Position: Senior Partner

John Yanchunis joined James, Hoyer, Newcomer, Smiljanich & Yanchunis in 1997, and as senior partner, he manages the class action component of the firm, as well as six attorneys and three investigators. His first lessons in trial law came from watching his first boss, a U.S. District Court Judge in the Southern District of Texas, present trials and skillfully explain the decision-making process. This experience provided a solid foundation for John to build his trial attorney career.

Following Texas, John joined a St. Petersburg law firm, which at the time was the tenth largest in Florida. Here he worked in the area of civil litigation, asbestos defense, lender liability, creditor’s rights and bankruptcy. In 1990, John joined Blasingame, Forizs & Smiljanich, the firm of future senior partner, Terry Smiljanich. There, John focused on trial work and began insurance coverage litigation for environmental and asbestos claims.

In 1997, John joined friends and colleagues, Bill James, Chris and Judy Hoyer, John Newcomer and Terry Smiljanich in their practice. While focusing most of his time on class actions, John also served as outside counsel for the state of Florida insurance regulator. John investigated issues involving undisclosed compensation, bid-rigging and price-fixing in connection with the sale of insurance. He successfully resolved a number of investigations against brokers and insurance companies, which brought restitution to Florida policy holders.

John currently serves as an Emeritus member of the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. He is a former member of The Florida Bar Board of Governors (1999-2003), the Board of Directors of The Florida Bar Foundation (2002-2005), and the Board of Governors Young Lawyers Division (1988-1992). He also served as chairperson on the Standing Committee on Unlicensed Practice of Law (1995-1997), and chairman of the Multijurisdictional Practice of Law Commission (2002), in addition to service on numerous other committees of The Florida Bar. John has also been an active member of the Boy Scouts of America and served as President of the West Central Florida Council of Boy Scouts. He presently serves on the board of the same council. For his service as a Scout leader, John has received the District Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver.

John graduated magna cum laude from South Texas College of Law in 1980. Prior to law school, he completed his undergraduate work at the University of Florida (B.A., 1976). In his leisure time, John can be found cheering on his five children in their athletic endeavors. His is also an avid runner, cycler and outdoorsman.

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