Introducing Dell Salter – a conversation with Jennifer Cates Lester of Dell Salter, PA

The Business Report recently sat down with Jennifer Cates Lester to discuss the recent exciting news about Salter Feiber, PA and Dell Graham, PA. The creation of new firm Dell Salter, PA became official as of October 1, 2017.

 

TBR: Can you please provide a little bit of background history about both Salter Feiber and Dell Graham, how the firms came to be and what the evolution has been?

JCL: Sure. Well, the firm that became Salter Feiber was established in 1964 as Canto, Whitworth and Salter, PA. Eugene Whitworth left and went to work for State Attorney and then became State Attorney. Jim Salter later teamed up with Jimmy Feiber, and the firm went through several iterations until it eventually became Salter Feiber, PA.

While Salter Feiber was known as Gainesville’s premier real estate firm, we also provided representation in business law, litigation, estate, trust and tax planning and defense of professionals.

The predecessor law firm to Dell Graham was founded in Gainesville in the 1870’s and has continuously operated since that time. Though Dell Graham is known as a litigation firm, through the years it also had lawyers specializing in real estate, estate, trust, tax planning, healthcare, and education law.

 

TBR: Tell us how the decision to join your firms came about and what benefits clients will see from the new partnership.

JCL: Together  Dell Graham and Salter Feiber have a deep history serving the North Central Florida community in broad practice areas. Joining together to create a new firm, we’ve created a single full-service business law firm – which is extremely exciting.

The firm has three practice  sections, one to meet every business need. The real estate section handles real estate transactions and planning. The business/tax group handles business planning, estates and trusts and tax issues. Finally, the litigation section handles every type of litigation – civil and criminal; state, administrative and federal; and every other area, whether personal, professional or business.

We think Gainesville’s growing business and start-up community will appreciate a truly local firm where all of these needs can be met!

 

TBR: Where are the Dell Salter, PA offices now located?

JCL: For now, our two offices are located in Gainesville – a Downtown office and a Millhopper office –  existing at the prior  Dell Graham and Salter Feiber locations. We hope to combine our offices in a single location in the near future.

 

TBR: What is your favorite aspect of practicing law in Gainesville?

JCL: Most of the attorneys at Dell Salter have extensive family ties to Gainesville.  Many of us grew up here and had our children here. Most of us are UF grads, and having the university here keeps us at the forefront of changes in the law. We love the closeness of the legal community, the excellent judges we have, and the congeniality of practice in a town where most of us know each other.

 

TBR: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

JCL: Before the firms joined together, I had the good fortune to work for Dell Graham and then Salter Feiber. Now I’m overjoyed to see this new firm happen! Having worked with the attorneys in both firms, I know how high the standards and abilities are of each lawyer.

 

Both firms are rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, a nationwide lawyer and law firm rating group. I also think it’s important to know that 6 of the 17 lawyers with Dell Salter are Board Certified in their field. Board Certified lawyers are evaluated for professionalism and tested for expertise and the certification is awarded after rigorous experience requirements, testing and peer recommendations have been met. Across the state, only 6% of lawyers are Board Certified, and now that we’ve joined forces, more than one-third of the lawyers at Dell Salter are Board Certified.


Jennifer Cates Lester is a partner with Dell Salter, PA, and is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization.

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