John W. (Jay) Manuel

John W. (Jay) Manuel is a founding partner of Manuel & Thompson, PA, working out of their Panama City office. He brings over 36 years of legal experience to his practice in civil trial law, focusing on serious personal injury, wrongful death and related complex litigation matters. His deep-rooted commitment to justice is evident in his persistent pursuit of fairness and compensation for his clients, who often face life-altering challenges.

Mr. Manuel’s legal practice encompasses a wide array of areas, including personal injury, wrongful death, bad faith, product liability, nursing home liability, insurance disputes, medical negligence and premises liability. His extensive knowledge and strategic courtroom tactics have significantly benefited his clients throughout his career.

After obtaining his Juris Doctor from Florida State University College of Law in 1987, Mr. Manuel was admitted to The Florida Bar and subsequently to the Alabama State Bar in 1988. His legal acumen and dedication to civil trial law have earned him board certifications from The Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Peer-review rated AV Preeminent* through Martindale-Hubbell, he has also been rated with a perfect 10.0 on Avvo.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Mr. Manuel is deeply integrated into his community in northwest Florida. His values extend into his community contributions; he has spent 13 years coaching youth sports and has long been involved in religious education, teaching Sunday school at St. Andrew Baptist Church.

Mr. Manuel’s engagement with professional bodies is equally impressive. He has served on The Florida Bar Board of Governors, chaired the Disciplinary Procedures Committee and contributed to several other committees focusing on ethics and civil procedures. His leadership roles include past presidency of The St. Andrews Bay American Inn of Court and chairmanship of the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit.

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.