WILLIAM E. (BILL) HAWKINS
Bill was an instrumental part of the “glory years” at the University of Miami Football Program (Jimmy Johnson’s tenure), as a three year starting left defensive end leading his team to a National Championship in 1987! A consensus All-American, Bill entered the NFL when he became the first round draft choice of the Los Angeles Rams Football team in 1989. He made an immediate impact by becoming a member of the all rookie team; however, after five years his football career was over following his second knee injury. Bill was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame the first year of his eligibility for induction.
Bill excelled in the classroom: Mariuto Scholar athlete, Omicron Delta Kappa (the highest honor society), Iron Arrow Society (the highest honor attainable at Miami), and the deans list. He received a degree in Business Administration with a minor in Finance and attended graduate level MBA courses in his final year at Miami.
Bill became involved with public service during his tenure with the Rams. He gave numerous speeches imploring young athletes to strive in the classroom. He produced numerous radio advertisements for local charities while in California and is a current Board member and former Secretary of the ARC Martin County.
In 1996, Bill began his legal education at the University of Florida. He excelled in Estates and Trusts, International Financial Crimes and Comparative Law. He studied abroad in Montpellier France and accelerated the course of his studies, graduating one semester early.
Past Employment:
- 1998-2002 Assistant State Attorney - Palm Beach County
- 2003-2004 Associate Attorney - Bobo, Ciotoli, Bochino, & Newman,
- 2004-2005 Associate Attorney - Berrocal & Wilkins
- 2005- William E. Hawkins, Jr., P.L./Hawkins & Gordon, P.L.
Areas of Practice:
- All Real Estate Matters; Business Law; and Wills, Estates and Trusts.
Community Involvement:
- Bill is an active member and officer in the oldest men’s fraternal organization;
- Active member of the Board of Directors of ARC Martin County for over 6 years;
- First Presbyterian Church of Tequesta Deacon (3 yr. term)
CLAYTON B. (CLAY) GORDON
Clay was born and raised in Tequesta, Florida and attended Florida State University where he earned a degree in Political Science. He then earned his Juris Doctor degree, with honors, from Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida.
Prior to founding the firm, Clay served the Florida Legislature as a Reading Clerk for the House of Representatives, managed a family business and interned for the U.S. Immigration Court in Miami. After joining the Florida Bar, he gained valuable legal experience in a variety of disciplines, including representing cruise lines in maritime matters and institutional lenders in mortgage foreclosures. Later, he worked for a local real estate transactions firm where he further developed his real estate knowledge and experience. As a partner of Hawkins & Gordon, P.L., Clay has honed his legal knowledge to focus on helping individuals, families and businesses prosper in today’s wildly erratic economy in such areas as asset protection, residential short sales, debt management, mortgage foreclosures and bankruptcy.
Education/Honors:
- Juris Doctorate, cum laude, Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center
- Editor, ILSA Journal of International and Comparative Law
- Feinrider Human Rights Scholarship recipient
- Bachelor of Science in Political Science, Florida State University
Professional/Civic Memberships:
- The Florida Bar
- U.S. District Court for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida
- National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
- Bankruptcy Bar Association
- Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund/Old Republic
- Clay is an active member and officer in the oldest men’s fraternal organization
Areas of Practice:
- Real estate law, estate administration, creditor and debtor bankruptcy representation, civil litigation, including commercial litigation and mortgage foreclosures.