- Criminal DefenseOne of the founding principles of our nation is that every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Every person deserves to have his or her case tried by a jury of members of the community. The experienced criminal law trial attorneys at Powell, Powell & Powell represent clients accused of criminal conduct throughout all stages of the process. We believe that just because someone is charged with a crime does not make it so. We are here to protect your rights.
- DUI/DWICrimes are designated as either a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the maximum punishment that can be imposed. Crimes punishable by up to a year in jail are misdemeanors. Crimes punishable by over a year in jail are felonies. We have represented hundreds of clients in both misdemeanor and felony criminal cases over the past 40 years, including cases involving charges of assault, battery, homicide, DUI (driving under the influence), DUI manslaughter, theft, robbery, burglary, and many other charges.Â
- Wrongful DeathWrongful death cases are fraught with emotion and grief and require an experienced and compassionate wrongful death attorney to handle the factual information and legal issues. A wrongful death claim arises from the negligence or misconduct of another individual, and the death typically results from motor vehicle accidents, medical mistakes, workplace accidents, and dangerous or defective products.
- Traffic Violations
- Robbery
- Burglary
- Theft
- Misdemeanors: Sometimes bad things happen to good people. If you find yourself facing criminal charges, our legal team can assist in your defense.  Our attorneys have successfully defended hundreds of clients in both felony and misdemeanor cases, and we have the experience and resources to take your cases to trial. We will fight for your rights. Our attorneys will be there every step of the way – making the process a lot less scary.
- Drug Crimes
- Assault
- MurderWith 43 years of experience, Gillis E. Powell, Jr. continues to represent clients facing a variety of legal issues, from being charged with murder to being victimized by careless doctors or unsafe drivers. He has been joined by his family of attorneys in the pursuit of legal excellence and client advocacy.
- Homicide
- Manslaughter
- Corporate LawGillis E. Powell, Sr., also served as an Assistant State Attorney for several years early in his career, prosecuting criminal cases in Crestview. In 1971, he was appointed by Florida Governor Kirk to the position of Circuit Court Judge for the First Judicial Circuit of Florida, which is comprised of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton Counties. He served as a Circuit Court Judge in Okaloosa County in the Shalimar Courthouse Annex until 1977, when he decided to return to private practice with his oldest son, Gillis E. Powell, Jr. Beginning 1977, Judge Powell concentrated his law practice in the areas of commercial litigation, municipal and government law, corporate law, banking and finance, and administrative law. He served as the City Attorney for the City of Crestview (1962-1967) as well as the attorney for the Town of Mary Esther (1977-1995) and the Okaloosa Gas District (1977-2007). He served as the City Attorney for the City of Niceville from 1977 until he passed away in 2011, and represented Niceville in a case that reached the United States Supreme Court (Warner Cable Communications, Inc. v. City of Niceville, Florida, 501 U.S. 1222, 111 S. Ct. 2839, 115 L.Ed.2d 1007, June 17, 1991).
- Construction Contracts: No dispute is too small when it comes to construction work. We can work together to settle disputes about construction contracts, the quality of work, or payment of contractors or sub-contractors. Â
- Real Estate LitigationMr. Powell’s main focus is litigation and trial practice. He handles complex personal injury cases, medical malpractice cases, wrongful death cases, catastrophic injury cases, criminal defense cases, railroad cases, real estate litigation, and commercial litigation. Mr. Powell has tried and won numerous civil trials and he has obtained substantial jury awards for his clients. He is a member of the million dollar advocates club as a result of his jury verdicts. He has also successfully defended many clients in criminal cases, including clients charged with homicide, aggravated battery, sexual battery, drug offenses, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI), and other criminal charges.
- Premises LiabilityPremises liability accidents happen when a person is injured by a dangerous or defective condition on someone else’s property. Business owners are required to keep the premises safe and secure for the public.
- Construction LitigationOur firm represents developers, general contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, and homeowners in various facets of construction law and litigation. We have experience with construction defect cases, construction lien disputes, and breach of construction contract claims. Attorney James G. Clark  earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Building Construction from the University of Florida, was a state certified general contractor, and worked in the construction industry for eight years prior to pursuing his law degree.
- Property Damage
- Personal InjuryPowell, Powell & Powell is a family-run personal injury law firm. Our attorneys represent victims who have been harmed by the wrongdoing and negligence of people, companies and government agencies. We also provide legal representation to defendants in criminal cases and to disabled individuals struggling to get benefits from the Social Security Administration.
- Medical MalpracticeOur firm represents patients and their families who suffer catastrophic injuries or death as a result of medical malpractice. Medical malpractice occurs when a health care provider provides treatment that falls below the acceptable standard of care and causes injury or death to the patient. Essentially, malpractice occurs when the health care provider makes a preventable medical error. Health care providers include doctors, nurses, hospitals, and other medical providers, and preventable medical errors can include diagnostic errors, delayed diagnosis, inaccurate diagnosis, failure to diagnose, surgical errors, anesthesia errors, hospital-acquired infections, medication errors, and emergency room errors.Â
- Auto Accidents
- Social Security DisabilityMost of us like to work but unfortunately, because of injuries or illnesses, some people simply can’t. While many people never think about becoming disabled, according to the Social Security Administration, a twenty-year-old has a 30% chance of becoming disabled before reaching retirement age. Those less fortunate may be entitled to Social Security Disability benefits. Social Security benefits can make the difference between struggling financially and living on the edge and having the funds to survive and receiving medical care.
- Dog BitesMost dogs truly live up to the nickname “man’s best friend.†Unfortunately, according to the CDC, over 4.5 million people (1.5 % of the population) are bitten by dogs every year. The injuries caused by dog bites frequently cause permanent scarring and disfigurement, as well as emotional and psychological trauma. Many victims of dog bites require plastic or reconstructive surgery to repair the injuries, and the medical bills can be financially devastating.
- Estate PlanningDebbie Cross joined the firm in 2015 and is the legal assistant to James G. Clark. She also provides litigation support to Gillis E. Powell, Jr. Debbie has worked in the legal field for thirty years in both Delaware and Florida, and has an extensive background in personal injury, commercial, and estate litigation.