Insight

Jack E. Fernandez, Tampa "Lawyer of the Year" for Health Care Law 2017

Jack Fernandez on the path that led him to his eminent position in Tampa's health care law field.

Zuckerman Spaeder
NB

Nathaniel Barr

September 9, 2016 12:00 AM

Jack Fernandez decided to go to law school after having studied at the U.S. Naval Academy and after serving in the Navy for eight years, four of them as an F-14 fighter pilot aboard the USS Independence. He was at sea during much of his time in the service, and this kept him from his two young children. Work as a commercial airline pilot didn’t interest him, and when his father suggested law school, it just made sense.

“It’s been a lot more fun than being an airline pilot,” says Fernandez. “All my buddies who became airline pilots seem bored. I have never been bored in this profession.”

Fernandez served as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida for six years in the 1990s and was one of five prosecutors selected to start the office’s Health Care Fraud Task Force. He remembers the field at that time as a “sort of avant-garde area” where attorneys, working with few established court precedents, played a large role in shaping the new field. Now, a partner with Zuckerman Spaeder since 2002, Fernandez says he’s found the defense side of health care litigation no less interesting.

“It’s a complicated area grounded in policy,” he says. “As you’re making arguments and doing pleadings, it still surprises me how often you run into novel issues that nobody has really confronted before.”


Fernandez is full of warmth and generosity for his family and friends, including colleagues at his firm and in his field who he credits with many of his professional successes.

“To be good at this work, you have to have a good team, and the men and women at our firm are spectacular. You also have to acknowledge what you don’t know when you don’t know it. There is a whole network of great health care lawyers who I frequently rely on—some in our firm, some outside our firm—and if I’m good at what I do, it’s because I know that you have to be constantly learning if you want to continue to deliver the best service to your clients.”

Fernandez has been recognized in Best Lawyers since 2007, for commercial litigation, health care litigation, and white-collar criminal defense.

Related Articles

"Lawyer of the Year"


Lawyer wearing suit poses for headshot

Ed Snow

Commercial Finance Law

Atlanta, GA

2024

"Lawyer of the Year"


Lawyer in suit poses for a headshot photo

Jeffrey A. Weissman

Family Law

Fort Lauderdale, FL

2024

"Lawyer of the Year"


Headshot of the D.C. Lawyer of the Year Honoree

Adam J. August

Corporate Law

Washington, D.C., VA

2024

Announcing The Best Lawyers in Germany™ 2023


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms from Germany.

Black, red and yellow stripes

Announcing The Best Lawyers in Switzerland™ 2023


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms from Switzerland.

Red flag with white cross

Announcing The Best Lawyers in Austria™ 2023


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms from Austria.

Red and white stripes

Announcing The Best Lawyers in Belgium™ 2023


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms from Belgium.

Black, yellow and red stripes

Announcing The Best Lawyers in Italy™ 2023


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms from Italy.

Green, white and red stripes

Pennsylvania "Lawyer of the Year" 2022


by Best Lawyers

Wendelynne J. Newton is honored as 2022 "Lawyer of the Year" in Pennsylvania for Litigation-Healthcare.

Pennsylvania "Lawyer of the Year" 2022

New England "Lawyer of the Year" 2022


by Best Lawyers

Vincent Lau is honored as 2022 "Lawyer of the Year" in New England for Immigration Law.

New England "Lawyer of the Year"

Connecticut "Lawyer of the Year" 2022


by Best Lawyers

Tanya A. Bovée is honored as 2022 "Lawyer of the Year" in Connecticut for Employment Law-Management.

Connecticut "Lawyer of the Year" 2022

Georgia "Lawyer of the Year" 2022


by Best Lawyers

We highlight seven 2022 "Lawyer of the Year" recipients throughout Georgia.

Georgia "Lawyer of the Year" 2022

Colorado "Lawyer of the Year" 2022


by Best Lawyers

Jane E. Young is honored as 2022 "Lawyer of the Year" in Colorado for Insurance Litigation.

Colorado "Lawyer of the Year" 2022

Canada “Lawyer of the Year” 2022


by Best Lawyers

Richard Vachon is honored as 2022 "Lawyer of the Year" in Montréal, Canada for Defamation and Media Law.

Canada “Lawyer of the Year” 2022

New York “Lawyer of the Year”


by Best Lawyers

David H. Perecman is honored as 2022 "Lawyer of the Year" in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs in Long Island.

New York “Lawyer of the Year”

Southern California “Lawyer of the Year”


by Best Lawyers

Thomas A. Mesereau, Jr. is honored as 2022 "Lawyer of the Year" in Criminal Defense: General Practice in Los Angeles.

 “Lawyer of the Year” Thomas Mesereau

Trending Articles

Announcing the 2023 The Best Lawyers in America Honorees


by Best Lawyers

Only the top 5.3% of all practicing lawyers in the U.S. were selected by their peers for inclusion in the 29th edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.

Gold strings and dots connecting to form US map

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers® in the United States


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers listed in the 28th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and in the 2nd Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for 2022.

2022 Best Lawyers Listings for United States

2021 Best Lawyers: The Global Issue


by Best Lawyers

The 2021 Global Issue features top legal talent from the most recent editions of Best Lawyers and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch worldwide.

2021 Best Lawyers: The Global Issue

The U.S. Best Lawyers Voting Season Is Open


by Best Lawyers

The voting season for the 31st edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and the 5th edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America is officially underway, and we are offering some helpful advice to this year’s voters.

Golden figures of people standing on blue surface connected by white lines

How To Find A Pro Bono Lawyer


by Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers dives into the vital role pro bono lawyers play in ensuring access to justice for all and the transformative impact they have on communities.

Hands joined around a table with phone, paper, pen and glasses

What the Courts Say About Recording in the Classroom


by Christina Henagen Peer and Peter Zawadski

Students and parents are increasingly asking to use audio devices to record what's being said in the classroom. But is it legal? A recent ruling offer gives the answer to a question confusing parents and administrators alike.

Is It Legal for Students to Record Teachers?

How Palworld Is Testing the Limits of Nintendo’s Legal Power


by Gregory Sirico

Many are calling the new game Palworld “Pokémon GO with guns,” noting the games striking similarities. Experts speculate how Nintendo could take legal action.

Animated figures with guns stand on top of creatures

The Best Lawyers in Australia™ 2024 Launch


by Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers is excited to announce The Best Lawyers in Australia™ for 2023, including the top lawyers and law firms from Australia.

Australian Parliament beside water at sunset

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for 2023


by Best Lawyers

The third edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ highlights the legal talent of lawyers who have been in practice less than 10 years.

Three arrows made of lines and dots on blue background

Inflation Escalation


by Ashley S. Wagner

Inflation and rising costs are at the forefront of everyone’s mind as we enter 2023. The current volatile market makes it more important than ever to understand the rent escalation clauses in current and future commercial lease agreements.

Suited figure in front of rising market and inflated balloon

A Celebration of Excellence: The Best Lawyers in Canada 2024 Awards


by Best Lawyers

As we embark on the 18th edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada™, we are excited to highlight excellence and top legal talent across the country.

Abstract image of red and white Canada flag in triangles

8 Different Types of Criminal Defenses in Law


by Best Lawyers

Learn about the different types of criminal defenses available in law, including innocence, self-defense, insanity and more. Protect your rights today.

Silver handcuffs laying on finger printed papers

Wage and Overtime Laws for Truck Drivers


by Greg Mansell

For truck drivers nationwide, underpayment and overtime violations are just the beginning of a long list of problems. Below we explore the wages you are entitled to but may not be receiving.

Truck Driver Wage and Overtime Laws in the US

The Upcycle Conundrum


by Karen Kreider Gaunt

Laudable or litigious? What you need to know about potential copyright and trademark infringement when repurposing products.

Repurposed Products and Copyright Infringemen

Choosing a Title Company: What a Seller Should Expect


by Roy D. Oppenheim

When it comes to choosing a title company, how much power exactly does a seller have?

Choosing the Title Company As Seller

The 2024 Best Lawyers in Spain™


by Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers is honored to announce the 16th edition of The Best Lawyers in Spain™ and the third edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Spain™ for 2024.

Tall buildings and rushing traffic against clouds and sun in sky