Nick Pulignano is the head of the firm's Business Department. His practice involves a wide variety of commercial practice areas, including commercial litigation, business transactions and business law. He handles real estate closings, forming, buying and selling business organizations, drafting and negotiating leases, sales contracts and other business contracts, preparing employment agreements and shareholder agreements, maintaining corporate records and minutes, consulting on environmental issues, advising clients on tax, zoning and lien matters, and assisting clients in most other business related matters.
Mr. Pulignano also represents corporate and individual clients in a wide variety of commercial litigation practice areas including securities litigation, shareholder and partnership disputes, foreclosures, bankruptcy, business litigation, title insurance, probate, surety and fidelity bonds, estates and trusts, creditors rights and government contract claims.
Mr. Pulignano is a native of Jacksonville, Florida. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a Navy ROTC scholarship, earned Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Eta Sigma honors, and graduated from UNC in 1974 with a B.S. degree in Mathematics.
After serving 4 years in the U.S. Navy as a Patrol Plane (P-3) Mission Commander, Mr. Pulignano attended law school at the University of Florida, where he was an Appellate Advocacy Instructor. He received his J.D. degree with honors in 1980. He continued to serve in the U.S. Navy Reserve until 1994, when he retired holding the rank of Commander.
Mr. Pulignano has practiced law with Marks Gray since his graduation from law school. He is a member of The Florida Bar, the Jacksonville Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, the Florida Defense Lawyers Association, and the Securities Industry Association (Law and Compliance Division). He also serves as an arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”, formerly the National Association of Securities Dealers or "NASD"), and is a panel arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association.
Mr. Pulignano is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts, Northern and Middle Districts of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals Fifth and Eleventh Circuits; U.S. Claims Court and all Florida courts.
Mr. Pulignano is also active in church and community affairs. He has been a Rotarian since 1986, and was the President of the Rotary Club of Riverside, Jacksonville from 1991 to 1992. He served 2 terms on the Vestry at St. Mark's Episcopal Church (1991-94 and 2004-07; Junior Warden 2004-07), and 2 terms on the Board of Trustees of Jacksonville's St. Mark's Episcopal Day School (1991-99 and 2004-07; Chairman of the Board 1996-99). He also was on the Board of Governors at the Timuquana Country Club from 1995 to 1998. Mr. Pulignano is a volunteer attorney for Jacksonville Legal Aid, and is the 2007 President of the Navy League of the United States, Jacksonville Council. He was also named to the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Super Lawyers list. Only 5% of the lawyers in Florida earn the Super Lawyers honor.