BACHARA CONSTRUCTION LAW GROUP - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- President of Principia College 's Alumni Association Board
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.
Sander's construction law experience is complemented by a wealth of knowledge about regulatory and permitting issues. Read more.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member in Good Standing of the Florida Bar
With a family full of lawyers, including a grandfather who was a prosecutor, it's no surprise that Chris Bracken has either been thinking about or practicing law much of his life. The longtime Jacksonville resident's passion for justice led to six years as an Assistant State Attorney in the Felony Division for Florida's 4 th Judicial Circuit, where he handled a large criminal caseload and tried over 30 jury trials to verdict.
In addition to strong courtroom skills and a desire to give crime victims a positive resolution, a major takeaway from Chris's years as a prosecutor is tenacity. (Or, as he puts it, "getting hold of a case and not letting go.") After years of cold-calling witnesses and tracking down information on his own in the State Attorney's Office, he is quick to do whatever is needed to bring about the best resolution for a client.
Today, Chris brings that tenacity to his work with his clients at BCLG. He also brings extensive knowledge of real estate and development to his practice: Chris is a licensed Realtor who sold real estate for several years and later practiced both residential and commercial real estate law. With his broad experience, low-key personality and good sense of humor, he is relatable and easy to talk to, making him a client favorite.
Chris earned his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Florida and his J.D. from Florida Coastal School of Law, where he obtained a Certificate in Legal Writing and won two Book Awards. He also completed prosecutor training on Computer Forensics in Court from the National Computer Forensics Institute.
A member in good standing of The Florida Bar, Chris is active in The Bar's Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section (RPPTL). He is also a member of the Jacksonville Bar Association and the Robert M. Foster American Inn of Court.
Chris is a big football fan and enjoys Gator football and the Jacksonville Jaguars as well. He enjoys traveling to keep up with his large extended family, and is a familiar face at the Riverside YMCA.
Bracken is an experienced litigator who also brings significant knowledge of real estate and development to his practice. Read more.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Managing Partner for Balch & Bingham
- of Counsel / Office Managing Partner
Geremy Gregory solves his clients' problems inside and outside of the courtroom. Licensed in both Florida and Georgia, Geremy represents clients in state and federal courts from south Florida to north Georgia, including banks and financial institutions, insurers, product manufacturers and sellers, and owners of real property. He is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and was named a ‘Rising Star' by Florida Super Lawyers.
Geremy is particularly experienced in defending financial institutions against lender liability claims, including Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA), identity theft, wrongful foreclosure, conversion, and fraud. He also regularly represents individuals and small companies.
Of counsel to - and collocated with - Bachara Construction Law Group, Geremy serves as the Office Managing Partner for Balch & Bingham, Jacksonville.
There's a reason for the row of hard hats hanging on the wall in Chip Bachara's office. The founding partner of Bachara Construction Law group has spent his entire life in and around the construction industry.
Following in the footsteps of his father, a WWII veteran who returned from the Pacific and became a homebuilder in Jacksonville, Chip literally learned the business from the ground up. He worked as a laborer for his father's company while in high school, then earned a degree in Building Construction from the University of Florida and obtained his certified general contractor's license.
After working for two of Jacksonville's largest commercial construction companies, Chip earned a law degree from Mercer University. Since that time, he has practiced exclusively in the area of construction litigation. He served as an associate with Bedell, Dittmar, DeVault & Pillans (now known as the Bedell Firm), and as an associate and partner with Baumer, Bradford & Walters, which later merged with Smith, Gambrell & Russell. He formed Bachara Construction Law group in 2007 to represent a full range of clients including government entities, private developers and owners, contractors, trade contractors, sureties and insurers in construction disputes, including construction defect claims.
Chip is a lifelong resident of Jacksonville. He and his wife of more than 30 years, Carrie, are the proud parents of a daughter and a son.
The founding partner of Bachara Construction Law group has spent his entire life in and around the construction industry. Read more.
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner
- of Counsel
- Chairman of the Litigation
- of Counsel / Partner, Balch & Bingham / Birmingham
- Sports Agent
Russ Campbell is a sports agent and the founding partner of Balch Sports, the firm's sports and entertainment practice. Russ has more than two decades of experience as a sports agent, representing collegiate football, baseball, and basketball coaches, NFL coaches, and NFL players. Alongside Patrick Strong, Russ has built a practice that serves many well-respected and emerging football and baseball coaches.
Russ is also Chairman of the Litigation, Trial and Appellate Practice and represents clients in joint use (pole attachment) work, energy-related litigation, complex commercial litigation, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) claims, and shoreline/reservoir management, including dam safety.
Known to clients as a brilliant strategist, Russ thrives on the variety of working with both individuals and organizations - helping his sports clients maximize opportunities and build their careers, and helping his other clients to either avoid or successfully resolve litigation. He is a frequent speaker and writer on both sports law and joint-use issues.
Russ Campbell works with both individuals and organizations, helping his sports clients maximize opportunities and build their careers, and helping his other clients to either avoid or successfully resolve litigation. Read more.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- of Counsel / Partner, Balch & Bingham / Birmingham & Montgomery
Lee Johnsey focuses on the acquisition, development, ownership, management and disposition of real estate, unsecured and secured lending, corporate matters, gaming finance and operation, and tax sales. Lee understands that clients are looking for solutions, and his experience allows him to structure deals to anticipate future issues and to assist clients with responding to any issues that do arise before they become problems.
When problems do arise, Lee's transactional and litigation experience uniquely positions him to view the big picture and nuances of an issue, and to counsel clients about the implications of a course of conduct. Lee understands that results are sometimes best achieved through litigation avoidance and others through litigation. Lee helps clients balance efficiency and desired results as he works through issues alongside them.
Lee values the opportunity to work with a variety of clients to meet their goals and mitigate risk. His in-depth experience on both the transactional and litigation sides of real estate, lending, and corporate transactions allows him to effectively structure deals, understand and anticipate potential problem areas, and advise clients about how to resolve potential and existing issues.
Board Certified by The Florida Bar in City, County and Local Government Law, Patrick W. Krechowski has over 20 years of experience in real estate, land use, environmental, governmental, administrative litigation, appeals and title insurance law.
Along with years of litigation experience, Todd MacLeod brings a wealth of direct construction and business knowledge to his practice of construction law. A successful general contractor, business owner and corporate executive prior to his legal career, Todd has both first-hand knowledge of the construction industry and a deep understanding of the challenges his clients face. He takes great satisfaction in utilizing his diverse knowledge and experience to craft effective legal strategies and present options in a clear, understandable way.
Todd's practice focuses on construction litigation for all phases of the industry, representing owners, developers, general contractors, subcontractors and design professionals. He also handles general and commercial litigation, contract evaluation and dispute resolution.
Prior to joining Bachara Construction Law Group, Todd was a partner at Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A., in Jacksonville. Before attending law school, he owned and operated a construction company and served as a construction project manager in Jacksonville and South Florida. Each of those roles added to his knowledge of residential and commercial development, increased his familiarity with the legal needs of the construction industry, and built on the business acumen acquired in an earlier career as an executive in the aerospace, pharmaceutical and digital media industries.
Todd is admitted to practice throughout the State of Florida and is a member of The Florida Bar, the Jacksonville Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Recognized by his peers as a Super Lawyers "Rising Star" each year since 2017, he holds a B.S. in Commerce from the University of Virginia, an MBA from the University of Florida, and earned his J.D. from the Florida Coastal School of Law.
In the community, Todd serves on the Jacksonville Advisory Board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and is active as a volunteer coach for youth football. He is the proud father of Casey Elizabeth MacLeod and Connor Andrew MacLeod.
Todd MacLeod brings a wealth of litigation, construction and business knowledge to his practice of construction law. Read more.