J.E. Cheek, III

James Edward “Trippe” Cheek, III, a shareholder since 1993 and the Firm’s President/CEO, joined Winderweedle, Haines, Ward and Woodman in the fall of 1988 after completing a federal judicial clerkship in the Eastern District of Tennessee. Since that time, his practice has been concentrated in the areas of complex civil matters, including ad valorem tax law; real property law; administrative law; condemnation and contract; alternative dispute resolution; and trials and appeals. He represents, among other clients, individuals, businesses, municipalities and other governmental agencies, and post-secondary educational institutions. He is rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell.

Mr. Cheek has been designated as lead counsel in legal matters for numerous individual, corporate and governmental clients, including the City of Winter Park, Bank of America, AmSouth Bank, Tampa Bay Water Authority, St. Johns River Water Management District, Rollins College, Florida Southern College and others. He is admitted to practice and has served as primary counsel on cases in state, federal and bankruptcy courts as well as Florida District Courts of Appeal, Florida Supreme Court, Federal Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Cheek spent twelve years as a board certified appellate attorney in Florida. For five years, he served as the City Attorney for Winter Park, Florida. He is also general counsel to Rollins College.

Mr. Cheek is a member of the Orange County Bar Association, The Florida Bar and the Tennessee Bar Association. He has previously been honored by the Orange County Bar Association for free legal services provided to lower income citizens, has received the “Harris Rosen Award” from Tee-Lo Golf, a charity serving underprivileged school-age children, and has been a board member of the St. Michael’s Nursery School and the College Park Little League.

Mr. Cheek is married to Tracy Lee Troutman, a native of Orlando, and they have two children. The family belongs to St. Michael’s Episcopal Church and supports various charitable and civic organizations.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

• Appellate Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Eminent Domain
• Government
• Litigation
• Receivership
• Wills, Trusts and Estates