History

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History

Marks Gray is one of Jacksonville’s oldest and most respected law firms, tracing its origin to 1899 when attorney Richard P. Marks opened his office in Jacksonville. Since our founding, we have maintained a commitment to being Northeast Florida’s ‘go-to’ law firm for comprehensive business and corporate legal services. Through tireless efforts, we have developed a breadth of experience that has carried our firm through times of war, economic peaks and valleys, as well as major changes in the city we call home. Marks Gray takes great pride in its ongoing involvement and influence in the city of Jacksonville, through firm participation in the community and in the United States Uniformed Services.

About the Founders

Marks Gray has more than 120 years of accumulated knowledge, experience and contacts in the Jacksonville business community. Founder Richard P. Marks (1876-1942) was a United States Attorney and a founder of Florida Title and Trust Co. In addition, he was owner of the only Duval County real estate records that survived the 1901 fire, which destroyed most of downtown Jacksonville.

Sam Marks (1885-1973) helped organize and served as general counsel for Winn-Dixie Enterprises. He was the executor of the estate of Charles E. Merrill, a founder of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., the successor to which is still a client of the firm.

Harry Gray (1890-1975) was a leading commercial and tort defense trial lawyer. He drafted Florida’s first Workers’ Compensation law in the early 1930’s and was general counsel for the Florida Board of Architecture and the Florida Medical Association for nearly 50 years. He was president of the Jacksonville Bar in 1935, the Association of Insurance Attorneys in 1963; and was a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Marks Gray attorneys represent national, regional and local clients in a variety of business enterprising matters. Our Lawyers for Enterprise are ready to assist you in all legal aspects of your business from start-up to growing and selling the company. We have experienced attorneys who will guide you through the legal process with ease. Our diverse practice includes commercial and professional liability, tort defense litigation, banking, real estate, business law, admiralty, tax law, immigration and naturalization, intellectual property and other areas of civil practice. Our attorneys also assist individuals with a variety of needs such as trusts, will & estate planning, probate & guardianship, and asset protection.

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