John D. Fernandez graduated in 1972 from the University of Florida, College of Law. His undergraduate degree, awarded in 1969, is from the University of Florida as well. Mr. Fernandez tried his first jury trial in 1972, and since then he has tried hundreds of cases to verdict, both civil and criminal, most of them here in the Tampa Bay area.
Fresh out of law school, he began his legal career as an Assistant State Attorney trying cases. In less than two years, Mr. Fernandez was assigned to head the Organized Crime Task Force. After leaving the State Attorney’s office and entering private practice, Mr. Fernandez also served as Special Counsel to the Florida Bar, specially appointed by the Florida Bar’s governing body, The Board of Governors, to prosecute lawyers in complex disciplinary proceedings.
Beginning in 1980, and serving for 24 years, Mr. Fernandez was trial counsel for the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 10. He focused on defending officers during intensive criminal investigations, including complex cases involving civilian deaths.
Since 1976, Mr. Fernandez has maintained a richly diverse client base. His advice to his many clients is simply this: “I want you to call me on every legal matter, even if you believe the problem is outside my area of practice. If it’s not something I can do myself, I’ll send you to the right lawyer. Be especially leery of high-volume law firms using heavy advertising.”
When you make an appointment with us to discuss your case, you will meet with a lawyer with decades of experience. Of course, your case will also be supported by our fully staffed office, which includes trial lawyers, paralegal assistants, a business manager, and legal secretaries, all trained in the field of law pertinent to your case. Call us today at (727) 461-4441 or contact us online and we’ll reach out to you. We look forward to helping you, as we have helped many clients in the Tampa Bay area for more than five decades.
While the firm continues to thrive and strongly advocate for clients across the Tampa Bay area, John D. Fernandez is not actively practicing law. His son and partner, John Davis Fernandez, remains fully active and carries on the firm’s tradition of dedicated client service.
