Millennium Magazine_6th Ed

263 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine THOMAS S. EDWARDS JR. SENIOR PARTNER Edwards & Ragatz, P.A. Jacksonville, FL Since 2008, Mr. Edwards has served as a senior partner at Edwards & Ragatz, P.A., in Jacksonville, Florida. While with the firm, Mr. Edwards has called prevailing the Chandler case in 2012 to be his career highlight. He attributes his success to hardwork, as well as his numerous career influences, including Jim Rinaman, Jack Saalfield, Steve Werber and Charlie Howell. Mr. Edwards sits on the national board of directors for the American Board of Trial Advocates and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He is also a member of numerous organizations, including the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Management Council, Florida Commission on Access to Justice and Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section of Executive Counsel. Notably, Mr. Edwards has been named to Best Lawyers in America since 2012 and has been Lawyer of the Year for Medical Malpractice Law in 2012, 2015 and 2019 and for Personal Injury Litigation in 2017. In 2019, he was the recipient of the Martindale-Hubbell 35 Year Anniversary Award as an AV-rated attorney and was named to Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers from 2013 to 2019. Mr. Edwards’ awards include the B.J. Masterson Award for Professionalism from the Florida Justice Association in 2014, FJA President’s Horsemen Award in 2014 and FJA President’s Rough Rider Award in 2005, both for legislative work for consumers and victims, and the Justice Raymond Ehrlich Trial Advocacy Award from the Jacksonville Bar Association in 2009 and 2013. Also in 2009, he took home the Trial Lawyer of the Year Award from the ABOTA Jacksonville Chapter and the Spartans at Thermopylae Award from North Florida Trial Lawyers for great sacrifice in protecting the justice system. He also holds the 1993 Barbara Sanders Legal Writing Award from the Florida Bar, among other accolades. A fter working for a law firm during his college years, Thomas S. Edwards Jr. came to the realization that he genuinely enjoyed helping people solve some of life’s greatest challenges. He received a BA in economics from the University of the South and went on to achieve a JD from the Stetson University College of Law in 1983. LAW AND LAW ENFORCEMENT