THE ATTORNEYS

 

 Garret T. Barnes, Esq., is a fourth generation Floridian raised in Bradenton, Florida. Garret graduated from St. Stephen's Episcopal School in Bradenton, received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Wake Forest University at Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in May, 1987, and earned his Juris Doctorate degree from Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida in May, 1991. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1991. Garret is married to the former Elizabeth Escalante and has a son, Garret, Jr., and two daughters, Lane and Grace. His community and professional commitments include being a Director of the Manatee County Chapter of the American Red Cross, a Director of the United Way of Manatee County, a Director of St. Stephen's Episcopal School, and membership in the Florida Bar, its Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, and the Manatee County Bar Association.  Garret can be reached at telephone extension #120 or gbarnes@barneswalker.com 

 

Adron H. Walker, Esq., is a fourth generation Floridian, born and raised in Arcadia, Florida. Adron received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting (magna cum laude) in May, 1977, from Stetson University in Deland, Florida, and earned his Juris Doctorate degree from Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida, in May, 1980. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1980. Adron served as a Captain in the U.S. Army JAG (legal) Corps for over 4 years prior to moving toBradenton.  His community and professional commitments include being the 1994-95 Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Manatee County Chapter of the American Red Cross, the 1993-94 Allocations Chairman and "Board Member of the Year" for the United Way of Manatee County, and member of  the Florida Bar, its Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, and the Manatee County Bar Association.  Adron can be reached at telephone extension #145 or awalker@barneswalker.com 
Jeffrey S. Goethe, Esq.

Raised in Bradenton, Jeff graduated from Manatee High School in 1982. Jeff was a member of the 1981 District Championship football team at Manatee, and continued to play football for four years at Maryville College in Tennessee, while maintaining a Presidential Scholarship for academics and earning the David C. King Scholarship for History. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in History at Maryville College, Jeff attended the University of Tennessee College of Law, graduating in May of 1990. While in law school, Jeff enlisted in the United States Army Reserves and served for over 6 years. He returned to Bradenton after law school and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1990. Jeff lives in Bradenton with his wife, Jeannie, and their seven children: Alex, Andy, Hanna, Emily, Jay, Sara, and Michael. His community involvement has included the Hernando DeSoto Historical Society, the Board of Directors of the Manatee County Boys and Girls Clubs, coaching Pop Warner football and various sports at the Manatee County Family YMCA, and teaching at the St. Joseph Catholic Church’s Parrish School of Religion. Jeff has also served as an adjunct faculty member at Manatee Community College, teaching real estate courses in the Paralegal Studies Program; has served as an instructor for the Attorneys' Title Insurance Fund Real Estate Paralegal Certification Program; has prepared continuing legal education seminar materials for The Fund; and has authored written materials and lectured at continuing legal education seminars for the National Business Institute on the subjects of Estate Planning and Probate. He is a member of the Florida Bar Association and the American Bar Association.  Jeff is a current member of the Florida Bar Probate Rules Committee; the Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section (member, Probate Law and Rules Committee; Homestead law Subcommittee); The Florida Bar Elder Law Section; The American Bar Association Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, the Manatee County Bar Association Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section; and the Estate Planning Council of Manatee County.  Jeff is a past member of the Florida Bar Special Needs of Children Committee and past member of the American Inns of Court, Manatee Chapter.  In addition to writing continuing education materials, Jeff authored "Funding Trusts with Homestead - Should You Trust A Chameleon?", in the Fall 2007 edition of Action Line, a Publication of the Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section.    Jeff can be reached at telephone extension #323 or jgoethe@barneswalker.com 

 
Robert A. Hoonhout, Esq.

Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Bob attended Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Law in 1975.  Bob next attended the Seton Hall University School of Law in Newark, NJ, where he received the American Jurisprudence award in Real Property Law before being awarded his Juris Doctor Degree with Honors in 1978. Bob was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in December of 1978.  Bob’s work experience in New Jersey included a term as Assistant Prosecutor in the busy Essex County Prosecutor’s Office in Newark, where he became a senior trial attorney before leaving to enter private practice.  Bob returned to his hometown of Montclair where he successfully opened his own office and practiced extensively in the areas of real property law, land use and development, and local government law.  Bob simultaneously began work for the Township of Montclair in 1983 as assistant township attorney and was thereafter appointed Township Attorney in 1992. In his capacity as Township Attorney, Bob managed all legal affairs for a municipality comprised of 36,000 residents and a staff of over 440 full-time employees. Bob represented various other governmental agencies over time and appeared on behalf of clients before various local, state and federal bodies until his relocation to the Sarasota/ Manatee County area.   He is currently a member of the American Bar Association, the Florida Bar and it’s Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, the New Jersey Bar, and the Manatee County Bar Association. Bob practices in the areas of real property law, land development and planning, and business law.  Bob can be reached at telephone extension #343 or bhoonhout@barneswalker.com 

 
Jennifer M. LaRocco, Esq.

was born in Manhasset, New York, and was raised in New Hyde Park, on New York’s Long Island.  She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature, conferred with High Honors, from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 2001.  While at Eckerd, she received the Letters Collegium Award for Excellence in Literature and was selected to participate in the Ford Foundation’s Apprentice Scholars Program.  In 2002, she received her Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Wisconsin at Madison where she maintained a 4.0 GPA.  After returning to Florida, she received her Juris Doctorate degree summa cum laude from Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida, in 2007, graduating second in her class.  She was admitted to The Florida Bar later that year.  While at Stetson, Jennifer served as an editor of the Stetson Law Review and was nominated for the National Dean’s List and the All-American Scholars.  She is a member of The Florida Bar, the Manatee County Bar Association, and the legal fraternity, Phi Delta Phi.  Jennifer practices in the areas of real estate law, civil litigation, and business law.  Jennifer can be reached at telephone extension #103 or jlarocco@barneswalker.com 

 

Matthew B. Taylor, Esq.

is a fifth generation Manatee County native who handles the firm’s litigation matters.  In 1994, Matt received his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of South Florida College of Business Administration, where he was the recipient of the Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence.  After spending several years working with his father’s construction company, Matt entered Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida, where he earned his Juris Doctorate degree cum laude in 2000.  In 1995, Matt married his high school sweetheart, Sherry Ann.  Matt is a member of the Manatee County Home Builders Association and the Hernando Desoto Historical Society and is deeply involved with the Manatee-Sarasota Fish and Game Society as a past board member and president.  In his time off, Matt is an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, and competing in Strongman/Scottish Highland competitions.  Matt practices in the areas of construction litigation; business litigation; representation of clients before state, county, and local boards; real property disputes; appeals; and all other types of commercial and business litigation matters.  Matt can be reached at telephone extension #320 or mtaylor@barneswalker.com 

 

 

Gil H. Zitzelsberger, Esq., of Counsel, has practiced law as a lawyer and a judge since 1965 in Michigan and then in Florida, and now is "Of Counsel" to the firm.

BARNES WALKER, Chartered, is a member of the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce, its Economic Development Council, the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, an affiliate member of the Manatee County Board of Realtors, and the Home Builders Association of Manatee County, Inc.