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Partner's Perspective: What Are You Doing For Others?
- Hunter Faulkner Joins Jimerson Birr as Partner Expanding Firm's Real Estate Service Capabilities
- Register Now for the Community Association Board Member Certification Course Webinar
- Charles Jimerson Appointed to Committee of The Boss of the Sauce Festival
- Curiosities, Ruminations and Various Eccentricities of Firm Biz
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PARTNER'S PERSPECTIVE
Brandon C. Meadows - What Are You Doing For Others?
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Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” It’s a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that I recently came across, and it resonated with me. Perhaps because the question is such a direct call to action—one that creates an almost pleasant discomfort, inviting me to think long and hard about what I could do for others. But then, there is the importance Dr. King ascribes to the question. It is “persistent” in that it is continuous, enduring, and never-ending. And it is “urgent” because it requires immediate action in response to a pressing situation. “What are you doing for others?” is less about what we have done or could do, and more about what we should do—right now.
As I ruminated over those inspiring words over the last month, I took some time to learn more about the man who spoke them. Dr. King is an exemplary symbol of servant leadership. He was a humanitarian, and his legacy was serving others. His message of non-violence was a powerful and effective weapon against injustice and inequality in the 1960’s.
On April 3, 1968, Dr. King delivered an impassioned and prophetic speech, commonly known as “I’ve been to the mountaintop,” in which he challenged the U.S. to live up to its ideals, encouraged unity through “a kind of dangerous unselfishness,” and he even discussed the possibility of his untimely death. Facing threats against his life, it would be the great orator’s last public speech. He was assassinated the next day.
In the last 60 seconds of his final speech, Dr. King spoke of a “Promised Land” worth sacrificing everything for—a place he predicted he may never reach.
"We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place, but I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will, and He's allowed me to go up to the mountain, and I've looked over and I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the Promised Land."
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Dr. King envisioned a “Promised Land” of freedom, equality, and citizenship for all, and he earnestly believed the people of the world would one day reach it. He had been to the “mountaintop.” He saw a place where people could see and celebrate their shared humanity. He was certain that, one day, if enough people cared as much about others as they did themselves, America would live up to her own ideals.
If you haven’t taken the time to listen to his speech, I encourage you to do so. A link to the last 60 seconds of the speech is found below:
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To me, the most poignant moment is Dr. King’s acknowledgment that he may never see the change in the world he was working so hard to create. He emphatically claimed, “I may not get there with you,” and those are the words of a true servant leader—one who is willing to sacrifice himself and his own needs, so that others may benefit.
There is an ancient proverb that has evolved over time: “Blessed is he who plants trees under whose shade he will never sit.” What an ultimate service to others; a deed that you could not possibly take credit for, or ever even benefit from? Dr. King did so much more than plant a tree—he dedicated and gave his life to the service of others, so that future generations could live under the shade of freedom, equality, and justice.
Over 50 years later, Dr. King’s words are just as relevant today. The economic and racial divides in our society remind us that there is still so much work to be done. Dr. King knew that service and community engagement would allow people to see the humanity in each other, and that it would serve as a powerful agent of change. He understood life’s most persistent and urgent question.
In the next few days, I challenge you to be “dangerously unselfish,” and seek out opportunities to serve others. Even the smallest gesture could make a significant impact in your sphere of influence. There is persistently someone around you who urgently needs help and could benefit from the gift of your service. So ask yourself: “What are you doing for others?” I promise, you won’t regret it.
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Brandon C. Meadows
Partner
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Hunter Faulkner Joins Jimerson Birr as Partner Expanding Firm’s Real Estate Service Capabilities |
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Faulkner focuses on representing buyers and sellers in contract negotiations for the acquisition, sale and finance of both residential and commercial real estate throughout Northeast Florida. His practice also includes land use law, estate planning and corporate law.
Jimerson Birr has successfully represented developers, investors, landowners, builders, lenders, property managers, commercial tenants, and other entities connected with the real estate sector since its founding in 2009. Beyond litigating matters related to real estate development, sales and leasing, the firm has completed hundreds of real estate transactions through the years. The addition of Faulkner signals the expansion of the firm’s services to include high-end residential closings.
For the last two years, Jimerson Birr has been recognized as one of the Best Law Firms in America in the area of Real Estate, and a number of the firm’s attorneys have individually received distinctions for the highest levels of professionalism and technical skill.
“The complexities of real estate transactions and litigation require experienced attorneys to ensure smooth closing,” said managing partner Charles B. Jimerson. “Adding Hunter’s expertise to our team will buttress our representation of clients involved in sophisticated real estate matters, whether commercial or residential. His military background helped him form a service-oriented mindset that enables him to push through challenges associated with large transactions and get the deal done under intense pressure. The breadth of Hunter’s will is often the determination of his clients’ success.”
A United States Navy Veteran, Faulkner earned his Juris Doctor with honors from the University of Miami after graduating summa cum laude from the University of North Florida in 2011 with a B.A. in Political Science and a Minor in History. He served in the Navy between 2004 and 2010 as a P-3C Orion Flight Engineer.
“With its well-rounded view of all economic and business factors that influence it, Jimerson Birr understands the real estate market like few other firms,” Faulkner said. “The opportunity to augment that perspective and build upon their existing reputation for excellence made great sense to me, and I look forward to growing my practice here.”
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Register Now: Community Association Board Member Certification Course Webinar |
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Registration is now open for our upcoming community associations industry webinar, "Community Association Board Member Certification Course," coming up on Tuesday, February 9, 2020 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM. Learn the fundamental concepts needed to obtain condominium and homeowners' association board member certification. This webinar will be led by partner Hans C. Wahl who is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Condominium and Planned Land Development Law.
Community Association Board Member Certification Course
DBPR-Approved Educational Program
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Cost: Free
This is a DBPR-approved educational program designed for association board officers and directors. The course will help participants understand how effective associations can and should function, as well as how to become a more effective member of the team. In addition to members of association boards, this online course is also open to Community Association Managers, who will receive 2 CE credits for participating.
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The Boss of the Sauce Hosting Inaugural Festival in Downtown Jacksonville |
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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.
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Jimerson Birr Legal Blogs |
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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:
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Banking & Financial Services Industry Legal Blog |
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How to Maximize Recovery on a SBA Loan by Negotiating a Workout Agreement
In the event a borrower is seriously delinquent on making payments under a SBA loan, or the SBA loan is classified in liquidation status, lenders and CDCs must develop a prudent and commercially reasonable strategy to maximize their recovery on the loan. Before liquidating any collateral or incurring costs of litigation, Lenders and CDCs should make a good faith effort to first negotiate a “workout agreement” with the borrower. In doing so, Lenders must be aware of what a workout agreement is, what information should be considered before negotiating a workout agreement with the borrower, how to determine whether a borrower is a good candidate for a workout agreement, what are common workout options, what should be included in a workout agreement, and how to make the workout agreement legally binding...
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Construction Industry Legal Blog |
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Pay-if-Paid Provisions in Construction Subcontracts: They Are Not All Created Equal
Subcontractors are often stuck in a situation where the general contractor refuses to pay them because the general contractor has not been paid by the owner. In support of their refusal to pay, general contractors may rely on a “pay-if-paid” provision in the subcontract. Due to the risk of nonpayment, many subcontractors are reluctant to agree to such a provision. However, agreeing to a pay-if-paid provision may be necessary if the subcontractor wants the work.
In the event the subcontractor agrees to a pay-if-paid provision, and the general contractor refuses to pay, the subcontractor may still be able to maneuver around the provision and get paid.
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Community Associations Industry Legal Blog |
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Application of the Business Judgment Rule to Community Association Board of Directors
The board of directors of community associations are responsible for making important decisions affecting the community and its members. As a result, disputes sometimes arise between the association and its members. In the event the dispute evolves into a lawsuit, the business judgment rule will protect directors from personal liability so long as they did not breach their fiduciary duty...
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Professional Services Industry Legal Blog |
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Florida Non-Compete Agreements and Protecting Referral Sources and Patient Lists
Many businesses require their employees to sign non-compete agreements, as a condition of their employment. In Florida, those non-compete agreements and their enforceability are governed by Section 542.335 of the Florida Statutes. As discussed more fully below, referral sources and patient and customer lists can be legitimate business interests warranting protection under Florida law...
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Real Estate Development, Sales & Leasing Industry Legal Blog |
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Mitigating Risks Associated with Hotel, Restaurant and Entertainment Industry Economic Challenges: 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...
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Curiosities, Ruminations and Various Eccentricities of Firm Biz |
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Partner Hans Wahl Selected as a Panelist for Community Association Institute of Northeast Florida's Member Event |
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On January 21, 2021, Partner Hans C. Wahl served as a panelist for a Community Association Institute (CAI) of a Northeast Florida event hosted for its chapter’s members. Four attorneys located in communities across northeast Florida discussed various legal issues impacting their local communities. Hans, an industry-leader for the community associations sector, represented the Jacksonville region. Topics discussed during the one-hour Lunch-and-Zoom event included emergency powers, short term rentals, and emergency support animals (ESAS).
For more information on our Community Associations Industry Team 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.
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Jimerson Birr Hosts Happy Hour at Firm-Voted Favorite Local Bar |
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Each year, the team at Jimerson Birr votes for its favorite local bar to host a firm-wide happy hour. This year’s winning venue was The Volstead, and we recently closed out the work week with fellowship there.
The event’s committee does a tremendous job organizing special events for us to enjoy as a team. We’re a firm dedicated to maintaining a happy, productive and balanced work environment, and we all enjoyed spending some down time with the great people we spend our days with.
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