Experience ● Commitment ● Integrity

Team is the word that accurately describes the highly motivated and experienced attorneys and staff of Coker, Schickel, Sorenson & Posgay. Many of us have worked together as a cohesive team for over 20 years. Skilled advocates and paraprofessionals, all firm members provide personalized service, compassionate assistance and legal excellence to our clients.

Our peers recognize us as consummate professionals and formidable opponents in the court of law. Our clients recognize us as caring, thorough and ready to commit our talents and resources to maximize their recovery.

ACCREDITATIONS

Coker, Schickel, Sorenson & Posgay is one of the most highly rated civil trial firms in Florida. Our firm is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and all of our partners are board certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar and The National Board of Trial Advocacy. Jake Schickel is also board certified in Workers’ Compensation Law by The Florida Bar.

Our attorneys’ membership, selection, contributions and top recognitions by the organizations listed below demonstrates the high level of our firm’s decades-long experience, as well as our commitment to professionalism and the ethical practice of law.

INVITATION ONLY MEMBERSHIPS

THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF TRIAL ATTORNEYS is a group of truly elite trial lawyers representing both sides of the Bar. The Academy's purposes are to promote reforms in the law, facilitate the Administration of Justice, promote the Rule of Law internationally, and elevate the standards of integrity, honor and courtesy in the legal profession. The Academy includes lawyers from more than 30 countries. Fellowship is by invitation only, limited to 500 members who have been invited to become Fellows only after an extremely careful vetting process that includes discreet inquiries of both judges and other trial lawyers of high standing. Howard Coker is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Attorneys.

The International Society of Barristers is an honor society of outstanding trial lawyers chosen by their peers based on excellence and integrity in advocacy. It seeks to preserve trial by jury, the adversary system, and independence of the judiciary. As individuals, the Fellows of the Society are committed to the highest of ethical standards and to civility in all their personal and professional relationships. With a limited membership, the Society has Fellows from every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, and from Australia, Canada, England, Scotland, and Mexico, with the great majority from the United States. Members (the Fellows) are elected by the Society's Board of Governors on nomination by a Fellow and after inquiry directed to other Barristers in the nominee's region and to judges before whom the nominee has tried cases. Howard Coker is a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers.

Membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) is limited to attorneys selected by peers and who have tried at least 20 civil jury trials. Firm Partners Howard Coker, Jake Schickel, Charles Sorenson and Matthew Posgay are all members of this organization. Mr. Coker is Past President of ABOTA statewide and of the Jacksonville Chapter. Mr. Sorenson is also a Past President of the Jacksonville Chapter and Jake Schickel is currently the President Elect of the chapter.

Certifications

Experience, evaluation and testing are part of the strict requirements of achieving board certification as a specialist and expert in any of the practice areas recognized by The Florida Bar. Firm Partners Howard Coker, Jake Schickel, Charles Sorenson and Matthew Posgay have each been certified as specialists in Civil Trial Law and Jake Schickel has achieved this distinction in Workers' Compensation Law.

The National Board of Trial Advocacy is a non-profit organization devoted to improving the quality of trial advocacy and to aiding clients to choose experienced legal representation. Firm Partners Howard Coker, Jake Schickel, Charles Sorenson and Matthew Posgay are all certified members of this important organization.

Peer Rating Organizations

Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. Only a single attorney in each practice area in each community is named “Lawyer of the Year.” For 2010, Howard Coker has been recognized by Best Lawyers as the “Lawyer of the Year” in Personal Injury Law.

One of the most respected attorney directories, an AV-rating from Martindale-Hubbell denotes that peers recognize a firm or attorney as being at the pinnacle of the legal profession. The firm and Partners Howard Coker, Jake Schickel and Charles Sorenson hold an AV-rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Super Lawyers is a listing of the top attorneys in each state, those that have obtained a high degree of peer recognition and personal achievement. Each year since the program began in Florida in 2006, Howard Coker, Jake Schickel and Charles Sorenson have been selected for this list. In 2010, Matthew Posgay joined his partners on this list exclusive to 5% of all Florida lawyers. Howard Coker has consistently been selected in the Top 100 of the Florida Super Lawyer list.

Membership Organizations

The American Bar Association (ABA) provides law school accreditation, continuing legal education, information about the law, programs to assist lawyers and judges in their work, and initiatives to improve the legal system for the public. All firm attorneys are members of this organization.



The Florida Bar is one of the leading organized bars in the nation. Howard Coker is a Past President of The Florida Bar and all firm attorneys are members in good standing. Jake Schickel is a member of The Florida Bar Board of Governors.

The American Association for Justice promotes a fair and effective justice system for all persons injured by the misconduct or negligence of others. Howard Coker, Charles Sorenson and Matthew Posgay are members of this association.

The Florida Justice Association (FJA) is dedicated to strengthening and upholding Florida's civil justice system and protecting the rights of Florida's citizens and consumers. Firm Partner Howard Coker is Past President and Eagle member of this organization. Matthew Posgay, David Milton and Charles Sorenson are also Eagle members. Matthew Posgay is currently a member of the FJA Board of Directors.

The Jacksonville Justice Association is a non-profit organization of civil justice attorneys that represent those injured by negligence or malpractice. Howard Coker and Charles Sorenson are members and both are Past President of this organization. Matthew Posgay is currently the Treasurer of this association.

The Jacksonville Bar Association serves as a professional forum that is willing to take action and better serve the public in facing law-related community issues. All firm attorneys are members of this organization.

The Florida Bar Foundation is the only statewide organization that provides funding for Legal Aid and addresses the civil legal needs of financially challenged citizens. Jake Schickel is a former member of the Florida Bar Foundation Board of Directors, both he and Howard Coker are current Fellows of the organization.

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