Jonathan W. Newlon

A member of the firm’s family law and trusts and estates teams, Jon’s practice is focused on helping clients and their loved ones through some of the most trying times in life.

In the family law arena, Jon has represented hundreds of clients through all types of cases, including divorce, paternity, modifications, relocation, and domestic violence.

As a trusts and estates attorney, Jon has guided clients in establishing both straightforward and complex estate plans, including plans focused on avoiding probate, minimizing or eliminating transfer taxes, ensuring continuity of business ownership, and preserving entitlement to governmental benefits.  He has also ushered many cases through the probate and trust administration processes and has successfully prosecuted and defended challenges to deeds, wills, and other estate planning documents.

Jon graduated with honors from the University of Florida College of Law, where he served as both the Senior Tax Editor and Editor-in-Chief of the Florida Law Review. Upon graduation, he began practicing law in Tampa and spent a number of years working in the area of tax and business transactions.  This experience has afforded Jon an exceptional awareness of the issues facing high net worth clients going through family law litigation or contemplating their estate planning needs.  His experience is bolstered by hundreds of hours of continuing legal education.

In the courtroom, one of Jon’s strengths is his ability to help judges recognize and digest complex issues, which is critical in the overloaded family law courts.  This skill, coupled with a sensitive ear for listening, makes him especially effective in a litigation setting.

A Florida native, Jon grew up in eastern Pasco County, where he still lives with his family.  He has spent several years as a Rotarian, soccer and baseball coach, local academic and athletic booster, and community volunteer.

Education

University of Florida College of Law (Gainesville, FL) – J.D., with Honors (1998).

• Editor-in-Chief, Florida Law Review – bore ultimate responsibility for all aspects of administration and publication of academic law journal; after a multi-year backlog of issues, the Florida Law Review became published timely during my tenure as Editor-in-Chief.
• Senior Tax Editor, Florida Law Review – provided copy and content editing for scholarly federal tax articles for the Florida Tax Review academic journal.
• Research Assistant to Dean Emeritus Jeffrey Lewis – assisted distinguished professor in planning and researching topics for scholarly article authorship and for teaching of advanced classes.
• George W. Milam Award winner for outstanding case comment, which was published in the Florida Law Review, 49 Fla. L. Rev. 169 (1997).

University of South Florida (Tampa, FL) – B.A. in British and American Literature (1995).

Activities:

• Member, Family Law section, Florida Bar.
• Member (Master level), American Inns of Court, Givens Family Law Inn.
• Member, East Pasco Bar Association.
• Member, Hillsborough County Bar Association.
• Athletic and academic booster, Pasco High School.
• Jeopardy! champion, 2002.