Jeff’s journey with RumbergerKirk began as a summer associate in 2018. After earning his law degree and clerking for the Honorable James A. Edwards of Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal, he returned to the firm as an associate, ready to build on the foundation he had started.

He quickly grew from supporting partners on specific assignments to running cases largely on his own and serving as primary point of contact. He takes pride in the trust placed in him by his supervising attorneys to handle matters with a large degree of responsibility and autonomy.

“I’m proud that the partners I work with feel comfortable relying on me to handle matters and clients with a high level of independence,” he says.

Jeff, whose mother was a public school teacher, and who taught public school in Japan himself before entering law school, discovered early in his career where he truly wanted to focus: education law. Just two years after joining the Tallahassee office, he became the board attorney for the Baker County School Board, a position he has now held for three years.

“I knew right away I wanted to be an education attorney, and the exposure I was given here helped make that happen,” he reflects.

Outside the courtroom, Jeff enjoys exploring another passion with his wife—they’re both certified sommeliers and can often be found doing wine tastings at their favorite local spot, Hummingbird Wine Bar.

Looking back on his journey, he offers this advice for new associates: “Don’t be afraid to say yes, but know when to say no. It’s easy to become overwhelmed as a new attorney, but managing your time and recognizing your limits helps ensure we don’t let our clients down.”