DeSantis Chooses Joe Jacquot as Chief Legal Advisor

Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis has tapped Joe Jacquot, a former Florida chief deputy attorney general, to serve as his Administration's chief legal advisor for the Office of General Counsel.

“Joe Jacquot is an exceptional attorney with vast experience at the federal and state levels in both legal and policy matters,” DeSantis said in a Wednesday statement. “I’m grateful that he has agreed to join my administration as chief legal advisor. He will serve Florida with the utmost integrity and will dutifully serve the administration and the Cabinet.”

Jacquot most recently served as partner and business attorney with Foley & Lardner LLP, where he is a member of the firm’s Consumer Law, Finance & Class Action, Government Enforcement Defense & Investigations, and Antitrust Practices. If DeSantis is sued in his official capacity, it likely will be Jacquot who will defend the governor.

Jacquot has represented clients in complex federal and state legal and policy matters, DeSantis’ office has said. He previously served as the chief deputy attorney general of Florida, where he led significant litigation, including a constitutional challenge by 26 states. He also argued successfully before the U.S. Supreme Court in a criminal prosecution. He has worked closely with other state attorneys general on multi-state litigation and joint engagement with federal entities.