Palatka, FL

Charles T. Douglas, Jr.

Charlie Douglas was born and raised in Palatka, Florida. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida Warrington College of Business and second in his class from the University of Florida College of Law, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Florida Law Review. He gained national recognition for his advocacy in freeing Tyrone Brown and fought against the tobacco industry, earning him Florida’s Youth Advocate of the Year. He is recognized as a 'Rising Star' by Florida Super Lawyers Magazine.

Alex Nobregas

Attorney Alex Nobregas is a Florida native. He grew up in the Florida Keys and received his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and his Juris Doctorate from Florida Coastal School of Law. In 2017, Alex began working with the Law Offices of Ron Sholes, P.A. in our litigation department. Alex prides himself on providing the best legal representation possible, and winning! He is an aggressive litigator and has secured many six and seven-figure settlements and verdicts. He is a member of the million-dollar advocates forum and multi-million dollar advocates forum, for having achieved million-dollar and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients. Alex handles a wide variety of negligence claims including all types of accidents, premise liability, product liability, and medical malpractice, with an emphasis on auto and trucking accident litigation. He also handles a wide range of injury claims, but he primarily focuses on serious injury and wrongful death claims.

Ron Sholes

Attorney Ron Sholes is the founding member and managing attorney of The Law Offices of Ron Sholes, P.A., a veteran-led personal injury firm he established in 2003. Born and raised in a blue-collar family in Northern Illinois, Ron learned the values of integrity, grit, and hard work from his father, a steelworker. Those same principles guide his approach to law and leadership today. At just 17, Ron joined the U.S. Navy, beginning a decade of active-duty service marked by courage, discipline, and dedication. During his military career, he served in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the Bosnian Conflict, and multiple Counter-Narcotics Operations throughout the Southern Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. His distinguished service earned him several honors, including the National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, and multiple Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals. Ron remains deeply connected to the veteran community as a life member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). While stationed at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Ron began his higher education journey at Florida Community College of Jacksonville, earning his Associate of Arts degree before completing his undergraduate studies at Southern Illinois University. Following his military service, Ron attended the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctorate. Today, Ron is admitted to practice in all Florida State Courts and the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. With more than 20 years of experience in personal injury law, he has built a reputation for fighting relentlessly for the injured and holding big insurance companies accountable. Under Ron’s leadership, the firm operates on a simple but powerful principle: treat every client like family. He ensures every client receives direct access to their attorney - including his own personal cell phone number - because communication, compassion, and commitment are the foundation of every case. Ron takes pride in building a firm that stands for more than results - it stands for people. From car, truck, and motorcycle accidents to serious injury and wrongful death claims, his team fights to secure maximum compensation while delivering the personalized service clients deserve. A proud veteran, attorney, and advocate, Ron Sholes continues to lead with the same discipline and integrity he learned in uniform - proving every day that when he says “You Hurt? We Fight!” - he means it.

Donald E. Holmes

Donald E. Holmes is a Senior Partner at Holmes & Young, P.A., who came to Palatka in 1976 after graduating with honors from Florida State University College of Law. He previously served as an Assistant State Attorney and Division Chief in Putnam County, conducting over 140 jury trials. Since entering private practice in 1983, he has practiced in various areas including government/municipal law, business/commercial law, real estate/land use law, marital and family law, general civil litigation, criminal law, probate, and personal injury law. He serves as City Attorney for Palatka and Town of Interlachen and is a retained attorney for many Putnam County businesses. He is highly involved in the community and holds an AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®.

Abbey Hawk

Attorney Abbey Hawk is originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Abbey Hawk’s path to law was influenced by her family legacy, with both her father and sister being attorneys. After completing her education at the University of North Florida with a double bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice, Abbey’s natural aptitude for academics allowed her to graduate ahead of schedule. This achievement was followed by her accelerated completion of law school at Florida Coastal School of Law in 2012. Known for her assertive demeanor and straight-shooting personality, Abbey’s intimidating presence in the legal arena is a testament to her unwavering loyalty to her practice, clients, and colleagues. While her directness may be formidable, those who know her appreciate her great sense of humor and entertaining nature. During law school, Abbey was actively involved in the Military Law Association and developed a particular interest in how PTSD affects veterans from a legal perspective. Her commitment to veterans’ causes was not only professional but also personal, as she would later marry a veteran himself. Abbey joined The Law Offices of Ron Sholes, P.A. in 2020 and has received numerous accolades, including multiple Attorney of the Month and Attorney of the Quarter awards, as well as being part of the Team of the Year in 2024. She handles a diverse range of cases, including premise liability, trucking accidents, commercial accidents, and ride-share accident cases. Prior to joining the firm, Abbey served as a public defender for Nassau and Duval counties (2015-2018) and ran her own private practice (2018-2020) focusing on family law, criminal law, and personal injury cases. Beyond her legal practice, Abbey serves as an adjunct professor at Florida State College of Jacksonville since 2019, teaching Business Law and Ethics, and American Federal Government. She is also a certified dog trainer, specializing in training service dogs for individuals with PTSD and other mental health conditions. As a devoted dog lover, she cherishes time with her two Corgis. In her leisure time, Abbey enjoys camping and tackling house renovation projects. She has a particular fondness for shopping at Costco and Aldi. Her results-driven approach and passion for backing arguments with factual information have made her an invaluable asset to both her firm and clients. Abbey is a current member of the Florida Bar and holds licenses in the Federal United District Court for the Middle District of Florida. She is also an active member of the Jacksonville Bar Association, Jacksonville Women’s Law Association, Jacksonville Justice Administration, and maintains membership in good standing with the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. If you or a loved one has been injured, Abbey would be honored to speak with you about your case.

Blair Butler

Originally from Tampa, Florida, Blair Butler received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, majoring in Criminal Justice and minoring in Nursing studies. After completing college, Blair’s close family member was in a catastrophic collision and taken advantage of by an insurance company which fueled her fire to pursue a career as a personal injury attorney and to ensure quality and aggressive representation is provided to injured Plaintiff’s across the state. Law school brought Blair to Jacksonville where she decided to plant roots and begin her practice of law. During law school, Blair was involved in Moot Court, Mock Trial, was the President of several organizations, and was involved in the pro-bono department’s veterans’ benefits program. Blair joined The Law Offices of Ron Sholes, P.A. in 2019 and has received several awards and honors within, including but not limited to, Attorney of the Month, Attorney of the Quarter, Team of the Year, and Client Satisfaction awards. Blair prides herself in fighting for her clients and holding insurance companies accountable for their driver’s negligence. Blair handles a broad range of auto and trucking cases, including whiplash injuries and catastrophic claims, including wrongful death. Prior to joining the firm, Blair worked at a defense firm specializing in premise and auto-negligence defense. Blair is currently the firm’s supervising attorney and manages all pre-trial departments. Blair is a current member of the Florida Bar and holds licenses in the Federal United District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Blair is a current member of the Jacksonville Justice Administration, Jacksonville Bar Association, Jacksonville Women’s Law Association and is a member in good standing with the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. If you or a loved one has been injured, Blair would be honored to speak to you about your case.

Todd Butler

Attorney Todd Butler brings over two decades of trial and appellate experience to his role as Senior Attorney at The Law Offices of Ron Sholes, P.A. With a distinguished record in complex civil litigation, appellate advocacy, and insurance coverage matters, Todd is recognized for his meticulous legal analysis and passionate advocacy for injured clients. Since joining the firm in 2022, Todd has been instrumental in handling motions and appeals, drafting persuasive briefs, and presenting compelling oral arguments. In addition to his litigation work, he also mentors pre-trial team leaders and junior attorneys, helping strengthen the firm’s overall practice. Todd began his career clerking for a United States Bankruptcy Judge in the Middle District of Georgia before transitioning to trial law under the mentorship of a renowned trial lawyer. During this time, he gained significant experience in personal injury litigation, particularly in medical malpractice, product liability, automotive safety system failures, tractor-trailer accidents, and highway construction defect cases. He also built expertise in Civil RICO and qui tam claims. From 2006 to 2022, Todd successfully operated his own practice in Cairo, Georgia. Known as the attorney who could find claims others had overlooked, he quickly established a reputation as a go-to trial lawyer in the region. Within his first three years, he secured over $10 million in recoveries for clients, later expanding his practice into areas such as innovative business planning and data privacy litigation. A cum laude graduate of Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law, Todd served on the Mercer Law Review and was recognized as a Floyd M. Buford Scholar. His commitment to legal scholarship continued beyond law school, where he published extensively in the Mercer Law Review, including annual surveys on appellate practice and procedure for the Eleventh Circuit and a widely cited analysis of Georgia’s evidence code. He also holds a magna cum laude B.A. in English from Florida State University. Todd is admitted to practice in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama, as well as multiple federal courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. His background also includes service in the U.S. Navy during Operation Desert Storm, where he earned the Southwest Asia Service Medal. Outside of his legal career, Todd remains deeply engaged in his community. He has served as President of Thomas University’s Alumni Board of Governors, held leadership roles in his son’s Scout troop, and contributed his time to the City of Cairo’s Downtown Development Authority and the Regional Cultural Commission in Grady County. He has also taught leadership as an Adjunct Professor at Thomas University. Now based in Jacksonville, Todd is proud to call Northeast Florida home. When he’s not advocating for clients, he enjoys spending time with his family and contributing to local civic organizations. If you or a loved one has been injured, Todd would be honored to speak with you about your case.