Leonard E. Ireland Jr. Gainesville, Florida,
| President | |
| phone | 352-376-4694 (Main) 800-454-3476 (Toll Free) |
| fax | 352-371-7366 |
| Email Me | |
Leonard E. Ireland, Jr. was born in Tifton, Georgia. He graduated from North Georgia College in Dahlonega, Georgia, in 1961 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. Leonard then entered the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant, serving as an Infantry Platoon Leader at Fort Benning, Georgia. He completed the United States Army Rotary Wing Aviation (Helicopter) Schools at Camp Walters, Texas, and Fort Rucker, Alabama, earning his wings as an Army Rotary Wing Aviator. He served as a helicopter pilot with the First Armored Division in Fort Hood, Texas, until his discharge from the Army in 1965.
After leaving the Army, Leonard entered the University of Florida, Levin College of Law receiving a Juris Doctor, with honors, in 1967. While at the University of Florida, he was a member of The Law Review, Phi Kappa Phi and Order of the Coif. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1967.
Leonard has practiced with the firm now known as Clayton-Johnston, P.A. since graduation from law school. Since admission to the Bar, his practice has concentrated primarily in civil trial practice, although for a brief period he served as a part time Assistant State Attorney in Gilchrist County, Florida. Leonard has handled many complex cases such as prosecuting and defending class action suits involving insurance companies, commercial disputes, land use disputes, construction litigation, and family law matters. In addition, Leonard has represented many injured parties in personal injury cases.
In 1982, the Florida Bar's Board of Certification, Designation and Advertising, on which Leonard served in 1985, permitted Florida lawyers who demonstrated substantial trial experience and met certain continuing legal education requirements, to apply to become Board Certified as a civil trial lawyer. Leonard was among the first Florida lawyers to be certified as a civil trial lawyer. Leonard also maintains the highest possible peer rating for legal ability and integrity, as established by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.
In addition to his law practice, Leonard has been actively involved in professional activities, especially the Florida Bar and the Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association. He served on the Board of Directors of the Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association including a term as President, as Chairman of the Florida Bar's Continuing Legal Education Committee, and as a member of the Florida Bar's Board of Certification, Designating and Advertising.
He has also been active in Gainesville area community activities. He served as President of the Gainesville Jaycees in 1971, and received the Gainesville Jaycees Distinguished Service Award. He has served as legal counsel to the Florida Jaycees, on the Board of Directors of the Kiwanis Club and the Rotary Club, and served as President/Chairman of the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce in 1992.
- Certification/Specialties:
- Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, The Florida Bar, 1967
- Bar Admissions:
- Florida, 1967
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Education:
- University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida,
1967
J.D.
Honors: With Honors
Honors: Phi Kappa Phi
Honors: Order of the Coif - North Georgia College, Dahlonega, Georgia,
1961
B.A., Business Administration
- Representative Cases:
- Florida High School Activities, Inc. v. Latimer, 750 So.2d 762 (Fla. 3rd DCA 2000)
- Florida High School Activities, Inc. v. Benitez, 748 So.2d 358 (Fla. 5th DCA 1999)
- Management Computer Controls, Inc. v. Charles Perry Const. Inc., 743 So.2d 627 (Fla. 1st DCA 1999)
- Archey v. Government Healthcare Services, Div. of Spectrum Emergency Care, Inc., 718 So. 2d 249 (Fla. 1st DCA 1998)
- Johnson v. Florida High School Activities Ass'n, Inc., 102 F.2d 1172 (11th Cir. Fla. 1997)
- Gilchrist Timber Co. v. ITT Rayonier, Inc., 696 So.2d 334 (Fla. 1997)
- Gilchrist Timber Co. v. ITT Rayoneir, Inc., 127 F.3d 1390 (11th Cir. Fla. 1997)
- Gilchrist Timber Co. v. ITT Rayonier, Inc., 95 F.3d 1033 (11th Cir. Fla. 1996)
- Florida High School Activities Ass'n, Inc. v. Adderly, 574 So.2d 158 (Fla. 4th DCA 1990)
- Hines v. Columbia Livestock Market of Lake City, Inc., 516 So.2d 1040 (Fla. 1st DCA 1987)
- Exhibitor, Inc. v. Nationwide Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 494 So.2d 288 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986)
- Griffin v. State, 447 So.2d 875 (Fla. 1984)
- City of Gainesville v. GNV Investments, Inc., 413 So.2d 770 (Fla 1st DCA 1982)
- Department of Revenue v. Silver Springs Shores, Inc., 376 So.2d 849 (Fla. 1979)
- Department of Revenue v. Young American Builders, 358 So.2d 1096 (Fla. 1st DCA 1978)
- Classes/Seminars Taught:
- Adjunct Professor, Ethics, University of Florida
- Professional Associations and Memberships:
- The Florida Bar's Board of Certification, Designation and Advertising, 1985
- Member
- The Florida Bar's Continuing Legal Education Committee
- Chairman
- Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association
- Board of Directors, term as President
- Wachovia Bank, N.A., Gainesville Area
- Member, Advisory Board
- Gainesville Jaycees, 1971
- President
- Florida Jaycess
- Legal Counsel
