By Kathleen Schiop
It’s never an easy task finding a professional to assist us with our needs. Even more difficult is finding an attorney, especially when you’ve been involved in a crisis situation, such as an auto accident. Do you pay attention to the advertising saturating TV or radio? Or do you instead trust recommendations from trusted friends and family members, or members of your community, who have undergone the same experiences themselves?
Charles Spinner, Jr., Esq., is an attorney specializing in personal injury and auto accident litigation whose business was founded upon exactly that idea. Now celebrating its tenth year in business, Spinner Law Firm (located in the Cypress Glen Professional Park off of S.R. 56) has made a commitment to providing the highest quality legal services to residents of Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Lutz, Land O’Lakes & Zephyrhills. Spinner says that most of the firm’s clients still come primarily from the referrals of its many satisfied clients.
Spinner, 42, says he was inspired to follow in the footsteps of his father, who was a practicing attorney in Buffalo, NY. His memories of going to court, observing the legal process and seeing how his father helped people motivated Charles to want to help people the same way.
After graduating from the University of Dayton (OH), he received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Toledo (also OH) College of Law in 1996. He is admitted to practice in all Courts of the State of Florida, and also is admitted to practice law in the State of New York. After working for several years as a civil trial and insurance defense attorney, he founded Spinner Law Firm in New Tampa (Pebble Creek) in 2003. His mission was to make it easy for the residents of Wesley Chapel and New Tampa to receive client-focused legal representation without traveling to downtown Tampa.
Spinner says he truly believes that, “The practice of law is not a product but a service. You build trust in the community by being a zealous advocate and presenting a personalized, local option for quality service with honesty and integrity.”
In early 2012, the firm’s offerings were enhanced by the addition of Anissa Morris, a seasoned and experienced attorney who specializes in estate planning (preparation of wills and trusts), probate and trust administration, and family law. Morris also supports the firm’s litigation efforts, giving clients the benefit of a team of experienced attorneys, which Spinner says can be important in the presentation of personal injury cases.
Office administrator and legal assistant Vicki Portfolio has been with Spinner Law since the beginning, and Vicki’s genuine, caring demeanor makes clients feel welcomed immediately to the office. Mary Margaret Caporali, who has been with Spinner Law since 2005, is the firm’s personal injury assistant, who is responsible for compiling insurance information, medical records and other essential paperwork and pieces of evidence for the firm’s personal injury clients. Paralegal Judith Risley has worked as a legal assistant for 25 years and has vast experience in providing support in all areas of civil litigation. The firm’s community relations and marketing efforts are spearheaded by Heidi Jacobsen, who recently celebrated her third anniversary with Spinner Law.
So, whatever your legal questions may be, the team at the Spinner Law Firm has the knowledge and experience to answer them. Spinner himself says he is “very proud” of the firm’s A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Growing With The Area
Starting from humble beginnings, in a one-room office he shared with a local CPA in the Pebble Creek Collection in New Tampa, the firm has grown with the local community. Spinner says he moved to his current location in Wesley Chapel four years ago, which turned out to be a great relocation for the firm.
“We moved to Wesley Chapel from New Tampa at a time when there were more people and businesses in New Tampa than in Wesley Chapel,” he says. “But, over these four years, the population growth has shifted the other way, with Wesley Chapel adding a new hospital, a major shopping mall and a community college. These are exciting times in this community and we are blessed to be part of it.”
Spinner adds that his location is still close enough to New Tampa, not only to serve both communities, but being in such a central location (off S.R. 56, between I-75 and Bruce B. Downs Blvd.), ‘’we’ve been able to help clients from the entire area, including Zephyrhills, Lutz and Land O’ Lakes.” The move helped broaden the firm’s client access, and Spinner Law is busier now than it ever has been.
“Early on, in addition to personal injury, we handled a broader range of cases, including family law (divorces, child custody arrangements, etc.) and even consumer bankruptcies,” Spinner says. “Over the years, we have streamlined our areas of practice to focus on injury law, and estate planning. We still take on marital and family law matters on a limited basis, mainly to service our existing and former clients when they need us.”
He adds, “The personal injury (auto accidents, slip & falls, brain injuries, dog bites, drunk driver injuries, etc.) side of our practice has really taken off because we have found that a lot of people in this community prefer to hire someone who lives and works in the area, where everyone at the firm will know their name and where they will get the personal attention and responsiveness they deserve.”
And, based on the reviews we’ve found, the firm does get the job done for its clients. “Spinner Law Firm is thorough and efficient, a great law firm to work with,” says Rachel, a local, satisfied client. “Wonderful support staff…they are some of the most polite and cheerful I have experienced. I love that they deal with the insurance companies so I don’t have to — just as they said they would!”
A Trusted Partner
In addition to the legal help the Spinner Law Firm offers to the area, the firm also participates in many community organizations and functions. Spinner himself is a member of the New Tampa Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce and the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Club.
The firm’s many charitable endeavors are in the competent hands of Heidi Jacobsen, Spinner Law Firm’s Marketing & Community Relations Director. Spinner says the firm will again have a booth at the upcoming Taste of New Tampa (see page 1) and will again sponsor the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary’s Spelling Bee. In addition, the firm has conducted toy and clothing drives for the Fisher House, and last year encouraged an online vote for favorite teachers in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, with the teachers who earned the most votes receiving roses that Jacobsen hand-delivered to their schools on Valentine’s Day.
When not busy with the firm, Charles enjoys spending time with his family. He and his wife Carrie have four daughters, ages two through nine, and he says taking care of his young family is like having, “a second full-time job.” In what little free time he has, Spinner says he enjoys tennis, running and outdoor sports, such as fishing. He also enjoys dining out and says he reads this publication’s dining reviews religiously for the latest dining info.
For more information about attorneys Charles Spinner, Jr., and Anissa Morris and the entire friendly, professional staff at Spinner Law Firm (26843 Tanic Dr., Suite 101), call 991-5099, email cspinner@spinnerlawfirm.com or visit SpinnerLawFirm.com.
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