4655 Salisbury Road, Suite 200
Jacksonville, FL 32256
2020 Jacksonville Business Journal “40 Under 40”
United States Air Force Squadron Office School
United States Army Government Contract Attorney’s Course
Mr. Gonzalez is a member of various committees and a volunteer with local charities, including but not limited to:
Mr. Gonzalez has also lectured at The University of Florida on topics relative to the practice of business law and contract negotiations.
Represented a condominium association – multi-building with hundreds of units – in a construction defect litigation against a prominent national builder. The builder sued dozens of its subcontracted trades. This six-year litigation dealt with intricate claims against the builder. The parties were involved in extensive motion practice, depositions of dozens of corporate executives, experts and board members and the exchange of hundreds of thousands of pages of documents. Ultimately reached a settlement with the national builder resulting in $8,750,000 in recovery for the condominium association.
Represented and defended concrete subcontractor in condominium class action for construction defects, design defects and building code violations in excess of $8,000,000 in damages. Ultimately reached settlement during the month-long trial.
PRIOR RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE A SIMILAR OUTCOME
Partner
James Gonzalez is a co-founder of Cobb & Gonzalez, P.A. Mr. Gonzalez focuses his practice in the areas of construction litigation, business litigation, business transactions, government contracts, and estate planning. For over a decade, Mr. Gonzalez has provided guidance to businesses and design professionals regarding business governance and compliance, contract dispute resolutions, and negotiations. He has assisted clients through the complexities of litigation; including pre-litigation counseling, prosecution and defense of claims. His M.B.A. background has allowed him to expand his practice into litigation management and strategies, business counseling, estate preparation and business planning.
Mr. Gonzalez has represented clients in a variety of litigation matters; including representation of individual homeowners, homeowner’s associations and condominium associations in complex construction defect matters. Similarly, Mr. Gonzalez has represented numerous architectural, engineering and construction firms, as well as their professional employees in professional negligence, construction defect, and contractual claims. He has also provided legal counseling and representation to design professionals, general contractors, subcontractors, building material manufacturers, and suppliers in areas ranging from corporate formation to contract disputes and construction defect claims and everything in-between.
In December 2022, Mr. Gonzalez was appointed to the Florida Board of Professional Engineers by Governor Ron DeSantis. Through this service, James seeks to further the Florida Board of Professional Engineers’ mission of protecting the health and safety of the public by properly regulating the practice of engineering within the State of Florida.
In 2015, Mr. Gonzalez was commissioned as a reservist in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG). As an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, Captain Gonzalez assists the Staff Judge Advocate in providing legal advice to the wing commander (installation commander), as well as its subordinate units; including supporting the provision of military justice to thousands of Airmen. While serving within the base legal office, Captain Gonzalez has reviewed and provided legal opinions on millions of dollars in base construction and material supply contracts. He has also provided legal guidance relating to requests for organizational formation, fundraising, and non-judicial punishment. Captain Gonzalez has reviewed and provided legal opinions relating to civil claims against the government. He has performed detailed trial and hearing support, prepared criminal cases for Courts Martial, and assisted in Commander Directed Investigations. In addition, Captain Gonzalez has had the opportunity to provide estate planning guidance to hundreds of active duty, reserve, and retired military members and dependents.
Active in the Jacksonville legal community, James was named treasurer of the Hispanic Bar Association of Northeast Florida in 2011, an organization that aims to foster fellowship among Hispanic judges, lawyers and those interested in doing business with Latin America or Hispanic businesses in the region. Additionally, from 2011-12, James served as Sports League co-commissioner for the Jacksonville Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section.
Outside the office, James is a passionate supporter of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Founded in 1999, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is dedicated to fighting the world’s toughest cancer. James, who lost his father to pancreatic cancer, was instrumental in organizing the group’s 2013-2015 PurpleStride events that raised more than $400,000 for the organization. From 2015-2016 and again in 2018, James assumed the role of the PanCAN Northeast Florida Affiliate Coordinator. During this time, he assisted the Affiliate in continuing its goal of doubling the pancreatic cancer survival rate by 2020.
In 2003 James graduated from the University of South Florida, in Tampa, Florida, and was a member of the Business National Honor Society. He earned his juris doctor from Villanova University School of Law in 2007. That same year, James also received a Master of Business Administration degree from the Villanova University School of Business. While at Villanova, James served as a student attorney for the Villanova Farmworkers’ Clinic, lead the Farmworkers’ Clinic to its first ever jury trial, and was a member of the Hispanic Bar Association and the Student Bar Association.
James moved to Jacksonville in 2009. Since that time, he married his wonderful wife, Kristin and became the proud father of two amazing children. In his free time, James enjoys building Jeeps, inshore fishing, woodworking, cooking, golfing, and spending time with his family.
4655 Salisbury Rd., Suite 200 Jacksonville, FL 32256
Email: info@cobbgonzalez.com
Phone: (904) 822 8001