Avery Sander

Growing up, going the extra mile took Avery Sander from a decent middle school hoops player to captain of her NCAA Division III women’s basketball team. It won her academic and peer-conferred honors through undergraduate and law school. Today, it makes her exactly the kind of lawyer you want on your team.

Avery is an experienced litigator with a record of success handling complex cases, and her experience in construction defect matters is complemented by a wealth of knowledge about regulatory and permitting issues. Focused, knowledgeable and dedicated to excellence, she leaves no stone unturned on behalf of her clients.

Immediately prior to joining BCLG, Avery practiced in the professional liability department of the Jacksonville office of a well-known national law firm, working on complex construction defect cases. Before that, she worked as a litigator for the State of Florida at both the State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit and the St. Johns River Water Management District.

At the State Attorney’s Office, Avery was assigned to the special prosecution unit handling complicated wiretap cases, as well as the Special Assault Division, where she prosecuted sexually violent predators. At the St. Johns River Water Management District, she worked closely with engineers and environmental scientists in litigation of regulatory and permitting matters. Her previous experience also includes construction defect cases, as well as civil litigation, and she served in the General Counsel’s Office for the First Church of Christ, Scientist, where her clients included The Christian Science Monitor.

Avery has tried more than 20 jury trials to verdict in Jacksonville and litigated cases in front of Florida’s Division of Administrative Hearings. She is a member in good standing of The Florida Bar and a Barrister of the Chester Bedell Inn of Court, as well as a member of the Jacksonville Bar Association, the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association and the Florida Association for Women Lawyers. Admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, she is also a member of the Construction Law Committee of The Florida Bar Real Property Probate & Trust Law Section, and the former co-editor of the committee’s newsletter.

A Jacksonville native, Avery is a graduate of Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, where she majored in English Literature and participated in Moot Court, winning First Place in the State at the Model Illinois Government Simulation Moot Court. A devoted outdoorswoman, she also graduated from the National Outdoor Leadership School, qualifying her to lead wilderness expeditions. She earned her J.D. from Florida Coastal School of Law, where she obtained the Environmental Law Certificate and Pro Bono Law Certificate.

Avery is President of Principia College’s Alumni Association Board. She and her husband, Paul, an engineer, serve as volunteers at local organizations such as Sulzbacher Center and Big Brothers Big Sisters, and enjoy traveling and hiking.

BAR ADMISSIONS

• The Florida Bar, 2011

U.S. DISTRICT COURT ADMISSIONS

• U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida

MEMBERSHIPS & COMMUNITY

• The Florida Bar Real Property Probate & Trust Law Section, Construction Law Committee Member
• Chester Bedell Inn of Court, Barrister
• Jacksonville Bar Association
• Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association
• Florida Association for Women Lawyers
• Principia College Alumni Association, Board Member
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of NE Florida, Mentor
• Sulzbacher Center, Volunteer

EDUCATION

• Florida Coastal School of Law, J.D., 2010
  • Environmental Law Certificate
  • Pro Bono Law Certificate
  • Dean’s List; Florida Bar Foundation Fellowship; Pro Bono Honor Society, Moot Court; Student Bar Association