More JBA members made the 2025 “36 Under 36” list than any other circuit in the state.
Eight Jacksonville Bar Association members are on The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division’s “36 Under 36” list for 2025.
Selectees must “exemplify the highest standards of professionalism and ethics ... whose character and integrity remain unwavering even in the most trying times ... and whose dedication to raising the bar in the legal profession is unmatched.”
Jacksonville’s honorees:
• Shawna Abbatiello, an assistant public defender in the 4th Judicial Circuit.
• Naphtalie Azor, founder and managing attorney at Azor Law who practices employment discrimination, civil rights and whistleblower retaliation law.
• Blair Butler, a personal injury attorney at The Law Offices of Ron Sholes.
• Kyla George, an attorney at Balch & Bingham whose practice focuses on commercial, health care and construction litigation issues.
• Ronnie Graham, a litigation attorney at Florida Health Justice Project.
• Kayla Haines Herrin, president of the JBA Young Lawyers Section and corporate counsel and head of mergers and acquisitions North America at Novastone Capital Advisors.
• Josef Hess, an associate attorney at Rissman who specializes in liability defense.
• Austin Sherman, a shareholder at Carr Allison whose practice focuses on defending personal injury, government torts and public liability, medical malpractice, transportation, premises liability and commercial litigation matters.
The group was selected from a pool of more than 200 nominees among all Florida lawyers under the age of 36 in the 20 judicial circuits.
The 4th Judicial Circuit – Clay, Duval and Nassau counties – has more attorneys on the list this year than any other circuit.