Ausley McMullen Elects Rising Stars to Shareholders: Three associates, including two former judicial clerks and a deputy chief attorney, elevated as firm continues expansion in Tallahassee
January 4, 2022
Ausley McMullen, a full-service firm based in Tallahassee, is pleased to announce that Alexandra E. Akre, Jonathan W. Hayes and Clayton T. Osteen have been elected to shareholders in the firm. Akre and Hayes were former judicial law clerks prior to joining the firm. Osteen was formerly an attorney in Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
“Allie, Jonathan and Clayton have exhibited great lawyering skills, judgment, and dedication towards Ausley McMullen’s continued commitment to servicing its clients’ needs throughout Florida and its neighboring states,” said Michael J. Glazer, President of the firm. “We have always been committed to recruiting top talent, including former judicial law clerks and government attorneys; and these three individuals epitomize the kind of attorneys who will thrive and play a key role in the long-term success of our firm.”
Alexandra E. Akre focuses her practice on a variety of litigation and appellate matters involving administrative law, constitutional law, education, healthcare, and employment law. Prior to joining the firm, she clerked for the Honorable Joel Dubina of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Akre received her B.A., cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2013; and her J.D., summa cum laude, from Florida State University College of Law in 2016. While in law school, Akre served as the Executive Editor of the Florida State Law Review and externed for the Honorable Mark Walker of the Northern District of Florida. She is admitted to practice in Florida, and in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, as well United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Akre was listed this year as an Up and Comer in Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite.”
Jonathan W. Hayes practices in the areas of litigation, appellate practice, probate, trust and estates, business law, healthcare, employment law, corporate law, and government. Prior to joining the firm, he clerked for the Honorable Robert L. Hinkle of the Northern District of Florida. Before pursuing a career in law, Hayes founded and sold several businesses which gives him a unique perspective on the legal challenges facing business leaders today. Hayes received his B.S. in Management Information Systems from Florida State University in 2012 and his J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 2015. While in law school, Hayes interned at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, investigating securities violations for the litigation group in Atlanta; and externed for the Honorable Mark E. Walker of the Northern District of Florida. Hayes is admitted to practice in Florida, and in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida. He was also listed as an Up and Comer in Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite.”
Clayton T. Osteen primarily focuses his practice in the areas of construction law, administrative law, licensing, and business litigation. He has extensive experience representing clients throughout the construction industry relating to construction defects, liens, delay claims, payment disputes, licensing issues, and workers’ compensation issues. Osteen started his legal career at the Department of Business and Professional Regulation where he served as the Deputy Chief Attorney for the Construction Division and presented cases in front of the Construction Industry Licensing Board, as well as the Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board. He has extensive experience prosecuting licensing discipline cases and has tried multiple cases at the Division of Administrative Hearings, including a case that resulted in changing regulations to the pool industry. Osteen has litigated various construction, licensing, and businessrelated issues in State and Federal Courts throughout Florida. Prior to law school, Osteen labored as an underground technician and supervisor for roughly ten years installing underground utilities and now employs this and his construction background in the practice of law. Osteen received both his J.D. (2014) and B.S. (2011) from Florida State University and has been recognized by Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite.” He is admitted to practice in Florida, and in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits, and the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. During his undergraduate career, he played defensive end for the Florida State University football team.
These promotions follow the firm’s growth plan as they recently brought on a high-profile construction litigation team led by Anthony D. Tilton, as well as a well-established real estate lawyer, Benjamin B. Bush.
