< Previoused to make sure there was a pathway forward,” Jonathan Zisser adds. “We wanted to make sure their legacy con- tinued 10, 20 and even more years into the future.” A DISTINGUISHED FAMILY LAW HISTORY While there is no doubt a legacy as strong as the Zissers will continue long into the future, their accomplish- ments stretch far into the past. After establishing his downtown practice with his brother, who recently retired, Elliot Zisser became the first board- certified marital and family lawyer in Northeast Florida. He also co-wrote the exam for board-certified family lawyers in Florida to come. “I was one of six to eight people selected to be in the first board certi- fied group and to write the exam for the first group of people taking it,” he says. “Somebody had to do it so they geographically distributed it to the members of the original group. I was Northeastern Florida.” He later became the Chairman of the Family Law Certification Com- mittee for the Florida Bar. When Carolyn Zisser started her firm in 1973, she was the only woman- owned family law firm in the Jackson- ville area. Today, in addition to help- ing clients navigate difficult family problems, she is a respected lecturer and writer on family law topics for the American Bar Association, Florida Bar and Jacksonville Bar Association. She is also formally trained in collab- orative family law practice. Although the firm thoroughly prepares every case as if it is going to trial, when it is within clients’ goals to try and negoti- ate settlements, her special insight in this area is of great benefit. Jonathan Zisser’s history with the firm began 13 years ago, when the Jacksonville native left the Public De- fender’s office and joined his father’s firm. While there he represented thousands of clients and tried more than 30 jury trials. At Zisser Family Law he practices in both criminal law and matrimonial and family law. “Our firm is unique because it is not a standard family law practice having maybe a sole practitioner or maybe two attorneys,” he says. “It is actually a family firm doing family law. For me, working side-by-side with my parents brings an extra aspect of joy to the practice.” BLENDING A FAMILY Like blending a family, merging two law firms can have its share of bumps on the path to becoming a single strong unit. However, the firm smooths the bumps by focusing on collaboration and bringing uniformi- ty into its processes and procedures. “We really manage by collaboration and consensus,” Carolyn Zisser says. “We have committees to establish common practices, including a Uni- form Practices and Procedures Com- mittee and a Brand Engagement team to make sure that our core values are experienced by the clients.” JOSEPH ALVAREZ, LYNN M. SALVATORE, ELLIOTT ZISSER, CAROLYN ZISSER, JOHNATHAN ZISSER AND KATHRINE JOHNSON ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · FIRST COAST · VOL. 5 NO. 2 20“The beach office has a personality and the downtown office has a personality,” she continues. “It’s really a work in progress understand- ing our differences, yet striving to have uniformity in our procedures.” While internally the firm is experiencing the natural changes that take place when organizations merge, clients are not really feeling the change because the same attorneys generally continue to work out of the same locations. Rather, the combining of the firms has provided clients the benefit of a greater wealth of knowledge brought to their cases. GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY In addition to their strong dedication to compassionately helping individuals and families through the travails of family legal issues, the Zissers firmly believe in giving back to the Jacksonville community that has given them so much. Throughout Jacksonville, it isn’t unusual to see their name associated with a variety of legal and charitable or- ganizations. Jonathan Zisser speaks monthly and provides pro bono legal advice at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s family law clinic. Carolyn Zisser helps support local musicians and musical education endeavors through the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and the Florida Chamber Music Project. Elliot Zisser was on the City of Jacksonville’s Environmental Protection Board for many years and was also president of the Jack- sonville Jewish Federation charitable organization. The law firm is also involved with the Family Nurturing Center of Florida and is currently assisting with its annual Taste of Chocolate Fundraiser. The nonprofit helps local children and their families impacted by divorce, child cus- tody disputes, domestic violence and other family law issues. These are just some examples of the ways in which the family and the firm have given back over the years. LOOKING TO THE FIRM’S FUTURE What do the three partners hope for the firm’s future? “We want to know that what we have been able to establish will be continued and viewed in the same way years from now,” Elliot Zisser says. “We want to leave a legacy and want the name to continue on and what the name represents to continue on. We are proud of what we have been able to accomplish and we think we are extremely capable of carrying on the tradition as a combined firm. We have a brand here in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida and I would like it to continue. I am also delighted that our firm’s attorneys are equally male and female and there are a variety of age groups represented. The way our firm is structured reflects society.” “Elliot said it beautifully,” Carolyn Zisser notes. “I would say it ex- actly the same way. The only thing I would add is that I have always wanted my firm to live on beyond me, and that is one of the reasons I am especially excited about my firm merging with Zisser Law, because collectively our firms can live beyond us and can continue practicing family law.” Jonathan Zisser, who will continue to shepherd Zisser Family Law into the future, has the last word. “I would like to build on the 40 years of experience my parents have worked for and carry that into the future,” he says. “My goal is to con- tinue to work and collaborate and to be the anchor for the decades to come. I would like to work with the associates to see them become future partners. “Most important is that the tradition my parents have built over the last four decades is going to have a solid path forward and the legacy they created will stay,” he continues. “I know it is important to them that I have all the tools I need now to carry the firm forward.” ZISSER FAMILY LAW 121 West Forsyth Street, Suite #1000 Jacksonville, FL 32202 (904) 353-3222 www.zisserfamilylaw.com THE BEACH OFFICE 302 3rd Street, #6 Neptune Beach, FL 32266 Founded January 2020 PRACTICE AREAS Marital and Family Law Criminal Defense PARTNERS Carolyn Zisser Elliot Zisser Jonathan Zisser ASSOCIATES Joseph Alvarez Katherine Johnson Lynn Salvatore PARALEGALS Emily Durant Britiney Tackett STAFF Yomary Ambrosioni Stacey Davalt Caroline Giannone Donnetta Marell Sara McDaniel Tammy Meierdierck COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Family Nurturing Center of Florida Friends of the Jacksonville Symphony RECOGNITIONS U.S. News & Best Lawyers Best Law Firms Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent The Best Lawyers in America Florida Super Lawyers Florida’s Legal Elite Jacksonville’s Best Lawyers Super Lawyers Rising Star Who’s Who in American LawAALM: What drew you to a legal career? SP: I went to law school because I thought it would be a great education, but didn’t have plans to practice law. I planned to return to Orlando and run our family businesses. However, during my second year, I worked at a personal injury law firm and fell in love with the practice of law. The sat- isfaction of helping people that were injured and mistreated by insurance companies was very rewarding. Ad- ditionally, the human element and intellectual challenge of a jury trial were very exciting for me and fit well with my personality. That summer, I decided I wanted to be a lawyer – a plaintiff’s trial lawyer. AALM: What was the greatest les- son you learned in law school? SP: There are no shortcuts. You have to put in the work, prepare, and deliver – “walk the talk”, because the “talk” alone only gets you so far. Be- fore law school, I could go to an exam review, cram the material last-minute, and do well. This lesson has been ex- tremely important for my practice be- cause it trained me to be prepared for any question a judge asks and know every fact or issue that could come up at a hearing or trial. AALM: What experiences have taught you the most? SP: My family moved to the United States when I was 12, and none of us spoke English. I learned the language more quickly than my dad. So, at age 13, I was traveling with my dad on business trips and translating for him at high-level meetings and negotia- tions. I began to recognize the need to translate not just the language, but also cultural and personality differ- ences. I would soften up a jab, slow down a pitch, and contextualize ex- pressions to accomplish a win-win for both sides. This taught me an in- valuable lesson that helps me com- municate with a listener in mind – be it a client, opposing counsel, judge or jury. AALM: What do you find challeng- ing about your practice? SP: Many of us grew up with an idea of what a lawyer is supposed to be like. I try to constantly remind myself that there is no such mold. We have duties that are very clearly stat- ed in our oaths, but how we uphold those duties should be as unique as our DNA. There is no specific way a lawyer should look, sound, or act oth- er than the bounds of professionalism and ethics. Within those bounds, our greatest work and contribution to so- ciety comes from our willingness to take what is special about each one of us and use it to understand and com- municate what is just for each client in each case. The more open and diverse the practice of law is, the closer we get to justice. We are the channels that open and illuminate the meaning of justice – if we can be our true selves. AALM: How would you describe the culture of Coker Law? SP: Coker Law is a family dedicated to excellence. There is a strong sense of pride in our work and commit- ment to be the absolute best we can be. We are constantly learning, de- veloping and leading in our areas of expertise. Excellence is the guiding principle. Still, we make sure to en- joy the opportunity to work together. We celebrate birthdays, host baby and wedding showers, and rally together when a team member is in need. This family culture is evident in our abil- ity to work together and the fact that we have team members that started at Coker Law over 30 years ago. AALM: Are there any changes ahead you’re excited about? SP: Coker Law has been around for almost 45 years. Thanks to the leader- ship of our partners, we have adapted and grown without compromising the integrity of our work. This year, we’ll take another big step in that develop- ment with an innovative case man- agement system that will allow us to serve clients and referring attorneys even better. Clients will have instant access to their cases, co-counsel can access and contribute files, and ev- eryone in the firm can collaborate in real time. We are even using artificial intelligence to advance our cases and obtain better results in less time. This will be a year-long project counting on the input from team members at every level of our organization and we are very excited. AALM: What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Hobbies? Sports? SP: My family says that I have a sixth love language (those who read “The 5 Love Languages” will under- stand). It’s cooking. I also love to trav- el, golf, and play musical instruments, but cooking is particularly gratifying because I get to share the product of that passion with others. COKER LAW, P.A. 136 East Bay Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202 (904) 356-6071 www.cokerlaw.com A TT ORNEY SPO TLIGHT Stefano D. Portigliatti The DNA of a Lawyer AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com 23100 years after the passage of the 19th amendment, Susan B. Anthony, crusader for women’s rights and president of the National Woman Suffrage Association, remains a fixture in the legacy of women’s struggle for equality. Indeed, her famous words, “men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights, and nothing less” rings true even today as progress continues to be made in creating equal opportunities between genders. The impact and struggle of the women’s suffrage movement, then, extended far beyond that of voting rights; Elaine Weiss, author of The Woman’s Hour, an account of American women’s struggle for ratification of the 19th amendment, states, “the controversy over ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment – and, more broadly, the long battle over woman suffrage – wasn’t simply a political argument, it was also a social, cultural, and moral debate.” Anthony herself waded through many of these complex societal debates to center her argument on what lay at the heart of the suffrage movement – that fundamental idea of individual liberty. Willing to take her stand even in criminal court after facing arrest for voting in the 1872 election, she later declared in her famous 1873 speech that “it is a downright mockery to talk to women of their enjoyment of the blessings of liberty while they are denied the use of the only means of securing them provided by this democratic- republican government – the ballot.” Anthony’s trial and leadership exemplify a fight for legal liberty with the hope that political rights might eventually translate into political, societal, and cultural rights. And in the 100 years since the passage of the 19th amendment, women have begun to realize more fully these liberties – liberties expanding much farther than the ballot. In celebration of the centennial of the 19th amendment’s passage and the progress that has been made since that initial milestone, the Chester Bedell American Inn of Court, the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Jacksonville Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Jacksonville Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, the Jacksonville Bar Association, and Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association have sponsored a historic reenactment of Anthony’s 1872 trial and a traveling exhibit showcasing the history of the suffrage movement. The event, in connection with Jacksonville’s Girls Inc., has also allowed high school girls to take a closer look at a historical moment that has closely impacted their lives. Sarah Mannion, President of the Jacksonville Women’s Legal Association, commented, “We at JWLA believe that educating young women about the history of the 19th Amendment demonstrates not only the struggles and prior non-representation of women as a voting class but also shows them that a group of determined women can lead and change history. Just as our ancestors stood up to ensure our voices would be heard 100 years later, we too can stand up for what is right, even when the odds may seem against us.” This history, intrinsically tied to our legal, political, and cultural systems, is one that bears commemorating, celebrating, and repeating. SARAH MANNION, PRESIDENT OF THE JWLA & BOARD MEMBER OF JACKSONVILLE WOMEN’S CENTER Celebrating 100 Years of Women’s Right to Vote BY PAIGE HARRISS Just as our ancestors stood up to ensure our voices would be heard 100 years later, we too can stand up for what is right, even when the odds may seem against us.” AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com 25COKERLAW.COM | 904.356.6071 OFFICES-JACKSONVILLE There is no excuse for mistreatment of nursing home residents. Your client deserves compensation for nursing home injuries: unexplained falls, burns, malnutrition, dehydration, bedsores or skin breakdown. We have no quota or volume requirements. We don’t hand your clients off to an assistant or junior attorney. We are specialists in nursing home law, aggressive and unrelenting. We know how to uncover hidden names and assets. You are kept informed. Please consult with us about your client. Victim of Nursing Home Abuse? Call the Nursing Home Abuse Expert TM The Nursing Home Abuse Expert™ TM 31 9268-1 We pay referral fees in accordance with R, Regulating FLA. Bar 4.15(F)(4)(D). STEVE WATREL Construction Law | Business Litigation | Community Association Law | Real Estate Law Administrative Law & Licensing | Corporate Formation and Transactions Call us for a free consultation! (904)-440-2520 | 4651 Salisbury Road, Suite 400 | Jacksonville, FL 32256 | www.CobbGonzalez.com “A law firm comprised of a team of own business objectives.”CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WOMEN’S RIGHT TO VOTE Participating Groups: Chester Bedell American Inn of Court, Fourth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Jacksonville Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Jacksonville Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, Jacksonville Bar Association, Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association; with funding from the Lawyers and Judges of the United States District Court. Middle District of Florida, through the Bench Bar Fund. THE TRAVELING WALKTHROUGH EXHIBIT SHOWING THE HISTORY OF THE SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT. 27 AttorneyAtLawMagazine.comLocally –owned provider of virtual office solutions. Our virtual assistants are trained to provide a number of administrative services: • Personal reception • Call screening & forwarding • Scheduling & bid management • Information collection & dissemination • Social Media posting management • Professional address & mailing services GIVE US A CALL! 904-416-3100 1301 Riverplace Blvd, #800 Jacksonville, FL 32207Event Spotlight To see more pictures from recent events go to the Jacksonville edition at AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com. JACKSONVILLE WOMEN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION AFTER 5 MIXER ON FEBRUARY 21, JWLA HOSTED ITS AFTER 5 MIXER AT THE COWFORD CHOPHOUSE. CHARLOTTE SAMPSON, ROBBIE WIDLANSKY AND JENNIFER AREND SARAH MANNION,, THOMAS EDWARDS AND KATHRYN STANFILLREBECCA BLACK, ELIONA JANKULLA AND BRITTANY HONEYCUTT JWLA PRESIDENT SARAH MANNION AND JWLA PRESIDENT-ELECT CYNDY TRIMMER ANGIE HUSTON MILLER AND LESLIE GOLLER 29 AttorneyAtLawMagazine.comNext >