Licensed to practice in Florida and Louisiana, Jon Coats is admitted to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the United States District Courts of the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana, as well as the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. He has handled cases in both State and Federal courts in Florida, and Louisiana, and multiple cases through pro hac vice admission in the Federal Courts of Texas, Georgia and Delaware.
Prior to starting his own practice, Mr. Coats obtained invaluable legal experience with a large New Orleans law firm handling cases through trial and appeal for a wide range of clients, including London based insurers, oil companies, oil field service providers, international maritime clients, and other various multinational corporations.
Upon returning home to the Tampa Bay area, Mr. Coats headed the litigation section of a small Tampa based law firm focusing on personal injury litigation. After starting his own firm in 2004, Mr. Coats expanded the focus of his practice from not only representing the seriously injured, but also the representation of business owners, lending institutions, and individuals in business and commercial matters, real estate and land development, and general civil litigation.
Born in Brenham, Texas, December 23, 1968, Jon Coats graduated with honors from Tulane Law School, obtaining his Juris Doctor degree and Certificate in Maritime Law. His undergraduate degree is from the University of South Florida with a B.A. in Political Science. While at Tulane Law School, Mr. Coats was the Senior Articles Editor for the Tulane Maritime Law Journal, A Senior Justice on the Tulane Moot Court, finalist in the Tulane Moot Court Senior Trial Competition, and brief writing and oral argument coach for the Judge John R. Brown Moot Court Appellate Competition. Mr. Coats is also a member of the Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society.
Publishing credits: Author of AIDS and the Doctrine of Maintenance and Cure, 24 Tul. Mar. L.J. 283, 1999 and Medical Monitoring: The Evolution of a Cause of Action, 30 ELR 1, 2000. Memberships include the Florida Bar; Louisiana Bar; Federal Bar Association; Saint Petersburg Bar Association; Hillsborough County Bar Association; American Bar Association and Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers.