Welcoming New Of Counsel Attorney, John Terrel

“Since then, I’ve always been interested in health care law,” says Terrel whose work with the Board of Medicine gave him unique expertise in regulatory work. “Frankly, that was rewarding to see and practice law from the State of Florida’s perspective. Finding and putting a stop to a “bad actor” who was caught up in malpractice that hurt other people was a satisfying part of the job.”

Working in private practice for the last 14 years, Terrel has balanced the physician or licensee side of the bench bringing an appreciation for the good folks doing good work for their patients or clients.

“I have known John Terrel for over eight years and am thrilled to have his depth of experience and knowledge added to our team of talented attorneys who represent clients before the Agency for Health Care Administration and Florida Department of Health, said Jeff Howell, partner with Howell, Buchan & Strong. “He is a high-impact attorney well versed in the case law, rules of procedure, and appellate litigation. He’s the kind of expertise most law firms would love to have in their arsenal.”

Bringing NY Traits to Florida Law

He gets the job done for his clients thanks in part to his expertise and his New York upbringing. Crediting his directness with clients and in courtrooms to being a long-time Long Islander, Terrel said it’s an inherent trait for New Yorkers but one that brings clarity and better communication to all sides.

“It’s a missing element for some attorneys who choose to be indirect with clients about problems they see in a case, but I don’t beat around the bush, and it makes for clearer communication between all parties to deal directly and confront a problem head-on,” said Terrel who does disclose the northeast weather was one NY element he gladly exchanged for the warmer winds of Florida.

But he’s remained true to his roots. His Irish heritage is in large part why he runs the Tallahassee Irish Society.

“Being Irish, culture and music always took center stage. As part of the Tallahassee Irish Society, we put on an annual festival for St. Patrick’s Day. This local event is free to the public, includes a parade and Irish food vendors, dancers, and even a theater group. But lining up the musical entertainment is one of my favorite parts. The music is so lively and fun,” John says.

Competitive Spirit

Winning isn’t only reserved for the courtroom.

Terrel is competitive on the tennis court as well. When he’s not practicing law, you’ll find John living an active lifestyle, swimming, playing tennis, or at the gym.

And he wouldn’t be a perfect fit for the animal-loving team of Howell, Buchan & Strong if he didn’t also have a fondness for energetic dogs. John owns a short-haired Border Collie, Jack Russell mix. John is also an Eagle Scout.   

Working with Howell, Buchan & Strong

John is Board Certified in State and Federal Government and Administrative Practice which is an attorney who has attained board certification from an accredited group such as the Florida Bar and has demonstrated that he meets or exceeds levels of professional excellence in a specialty area of law.

The uniqueness of John’s law experience has placed him on both sides of practicing; he spent 16 years working for State agencies and 14 years in the private sector.

“I do enjoy litigation and appellate work. But helping the licensee is far more rewarding. Helping people who you know are good people that have either been targeted by the agency or the agency hasn’t understood where the licensee is coming from to find a resolution to their issue is a great feeling,” John says.