As the oldest law firm in continuous existence in the State of Florida, the Bedell firm carries on its tradition of litigation excellence, both in state and federal courts. Col. Horatio Bisbee, who founded the firm in 1865, was joined in 1898 by George C. Bedell to form Bisbee & Bedell. Through George Bedell and his sons, Chester Bedell and Nathan Bedell, as well as through its former and current members, the Bedell firm has distinguished itself both in the courtroom and as a leader in the trial lawyer's profession.

For more than fifty years, the Bedell firm has limited its practice to state and federal trial and appellate work, now including alternative dispute resolution by mediation and arbitration. A large percentage of the firm's practice is obtained through referrals from other lawyers throughout the state and nation. The firm handles litigation of all types, including complex commercial litigation, products liability litigation, professional malpractice defense, federal and state criminal defense, construction litigation, federal and state appeals, inverse condemnation actions, environmental litigation, personal injury litigation, and defense of governmental entities, as well as various forms of alternative dispute resolution.

For two decades Woodward and White's The Best Lawyers in America has identified those lawyers ranked tops in various fields by their peers. The current edition lists less than two percent of attorneys nationwide, and includes six of the firm's lawyers: Hank Coxe (criminal defense), John DeVault (commercial litigation), Charles Pillans (commercial litigation & criminal defense), Warren Tripp (construction law), Bobby Farnell (legal malpractice & personal injury), and David Barksdale (criminal defense).

For the third consecutive year, Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers of Business, in its listing of what it determined, based on interviews with lawyers and clients, were the best law firms and lawyers in the United States, ranked the Bedell Firm as one of its top commercial litigation firms in Florida.

Florida Trend magazine has just announced the results of its second annual statewide poll of practicing attorneys in Florida. Attorneys were asked to name those attorneys they hold in the highest regard based on personal experience, and whom they would recommend to others. A total of 958 lawyers, or 1.7% of the lawyers practicing in Florida were selected for Florida Trend's Legal Elite. The Bedell Firm is pleased to announce that five of its attorneys, John DeVault, Charles Pillans and Courtney Grimm in Commercial Litigation, and Hank Coxe and David Barksdale in Criminal Law, were named to the list. The complete list is available at www.FloridaTrend.com/LegalElite.