Kelly Parsons Kwiatek and William A. Parsons. Photo courtesy of Cobb Cole
Summary: Retired judge William A. Parsons joins the law firm of his daughter, Kelly Parsons Kwiatek, to practice as an attorney.
It’s all about family for Kelly Parsons Kwiatek and her father William A. Parsons. When Kwiatek was a junior at Syracuse University, she decided to pursue a career in law instead of her original choice, musical theater. Growing up, she had seen her father excel in the legal profession, and his career inspired her to be an attorney.
“I turned to my dad for guidance, and we talked long and hard about law school,” Kwiatek told The Daytona Beach News Journal. “He explained, and now I can tell you that he was right, that the law gives you a great opportunity to live a multifaceted, interesting life.”
Kwiatek is now an attorney, partner and shareholder at Cobb Cole, a Daytona Beach, Florida law firm, and she specializes in employment law. Her father, 68, served as a chief judge for 17 years, hearing cases in Volusia and Putnam counties. He returned to practicing as an attorney on January 4, and he joined his daughter’s firm as an of counsel. The two share offices that are so close they can see when each other’s lights are on.
When asked if his daughter’s position as partner affected his decision to join Cobb Cole, Parsons said, “Absolutely.”
At Cobb Cole, Parsons plans to develop a civil mediation practice and do family law. Before he was a judge, he was a litigator for 25 years.
Parsons hopes to one day work on a case with his daughter but joked he doesn’t have anything concrete-lined just yet.
“We don’t have anything lined up yet, but I’ve only been here a few days,” Parsons said.
Source: The Daytona Beach News Journal
Photo courtesy of Cobb Cole