R. John Cole, II
Email: rjc@colecolelaw.com
Practice Areas
- Civil & Commercial Litigation
- Bankruptcy
- Family Law
- Divorce
Admitted
- 1975, Florida and U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- 1978, U.S. Tax Court
- 1981, U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
- 1989, U.S. Supreme Court
Education
- J.D., University of Florida, 1974
- B.A., Auburn University, 1968
Professional Associations
- Sarasota County Bar Association
- National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- The Florida Bar
Biography
John has been in the private practice of law since 1979 and is formerly Board Certified in Consumer Bankruptcy Law by the American Board of Certification. Before opening his office, he was an Assistant Public Defender for the 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida from 1975 through 1977, and First Assistant State Attorney for the 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida from 1977 through 1979. While a prosecutor, he was primarily responsible for homicide prosecutions and the handling of official corruption cases involving law enforcement.
Since entering private practice in 1979, his practice has focused on litigation and bankruptcy. He has handled numerous civil litigation matters and thousands of bankruptcies. His practice has involved representing individuals and corporations in litigation and bankruptcy issues, and he has also handled numerous family law matters representing both husbands and wives as they sort through the problems inherent in the divorce process.
Richard J. Cole, III
Email: rc3@colecolelaw.com
Practice Areas
- Probate & Trust Litigation
- Business & Commercial Litigation
- Bankruptcy & Insolvency Litigation
- Business Law
- Estate Planning & Probate
Admitted
- 2008, Florida
- 2009, U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Florida
- 2010, U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Florida
- 2010, U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Florida
- 2010, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- 2010, U.S. Tax Court
Education
- J.D., cum laude, University of Florida, 2008
- LL.M., International Banking and Finance, with Merit, University College London, 2009
- B.A., English, summa cum laude, University of Florida, 2005
Professional Associations
- Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- Federal Bar Association
- Sarasota County Bar Association
Biography
Richard J. Cole, III, is a Board Certified Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney (American Board of Certification) in practice since 2008, an experienced probate and trust litigator, and is Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated in Bankruptcy. He attended the University of Florida’s Fredric G. Levin College of Law and received his Master of Laws in International Banking and Finance, with Merit, from University College London. Richard’s practice includes probate and trust litigation, consumer and business bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, business and commercial litigation, appellate law, estate planning and probate administration. He regularly represents personal representatives, trustees, beneficiaries and heirs in contested probate and trust proceedings. Richard is based in Sarasota, Florida, and is a shareholder at Cole & Cole Law, P.A.
Richard is a member of the Sarasota County Bar Association’s Committee for Diversity and Inclusion, a former Co-Chair of the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Consumer Committee, and a former Chair of the Federal Bar Association’s State and Local Government Relations Section. A published author on bankruptcy law, emerging technology, and civil rights, Richard is a contributing author to Thorny Issues in Consumer Bankruptcy Cases (2d ed.) and Mediation in Insolvency: A Game Changer in Viksit Bharat (2024), and has spoken at the ABI Annual Spring Meeting and the Graduate Insolvency Program at the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, New Delhi.
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