About Weiffenbach & Kaklis

E. JON WEIFFENBACH
E. Jon Weiffenbach started his own firm in 1986 as a sole practitioner in the areas of Criminal Defense and Family Law after working with the Public Defender's Office for two years. Since that time, Mr. Weiffenbach has handled thousands of cases, including numerous jury trials on capital cases, such as first degree murder and capital sexual batteries. Complex dissolutions and post-dissolution matters continue to be a large part of his practice as well.

Mr. Weiffenbach earned a B.A. degree in American and English literature from the University of South Florida in 1981, after a two year college basketball career at Biscayne College, now the University of St. Thomas Aquinas. He obtained his J.D. from Stetson College of Law in 1984. Mr. Weiffenbach worked in the Public Defender's Office as an intern while still enrolled at Stetson handling a number of jury trials even prior to graduation.

Mr. Weiffenbach was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1984 and joined the American Bar Association. He is also qualified to practice in Federal Court having been admitted to the United States Middle District that same year. He has served two terms on the Grievance Committee for the Florida Bar in the 12th Judicial Circuit, and is a past member of the Fee Arbitration Board.

In 1995, Mr. Weiffenbach received an award from the Supreme Court of Florida, and then Governor Lawton Chiles, for his dedication to the Florida Guardian Ad Litern Program and outstanding Pro Bono Services to the Court. Mr. Weiffenbach and Ms. Kaklis, partners in the firm of Weiffenbach & Kaklis, are business partners with local public schools providing financial support for various school projects. The firm was nominated for Business Partner of the Year.

Mr. Weiffenbach was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and raised in Key West, Florida. He moved to the Manatee County area in 1981. Mr. Weiffenbach continues to be active in the community, having served as Chairman of the Crosthwait Fishing Tournament in 1996 and Fleet Captain of Sport Fishing on the board of the Bradenton Yacht Club numerous times. He also organized and ran a number of fishing tournaments for the Blind through the Lion's Club.

TERESA KAKLIS DEES
Teresa Kaklis Dees, Esquire, is a partner with the law firm of Weiffenbach & Kaklis, and concentrates her practice in the areas of juvenile defense, criminal defense and marital law, including all delinquency proceedings, misdemeanors, felonies, domestic violence injunctions, dissolutions, custody disputes, child support and visitation matters.

Mrs. Dees received her B.S. from the University of Florida in 1992 and her J.D. from the University of Florida in 1996. Mrs. Dees served as an intern with the Office of the Public Defender of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit prior to receiving her J.D.

Mrs. Dees was admitted to the State Bar of Florida and the State Bar of Georgia in 1996. She is an active member of the Florida Bar Association, the Manatee County Bar Association, and the F.A.W.L., and is an inactive member of the Georgia Bar Association.

Mrs. Dees is a lifelong resident of Manatee County and is active in the Bradenton area community including her service with the Foundation for Dreams, Inc., the Manatee Gator Club, and Just For Girls, Inc.