-to-date on the latest legal news from the industries we serve:
Banking & Financial Services Industry Legal Blog
Assumptions, Assignments and Sales of SBA Loans


In traditional lending and loan servicing, it is commonplace for loans to be assumed, assigned, or sold. Most lenders are likely familiar with these servicing actions, and many lenders have their own requirements and procedures for handling each of them. However, when servicing a Small Business Association (“SBA”) loan, lenders and CDCs must be cognizant of the applicable SBA protocols and handle each of these servicing requests in accordance with the SBA’s loan program requirements...


Click here to read the full blog post.

Construction Industry Legal Blog
New Licensing Requirements That Construction Contractors Need to Know About


On July 1, 2020, the Occupational Freedom and Opportunity Act (the “Act”) became law, which eliminated some barriers for construction contractors to become licensed in Florida.

Particularly, the Act: (1) clarified that a passing result on a licensing examination does not expire; (2) eliminated the requirement for some applicants to take and pass all parts of the certification examination; (3) expanded the qualifications for an out-of-state licensed contractor to obtain a license in Florida; (4) eliminated the requirement to have a contractor’s license to perform construction work under $2,500; and (5) removed the risk of having a license revoked or suspended for defaulting on a student loan...


Click here to read the full blog post.

Community Associations Industry Legal Blog
A Look Back at 2020 Amendments to the Florida Statutes Affecting Community Associations


Each year the Florida Legislature proposes amendments to various sections of the Florida Statutes, and some of those proposed amendments involve community association governance.  Florida Governor DeSantis recently signed several proposed bills into law that took effect on July 1, 2020, and some of which address Florida’s community associations options for regulating issues involving emotional support animals, fireworks and law enforcement vehicles. Community associations throughout Florida must be aware of these new legislative changes for 2020 and ensure its operations moving forward are in compliance with any new Florida laws...

Click here to read the full blog post.

Real Estate Development, Sales & Leasing Industry Legal Blog
Considerations for the Appointment of a Receiver During Commercial Foreclosures


As discussed in parts 1-4 of this series, lenders have several options prior to instituting a commercial foreclosure action. Additionally, as briefly discussed in part 5 of this series, during the foreclosure action, lenders have options to try to preserve the value of the underlying collateral and to minimize further losses. One of those options is the appointment of a receiver. This article discusses the appointment of receivers during the commercial foreclosure action and provides considerations for whether to seek appointment of a receiver...

Click here to read the full blog post.

Firm News
Curiosities, Ruminations and Various Eccentricities of Firm Biz
Managing Partner Moderates Panel for Northeast Florida Builders Association
On February 11, 2021, Managing Partner Charles B. Jimerson, who is Florida Bar Board Certified in Construction Law, served as the moderator for the Northeast Florida Builder Association (NEFBA) "Opportunity Zone Development Panel." Special Counsel Joseph R. Luna joined as a panel member utilizing his experience in this area.

Opportunity Zones are designated census tracts where qualifying capital investments made into properties located within the zone can potentially qualify for unbelievable tax benefits. This specific panel walked attendees though the complex world of Opportunity Zone Investments offering insight into their tremendous potential for builders, developers and realtors.

For more information on our work in Opportunity Zone Investing or for future presentation inquiries, please call 904-389-0050 or email us. You can also subscribe to our blog today to stay abreast of industry news and updates.

Jimerson Birr Elevates Award-Winning Workplace Culture with JB FOR ME
At Jimerson Birr, we're more than a business law firm; we are also wholly committed to the overall well-being of our team.

Our firm culture is comprised of employees who are Fulfilled, Opportunistic, Refreshed, Mindful and Empowered. That's why we have embraced our culture as JB FOR ME and built a committee with colleagues from all levels of the organization to help us preserve, protect and build upon it. We believe when our people are at their best, they can give their best. Part of this program includes regular firm-hosted events and activities that provide ample opportunities for our team members to take a break from the work cycle to engage with each other and the community while promoting a healthy, productive and happy work environment.

We divide these activities up between fun physical competitions, mental challenges, health and wellness activities, socials and celebrations, socially responsible initiatives, and team spirit days. Across the last month, these opportunities included our monthly Mental Health Monday Main Street Bridge Walk, a Wii baseball tournament, a Finish that Lyric competition, Super Bowl Prop Bets, and we joined in on both Random Act of Kindness Day and National Wear Red Day®, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's annual campaign to bring attention and awareness to heart disease.

We are all looking forward to a great year ahead as we introduce more JB FOR ME events and projects. Stay tuned for all that we have in store for 2021 as we aim to take our award-winning workplace culture to the next level.
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