In 1925, during the height of the Great Florida Land Boom, attorney J. J. Williams Jr. arrived in Sarasota by ferry, establishing what would become Sarasota’s oldest and largest law firm. For nearly a century, Williams Parker has helped guide the growth and prosperity of Sarasota’s skyline and neighborhoods, its banks, schools, public hospital, thriving airport, and many of the enduring and iconic institutions responsible for the area’s good fortune and character. Navigating through the Great Depression and into the post-WWII boom, the firm added young, military-veteran attorneys Parker, Harrison, Dietz, and Getzen, assisting real estate titans in turning southwest Florida into some of the most coveted property in the world. Through the 1970s, Williams Parker helped develop Longboat key. Booms and expansion occurred again in the 1990s, 2000s, and today—the firm expanding and diversifying each time to meet its clients’ growing and complex needs while always staying true to our founding partners' vision and principles.
1925
Height of the Florida Land Boom
1925
Firm Founded
JJ Williams, Jr. hangs a shingle and briefly is sole practitioner at Commercial Court on Central between First and Third. Williams joins Sidney Rawson Perry forming Perry & Williams on top floor (7th floor) of First Bank and Trust Building, later called the Palmer Bank Building. Firm briefly was Williams, Perry & Williamson.
JJ Williams, Jr. came to Sarasota during a major land boom. No ordinary young lawyer, he was the son of a powerful mayor of Memphis at a time when that city was booming and expanding. Learning from his father, the younger Williams watched as political ...
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1925
Williams Organizes Venice-Nokomis Bank
1926
1926
John Ringling Bridge Built
John Ringling Bridge built to Lido and Longboat. Two bridges built to Siesta Key. Lido Beach Casino opens.
1927
1927
Sarasota Becomes Winter Home for Ringling Brothers
Sarasota becomes winter home to the Ringling Brothers Circus; John Ringling is the last surviving Ringling brother and speculates intensely in Sarasota land.
1929
1929
New firm formed as Williams & Dart
Attorney Sydney R. Perry died August 16, 1929. New firm formed as Williams & Dart (with FW Dart).
1929
Great Depression Begins
1930
1930
Florida population 1.5 million
1930
Lowe’s Field opens as Sarasota’s airport
1933
1933
JJ Williams serves as Sarasota City Attorney
Served 1933-1934 & 1936-1938
1934
1934
Williams Serves As Founding Director of United First Federal Savings
Williams serves as founding director and attorney of the United First Federal Savings and Loan Association.
1937
Williams Helps Found Sarasota State Bank
1937
F. Willis Dart Dies
F. Willis Dart died August 1937; son Francis Dart takes father’s place in firm. Francis Dart was the County Judge of Sarasota County.
1938
1938
Sarasota Municipal Auditorium opens
1940
1940
Florida population 1.9 million
Annual tourists 1 million
1941
1941
Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority Established
1942
1942
Longboat Key used as a bombing range
1945
Post-war Florida boom
1950
1950
Arthur Bell Joins as Partner
Bell joins as partner, firm is now Williams Dart & Bell. Arthur Bell was son of firm’s longtime client Tom Bell. Mallory Frier was an associate at the firm in the late 40s, left to practice in Gibsenton, FL.
1950
Florida population 2.7 million
Annual tourists between 6 and 8 million
1950
Florida Bar Formed
Florida Bar formed; UK PUD laws created; The Twin Motels opens on US 41 starting the tourism boom in Southwest Florida.
1951
1951
Florida Bar Exam now mandatory
1953
1953
W. Davis Parker Joins Firm
By February 1925, W. Davis Parker—second founder of the Williams Parker law firm—was in Sarasota from his native Georgia, a young child, just five years old, the middle boy of three sons. His father, Jere Parker and mother Kathleen (nee Davis), had brought the young family with them to the boomtown on the bay where Jere would work for the thriving newspaper industry as a typesetter until the dawn of World War II, when reduced fortunes would see him move his family to Atlanta. While in Sarasota in those early years, Jere Parker regularly made the papers for his appearances around town as
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1953
Ringling Isles Master Plan approved by city
1953
William T. Harrison, Jr. Joins Firm
At the same time that Parker was joining the firm, Williams was interviewing and about to hire perhaps the single most influential attorney he would ever take on: William Thomas Harrison, Jr. Scholar, athlete and musician, Bill Harrison played piccolo in the University of Florida marching band. Harrison was also a young Korean War combat veteran with an enviable pedigree. His father was Judge William T. Harrison of Manatee County whose tenure ran from 1923 until 1959, serving an original circuit that covered eight counties, from Manatee to Everglades City to Winter Haven. Born in the family
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1954
1954
Legal counsel for Sarasota Memorial Hospital
1955
Legal Counsel for Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority
Firm begins serving as legal counsel for Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority
1955
Firm Helps Found William G. and Marie Selby Foundation
Firm assists in establishing the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation.
1955
George A. Dietz Joins the Firm
Born in St. Petersburg, Florida, George attended the University of Florida College of Law School and served in the Korean War as a JAG officer in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining Williams Parker in Sarasota in 1955, becoming a name partner of the firm in 1959.
George specialized in real estate law and was instrumental in developing much of Sarasota County and Longboat Key, including the Meadows, Bay Isles, and the Longboat Key Club.
Throughout his career, George was active in community affairs and in the broader legal community. He served as the president of the Greater
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1956
1956
Williams Dart & Bell dissolves
Dart and Bell leave and form own firm. Williams practices with Parker, Harrison, and Dietz.
1958
1958
Williams, Parker, Harrison, Dietz forms
January 1, Williams, Parker, Harrison, Dietz forms
1958
Historic Asolo Theater Opens
Historic Asolo Theater opens in current location; S 41 rerouted; Puerto Rico’s Horizontal Property Act
1959
1959
William E. Getzen joins firm
William E. Getzen joins the firm from Illinois Law; Firm involved with ARVIDA, schools, and US 41 development
1959
Arvida purchases Ringling Isles
Arvida purchases Ringling Isles and properties; Drawbridge to Lido replaces Ringling Bridge
1960
1960
New College established
1960
Florida population 5 million
Annual tourists 10 million
1962
1962
James L. Ritchey joins
James L. Ritchey joins firm; installs first copy machine at firm
1963
1963
Moved to State Street office
Move to State Street office, 1538 State Street, room for 12 attorneys; IZ Mann builds Sarasota’s first condominiums at Sarasota Harbor West
1968
Firm Establishes Name As Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen
Firm establishes name as Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen; JJ Williams Jr. dies age 82
1968
Save Our Bays Launched
Save Our Bays launched & dredging outlawed in Sarasota.
1970
1970
Florida population 6.8 million
Annual tourists 20 million
1970
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall opens.
1971
1971
Disney World opens
1973
1973
Firm Builds Office at Orange and Ringling
New building at 1550 Ringling Blvd (200 S. Orange); decision to buy and build over leasing at United First Federal Building, JJ Williams does not live to see new building; Taylor Woodrow purchases land for The Meadows
1974
1974
Oil shortage recession through 1975
1975
Charles D. Bailey Jr. Joins Firm
1977
1977
J. Michael Hartenstine joins firm
1978
1978
Michele Boardman Grimes Joins as First Female Attorney
1979
1979
Community Foundation of Sarasota County formed
Community Foundation of Sarasota County formed; I-75 reaches Sarasota
1979
Building Expanded
Building expanded
1980
1980
Florida population 9.75 million
Annual tourists 20 million
1980
William M. Seider Joins Firm
William M. Seider joins firm after clerking for Florida Supreme Court Justice Overton
1980
Mote Aquarium opens on City Island
1982
1982
Davis Parker dies
Davis Parker died 62 years old (married to Charlotte Williams)
1987
Sunshine Skyway Bridge opens
1989
1989
Ed Smith Stadium opens
1990
1990
Florida population 13 million
Annual tourists 40 million
1991
1991
Second building expansion
1993
1993
Manatee County approves Lakewood Ranch
1995
First home sales in Lakewood Ranch
1997
1997
Patterson Foundation formed
2000
2000
Florida population 16 million
Annual tourists 42 million
2003
2003
Ringling Bridge to Lido opens
2006
William Seider named firm president
2008
2008
Global Financial Crisis
2010
2010
Florida population 18.8 million
Annual tourists 82.3 million
2014
2014
Florida surpasses New York as third most populous US state after California and Texas
2014
Williams Parker launches Requiste
Williams Parker launches Requiste publication.
2014
Barancik Foundation Forms; UTC Mall Opens
The Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation is formed. The mall at University Town Center opens.
2015
105 million tourists visit Florida
First year the number of annual tourists to Florida surpasses 100 million.
2015
Ric Gregoria named firm president
2018
2018
200 S. Orange sold
2019
2019
The Bay Master Plan phase 1
2019
Florida population 21.5 million
Annual tourists 125 million (2018)
2020
2020
Firm Celebrates 95th Anniversary
Williams Parker celebrates its 95th anniversary and pays tribute to late founding partners Harrison and Dietz, who were instrumental not only in establishing the strength, stability, and culture of the firm but also in shaping the community itself.
2021
2021
Michael J. Wilson named firm president
2023
2023
Williams Parker opens a second office location at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch.
Williams Parker opens a second office location at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch.
2023
Williams Parker Moves Headquarters to Plaza Five Points
Williams Parker Moves Headquarters to Plaza Five Points
